Best off road van

[bunnysquasher]

Hello,

I am off to Mongolia this summer with a couple of mates and http://mongolia.charityrallies.org/

We need to buy a van that will allow us to take the western / southern border into Mongolia and although we havent planned a route it looks like it might involve a couple of thousand miles off road (variable quality tracks).

So the question is what are the best off road vans? a few options would be good as money and availability play a large part in this.

Thanks

[hman]

you can get a land rover discovery van, I think the foresteries commission use them.

Its just a disco without back windows so its huge and has great off road ability

If you want comfort, speed and off road ability in a van I dont think you'll get much better!

[bunnysquasher]

That would be a great idea, but I really did a pretty poor job of explaining the specs.

In order to evade import tax to Mongolia, the vehicle should be less than 10 years old have less than 100k miles. I should have also mentioned my budget of up to £1000.

I'm pretty sure that this is unrealistic for a Landrover.

Having just looked at autotrader, to get all of this It probably has to be a LDV convoy of some description. These seem to be the cheapest second hand vans. are they awful? can they be raised?

[OllieWinchester]

I'd get a sprinter of some description probably, tough as old boots and quite high up anyway. They also do a 4x4 version but they aren't very common and I think you'd probably struggle to find one in budget.

[wrighty78]

Just "brainstorming" a bit...

I think some (or all) Tata Load-betas were 4wd - although it's a pick up rather than a van (although perhaps you could fit a Ivor Williams style "roof"?). Probably not enough room inside for 3 though...

Sorry - that's probably no help at all, is it....?

And does it need to be a van? I've just picked up a 1998 diesel Jeep Cherokee for only slightly more than your budget, which at least seats 3 in relative comfort and would probably cope with the terrain.

[bunnysquasher]

Well It's a bit of a trickey one, because the rally is for charity and the vehicle is being donated at the end.

Beacuse of this, it needs to be a commercial vehicle so we were thinking van with 3 in the front. I am up for alternative suggestions for example a crew cab pickup or a pickup with 3 in the front.

[wrighty78]

This:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-EXPLORER-4X4-AMBULANCE-...

(ETA: admittedly, probably going to go for more than budget...)

Edited by wrighty78 on Tuesday 31st March 15:42

[-Bacchus-]

bunnysquasher said:

That would be a great idea, but I really did a pretty poor job of explaining the specs.

In order to evade import tax to Mongolia, the vehicle should be less than 10 years old have less than 100k miles. I should have also mentioned my budget of up to £1000.

I'm pretty sure that this is unrealistic for a Landrover.

Having just looked at autotrader, to get all of this It probably has to be a LDV convoy of some description. These seem to be the cheapest second hand vans. are they awful? can they be raised?

Where are you based?
4x4 Auctions, particularly in rural areas.
You could even speak to local dealerships, if they have trade ins that they dispose of rather than sell on the forecourt....if you can talk the talk, even suggest they sponsor!

[pugwash4x4]

daihatsu hi-jet 4x4

would be perfect i reckon- bit small, but amazingly potent off road with a small lift and bigger tyres!