My new overland project

[nick_the_fish]

That looks bloody awesome. Really enjoying watching this project.

 

[froggy Steve]

Wow! Awesome job. Love the colour too

 

[Chris]

Stunning.

 

[Olazz]

Actually CJ, those mudguards flares have a very similar "hue" to your grey truck.... and yes I have painted mine. I'm thoroughly suspicious that yours were indeed painted too!

 

[Chris]

Well they may have been old buddy, old pal but NOT BY ME!!

 

[Olazz]

This truck's previous history still coming to light !!!

I was told (by the experts) that a 6" lift and bespoke Fox racing shocks on my LC80 would be a disaster for overlanding and it would never be suitable.... Well that was Boll**ks!

I have also been strongly "advised" ...again by some experts, that an ex-Dakar truck is a wholly unsuitable base for an overlanding vehicle.

Lets see hey !!

 

[stumog]

I expect that they say that as the budget doesn't allow them to stretch far enough to the suspension set up and mods that is on the Dakar trucks.

Effectivly the Dakar is a overland at mental speed. So it will be way over built then required but surly this will make it more reliable?

 

[clivehorridge]

That’s a cracking photo there Lazz, it really should be a sticker, or at the least incorporated into a sticker, too much pedigree to let slip by unnoticed IMO...

Most trucks would never get into that position, and if they did the truck or the driver wouldn’t survive the landing.

Priceless...

 

[Olazz]

I expect that they say that as the budget doesn't allow them to stretch far enough to the suspension set up and mods that is on the Dakar trucks.

Effectivly the Dakar is a overland at mental speed. So it will be way over built then required but surly this will make it more reliable?

Some people still think the earth is flat ! I've had one "sage" tell me that I am ill-informed, for using a racehorse to pull a cart, and that it will certainly lead to tears and disater!

That’s a cracking photo there Lazz, it really should be a sticker, or at the least incorporated into a sticker, too much pedigree to let slip by unnoticed IMO...
Most trucks would never get into that position, and if they did the truck or the driver wouldn’t survive the landing.
Priceless...

My thoughts exactly Clive. This will def be on the truck somewhere.

 

[Animal Mother]

View attachment 147401
I have also been strongly "advised" ...again by some experts, that an ex-Dakar truck is a wholly unsuitable base for an overlanding vehicle.
!

It is clearly suitable for everything and anything, including flight!

 

[Animal Mother]

It shares its heritage with a few LCs too (on the 2016 Moscow-Beijing)!

 

[Bob]

As for the wise fools bemoaning your choice of truck, what are they basing their opinion on?

As far as I can see that truck is a far better base vehicle than most for long distance overlanding. It's built strong, as has better suspension, and is bonkers fast (which is a huuuge bonus imo, on case of any difficult situations). Add to that the attention to detail of your build and this will be a really well prepped truck. I would presume you will carry spares of the parts that will be difficult to obtain in the bush, but other than that I can't see where the disaster lies.

Can't wait to see the progress on the box

 

[Olazz]

It shares its heritage with a few LCs too (on the 2016 Moscow-Beijing)!

Yep AM, I've got quite a bit of video footage of the truck on that Rally, and subsequent Oilibya Maroc Rally. Those were done by the last French owner of the truck, who has now moved on to a more powerful, more competitive truck with 1100hp !!

As for the wise fools bemoaning your choice of truck, what are they basing their opinion on?

As far as I can see that truck is a far better base vehicle than most for long distance overlanding. It's built strong, as has better suspension, and is bonkers fast (which is a huuuge bonus imo, on case of any difficult situations). Add to that the attention to detail of your build and this will be a really well prepped truck. I would presume you will carry spares of the parts that will be difficult to obtain in the bush, but other than that I can't see where the disaster lies.

Can't wait to see the progress on the box

My sentiments exactly Bob. What better base vehicle could there be. Huge investment from the original and subsequent 2 owners, boxes of spares, from radiator and intercooler to small banjo bolts. Superbly built by MAN/Maurer and properly overland tested for sure. Truck is in excellent mechanical condition and just hope my efforts do it justice.

I'm looking forward to the box build too, as there are many engineering issues to overcome. The only disadvantage of a race bred truck that I can see, is the specialist race build that doesn't easily lend itself to bolting on a habitation box.

Lets see how it progresses.

 

[Animal Mother]

Yep AM, I've got quite a bit of video footage of the truck on that Rally, and subsequent Oilibya Maroc Rally. Those were done by the last French owner of the truck, who has now moved on to a more powerful, more competitive truck with 1100hp !!

Jeepers.

 

[Jake the Peg]

Awesome job, I really enjoyed reading through the thread, will keep checking back!

cheers and good luck

 

[Olazz]

Lots of stuff going on with the truck and it's starting to move at a faster pace now.

Booked in next week to start the torsion free subframe.

Windows, doors, hatches, and all body panels now ordered.
All electrics and electronics sorted and ready to install.
Cinderella lavatory on order.

Also got some super sexy stuff delivered from the US recently too. Donaldson Powercore airclearners. Factory matched airflow characteristics to the motors max requirement + 20%. Long wait, but worth it.

.

 

[grantw]

All electrics and electronics sorted and ready to install.
View attachment 148401 .

What did you decide to go with on the battery front in the end?

 

[Animal Mother]

Lots of stuff going on with the truck and it's starting to move at a faster pace now.

Booked in next week to start the torsion free subframe.

Windows, doors, hatches, and all body panels now ordered.
All electrics and electronics sorted and ready to install.
Cinderella lavatory on order.

Also got some super sexy stuff delivered from the US recently too. Donaldson Powercore airclearners. Factory matched airflow characteristics to the motors max requirement + 20%. Long wait, but worth it.

View attachment 148401 .

Don't fib, they are flare and chaff dispensers aren't they?

 

[Olazz]

What did you decide to go with on the battery front in the end?

This was a toughie Grant, but after lots of indecision, I've gone with Victron super cycle batteries. No matter how hard I tried I just couldn't justify the huge price of the LiPo4 batteries . The difference in my set up was close to £10K!! That 10k buys me 33,000km of fuel!!!

The Victron system I will install, will be able to cope with LiPo4 batteries in the future if I change my mind.

Only down side is the extra weight of the batteries at 250kg. The LiPo4 would have been 130kg.

 

[Olazz]

Don't fib, they are flare and chaff dispensers aren't they?

"Officer", I know my truck looks grey and military, but I assure you they really are just air cleaners, I promise. (just don't try and hijack the truck thats all !)