the Pyrenees (RB14) - part 3/6
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- Опубліковано 12 жов 2024
- In our video series of the Pyrenees - RB 5 & 14 we start with the first half of roadbook 5 (traversé = the crossing from the Mediterranean to the Actlantic) and then at the common part with roadbook 14 we step over to RB14 (from Montsech to Guara) till the end in Alquézar. The roadbooks are from Vibraction.org
For us these are the first steps offroad with our overland Sprinter. So we still have to learn how to handle with the slightly larger width and height compared with a Discovery with rooftoptent.
We started 9 june 2018 and this was just after a long week of heavy rains so sometimes we had to tackle with some mud and fallen trees.
We were rather skeptical after 34 years of Land Rovers and especially just after a very capable Discovery 4 with air suspension and ingenious traction control. But after all, the Sprinter did very well, probably even slightly better than earlier Discovery 2 with BFG's AT1 and only 1 diff lock.
Waypoints:
Montsec (= parking and where the path to the Ermita de Santa Quitèria starts): 42°03'08.5"N 0°39'18.3"E
Fet: 42°02'34.7"N 0°37'34.7"E
Finestres: 42°00'23.8"N 0°37'01.0"E
viewpoint near Ermita de San Marco: 42°00'16.3"N 0°37'06.1"E
the beginning of the "Chinese wall de Huesca": 42°00'22.8"N 0°37'12.5"E
Great stuff, its awesome to see a van tackling this kind of terrain.
Thanks ! I agree. But this is only the beginning. I still have to get used to the Sprinter (after 34 years of LandRovers). Before I had to get used to (and trust) the splendid traction control of my Discovery 4, now I have to learn to trust the Sprinter (without traction control) and knowing again how and when to engage the diff locks. Engaging low gear with the Sprinter works (only when stopped) without any problem instantaneously, the diff locks need some more time and space to lock. I still have to get used to filming too, the most difficult situations are unexpected and then sometimes I forget to film. I try to build it all up, hoping to bring more awesome videos.
Superbes images 👍
merci pour ce partage 😀
A bientôt 😉
Avec plaisir ! RB14 en vaut la peine, n'est-ce pas? En juin nous avons fait la deuxième partie du RB5 (à partir d'Alquézar jusqu'à St-Jean-Pied-de Port - la vidéo suivra)
Wow. The wife are I are looking into a Sprinter. I am impressed with your will to toss that badboy into the wild. I would have a tough time in that with my Jeep XJ with 31s. Great work!
Great, thanks ! That's why I've chosen the very short Sprinter with low roof and heavy duty permanent 4x4. It has only the groundsurface of a Toyota Tacoma and has a short turning radius. I heard Iglhaut is probably comming to the USA, that could be the sollution for a heavy duty Sprinter. But don't forget a Sprinter is not a real rockcrowler nor a real offroader for technical trials. Nervertheless I'm happy with my small Sprinter for overlanding and as a multi functional stealth shorter distance traveler. See you on the road.
You Bet ! I have done the 116 up to Mont Louis and also Axat along the Aude river across the Pyrenees to Bourge Madame , also the N20 in my Rapido999m Sprinter V6 7 Speed Auto.
With all respect, as I told you in my previous answer her under, when we are talking about overlanding we are not talking about preparing for paved roads and certainly not about highways and "routes nationales". I never tell anybody they must have an overland vehicle. Of course anybody knows you don't need a reduction gearing on those paved roads (that's why we have the choice to switch it on or not). And of course I also drive those paved roads (and have fun on it) otherwise I wouldn't get at the unpaved roads and the places with the offroad fun. No hard feelings, I have respect for everyone's choice, whether they drive the biggest RV or the smallest car or any 4x4, as long as they have respect for all what surrounds them.
Super!
Thanks !
Спасибо , очень красиво!
Thanks, your welcome ! See you on the road.
Very nice video guys! Maybe airing down the tyres and engaging diff locks could have helped passing through the mud pit. We'll be in the Pyrenees in September with our IVECO Daily 4x4, thanks for your videos and tips about roadbooks! Cheers
Thanks! Have a nice trip! See you on the road.
Hello interesting watching your videos. I have and use it for work a 2017 4x4 sprinter with some good rubber . Planning a trip to Portugal in July I know it's hot but it's the only time I can get away with my partner as she is a teacher. My van is an automatic seems to handle the trails well. I'm in the UK . Have you any tips for me please .
