Top 10 Trucks for Overland Travel in Africa

[@dcocks]

Good result for the Troopy my ones been a fantastic truck, even with a 1HZ engine

[@Africasideways]

That 1HZ is a thing of beauty.

[@gnawershreth]

It's one of those topics that will always be hard, and it'll obviously also be subjective to a large extent. I think it especially becomes confusing to people because "Overlanding" means different things to different people and markets. So just because a KZbinr or whatever really likes doesn't mean it'll fit what you want to do with it. Overlanding in USA seems to be.. Well, almost like a hobby you do on weekends etc. You head out to a pre-planned track/trail and you will likely know what you will need to get through. Australia seems a bit like that as well but the tracks/trails seem way longer so it seems like more of an expedition of sorts. Overlanding in Europe and seemingly also in South America, Africa etc. is a way of traveling. It's not a weekend hobby or whatever but a way to travel from point A to point B. People take trips from like Germany to South Africa over several months. That's why you see a lot of the larger trucks and van type overlanding vehicles in Europe. They're not built for rock crawling, climbing through planned out tracks through sand, mud, rocks etc. A traveler would likely rather avoid stuff like that if at all possible as it'll just be a risk. They're basically go-anywhere-RVs so they're built to drive on roads, gravel roads, fire roads, some off-roading where needed, some sand where needed etc. The goal isn't to complete some specific route or track but to travel long distances through nothingness and shitty (if any) infrastructure. So obviously people will need different vehicles for the two types of overlanding. If I'm to travel from London to Australia or whatever with another person, I think I'd get annoyed with a normal 4x4 like a Land Cruiser honestly. You *really* need to get along with the other person if you're to live in a Land Cruiser for 6+ months. On the other hand I wouldn't want to take a full size MAN 6x6 (or 8x8) to Moab for a weekend for example. It'd make no sense whatsoever. On top of that it also depends on where you're going to be traveling. Warm or temperate climates are far easier to build a vehicle for than arctic stuff for example. You don't want to be forced to live outside of your vehicle in seriously freezing temperatures, and having to live inside of a Land Cruiser or similar with another person for several months would get pretty fucking tiring I think. :)

[@Africasideways]

Thanks for the learned reply, I agree, the bigger and smaller vehicles both have their pros and cons. But living in large van/truck is still tiny living and you need to get on with the person in both scenarios. Depends on budget and priorities. Cheers G.

[@yassorour4055]

Thank you very much for sharing your experience. You give me a good view to choose a right vehicle

[@Africasideways]

Only a pleasure, happy travels.

[@AJBAdventures]

Good old Defender 110 on the list, and yeah granted you need to be handy on the spanners as they are high maintenance, however they are easy to work on and fantastic off road 👌 300tdi is the way to go

[@Africasideways]

Thanks for the tips, your 110 looks ace in that wine red.

[@AJBAdventures]

@@Africasideways cheers buddy, have loved the videos you've done with Paul, he has a wealth of knowledge 👌

[@Africasideways]

Thanks dude, hope to get a few more in with Paul soon.

[@AJBAdventures]

@@Africasideways spot on 👍

[@Truck-ht8dx]

Nice vid Big Six! Cruisers for life.

[@Africasideways]

Thanks dude.

[@earwax3243]

When a jeep breaks it is usually pilot error. My '05 LJ has never broke down. Very reliable.

[@Africasideways]

Good hearing something positive about Jeep's reliability.

[@ramiebahgat647]

The road choose me Dane get around Africa using Jeep JK for 3 years and never broke down

[@1090kin]

Thanks for posting this list! I would've guessed the Landcruiser 100/105 series would've been in your top picks as well.

[@Africasideways]

Glad you liked it!

[@NakuruMotorClub]

Land Rover, the car that started overlanding culture. Should've been on the top 3.

[@Africasideways]

Nostalgia alone can't get you into the top 3. Reliability is King in Africa. Thanks for watching.

[@MarcBtrs]

No one can beat the Japanese reliability... When you see something made in Japan, you just buy it no questions asked

[@georgedaniels3683]

The Nissan Patrol 4.2td should be number 1 yet does not even make your top ten! Tougher than any Toyota and bulletproof motor.

[@Africasideways]

Top 10 certainly, Top 5 perhaps. Better than the best Cruiser? - that's a bold call.

[@CB-fr6pi]

It's all about opinions. 79 series for me, but no G Wagen in the top ten?! Those Jimnys are brilliant tho.

