URI:
   DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Old Leafsprung Land Rovers
  HTML https://ollr.createaforum.com
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       *****************************************************
   DIR Return to: Technical tips & Questions
       *****************************************************
       #Post#: 59346--------------------------------------------------
       Re: bomb-proof
   DIR By: Doug_T
       Date: April 30, 2013, 8:06 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       As far as dune driving goes, no I haven't used a 2.5NA. However
       I have got far more powerful vehicles into trouble, and far less
       capable vehicles have also got me through (like a Ford Crown
       Victoria a couple of hundred km into the sands outside Riyadh!)
       If I was travelling somewhere where I knew dunes were a
       possibility, but I also knew they could be easily negotiated I
       wouldn't worry too much about only having a 2.5 NA. However if I
       wanted to go dune bashing, or knew that several hundred km of
       dune fields needed negotiating it would not be my first choice.
       We try and avoid dunes as much as possible at work (unless it is
       with vibe trucks). They slow you down, make your fuel
       consumption increase, make your engines get hot and eventually
       you WILL get stuck and have to start digging - and that's not
       fun in 52 degrees, even if you are getting paid to do it!
       #Post#: 59365--------------------------------------------------
       Re: bomb-proof
   DIR By: Nonimouse
       Date: April 30, 2013, 11:19 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       The concept of a trailer works well - chuck the stuff in there
       that you don't want to carry in the main vehicle
       But picture all the negative points of towing a trailer on a
       reasonable tarmac road - including pulling away at uphill
       junctions, sleeping policemen, potholes etc
       Then imagine what a potholed road is like - especially on a
       sankey (even one with a machined nylon bush to eliminate hitch
       movement)
       Now reduce your power by upwards of 50%  - that's the drag on a
       non powered trailer in sand/snow/mud/deep gravel
       Now imagine you have stuffed a hill climb and you have to
       reverse back down but there are no nice tramlines or a smooth
       surface so the trailer starts breaking all the rules of
       reversing - so you have to uncouple and lower it down....
       It's worth trying
       As for Salisbury axles - unless badly driven or lacking
       mainteneance you have to go it some to break a Salisbury half
       shaft and Rule 4 of overlanding is 'Don't drive like a twat -
       your vehicle is your life support pod'
       #Post#: 59387--------------------------------------------------
       Re: bomb-proof
   DIR By: Lucy
       Date: April 30, 2013, 1:05 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Best idea, sell the 109 and buy a 101, proved to be great
       overland truck :-)
       #Post#: 59394--------------------------------------------------
       Re: bomb-proof
   DIR By: Nonimouse
       Date: April 30, 2013, 1:58 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       In all seriousness it's an interesting point...
       One of the best overland trucks out there is the Volvo C303 -
       with the TGB13 being the Daddy.  Oddly enough not used that much
       by the overland fraternity...
       A 101 is a less manly C303, made a bit more manly by it having a
       rather nice engine
       Compare the 109 oil burner to the 101
       Both are relatively simple
       Spares are easier to come by for the 109
       The 101 will be cheaper on fuel in far flung places (although
       the USSR's proclivity towards caustic petrol can be a bugger)
       The 101 carries more and has more load room
       The 109 is a damned site more pleasant to drive on and off road
       The 109 is a damned site more capable off road (unless you lose
       the sodding great ARB on the front of the 101, which then makes
       corners an exciting thing)
       The 109 is a the winner on the Carnet Stakes
       The 101 is easier to convert into 4* living accomodation
       The V8 will run on 4 cylinders
       The NAD will run on Russian Diesel (as will a  200Tdi) with no
       noticeable effects, so will therefore run on the worst of fuels
       The 101 is without doubt cooler to be seen in, although it is
       hotter to drive
       I would still go for the 109
       #Post#: 59424--------------------------------------------------
       Re: bomb-proof
   DIR By: Lucy
       Date: April 30, 2013, 3:58 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I'd disagree about the 109 being nicer to drive. I far prefer
       the 101 as a long distance drive than any series truck.
       (excepting it's fuel consumption, though having said that it's
       no worse than a 6 pot 109, but quicker and more roomy)
       It's a lot more refined and quieter than my diesel 88"
       I'd dispute the capability too. You just have to know how to
       drive one, a detroit in the back helps too 8)
       [img]
  HTML http://www.climbingchris.f9.co.uk/morocco2007/PICT4240%20%28Small%29.JPG[/img]
  HTML http://www.climbingchris.f9.co.uk/101/pics/PICT1200%20equator%20%28Small%29.jpg
  HTML http://www.climbingchris.f9.co.uk/101/pics/Pict2888%20Nelly%20at%20cape%20of%20good%20hope%20%28Small%29.jpg
       #Post#: 59427--------------------------------------------------
       Re: bomb-proof
   DIR By: Gadget
       Date: April 30, 2013, 4:15 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       There speaks the voice of experience and cross continental
       travel :smilewide:
       Nelly rocks >rock< >rcker<
       #Post#: 59432--------------------------------------------------
       Re: bomb-proof
   DIR By: parksy64
       Date: April 30, 2013, 4:23 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Both of the 101s I've had have been great to drive.  Good
       position, visibility, power and awesome off road.
