theoretical long drive

[donkeychomp]

Had a bit of a think about this and googled some road pics around that area in general. Some 'roads' there are what we would call an off road experience. If I was to go there I would advise against any towing at all but if you want to stay with the zook why not a roof tent? They can be pricy but that's what I'd go for. Like others have said get some decent off road tyres, carry 2 spare ones as well and other relevant gubbins. Waffle boards might be an idea too!

[timwilks13]

yea cheers mate, been doing quite a bit of research and tent tops look the best option, anything attached to the car is a preference re. security really. biggest problem at present is getting into china with a car and being allowed to drive through it!

[twiss]

Ive read about driving through china and it seems like a royal PITA... maybe easier to ship the car around china!!!

[timwilks13]

You need a temporary Chinese license, which you can get for 3 months providing you take some Chinese road safety lessons, but you can only get these in the big cities so need to leave the car outside, go in and do it, then come back out and get the car, you can only drive through if you hire an approved guide to travel with you for the duration of your journey, and this is all dependent on whether they even let you bring a car in, they often refuse the car entry claiming that to drive in china you should buy a Chinese vehicle!

Explained this to my misses and she said "thats fine we can just sell the SJ in Kazakhstan"......i might leave her.

[Jordi]

Minimal, small 2/3 man tent.

Roof tent will add noticeable weight up top.

[Anton]

Had a bit of a think about this and googled some road pics around that area in general. Some 'roads' there are what we would call an off road experience.

See, this is why I say make the thing more rugged. There's no reason why you can't tow stuff over dodgy dirt track bumpy crappy roads if the Aussies are doing this:


Click Here for Youtube Video



A lightweight trailer, especially with decent upgraded suspension, could easily cope with anything Tim's likely to throw at it. I can't see him getting 2 spare tyres, a bunch of spare parts, clothes and the rest into the SJ - I think he *needs* a trailer (I'd mod it so it takes the same wheels/tyres as the SJ, then you don't need to have 2 different spare tyre types).

If he's not too mental, like the boys in that vid are, he's going to be fine - his SJ will cope admirably, I think!

[twiss]

hey tim,

we've been chatting a bit today about epic missions... i've been dying to do something like this for ages!

here are ones i've previously thought of...

west africa:

westafricaroute.png (344.14 KiB) Viewed 4634 times

east africa:

eastafricaroute1.png (714.8 KiB) Viewed 4634 times

eastafricaroute2.png (735.86 KiB) Viewed 4634 times

mongolia:

i would love to go to the ukraine anyway (with a small diversion via pripryat!!).
Would go through kazakhstan but it seems to be safer to go through russia

mongoliaroute.png (224.82 KiB) Viewed 4634 times

[twiss]

this one would also make a good trip... can go see someone in bulgaria then

[Edweird]

I've been toying with the idea of doing a road trip to Turkey for several reasons. 1) My Stepdad owns a small villa out there and 2) You can easily get SJ spares over there.

[Jordi]

Half an SJ chassis with steel tube axle and front stub axles to mount the wheels (I'll get round to.it eventually)