Overlanding in a Trabant through Africa

[oldmopars]

I guess just to prove that to be an Overlander you don't have to have a Toyota or Land Rover, this group from the Czech Republic decided to cross the continent of Africa in 2 Trabant 601 Universals. If you don't know what they are, they are a super cheap car, 2 cylinders, 2 stroke, front wheel drive and have a body made from plastic and old blue jeans. Oh, and 23 hp. Yes, 23 Horse Power. However they made the entire trip with only a few issues. The biggest mod was adding extra gas cans.
The video is available on Amazon Prime and is called Trabant goes to Africa. They show true Overlanding spirit.

 

[Joey83]

Cool :)

 

[Correus]

I'll see if I can find it again... the other day I saw a set of pics from a couple crossing Africa in a vintage Unimog; the pics were of a vehicle another couple were crossing Africa in, some vehicle from the 1920s.

 

[Boostpowered]

The russians do crazy stuff in their yugos all the time no real surprise. Lots of junk rolling around the autobahn since the fall of east germany.

 

[Dilldog]

This is the type of stuff I really like to see. People all too often overestimate equipment requirements. When I was into adventure motorcycling I used an EX250 Ninja with dirt bike tires for most of my exploring. I always loved passing guys on trails with their 20K+ BMWs on my beat to hell $2K Kawasaki.
Theres a few great stories of a few guys using Genuine Scooter Company Buddy50s and running them in the Baja 1000, all three of them finished with only body issues, zero mechanical issues. Also there were a few guys who ran the Dakar Rally (when it was in Africa) on Vespa 200s. Same thing, lots of body damage but zero mechanical issues.
Also all joking aside, the Top Gear guys do some amazing stuff with cars when it comes to their big epic trips. If some of those trips arent legit overlanding then nothing is, and 90% of the time they are crossing rough terrain in vehicles that you wouldnt think would handle it, but they do.

 

[oldmopars]

This is the type of stuff I really like to see. People all too often overestimate equipment requirements. When I was into adventure motorcycling I used an EX250 Ninja with dirt bike tires for most of my exploring. I always loved passing guys on trails with their 20K+ BMWs on my beat to hell $2K Kawasaki.
Theres a few great stories of a few guys using Genuine Scooter Company Buddy50s and running them in the Baja 1000, all three of them finished with only body issues, zero mechanical issues. Also there were a few guys who ran the Dakar Rally (when it was in Africa) on Vespa 200s. Same thing, lots of body damage but zero mechanical issues.
Also all joking aside, the Top Gear guys do some amazing stuff with cars when it comes to their big epic trips. If some of those trips arent legit overlanding then nothing is, and 90% of the time they are crossing rough terrain in vehicles that you wouldnt think would handle it, but they do.

Yep, like when they drove through Africa in “Estate” cars, (station wagons)

 

[Correus]

The Zapp family went around the world in a 1928 Graham-Paige. IIRC they didn't have any of the modern fancy stuff either.

 

[Billiebob]

And what do you guys pack for recovery gear.... Work gloves

 

[oldmopars]

That was one huge advantage, the cars are so light that 2 guys could lift the front of the car up and move it over out of the mud, sand or off an obstacle. No need for heavy winches or recovery gear. I doubt the car is strong enough to even support a winch, would probable rip the nose off.

 

[Correus]

That was one huge advantage, the cars are so light that 2 guys could lift the front of the car up and move it over out of the mud, sand or off an obstacle. No need for heavy winches or recovery gear. I doubt the car is strong enough to even support a winch, would probable rip the nose off.

Less to buy and less to maintain.

 

[Anak]

I remember Trabants.

Those things made Yugos look good.

IIRC cotton seeds were a substantial component of the body.

I guess it just goes to show, it doesn't matter what you drive.