Trailer or Roof Rack?
I‘m looking for some advice from some of you who have driven through Morocco (or equivalent). We have a trip planned for next summer, all 6 of us. Yes I know it’s going to be tricky fitting 6 in a G which is why I almost deserted to a Nissan Patrol. Luckily my wife persuaded me out of it!
Anyway we are going to really travel light but I’m undecided about trying to fit all our gear on the roof or on a trailer (say a sankey ¾ ton). I’m not bothered about the towing bit, I’ve done loads including off road. I am however concerned about dragging it through Spain and then around Morocco, including some soft sand. On anther forum some guy had carried out some calculations and came up with the fact that to tow a 1 ton trailer through soft sand you need 200bhp. That leaves me about 87 short!
Anyone done this? Comments?
Cheers,
Russ
hi russ,shakir has twice done uk to cyprus with roof rack and full load. i am sure he will be helpful.BON VOYAGE!!
Whats all this about nissan patrol.....R U WELL!!!!!
Nobody goes to Morocco with trailers and most use roof racks... I would definitely try not to be too original in this respect.
the equipment you take will weigh the same, wether its on your roof or on a trailer, the trailer add extra weight and will create drag through the sand, the only disadvantage with a roof rack is it increases your C.O.G.
Interesting topic, one I’ve pondered a fair bit when I dream of places to go in my G. :lol:
I wouldn’t dismiss the trailer idea to quickly.
How much stuff do you need to take?, how much weight will be on the roof?
Six up in a G, a lot of heavy kit on the roof, that’s one heavy G with a high COG, get in a tricky situation, everyone bar driver gets out, and your left with one badly loaded vehicle.
Or, plenty of space in the G, no rack and all the weight low down on a trailer, low pressure floatation for the dunes, if you get into trouble unhitch the trailer and worry about it later.
A trailer makes a lot of sense to me, I know it goes against the general opinion, but then how many people go 6 up when doing a trip like this.
But would your wife not rather sit in a trailer than on the roof ?
Marcus
:D :lol: :lol: :D
isnt a trailer easier for the tea leaves?
assuming you do not intend to do the Dakar???? desert roads in all the North African countries are pounded down by heavy lorries.(main roads are tarmac or laterite) which leaves a very rippled surface.maintaining speeds of 50/60k takes most of the vibration out of any journey. A good solid padlockable (metal top) two wheel trailer is much more Klefti proof than a roofrack with a canvas/plastic cover.the towhitch should be ringeye not 50mm ball because you can put a padlock through the hole at the bottom of the pin.fit low footprint tyres with road type tread and balance the load in the trailer.We lived in Khartoum for 5 years in the sixties and did this sort of thing most Fridays and Saturdays looking for big game and sleeping under the 4x4s wherever we stopped.
take the mother inlaw aswell and eliminate any tea leaves!!!
Russ in SA the people do this type of thing more than over here. Go with what they use, special trailers. I hate trailers, but for your trip I will go with the flow of experience. The most popular towing vehicle is a 2.4 na Toyota Hilux. If those donkeys with their 75bhp can do it so can your 6cyl beauty.
If you decide to do the trailer give me a ring, I'll be able to give you a few articles and web sites.
A few reasons: Easier through thick sand, it spreads the load.
Lower COG giver more comfortable drive (SAFE)
Beter towing on motorways.
Use same wheels as your car, add another spare wheel
A lot more space.
Easier to set up camp. A lot easier!
The list goes on and on, but keep in mind that Henrietha and I have toured more than 16 000 miles in the last 2 years in preparation for our Arica trip. We did it with a roofrack and found it uncomfortable and very limiting.
Half the fun of these things is the preperation. just think of the fun it will be to desighn, build and test your own G-Wheeled trailer.
Did I mention that I hate trailers?
Personally, I prefer to take less stuff - no more than what can fit into the back. That's it!
People so often cart along a whole lot of crap which they never use, apart for wearing out the suspension or consuming more fuel.
That's your option no.3 - limit your passengers to a set amount of luggage, ie 1sq ft each, though that may provoke some arguments :shock:
Morroco is mostly rock .
I know it will depend on the tracks your driving but trailers have there advatages loads of load carrying , trailer cost about £200 roofrack about £500 .( the saving off sets the tolls )
if you go for a sankey i have the circuit diagram for fitting nato electrics or civilian to military for your lights .
if you go for a sankey try to get a mark 3 , Richards ( near you )or withams are a good source.
sankey wide tracks are plenifull at present well made and desined for offroad use , the Australians are big into offroad trailers .
Downside , extra costs on ferries and tolls en-route .
contact trailmasters and get there views its all been done before.
Twodogs
the one below is a mark 3 .
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LANDROVER-WOLF-DIRECT-MoD-3-4-TON-SANKEY-CARGO-TRA...
Hi Russ, I've just seen you have sent me a PM about selling my trailer! the one I've already converted is not for sale but I do have another one without sides for sale!
The trailer I have is a GKN rapier which has an alloy body and a longer body. What is also good about the rapier trailer is that the distance between the hitch to the wheel is longer than a sanky trailer which makes it more stable at speeds and offroad. But the sankey is a nice short size and would be ideal if the draw bar was extended 12-18".
Ther are some GkN trailers the same as mine here.
http://www.witham-sv.com/infopage.php?ID=36&Overide=0
And a sankey one here
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LANDROVER-WOLF-DIRECT-MoD-3-4-TON-SANKEY-CARGO-TRA...
Twodogs, have you got an address/contact number for Richard? Is he somewhere around Shrewsbury? i'll talk to Graham again, we're not the first group of 6. He had a family last year in a 110, but they are a little bigger than a G.
Rich you've done the route we are planning whats your thoughts on the feasibility of a trailer?
Mercfan, travelling light is ok, i know what you mean about unecessary junk. However i don't want to clutter up the interior unnecessarily so everthing needs to go on the roof or a trailer.
Thanks for the input everyone,
Russ
:D Russ try the place below ,
http://www.johnrichardssurplus.co.uk/index.html
Withams have the biggest choice by far
dont forget you will need to fit a nato hitch , ebay.de is a good scorce .
Twodogs
Hi Russ I wouldn't hesitate about taking a trailer and if there are 6 in your vehicle then they can help push! :lol: :lol:
Hi Russ I wouldn't hesitate about taking a trailer and if there are 6 in your vehicle then they can help push! :lol: :lol:
easy for you to say with a 250BHP G400 to tow it with 8)
easy for you to say with a 250BHP G400 to tow it with
So I just need to find a scrap merc truck, remove 9in dia turbo and bolt it on then?
easy for you to say with a 250BHP G400 to tow it with
So I just need to find a scrap merc truck, remove 9in dia turbo and bolt it on then?
That rapier trailer of yours is a far better bit of kit :D
Twodogs
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Cheers Guys.
This sort of follows my initial train of thought to the extent that I’ve bought a roof rack. BUT then I started thinking about all the stuff I need to put up there and all the hassle of unpacking and packing every day. However a sankey ¾ ton trailer weighs 375Kg un laden. Another down side is it’s another piece of kit to go wrong/break.
I’m still open to suggestions though. In reality from what I can figure it’s not extreme off road conditions with only occasional soft sand. Then again Jesus has a good point this is not the time or place to experiment.
Hus55, well I could have got a Patrol 12yrs younger, air con, cruise, leather made to look like real plastic, real plastic wood, two tone paint…………….um nice. However big plus 6 forward facing seats. May however have a cunning plan for 6 forward facing seats in the G.
Russ