PPE Vehicles
Each of our expeditions is organized for a specific category of vehicle. When looking to join a PPE expedition, check the category of vehicle it is open to.
CAT 1: Cat 1 trucks are the typical, stripped down trucks you see in our pics and videos. While most of these are older Land Rovers, we are always open to other open-style brands such as Jeep, older Toyota’s like the original FJ40 or European ex-military vehicles like Fiat’s, Renault, Iveco or Mercedes.
CAT 2: Category 2 trucks are more standard 4x4’s with the usual overlanding mods.
Preparing a Desert-Ready PPE Truck
PPE expedition trucks need to meet the following criteria:
Be soft top vehicles (CAT 1) that can be stripped down easily, or with hard tops that are easily removeable, or overland-equipped standard 4x4’s (CAT 2).
Be in good mechanical condition. If a recent rebuild a minimum of three months regular use prior to departing on an expedition to prove reliability
Carry a reasonable selection of tools and spares
Be LIGHT. Overloaded trucks are a liability on our expeditions as the vehicle has to work significantly harder to cross challenging terrain if heavily loaded and increases chances of major breakdowns.
Be fitted with a CB radio capable of operating on EU AM-band frequencies.
Carry recovery gear such as sand ladders, tow ropes/straps and shovels.
Be able to carry enough fuel and water, preferably in jerry cans, for up to seven days of independent travel.
Long Wheel Base trucks form the backbone of PPE vehicles.
Short Wheel Base trucks act as our scouts and route finders.
A good mix of trucks gives us the best options on every expedition.
Stripping the Trucks…
After the long transit from UK/EU down to the Sahara, our tops, windscreens, doors and extra gear go into secure storage during the desert phase.