       Never got them any further south than Morocco but would
       recommend them over a 109 for overland IMHO :smilewide:
       Would happily get the stereo really cranked up and keep going
       until the 180 litres of LPG where empty switch to petrol and
       keep going >rcker<
       As Lucy says the only pain is in the wallet  :rolleye0012:
       Each to their own :thumbs:
       #Post#: 59440--------------------------------------------------
       Re: bomb-proof
   DIR By: NoelC
       Date: April 30, 2013, 5:07 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Having owned a 101 I can safely say it knocks a 109 into a
       cocked hat in the offroad stakes. I drove through and over shit
       in the 101 that my 109s wouldn't stand a chance with. Lucy is
       spot on, it is a different drive to a bonneted control but once
       you get used to it no drama. If money were no object I'd
       commission someone to build me a Cummins 4BT powered 101 and
       drive overland to somewhere a bloody long way from here.
       :thumbs:
       #Post#: 59463--------------------------------------------------
       Re: bomb-proof
   DIR By: Nonimouse
       Date: May 1, 2013, 6:06 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Don't you love it when people get protective over their vehicle
       choice - I'm not knocking either people or choice
       However Reason 1 not to take a 101 - it's not expendable.  Never
       overland in a vehicle that you don't want to lose...  A 109 is
       relatively cheap and easy to replace - I will always regret
       selling my 101 and it wasn't even a good example; I hate to
       thing how I would feel at leaving a 101 and just walking away -
       yet I've done that with both Hi-Lux and 110 (luckily without
       carnet issues to bite my rotund arse)
       Reason not to put a cummins in a 101 - why bother!  Petrol is
       cheap in Africa and so many other interesting places, in fact
       often very cheap and a V8 is just about right in a 101, so why
       bother with a conversion and all it's associated issues...
       A 101 is not and never will be as good off road as a 101; it was
       never meant to be and always requires a fair bit of fettling to
       make it better.  Even with a Para gun crew to weigh it down a
       101 doesnt, in standard form do what the 109 does.  Try it back
       to back and see - until you have though, you are entitled to be
       defensive of your motor.  On road though that 101 driving
       position is nice although I find that I get knee issues after a
       couple of hours unless seatage has been shuffled around
       It's relatively simple to modify the 101 to be better off road,
       but simple still (and cheaper) to do the same to a 109...
       The thing is overlanding isn't about off roading - it's about on
       roading, but on roads that are often so shite as to be dubious
       as to their function.  Playing in the desert is all well and fun
       but unless you are on the edge of the empty quarter, you don't
       play!
       Mind you folk are more than entitled to their own opinions and
       the only way to learn is by repeated experience, good or bad.
       Like Arjan, I've been doing this for so many years now I sort of
       let people have their own way as much as possible with a few
       nudges just to keep them safe.  That way the trip does the
       teaching. The worse thing would be to TELL people what they
       wanted...
       #Post#: 59468--------------------------------------------------
       Re: bomb-proof
   DIR By: Lucy
       Date: May 1, 2013, 7:17 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: Nonimouse link ---
       >
       > Don't you love it when people get protective over their
       vehicle choice - I'm not knocking either people or choice (yep,
       always happens, though I also have an 88 and used to have a
       109.)
       >
       > However Reason 1 not to take a 101 - it's not expendable.
       Never overland in a vehicle that you don't want to lose...  A
       109 is relatively cheap and easy to replace - I will always
       regret selling my 101 and it wasn't even a good example; I hate
       to thing how I would feel at leaving a 101 and just walking away
       - yet I've done that with both Hi-Lux and "Vehicle of inferior
       length" (luckily without carnet issues to bite my rotund arse)
       Ouch! would be painful any way. We considered leaving it in ZA
       but it was cheeper to ship it back to the uk than pay off the
       carnet, and it meant we got to use it on subsequent trips.
       >
       > Reason not to put a cummins in a 101 - why bother!  Petrol is
       cheap in Africa and so many other interesting places, in fact
       often very cheap and a V8 is just about right in a 101, so why
       bother with a conversion and all it's associated issues...
       (only reason I can see is range.  well that and that diesel is
       less expolsive therefore safer to transport than petrol.  when
       we were in Egypt petrol was 10p/l)
       >
       > A 101 is not and never will be as good off road as a 101; it
       was never meant to be and always requires a fair bit of fettling
       to make it better.  Even with a Para gun crew to weigh it down a
       101 doesnt, in standard form do what the 109 does.  Try it back
       to back and see - until you have though, you are entitled to be
       defensive of your motor.  (Have a search around for videos of
       EOD 2009, and witness the 101 getting through where all but a
       couple of tricked up 88s failed.  Made a better noise doing it
       too :) )
       > On road though that 101 driving position is nice although I
       find that I get knee issues after a couple of hours unless
       seatage has been shuffled around  (we swapped out the standard
       seats and I guess I'm about the right size for it, did a number
       of 10 hour days driving, making a pityful amount of progress)
       > It's relatively simple to modify the 101 to be better off
       road, but simple still (and cheaper) to do the same to a 109...
       (can't argue with that!)
       >
       > The thing is overlanding isn't about off roading - it's about
       on roading, but on roads that are often so shite as to be
       dubious as to their function.  Playing in the desert is all well
       and fun but unless you are on the edge of the empty quarter, you
       don't play!  (Very true.  when you're driving your house about
       the place, you take care of it!)
       >
       > Mind you folk are more than entitled to their own opinions and
       the only way to learn is by repeated experience, good or bad.
       Like Arjan, I've been doing this for so many years now I sort of
       let people have their own way as much as possible with a few
       nudges just to keep them safe.  That way the trip does the
       teaching. The worse thing would be to TELL people what they
       wanted...   (know that feeling. You can't explain just what
       overland travel puts a vehicle through.  Try explaining what
       corrugations are like to someone who's never experienced the joy
       of them for day after day!)
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       *****************************************************
       Page 4 of 6
   DIR Previous Page
   DIR Next Page