[@Africasideways]

Yeah, subjective to the max. G-Wagon, yes, the older ones were top notch, fair point.

[@neilarmitage6632]

Yes MAN

[@Africasideways]

altyd

[@MarcBtrs]

Nissan pickup d22 has a very simple, basic mechanic and highly reliable. You can repair it anywhere doesn't have lots of electronics and a variety of add ons

[@Africasideways]

Not the most reliable, and things tend to fall off according to some owners. Better than nivara I'd imagine.

[@onwheels8232]

What about the land rover 110 perentie with an usuzu 4bd1t 3.9l diesel engine mechanical injection pump or the 130 6x6 version? They are pretty reliable engines and being coupled to an lt95 gearbox you get a pretty reliable vehicule in my opinion.

[@Africasideways]

Yes indeed, much better with the Isuzu engine, whole different ballgame with that engine. Solves some of the reliability and power question marks. But is that enough to challenge the Cruisers?

[@onwheels8232]

@@Africasideways i don't know because here in europe there are not 4.5 v8 land crusers. The iveco 8040.45 engine is allmost a dead on copy of the isuzu and is a outstanding engine and so it should be the isuzu. My answer was just to point out another version of the defender more powerful from the engine standpoint.

[@Africasideways]

@@onwheels8232 Indeed, it makes a big difference. I feel a follow-up list coming on. No V8 in Europe, that's a bit vanilla.

[@fromtheroad3081]

Great list! Would be happy to own any of them just not happy to fill all the fuel tanks 😬

[@Africasideways]

Adventure comes at a price :)

[@duncansimpson8881]

1hz for life!

[@Africasideways]

Best of the best

[@feiz01]

knowledgeable fellow,,,,,,,, but,,,,, come on baby,,, you cant get better than the 110 for cool looks and a cramped driving position lol

[@Africasideways]

haha, for sure.

[@Beardinc]

Where would you get the Ram serviced/parts in Africa?

[@Africasideways]

Not an option for Africa, North America more specifically.

[@douglassage6579]

The Dodge ram is also a FCA product like the Jeep. Great engine but worst of the USA big trucks overall. I'd rather run a super duty. Anyone consider the international light trucks? Did they sell them outside the US?

[@Africasideways]

The F150 did not fare well on the chassis flex test vs the Ram, not sure how the super duty would get on. The 6.7 V8 diesel must be tasty to driver offroad and for heavy overlanding loads thou. International pulled out of South Africa a few years ago, fantastic engines. Don't they use Cummins like the Rams...? Cheers AS.

[@simondaniell2482]

Thanks for posting. What if the defender was a lot more reliable, which position would you give it?

[@Africasideways]

Thanks, reliable with more power would take some beating. But that's dreamland at this stage, perhaps the perentie, but very agricultural.

[@garagepie]

Does he have a Shell sponsorship....the best thing on a Td5 is the fuel economy

[@Africasideways]

that would be nice

[@slowboat2236]

No Defender in the top 3?? Iconic truck has paid it's doos. Some no-brainers like the Troop and 80.

[@Africasideways]

Yeah, tough to leave it out of top 3, but the competition is stiff!

[@FungedeBagre]

No Prado?

[@Africasideways]

Great vehicle, but not the best payload. 90 series is a classic.

[@greenrhythm965]

Where's the hi-lux????

[@Africasideways]

Lots of people are asking that, tough to leave it out. Perhaps it should be in instead of the relatively untested Ram....

[@mullerandre95]

Mitsubishi Pajero?

[@Africasideways]

Good budget overlander the earlier Pajero.

[@mullerandre95]

I got one for ZAR 10K, granted it needs a gearbox rebuild, but I can get one for you 2k. Still a bargain

[@Africasideways]

2K for a Paj? The 2.8 or V6? Presume it would need a lot of work.

[@mullerandre95]

Sorry typo it's 12k

[@mullerandre95]

For a 2nd hand gearbox for my 3,5 Pajero

[@abdulazizb2154]

what about volvo tgb?

[@Africasideways]

that's more tank than truck :)

[@abdulazizb2154]

@@Africasideways true but they look awesome (in my opinion) . I wish Volvo picked that project up and built a new one (with better motor,air conditioning and make it suitable for off road in warm climates) .We are all tourists here on earth since this world is temporary but glad to see people discovering this amazing world

[@Africasideways]

Ja, it would certainly make a great anywhere overlander. Thanks for the inside tip, never seen in SA.