Which Trails/Journeys/Trials would you like to see INEOS attempt with the Grenadier ??

[Matt P]

Does anyone know the last vehicle to cross it and when?

 

[Baron von Teuchter]

I seem to recall somebody on a motorbike did it in the 90’s.

 

[OkGo]

WTF . Personally I’d drive around if I could. I only do anything that bad if I have no other choice.

yes, 100% - unless the intent is to get stuck in and do some mudplugging, I am entirely with you here.

 

[OkGo]

You are a wise man! Some people go end over end on the main ''option''
Same part of the world; Tyler take a trailer down as well!

View: https://youtu.be/pGlGxYF2Juk?feature=shared


View attachment 7906505

well, great demo of the steering pump shitshow^W noise.

 

[Zimm]

Don't waste time with a PLB. Ain't nobody there to answer it.

 

[OkGo]

I have always wanted to do a London to CapeTown kind of a thing. Down the West coast of Africa if at all possible, but tbh would take any route down.

The other bucket list is a London to the sea of Japan run.

In 2018 I was fortunate enough to do a run down from London through Finland into Murmansk and bash around a bit. Have also done the usual North Africa trips. But really want to get further while we still can.

 

[Logsplitter]

I have always wanted to do a London to CapeTown kind of a thing. Down the West coast of Africa if at all possible, but tbh would take any route down.

The other bucket list is a London to the sea of Japan run.

In 2018 I was fortunate enough to do a run down from London through Finland into Murmansk and bash around a bit. Have also done the usual North Africa trips. But really want to get further while we still can.

London to Cape Town is on my radar hopefully within the next two to three years. Just got to ease myself into retirement

 

[Tazzieman]

With my luck, the airbags would deploy with a hit like that.

A fun drive home, and your bff might biff you all the way

 

[TheDocAUS]

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/MZbQ38g521o?feature=shared

The Punsand Bay Camp Ground keeps a list of recovered cars each year on the OTT. It was something like 73 cars when I was there 10 years ago. They see all the outfall: fights, divorces, dream holidays ruined, cars lost, big $$$ spent to recover cars, you name it they saw it -= every year.

 

[parb]

London to Cape Town is on my radar hopefully within the next two to three years. Just got to ease myself into retirement

Lmk, probably more like 3-5 years for me but definitely on my list.

I did the mocambique to Namibia trip in the early 2000's and that was truly great

 

[[ Adam ]]

I would love if Grenadier went on the Transamerica trail. Documented the whole thing including repairs. That would be an podcast I would follow.

I did a portion of the TAT (mid TN to La Veta, CO) in my Xterra. It was pretty underwhelming. I hear It gets a lot better once you get into Colorado, but on the East half it was fairly pedestrian. There was plenty of blacktop and gravel road. It'd be a thing to do to say you'd done it, but I think it is a little over-romanticized.

 

[globalgregors]

As we travel alone overlanding, we cannot take unnecessary risks, especially when loaded to the hilt and in the middle of know where. I’m sure @globalgregors and @Matt P would agree. Occasionally I’ve done stuff that I’m really not happy about, but have had no other choice.

Yeah, totally agree. Very familiar with “well we’re here now… the only way is through”.
No need to go out of one’s way to find trouble when it’s perfectly fine at finding it’s own way to you.

 

[globalgregors]

Wise words.. can’t say I always follow them! Leah (my wife) is a good counter balance for me. If I was with a bunch of other 4x4 and sans family, I’d almost always go the most challenging route. I can’t help myself. Good stories for the bar afterwards and you always learn something.

In our vehicle risk appetite works like brownie points. One can only accrue so much and it can’t all be spent at once or there’s hell to pay.

 

[TheDocAUS]

Yeah, totally agree. Very familiar with “well we’re here now… the only way is through”.
No need to go out of one’s way to find trouble when it’s perfectly fine at finding it’s own way to you.

In some ways it is not surprising when you have channels like 4WD 24/7, where they set out to break cars. With sponsors paying the bill.

All for Adventure runs their cars really hard as well. The average Joe cannot afford the damage bill.

 

[globalgregors]

Does anyone know the last vehicle to cross it and when?

I think it was the Uptons/C6 Jeep… late 80’s. They went back and did it again on a bike in the 90’s, which is what @Baron von Teuchter might be thinking of.

I recall an expedition member was shot and killed on their earlier first attempt.

Edit: Here go, although the article overlooks I think two earlier crossings. Model T Ford (Brazil, 1930’s) and Land Rover (Brit/Australian, 1960’s).

The Life and Adventures of the Late Iconic Overlander Loren Upton

Loren Upton has died at age 87. The adventurer is remembered as the first to cross the Darién Gap by land and for driving around the world the long way.

gearjunkie.com

 

[TheDocAUS]

I am going to do this road. They are all secret squirrel about the name of the road, but I know what road it is. It use to be a highway, now it is degraded to a road. The term highway in remote Australia can mean a track. The road crosses the NT/WA border 3 times, his 5 times is a red herring.

Finnis River Station look likes it worth a visit as well. EDIT: maybe not after looking their rates. Corroboree Billabong is much cheaper.

The video was great to watch. They even drive past the eastern side (hint hint) of the Bungle Bungles.

A 4WD 24/7 video where they are not trying to damage their cars.

View: https://youtu.be/4iuPL50o9QE

The Bungle Bungles.

 

[AngusMacG]

Darien gap!

They planning on human trafficking and a bit of r*pe???