Vehicle;
Your choice, be it a 4x4, a camper, an estate car or even a van. Depends on where you want to go, what you want in terms of space, how many seats, and how much room for baggage, equipment etc. Remember when overlanding it's not the type of vehicle or even if it's kitted out with all the latest goodies; it's the realibility that is foremost.
Where do you want to go? Do you need a carnet? Visas? Insurance? Vehicle docs? (Always best to carry them, even in Europe you’ll need to carry the original insurance docs and logbook).
Ease of maintainance?
Spare parts availability and cheap?
Do you want to go off-road?
Do you want to sleep inside the vehicle?
There’s plenty of info out there, in books/mags/forums etc, do a search to help you choose.
One thing I would recommend is getting European Comprehensive breakdown cover, I’ve got the RAC version, excellent service! IMHO. Join an RAC recognised MSA motor club and get upwards of a 50% off of the annual premium.
Make sure it is very well serviced, and maintained obviously, although s*** can happen as in the case of my gearbox in Poitiers.
Make a list, prepare and PLAN PLAN PLAN, or just go.
30/05/11; Just found out, driving from Split to Dubrovnik in Croatia, one has to pass through the Neum corridor of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Didn't know that, this is why I love looking at maps and planning................
Insurance;
Make sure your insurance covers outside the EU, i.e. if you’re going to Andorra, Switzerland, etc.
EHIC;
Equipment;
Again IMHO, whether your travelling light or taking everything and the kitchen sink, everyone is different, find out what suits you best.
I shan’t bore you with how many teaspoons or pairs of socks you need to take, I’m sure you know that already, but hopefully below are a few pointers in my brief experience.
Basics
Make a list of what you need, then search ebay, amazon, argos etc or sites like this one; http://www.campingworld.co.uk/Default.aspx
Once you’ve got your equipment, go and try camping close to home to test the equipment and see if you like the camping lifestyle, not everyone’s suited.
Also ideally take things that have a multi-purpose and things that fold or collapse, i.e bucket in a bag (basically a collapsible bucket-RNLI), single gas cooker/heater (normal single burner with a heating cylinder that can be added on top, great for heating-EBAY), Smart start grill, doubles up as a BBQ and firebox-EBAY.
Baby wipes; took a pack on my Moroccan trip, very handy, really cools you down and freshens you up while driving.
Tools
If it’s just the UK or W.Europe, good breakdown cover maybe enough, but better still take a few tools (just for your vehicle, no point in taking a full socket set only to find you’ll never use half of them) and the odd useable spare part, like fan belt, filters, oils, puncture sealant can etc.
Travelling in Europe
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/countrybycountry.html?mySelect=%2Fmotoring_advice%2Ftouring_tips%2Faustria.pdf&go.x=80&go.y=10
Each European Country has different driving requirements, check the countries above, i.e.
Spain - you need 2 breakdown triangles, most of Europe you only need 1.
France – look out for the yellow diamond with a black line through it, in towns and villages, it means people joining the main road from a side road or if they're coming onto a roundabout, that your already on, they have right of way.
Germany – trams have right of way at junctions.
Switzerland – you must have your dipped headlights on, even in daylight hours.
Italy – fit a loud horn.
Camping in Europe
Ferries
Direct ferries, ferry savers, aferry, etc etc, google them.
Petrol, Diesel or LPG
Again your choice, LPG is harder to find even in W. Europe.
Maps
http://www.stanfords.co.uk/ The great source! Or WH Smith, Amazon etc.
SatNav
Depends where you want to go, IMHO there’s know real substitute for paper maps, but some satnavs are very good and could be used, as well as a map. If you go to Europe, get a “street level” satnav version, and not an “MR or Major roads only version. TomTom, Co-Pilot or Garmin, these I know of, there may be others.
GPS systems
Many options, some expensive, but for use mainly further afield or off-road, again the market is vast. Garmin up there with the best of them, just brought a 60CSX, will test it on my next trip, but currently using it for geocaching to get me use to it. Reporting back re 60CSX, a brilliant tool, used Garmin waypoint manager, downloaded tracks, all very easy to do and the whole thing worked very well. Great battery life, very easy to get use to, easy to read screen even in direct sunlight, and very good satellite reception.
Update 30/07/11; Sold the 60CSX, was quite happy with until I saw the latest Garmin Montana, brought a 650t version and I must say it's an awesome piece of kit, sat nav and gps in one, using it with Garmin street level maps and Garmin's free basecamp mapping software for my next trip. Very easy to use, plan and transfer routes.
GPS trails/tracks/waypoints
Tracking
http://www.findmespot.eu/en/index.php?cid=102 To help keep track of the places I visit for family, friends, myself and for extra security, I've got the SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger, it's not a PLB or satellite phone, but is a useful tool and allows selected contacts to receive OK/update messages on your travels/progress.
UPDATE; 28th April 2011 - A really useful tool to help yourself and others to keep track of you, if the date and time on your camera matches the Countries your in, once uploaded to Spot, this locates the pictures automatically cross-referencing the photos with data from Spot. Brilliant.
Storage boxes
http://www.solentplastics.co.uk/home/ An excellent place to get almost any size box, crate, drum, tank or whatever else you need. Also try the £ type of shops. Or pick some banana boxes for free from your local supermarket.
Fridges, coolboxes, cookers etc
Personal choice, and with so many types, take your time to choose. If there is just 2 of you around W. Europe, really all you need is a single burner that takes CV470/CP250, different model numbers for different makes, basically a cylinder can (bit like an air freshener can) type of gas, cheap from Agros with 4 gas canisters, about £15.00. Fridge or coolbox, depends how many times you go camping and if you can justify the cost of a proper fridge, if not a 12v coolbox will do you, just don’t leave it on and plugged into your vehicle at night because you’ll probably have a flat battery in the morning. There are also 3 way (gas/12v/240v) fridges, I know nothing about these type.
Batteries;
Fuel carriers
In Europe; 1 x 5/10/20 litre carrier is enough, most of North Africa you may want to take 2/3 JCans, further afield some people still say 2/3 carriers JCans are enough. Some people have more fuel tanks fitted, though obviously when full and if your stuck in sand/mud etc, this is a dead weight, if for example you had 4 x 20 ltr JCans full, at least you could off load these to lighten the load.
Water purification
If your travelling further afield or even if your not; albeit driving, riding, walking, climbing etc, decent drinking water is essential. This is the answer; http://www.lifesaversystems.com/unique.html I brought the 4000ltr bottle version, it really does work and is most excellent.
Tents and sleeping gear
Again there are 1000’s of allsorts to choose from, personally I’d get a tent that is easy and quick to put up and take down and a good ¾ sleeping bag. But you can get duvets, sleeping bag liners, pillows, blankets etc etc.
Weatherproofing
Get Fabsil Gold, not the ordinary one, an excellent weatherproofing liquid for all kinds of fabrics, used it on my worn roof tent cover and it worked very well.
Weight
I’m sure you know that 1litre of water = 1kilo (approx), so when carrying water, bottled or otherwise, extra fuel or other liquids, make sure it’s down low and spread about.
There will be amendments, or more to follow……………..not sure what, but I’m sure I can find something to waffle about. :) |
Overlanding; Vehicle & Equipment