Modifying my Atego for overlanding

[Jason Farenden]

Hi all,

I am new to the truck world and have bought my very first truck, which I am modifying for extended overland travel (5-10 years) across Asia minor and beyond.

Whilst I am under no illusions that this is not an offroad vehicle (it's got a 7m box on that back) and is totally standard... it does have air suspension on the rear axle.

I want to fit a diff lock, or change the axle for one with a diff lock and replace the fuel tank with one that will carry around litres of fuel and also increase the size of the wheels if possible.
I'm looking for some help with adding the diff lock or replacing the axle with a similar one (NOS or good used) but I'm confused about if this is possible; what the HL2/HL4 difference is or what sort if axle I should be looking for, or can I use an axle from something like an 824 or 1222 etc.?

Same for the fuel tank - can I get a tank from one of the other Atego's?
If anyone has any advice, comments, companies/people that I could contact or any help at all would be much appreciated.

Many thanks!!
Jase

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome

Zetros would be a better start... although likely much more expensive

 

[Jason Farenden]

I specifically didn't want anything like this... My requirements were that it was 7.5 tonnes or less... Didn't cost a fortune and had as big a box on the back as possible... I did consider a Vario, but too short!!
Need to keep my girlfriend happy with the space and I'd rather spend the money on the actual trip rather than spending all the money on the vehicle if that makes sense?

Last year I had a Russian UAZ 452 4x4.. that was fun, but again not what I needed!

 

[Wighty]

Welcome buddy

 

[Jason Farenden]

HEY - MANY THANKS!!!!

 

[V6Matty]

Can’t help with any of the technical stuff your asking I’m afraid but sounds like an amazing trip you have planned when you get there.
Might be worth a call to someone like Mertrux, not sure if they have done anything similar but might at least be able to subsequently point you in the right direction?

 

[Jason Farenden]

Can’t help with any of the technical stuff your asking I’m afraid but sounds like an amazing trip you have planned when you get there.
Might be worth a call to someone like Mertrux, not sure if they have done anything similar but might at least be able to subsequently point you in the right direction?

Great stuff... thanks for the tip!!
I'll certainly look them up.
I'm thinking of this more as a lifestyle change than a trip... If all these youngsters can 'sell everything' and bugger off and do vanlife, then an old git like me should be able to have a crack at it.
I love taking inappropriate vehicles and making them do stuff they weren't designed for... the Russian bus was 50 years old and the year before I rode my 80's 2-stroke vespa down to Albania and back... camping all the way!!
Don't have a big budget, but need to see stuff and get away from all of this Brexit, commercialism nonsense!

Apologies... don't know where that came from!!

 

[Chrishazle]

There's a lot of this sort of thing going on in Oz from what I hear, except it's the recently retired, believe they call them something like the grey nomads. Some years (a decade or more) ago I tried to convince my wife we should do something similar - sell the house, take a large campervan all round UK and Europe then sell it, fly to North America and start again, travelling N/S America, then sell it and start again in NZ and Oz. That idea flew worse than a lead baloon!!

 

[Blobcat]

There's a lot of this sort of thing going on in Oz from what I hear, except it's the recently retired, believe they call them something like the grey nomads. Some years (a decade or more) ago I tried to convince my wife we should do something similar - sell the house, take a large campervan all round UK and Europe then sell it, fly to North America and start again, travelling N/S America, then sell it and start again in NZ and Oz. That idea flew worse than a lead baloon!!

Very popular in the US of A as well. Retire, sell the farm/house and buy a Class 1 Recreational Ve-hi-cule.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome, interesting story and choices- good luck