You can find roadbooks here: vibraction.org/produit/road-book-30-seville-lisbonne/ and here: www.voyage4x4.com/Portugal/portugal.html and here: www.roadbookportugal.fr/?fbclid=IwAR24iCTjIWqHdFCYq0HHsHqlX_o80qvMzzeEtyZr2vdKBjl8vbNsDH0T8HE and of course the Algarve is always a beautiful coast to explore.
Wow! Fantastic! Great to see you pushing the limits of the 4x4 capability. Thank you for these videos! I hope you both had a merry Xmas! I have a few questions. I know you have an upgraded Oberaigner 4x4. Is this upgrade similar to the one sold by allrad Iglhault for the Sprinter? It is rumored that Iglhault will be offering their 4x4 up conversion here in the USA in 2019. Do you know much about this upfitters system? Do you know how they compare to Oberaigner? Similar? Articles I've read claim the Iglhault and Oberaigner is very similar to the 4x4 of a MB G-Wagon? Do you feel this is a fair comparison? Great to see the Sprinter is narrow enough to make it through these old towns! Be safe and have fun!
Thanks ! Sorry, i don't know all the details of Iglhaut. But before ordering my Sprinter I was interested in a smaller van and I when I saw the Iglhaut Mercedes Vito in full 4x4 with reduction gearbox I decided that would be the one. So I emailed several questions, but they didn't answered them all. When I asked to get a copy of the papers to show to the Belgian technical control (to be shure I could register it in Belgium), they didn't answer. When I asked how many Iglhauts were driving in Belgium, they answered they didn't know. But any way I made an appointment to order the van. Just a few days before the appointment someone drew my attention saying they probably still hadn't the right papers for homologation in Belgium. When I send them an email to postpone my appointment, they simply answered: we never told you we have a homologation for Belgium (hm yes, maybe they were thinking I was bying a car to put in my garden ...). I don't like such a mentality. So that's why I finaly ordered an Obaraigner. Oberaigner delivers all the components for the factury 4x4 Sprinter. So al the components/parts of the Oberaigner Sprinter can be ordered through any Mercedes garage around the world (because the Sprinter is driving in every country). Let's call the Oberaigner Sprinter with permanent 4x4, low gearing and diff locks the heavy duty Oberaigner. Well the Iglhaut Sprinter is comparable with the Oberaigner heavy duty. Only the Iglhaut has a slightly wider track and larger mud gards, and you can chose for bigger wheels than the heavy duty. For years iglhaut had the reputation of a weak front suspension (= transverse leaf spring), breaking after some time. Now it should be solved with the help of Mercedes making them a synthetic one (like in the Mercedes and Oberaigner Sprinter). For the rest, yes, Iglhaut says it uses Mercedes and mostly Mercedes G components. Some Germans (where both brands are available and legal) prefer Iglhaut others Oberaigner. I also wanted to stay as closely as posible to the worldwide Mercedes dealership. But in my opinion they are comparable (and neary equal), it's just a question of laws and papers. All the best in chosen the right vehicle for your needs ! See you on the road, JL
Eh, I'm sorry you had such a negative experience with Iglhaut. This story makes me worried about dealing with such a company if they would do this to you. Its one thing if you live in Europe to bring your Sprinter to Germany for service (if necessary) but what will I do if I need major help here in the USA or abroad? I hear from other overlanders like yourself that the stock Sprinter 4x4 is not robust enough for true world travel. Maybe once Iglhault starts selling Sprinters here Oberaigner will follow suit? You are so lucky to have such a choice of excellent 4x4 vehicles in Europe. I would love to buy the Oberaigner or perhaps even an Iveco but neither are currently available here in the USA. Keeping it in your garden! (Smile, lol) I had to look up what "homologation" meant. Thank you for the reply!
I don't think it is that bad with Iglhaut as it looks like at first sight. OK, I don't like the mentality, but I think that is local problem with staff. That has nothing to do with quality. I'm still convinced that the quality of Iglhaut and Oberaigner is comparable. About the strenght: I finally have chosen for the Sprinter over the VW Transporter (with Seikel suspention, reduction and diff lock), because a 4x4 camper builder said to me that he had a Transporter synchro and that he would dare to do serious offroad with it, it is not strong enough. He recommended the VW Crafter or Sprinter, it would be stronger. As the old Crafter wasn't available in the shortest version anymore (and the new Crafter wasn't out yet) at the moment I wanted to order ... I had no other choice than the Sprinter, in the category I wanted. The Iveco Daily 4x4 wasn't on their website in Belgium anymore, and more over it's over 3,5 ton and can't be put in a container. I know the Iveco is stronger and better offroad, but for me too big. And about world travel: every vehicle has his advantage and disadvantage and his limits. Also Unimogs brake their chassis in test for the military because it has a lot of twist and torsion, still for a lot of people this is the vehicle of their choice and dreams. Their are people who travel the world with a Transporter, a Sprinter or a stronger vehicle. You just have to know your limits. I think a bigger problem is chosing between new or old. With the new environmental standards, new laws and limits in just a few years it will be nearly impossible to have a vehicle to drive in every country in Europe and outside of Europe. Vehicles with AdBlue have problems with the older types of diesel with more sulfur. Besides you can not find AdBlue everywhere their diesel partical filtre gets full and these cars are stopped by their own computer... Oh and by the way with homologation I meant that every car in Belgium has to have a certificat of conformity (that it really is totaly conform and identic with the first car that was controlled and tested, also crash test). But not everyone is outhorised to give such a certificat. That certificat lists all technical details of the car and nothing can be changed. That's why we can even not change the size of our tires or put an extra window or an extra leaf spring or a towhook.
