Topic: European couple crosses the African continent in diesel JKU

[stan98tj]

It's a fairly stock JKU, aside from the tires perhaps. Seems like an epic trip! The images midway through the vid show just how remote these areas are. I think I would have wanted at the very least one locker and a winch!
Such a trip really makes me dream about finishing my build....
http://www.lostinhdr.com/Video/i-6cJQ42M/A

[neale_rs]

Quite a trip!  Must have been a great adventure.

[Jeffy]

Most ATW (Around the World) trips are done with mildly built or stock vehicles.  The reasoning is it's better to be stuck then broken down.  If you have a built up vehicle that means you're going to have to carry a lot more gear to make sure other things don't break.

Those 'remote' areas are still on main roads though.  So, if you wait long enough, someone will pass by.

When you think about it, the locals don't need lockers and winches.  Most of the time they don't even need 4WD.  Trips like these show you that you don't need to have much more then the will to go on an adventure.  It's not about the vehicle or the gear.  Although they seem to be going on main roads that are known to be open.  It's when you get to areas that are unknown and rarely traveled, is where you need gear or a group.

A pretty cool documentary to watch is, Long Way Round.  It's done by Ewan McGregor and his friend Charley Boorman.  They decide to ride around the world on motorcycles.  There are a lot of guy's on ADVrider.com and horizonsunlimited.com who have done ATW with pretty minimal stuff.

There is a sequel called Long Way down but it's not as good as they become a lot more commercialized and lose a lot of the feel that made LWR special.

[stan98tj]

Most ATW (Around the World) trips are done with mildly built or stock vehicles.  The reasoning is it's better to be stuck then broken down.  If you have a built up vehicle that means you're going to have to carry a lot more gear to make sure other things don't break.

Those 'remote' areas are still on main roads though.  So, if you wait long enough, someone will pass by.

When you think about it, the locals don't need lockers and winches.  Most of the time they don't even need 4WD.  Trips like these show you that you don't need to have much more then the will to go on an adventure.  It's not about the vehicle or the gear.  Although they seem to be going on main roads that are known to be open.  It's when you get to areas that are unknown and rarely traveled, is where you need gear or a group.

A pretty cool documentary to watch is, Long Way Round.  It's done by Ewan McGregor and his friend Charley Boorman.  They decide to ride around the world on motorcycles.  There are a lot of guy's on ADVrider.com and horizonsunlimited.com who have done ATW with pretty minimal stuff.

There is a sequel called Long Way down but it's not as good as they become a lot more commercialized and lose a lot of the feel that made LWR special.

I've seen the Long Way Round documentary. Pretty epic trip. While I agree that you don't need a massively built vehicle, a pair of lockers, proper tires and a winch can actually save you from costly damage or keep you out of trouble as it avoids heavy skinny pedal use where you could potentially dig your vehicle in. A great example is the Lone Wolf series with their mildly build Defender or even the Expedition Overland team with their mildly built Toyotas.

[neale_rs]

A winch is very good to have.  It won't cause damage and it will get you out of trouble.

I need to see LWR, sounds good.

[Jeffy]

I've seen the Long Way Round documentary. Pretty epic trip. While I agree that you don't need a massively built vehicle, a pair of lockers, proper tires and a winch can actually save you from costly damage or keep you out of trouble as it avoids heavy skinny pedal use where you could potentially dig your vehicle in. A great example is the Lone Wolf series with their mildly build Defender or even the Expedition Overland team with their mildly built Toyotas.

Except the biggest difference is the vehicle itself.  Land Rover Defenders and Toyotas are a lot more common outside the US.  Try ordering parts for a Jeep in Africa.  You could be waiting months for them to be shipped in and you'll be paying freight.  The other difference is that Lone Wolf and the Expo Overland weren't talking main roads.  They specifically sought out remote tracks.  The key is to know your limits and the trucks limits and not exceed them.  Could they have built their JKU more, sure.  Did they need to?  Doesn't look like it.  Though, I'd probably have a winch and a second battery.

Have you seen Top Gears Burma trip?