Welding on the road..

[8est]

You're making it sound like the Camel trophy! As much as I would love to partake in something like that this wouldn't be the case, if a route becomes too difficult then we just turn around. The idea of taking a welder is really to extricate ourselves from a situation to get to a competent welder if needs be, although I wouldn't be taking one without having practiced a fair amount myself first. I am already planning to take a small genny for extended stays in one area, so my reasoning is why not take a welder if I can?

Vehicle? By common consensus in terms of reliability the Merc is comparable to Toyota and I'm afraid to say it far better than a landy but I will be taking a comprehensive spares and service kit in any case (including a spare shock mount). If anything else is needed then I can always get it shipped in from a contact in the UK or EU, I already have a spare engine and transfer box which will be left with someone competent to strip for parts and send if required. Also Mercedes have one of the largest dealership networks around the globe so I don't see parts being a major issue.

How's this for reliability? Gunther and G Wagen named Otto: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18910560

Cheers, Duffy, think I've got a copy somewhere but I'll have a look see anyway.

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

Apologies for having written something in haste, and then gone away for a day. Thanks to others for providing the explanations. Here are a few more thoughts.

Arc welding rods don’t work well if the coating gets wet, and that is why it is best to take them in sealed containers if you are travelling through humid tropics.

When I last worked in Africa and Asia it was common to find mains voltages very low, but with frequent “spikes”. You might be tempted to take an inverter type welder because those are light and compact, BUT in general they don’t like voltage spikes, humid conditions, dust, or being bumped around on rough roads.

I mentioned taking eye protection because I have seen many folk using shields with cracked or broken glass, and quite a number welding with no shield of any sort, just screwing their eyes up.

Consider which components are likely to need welding.

For bodywork repairs, take a few bits of sheet metal, a hand-operated drill, and some small bolts or pop rivets. That will get you to a town where somebody does oxy-acetylene welding.

For the exhaust system, take Jubilee clips, mild steel wire and copper wire, and cut patches from oil cans or kerosene tins for a temporary repair. Arc welding exhausts is very tricky, so again you are best to find somebody with gas welding equipment.

Suspension repairs are likely to need a high level of skill, and perhaps low-hydrogen or other specialised welding rods. I would suggest carrying a selection of bolts and some perforated steel strip (like giant Meccano). With those, you can cobble together simple clamps, use a length of steel angle as a splint, and reinforce tie rods or even wishbones for a temporary repair.

Regarding propshafts and driveshafts, which can be damaged when driving over rocks or potholes, if you need to ask for advice you probably shouldn’t be attempting to weld them.

A point in favour of taking a welder-generator is that, even if relatively inexperienced yourself, you are quite likely to find a local who does have the skills to do a good job if you can provide the equipment.

 

[MattF]

...but I wouldn't consider it without a second vehicle

Same here.

 

[8est]

Some really good well thought out advice there Rudi, thank you. I particularly liked the idea for bodge repairs for the suspension, not something I'd considered. I'm going to keep an eye out for a smallish tidy second hand welder generator as I think it'll serve my purposes.

I'm not too worried about the bodywork really as it's generally not critical to mobility. The drive shafts are encased within the axles but I may take a spare front prop shaft depending on weight. In any case I'll be taking a spring and at least one shock for spares. The chassis is about the strongest you can get for a 4x4 and is in very good condition but until I get the body off I can't tell whether the shock mounts will need replacing, they may well do considering the age of the vehicle. I'd love to stick all sorts of protection plates underneath the vehicle but worry about adding even more weight to an already heavy vehicle. I'll ask about in the G wagon circle for any other known weak points.

A second vehicle would be nice but isn't really an option at this stage, unless we chance upon other like minded travelers which isn't unheard of.
http://siroccoverland.com/2014/02/0...i-desert-and-the-route-north-to-ulaan-baatar/

Really appreciate everyone's replies and this has given me plenty to think about. I've got plenty of time for the moment so can hopefully get something reasonably priced and be well practiced in the basics beforehand. At the end of the day I know I can't cover every eventuality but I'd like to think I'll be as prepared as I reasonably can be before we set off.

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

Take a few lumps of rubber (eg old bump stops from the scrapyard) that can be lashed into the suspension if you happen to break a spring. At a pinch, a piece of wood will serve the same purpose, but I can tell you from personal experience that it’s not a comfortable way to travel fifty miles over dirt roads.

 

[8est]

Sounds like you could tell a few stories!

 

[fixerupper]

A welder generator sounds good to me , even if you never use the welder part to have something to provide light and charge batteries sound like a must on a trip like that .. I live in a remote hill village in Crete my genny is a vital bit of kit .....jeff.....

 

[8est]

Yup, that's the plan! I'm anticipating from what I've read about other people's trips that at points we'll need some down time and get off the road for a few days so I like the idea of a genny for extended stays.