What Car? - Mongol Rally
Discussion
k are you going to cope with the repairs that you need on a journey around the world, to a place that roads dont go to?Having watched plenty of team videos on youtube from previous entries to the rally, and seen those who have made it.
I don't think i've seen one car with half the prep that you have suggested. Not to say your wrong, the plating of engine and gearbox is going on my car. Plus tyres etc, but i think some of the rest is imo, a bit ott.
The latest one is 3 people in a Fecking Vx Agila, who make it to Mongolia in it.
Anyway, i'm more than experienced to drive their roads. I've driven into and OUT of Hull.
I don't think i've seen one car with half the prep that you have suggested. Not to say your wrong, the plating of engine and gearbox is going on my car. Plus tyres etc, but i think some of the rest is imo, a bit ott.
The latest one is 3 people in a Fecking Vx Agila, who make it to Mongolia in it.
Anyway, i'm more than experienced to drive their roads. I've driven into and OUT of Hull.
A.J.M said:
Having watched plenty of team videos on youtube from previous entries to the rally, and seen those who have made it.
I don't think i've seen one car with half the prep that you have suggested. Not to say your wrong, the plating of engine and gearbox is going on my car. Plus tyres etc, but i think some of the rest is imo, a bit ott.
The latest one is 3 people in a Fecking Vx Agila, who make it to Mongolia in it.
Anyway, i'm more than experienced to drive their roads. I've driven into and OUT of Hull.
Which bit is over the top? Only the full flat bottom, in my opinion. Its a good idea but its a lot of work. The other stuff is essential, I think.I don't think i've seen one car with half the prep that you have suggested. Not to say your wrong, the plating of engine and gearbox is going on my car. Plus tyres etc, but i think some of the rest is imo, a bit ott.
The latest one is 3 people in a Fecking Vx Agila, who make it to Mongolia in it.
Anyway, i'm more than experienced to drive their roads. I've driven into and OUT of Hull.
Tell me what you think is unnecessary and I will tell you why I think that its crucial.
GC8 said:
Which bit is over the top? Only the full flat bottom, in my opinion. Its a good idea but its a lot of work. The other stuff is essential, I think.
Tell me what you think is unnecessary and I will tell you why I think that its crucial.
I think you're blurring the line between banger rally and dakar rally.Tell me what you think is unnecessary and I will tell you why I think that its crucial.
Generally speaking heat protection isn't really an issue, and unless you really engineer the bash protection and skids well and test them. Chances are they're going to break off / twist and ending up causing more of a nuisance of themselves.
A sumpguard wouldn't be a bad idea though if you're think you're going to struggle with rocky patches.
Taking an Uno through sand, our biggest problem was it bellying out in the soft stuff. Although we had to dig it out fairly frequently it really wasn't that hard, as it had only managed to sink a few inches before becoming stuck.
Ahh if those god damned Mongolians can do it on the back of Scabby Llama, how hard can it be?wombat172a said:
GC8 said:
Which bit is over the top? Only the full flat bottom, in my opinion. Its a good idea but its a lot of work. The other stuff is essential, I think.
Tell me what you think is unnecessary and I will tell you why I think that its crucial.
I think you're blurring the line between banger rally and dakar rally.Tell me what you think is unnecessary and I will tell you why I think that its crucial.
Generally speaking heat protection isn't really an issue, and unless you really engineer the bash protection and skids well and test them. Chances are they're going to break off / twist and ending up causing more of a nuisance of themselves.
A sumpguard wouldn't be a bad idea though if you're think you're going to struggle with rocky patches.
Taking an Uno through sand, our biggest problem was it bellying out in the soft stuff. Although we had to dig it out fairly frequently it really wasn't that hard, as it had only managed to sink a few inches before becoming stuck.
With your Uno, a smooth bottom and a bit of extra clearance wouldve helped you no end. Add a pair of treadless tyres and youd have been unstoppable!
GC8 said:
Which bit is over the top? Only the full flat bottom, in my opinion. Its a good idea but its a lot of work. The other stuff is essential, I think.
Tell me what you think is unnecessary and I will tell you why I think that its crucial.
I think it's all a "nice to have" rather than crucial, to be honest. And things like seam welding/gussetting seem very over the top, especially when we're talking about a £500-1k car - especially given that part of the point/adventure on the Mongol Rally seems to be breaking down/using an inappropriate car then getting out of the situation, rather than rocking up prepped for the Dakar.Tell me what you think is unnecessary and I will tell you why I think that its crucial.
ETA - I'm not suggesting that you should turn up unprepared, of course. That would be a bit silly, but it's about getting the balance right.
Edited by _Neal_ on Wednesday 14th August 16:16
Radiator mountings and slip joint exhausts are essentail though and I think that chaining your mounts, whichll cost next to nowt is equally important.
Most cars dont get there - of those who do most are prepped in this way. If you want to get into Asia then you need this sort of prep to make the car hardy enough to endure the roads and the crossings.
Most cars dont get there - of those who do most are prepped in this way. If you want to get into Asia then you need this sort of prep to make the car hardy enough to endure the roads and the crossings.
