After countless miles, breathtaking vistas, and unforgettable encounters, Carsten and Rose Elsholz have reached a bittersweet ending of their planned world tour by our caravan and 4WD.
"We feel a blend of accomplishment, nostalgia, and a touch of sadness as we bid farewell to the caravan, our tiny home on wheels, for a smaller living space, of 13 foot floor length."
Caravanning, they say, teaches adventurers to embrace the unexpected and go with the flow. Plans change, weather shifts, and hiccups happen. Being able to adjust plans and embrace new circumstances is essential for a smooth journey.
"You learn to fix things yourself, find creative solutions to problems, and make the most of limited resources. We've learned so much along the way, not just about the places we've visited, but about ourselves and each other.
Caravanning teaches you to embrace the unexpected and go with the flow. Plans change, weather shifts, and hiccups happen.
"Being able to adjust your plans and embrace new circumstances is essential for a smooth journey. You learn to fix things yourself, find creative solutions to problems, and make the most of limited resources.
The couple had planned to tour in an offroad caravan towed by a V8 Toyota Land Cruiser, but have made the switch to a full-on expedition truck, a 40 year old Mercedes Unimog 1700L.
"It took us a long time to find something like this, but we couldn't resist getting this expedition vehicle for our overland trip around the world. With the sellers help, the camper and the truck were “married” and we finished the conversion to a motorhome, with certification and registration, we added tool boxes, a ladder, and a roof rack with a second spare tyre. "
The couple have changed their YouTube channel name to Kiwisontheway to better reflect “us”.
The Unimog 1700L is a legendary off-road utility vehicle known for its exceptional versatility, durability, and off-road capabilities. It has earned a reputation as one of the most capable vehicles in its class with a suite of impressive features designed for demanding tasks. Its portal axles are a standout, offering superior ground clearance compared to conventional axles.
- Portal axles provide exceptional ground clearance.
- High ground clearance: Allows traversing obstacles with ease.
- 4WD ensures maximum traction in challenging terrains.
-Differential locks enhance traction further by distributing power evenly to all wheels.
-Coil spring suspension: offers a comfortable ride even on rough surfaces.
-High payload capacity: currently 8-9 tons depending if water is filled up.
The Unimog 1700L stands out as a truly remarkable vehicle, combining robust engineering, exceptional off-road performance, and unmatched versatility.
"This ex-army Unimog 4X4 expedition camper is the ultimate off-grid survival truck. Built tough and designed to handle anything the world can throw at it, this Unimog camper conversion is ready for long-term off-grid living, and our overland adventures."
From its military-grade build to clever DIY camper modifications, this truck is as unique as it is unstoppable.
"We have been testing the truck over several trips, of 3-4 weeks, going twice to K’Gari Fraser Island, the outback, and now a longer trip to the southern New South Whales coast. Being an old truck we are learning a lot about maintenance. We have started the processes to ship to Asia in November."
