What Production Vehicle

[Brian R.]

would you use if you had to drive it off the dealer lot, hook up a trailer it will tow with provisions, and drive 2000 miles across a hilly desert with no ability to obtain additional provisions or help along the way?

I would vote for a Toyota Land Cruiser, considering Toyota build quality off the showroom and also the poor mileage some more extreme 4wheelers get and the need to haul your gasoline.

[Sasq]

Done and did that with a land cruiser on a regular basis. damn good machine

[Dr Mordrid]

Most likely a Range Rover, Toyota Land Cruiser or Jeep Cherokee, properly prepared of course.

I'm thinking oversized tranny cooler and radiator, Baha lights, a charge of synthetic lubricants for engine, tranny and wheel bearings, over sized or dual fuel tanks, appropriate tires & rims, extra tire racks plus any heavy duty off road options you can get.

I'd also take a complete tool kit (metric and SAE), extra fuel pump and pickup, 2-3 complete extra filter kits (air, oil, breathers etc.), 2-3 oil changes (oil dies fast in the desert heat), extra synthetic wheel bearing, tranny & rear axel lubes, a water generation kit (plastic sheets, shovel, 1 oz. fishing sinkers & several 12 oz cups) etc. etc.

You can never be too prepared

Dr. Mordrid

[Kruzin]

Dodge Ram 2500/3500 V10 pickemup truck.
My pop's got one, and we haul a large boat from denver to lake powell a couple times a year with it. Thing will do 80mph without a pause, never even noticing it's hauling a large load. Even going up the big hills in the rocky mountains, it will handily pass most vehicles on the highway....

http://www.dodge.com/ram_2500_3500/index.html

[Brian R.]

Doc - What, no laptop?

[Gurm]

Well, if I had to be comfy, Range Rover.

If I just had to get the job done...

Probably a Defender 90.

- Gurm

[KvHagedorn]

Ford F350 Diesel Pickup

Maybe a Dodge 1 ton diesel

[Dr Mordrid]

Originally posted by Brian R.
Doc - What, no laptop?

My experience comes from running around the desert southwest US for a month in my youth. We took a Rover and had a great time, but not without breakdowns or troubles. Such it is over that kind of terrain.

I probably would take a laptop, but wouldn't forget some form of radio communications rig as well.

Dr. Mordrid

[Sasq]

In oz, land cruiser or land rover is the way to go, with the land cruiser being the preference. for work I had one with dual tanks, real bull bar, spots powerful enough to use as an emergecy break, winch etc etc.

oh and did I mention you could get parts anywhere for the LC?

[K6-III]

I'd take a VW Lupo deisel and ship the trailer as Freight via rail...

[Brian Ellis]

The important thing is the winch. It can get you out of a whole host of trouble if it should rain. And don't forget a GPS so that you can radio your position if all your precautions are in vain. Always carry at least three times as much water as you think you ever could possibly need and then some. Also, it is better to travel with two vehicles, if possible. If you should break down ALWAYS STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

Edit: carry a large mirror so that you can flash a search party/plane and have a smoke signal ready for lighting. Don't forget the matches, either.

[ZokesPro]

I'd do it in my Saturn!!! It can go anywhere! (it sure hells proved itself yesterday!)

Seriously, I'd want to try it in an LM200 or Lan Rover.

[VJ]

I must say, there are some great advices here (the oversized coolers, the GPS, ...). I doubt I'll ever need them (if you can drive 10km in Belgium without seeing a house, another car or a cyclist, let me know ).

Apart from a winch, wouldn't some (don't know how they are called, but they are sometimes needed in rallys like Paris-Dakar) metal plates and a (small) shovel be usefull, should you get stuck in the sand without anything close enough to attach the winch to ? The plates could be placed under the wheels, as to provide more grip to get the car out of the sand.

Originally posted by Brian Ellis
Edit: carry a large mirror so that you can flash a search party/plane and have a smoke signal ready for lighting. Don't forget the matches, either.

A flare gun (or several flares) might perhaps do the trick ?

(I'd vote for a Hummer H1 )



Jörg

[JohnnyBond]

A question: What do you really think of a hummer (military or civilian) for this task?

[RedRed]

landrover

All the kit Brian and Dr M mentioned.

company

RedRed