theoretical long drive

[timwilks13]

Me and my misses have been looking to travel somewhere in the next few years and last week she came up with the idea that I should get the zuk up and running well enough to drive it to south east Asia, get a hard top on, properly kitted out with spares etc and set off. What im asking is, is this a realistic venture, as I would hate to entertain her just to let her down at some point. We're thinking of getting a small caravan stripped out to take along. Anyone got any views either way?

[Jay18]

As long as everything is running sweet an all good I think you'll be good to go, I've just got a small caravan and I am doing it up for weekends away, will see how it tows when I first go out in it, but your doing a 1.6 so you should be fine...

[dan_2k_uk]

There's plenty of cheap spares out there.

[Jordi]

There's lads going to Mongolia in an SJ

[donkeychomp]

I'd do it too but not towing a caravan!

[timwilks13]

What are your thoughts for not taking a caravan mate?

[Edweird]

What are your thoughts for not taking a caravan mate?

Pop up tent

[donkeychomp]

Well a caravan is heavy for one. You are going on a very long trip over all kinds of surfaces and those dinky caravan tyres ain't going to last long. Your fuel economy will be buggered (and an SJ isn't known for it's mpg qualities to begin with). You will have a nightmare on some roads even without towing a caravan. And towing for that period of time will put stress on you, the missus and even more on the little SJ. Like it was said earlier, get a wee tent and lots of spares. Maybe a roof rack? More to the point have a blast!

Alex

[twiss]

get a trailer and fit it with an SJ rear axle... then you can keep spares and camping equipment in that

[Anton]

Trailer tent?

I know a fellow who has one, it goes up in about 2 minutes (don't even have to unhook the thing) and comes down again in 5 (you have to be more careful putting it away so as not to trap the fabric).

Pop a shower tent into the equation and a solar shower, and you have everything.

They're so light, you won't know it's there.

If you're worried about Road surfaces, put bigger tyres on it/upgrade the suspension.

For the spares - roof rack.

If you're serious, upgrade your drivetrain, but not your propshafts. They're the easiest thing to replace, so make them your "fusible link". Then take spare ones.

Upgrading the rest of the drivetrain will cost a fair bit though.