And I had contact with the firm that equiped the Sprinters for the rally des gazelles in Marocco. They only changed the back shocks and made the vehicle as light as possible. So that encouraged my choice.
There is a HUGE demand here for legitimate 4x4 campervans offered by Oberaigner and Iglhaut. I hope they both offer their upfitting services here in the States. I agree with you about the Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) issue and its affect on overland travel around the world. There is a rumor that MB is planning to offer the Sprinter with a petrol engine in the USA soon. This would allow people to travel around the globe without an issue since gasoline can be found in roughly equal measures to diesel, from what I've heard? You are right, overlanding seems to be a series of compromises. While I love the huge expedition vehicles, you seem to pay more in fuel and shipping fees when transporting over open water. Of course if you can afford one of these rigs, the money to ship and fuel is likely a non-issue. With complexity being the enemy, I wonder why one would want to travel to the most remote corners of the world in a beautiful but complicated and expensive vehicle with only a modicum of knowledge on how to fix the various components and features in a million Euro expedition vehicle? Guess it takes all kinds. I'd love to one day travel like you do but don't know anyone who is doing what you are doing. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!
You're right about the big rigs. But my most important obstacle to big trucks (apart from the price) is their weight and measurements. In europe and north africa I've been in too many villages and mountain tracks where I would not like to drive a wider vehicle, or in some cases it even wouldn't be possible. Now a days where budgets are shrinking and in some cases maintenance to bridges is limited I wouldn't prefer to drive a heavy vehicle because there more and more places, bridges, roads where the max weight is limited to 3,5ton and where trailers are not allowed. So a offroad camper trailer wasn't on my wishlist too. If I had to chose between a Iglhaut (with extra low gearing and diff locks) and original Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 with switchable 4x4 (and no diff locks and no extra low gearing), then I would take a Iglhaut. If they sell it in your country, then it should be legal in your country. More over a Iglhaut you can get with bigger tires. The Sprinter is not a van build for heavy offroad because it has no independent chassis, it is just a van developped as a monohull (in one piece) for road use. In the USA maybe a Ford 4x4 van (as from Agile offroad) would be an other choice. But for me in Belgium this was not possible a possible choice. And you say: "I'd love to one day travel like you do but don't know anyone who is doing what you are doing", that can not be a breakpoint. I know, I have the same problem I would prefer to find some likely minded couple with the same vehicle to do the same adventurous journeys, but that's not easy. More over overlanders are sometimes a bit independent and stubborn. I you know the english proverb: two is a crew, but 3 is a quarral... So follow your dreams and travel alone. Better traveling alone than not traveling. You start step by step. You can start by taking an offroad course and making a travel with a (payed) organisator.
3:03 into video that's cool. So many cool drives the tunnels you turn in are crazy! It was actually cool to see you full send through mud and get stuck. Any damage besides ego? Jk!!!😂😂😂 Loving it!!
Thanks ! And yes, I don't understand why the "Spanish Chinese Wall" (at 3:03) is not visited more, it's a real tourist attraction certainly worth a visit. And yes, the driving was fun. But so far, at the deep mud after working hard and after seeing a local 4x4 coming from the other side and deciding to turn back because it was too difficult for him, me too I decided to turn around and drive back, it was too much risky to get really stuck, certainly when driving alone. Finally I only took the chance because the 2 French fully equipped Jeeps arrived and offered help (and to be honest that was what I was hoping for). When I saw the deep tracks of the first Jeep passing through, I new the Sprinter would'nt pass. And after the Sprinter was winched out, when the second Jeep decided he would'nt drive through, then no ... my ego was not damaged (nor that of the Sprinter) 😂😂😂. Enjoy the next videos, JL