GC8 said:
I see your point, but it could be as simple as a couple of triangular flitch pieces reinforcing a crossmember and simple plating, or maybe even only seam welding around the suspension mounts.
Yeah, that sounds like a decent shout. Buggered suspension mount isn't going to be fun. I did it in 2007 - back when these were the rules aswell. I see they have re-introduced them for this year and cut the price.. mmm..
Used a Ebay special £125 Rascal van - main mechanical prep was a duel core rad and a fresh Cam belt.
The best car's were the micra's no doubt.. If by best you mean the most relaible.
Worth noting that if your on a tight budget I wouldn't bother signing up - just tag along and sort out you own visa's. At the end you'll be able to get rid of the car somehow - I saw some Ozzies do it to a LR Discovery. The organisation they do is fairly minimal.
Used a Ebay special £125 Rascal van - main mechanical prep was a duel core rad and a fresh Cam belt.
The best car's were the micra's no doubt.. If by best you mean the most relaible.
Worth noting that if your on a tight budget I wouldn't bother signing up - just tag along and sort out you own visa's. At the end you'll be able to get rid of the car somehow - I saw some Ozzies do it to a LR Discovery. The organisation they do is fairly minimal.
GC8 said:
Radiator mountings and slip joint exhausts are essentail though and I think that chaining your mounts, whichll cost next to nowt is equally important.
Most cars dont get there - of those who do most are prepped in this way. If you want to get into Asia then you need this sort of prep to make the car hardy enough to endure the roads and the crossings.
Okay, I usually don't, but I'll bite...Most cars dont get there - of those who do most are prepped in this way. If you want to get into Asia then you need this sort of prep to make the car hardy enough to endure the roads and the crossings.
A few years back I did the Mongol Rally in a near-standard Mini and got to Mongolia fine with almost none of your 'essential' modifications. This year I drove most of the route of the rally again in a completely standard Chevrolet Corvette, which had a ground clearance of about 8cm and no underbody protection. It did the trip just fine. As did my mate's 1978 Rolls Royce.
And despite having minimal mechanical knowledge, on both occasions, we lived.
As for how many cars make it to Mongolia, on the year I did the Mongol Rally, 112 out of 169 cars got there, and categorically none were prepared as you describe. (Well, maybe one or two were, but they got laughed at by everyone else for totally missing the point of the rally.)
The rally is about setting off into the unknown with no idea what's going to happen, digging deep, and hoping for the best. It's a roll of the dice; it's not about doing everything you can to make sure you get to Mongolia...
OP- just go with whatever vehicle takes your fancy, do a minimum of preparation and go have an amazing adventure... good luck :-)
_Neal_ said:
GC8 said:
I see your point, but it could be as simple as a couple of triangular flitch pieces reinforcing a crossmember and simple plating, or maybe even only seam welding around the suspension mounts.
Yeah, that sounds like a decent shout. Buggered suspension mount isn't going to be fun. An old school-mate of mine did it in a Bedford Rascal and I believe was part of a team of two vehicles. The benefit of running two identical objects means sharing some spares and lots of knowledge. There was an engine change in a Belgian campsite though.
Looks brilliant. What about an old Fiat Panda part time 4x4? They had a lever to engage 4wd, but as a 2wd bit of kit were high, softly sprung and jolly basic. Just peel the 4x4 stickers off/promise not to engage it. You could only go 30mph with it engaged anyway!
Looks brilliant. What about an old Fiat Panda part time 4x4? They had a lever to engage 4wd, but as a 2wd bit of kit were high, softly sprung and jolly basic. Just peel the 4x4 stickers off/promise not to engage it. You could only go 30mph with it engaged anyway!
fivetenben said:
GC8 said:
Radiator mountings and slip joint exhausts are essentail though and I think that chaining your mounts, whichll cost next to nowt is equally important.
Most cars dont get there - of those who do most are prepped in this way. If you want to get into Asia then you need this sort of prep to make the car hardy enough to endure the roads and the crossings.
Okay, I usually don't, but I'll bite...Most cars dont get there - of those who do most are prepped in this way. If you want to get into Asia then you need this sort of prep to make the car hardy enough to endure the roads and the crossings.
A few years back I did the Mongol Rally in a near-standard Mini and got to Mongolia fine with almost none of your 'essential' modifications. This year I drove most of the route of the rally again in a completely standard Chevrolet Corvette, which had a ground clearance of about 8cm and no underbody protection. It did the trip just fine. As did my mate's 1978 Rolls Royce.
And despite having minimal mechanical knowledge, on both occasions, we lived.
As for how many cars make it to Mongolia, on the year I did the Mongol Rally, 112 out of 169 cars got there, and categorically none were prepared as you describe. (Well, maybe one or two were, but they got laughed at by everyone else for totally missing the point of the rally.)
The rally is about setting off into the unknown with no idea what's going to happen, digging deep, and hoping for the best. It's a roll of the dice; it's not about doing everything you can to make sure you get to Mongolia...
OP- just go with whatever vehicle takes your fancy, do a minimum of preparation and go have an amazing adventure... good luck :-)
Different people approach adventure rallies in differing ways. I have always favoured proper preparation, leaving only the things that I couldnt have easily prevented stopping me.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff