About Overland Ruth

Specifications:

Make:	Toyota
Model:	Landcruiser Prado KZJ78
Year:	1994
Engine:	1KZT-E 3L Turbo Diesel (2982cc)
Fuel:	Diesel
Fuel Capacity:	80L (180L with Jerry Cans)
Transmission:	Automatic
Kilometers:	205,000Km (estimated at point of sale)
Drive:	Right Hand Drive
Country of Registration:	Zambia
Price:	$14,000 USD
Pickup Date:	Early September 2012
Pickup Location:	Lusaka, Zambia
Contact:	overlandruth@gmail.com

Modifications (summary with detail below):

• New 1KZ-TE Cylinder Head (fitted in Lusaka at 190,000Km). Toyota genuine head with genuine gaskets. Also replaced radiator with genuine Toyota at ~195,000Km to prevent problem recurring.
• Garmin Nuvi 205W GPS with Tracks4Africa 11.10 Maps.
• 2" Ironman 4x4 Suspension Lift Kit (with steering damper) fitted at 172,000Km in Zambia. 
• 4x BF Goodich Mud Terrain T/A KM2 Tyres (fitted at 180,000Km in Namibia) with Locking Wheel Nuts 
• 2x Falken Landair/AT Traction spare tyres (one on rear and one on roof)
• Eezi-Awn Jazz Tent 1.2m (fitted at 180,000Km in Nambia) Better product photos here 
• Custom Roof Rack with 2x Lockable 20L Jerry Can Holders
• 5x 20L Jerry Cans (including two on roof) bringing total fuel capacity to 180L
• Dual Battery System with Exide Starting and Exide 100aH Deep Cycle Battery with Redarc SBI12 Isolator
• 40L Engel 12/240V Refrigerator
• 12-240V 300W Pure Sine Wave Inverter (for charging Laptops/Cameras/Phones/iPod on the go)
• Safari Snorkel Clone
• Aussie Locker XD-20830 Auto Locking Differential in Rear 
• Hella 700FF Spotlights mounted on Front Bumper (extra large and super bright) 
• Braai (BBQ) which mounts to rear spare tyre
• 35% Tinting on all windows except Windscreen (to stop people looking in)
• Manual Locking Hubs to replace the factory electric ones which have a history of failure.
• Safety Equipment: Fire Extinguisher and Triangles
• Shovel

Overland Ruth's History

This car was imported from Japan into Zambia in 2005 by an American Embassy worker who owned the car until 2009. It was subsequently purchased by an Australian VSO Volunteer who owned the car for 18 months before selling it to us in November 2010.

She have successfully completed trips through Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe multiple times, tackled the sand in Chobe National Park in Botswana many times and seen much of Zambia before commencing on the East Africa journey from Zambia to Ethiopia.

The car has been well maintained with regular oil and filter changes (5,000Km interval) and has had many modifications made to transform it from a Japanese 'soccer mum' car into a true African Overland 4x4. We will have driven from Zambia to Ethiopia by the time you collect the car and fully expect it to be a reliable 4x4 capable of driving from Addis to Cape Town.

Ruth was named by the previous owners after Ruth Mallory wife of George Mallory the famous Mt. Everest mountaineer. She was named Ruth because Ruth Mallory was known to be loyal and reliable and possessed all the qualities you want in an Overland 4x4.

Why Buy Overland Ruth?

Like you, we had always read about the Cape-to-Cairo East African self-drive safaris with envy. The opportunity to explore such a wild continent without paying mega-bucks or being forced to see just the main tourist sites was so appealing that the transformation of our almost stock Landcruiser Prado into Overland Ruth began almost immediately as we entered Africa. A 4x4 allows you to experience places like Mt. Kilimanjaro, Serengeti or the Rwandan Gorillas but also follow the 'road less travelled' and see the untamed northern coast of Mozambique, drive with the elephants in Botswana and climb to Ethiopia's beautiful churches on your own time.

Despite civil unrest in many parts of Africa most of East Africa still presents a relatively safe and realistic travel destination. The events of 2011 in Egypt and Sudan have made the traditional Cape-to-Cairo less accessible and an Ethiopia-to-Cape Town trip more appealing hence Overland Ruth being sold in Addis Ababa - just fly into Addis Ababa and drive south.

If you want to follow our adventure please see our blogs:
Postcards from East Africa
mike.seddon.ca

If you are considering doing a trip then please contact us and we can work out if Overland Ruth is right for you.

Modifications

(Click on photos for larger images)

Garmin Nuvi 205W GPS with Tracks4Africa 11.10 Maps

This is one of the basic Garmin GPS models but has performed flawlessly for many thousands of kilometres. The Tracks4Africa 11.10 Maps are loaded and have almost all roads you will ever drive on through East Africa as an overlander - including almost all national parks. Never leave home without it.

2" Ironman 4x4 Suspension Lift Kit

Full Ironman 4x4 Suspension upgrade fitted at 172,000Km in Zambia. This includes heavy-duty coils and foam cell shock absorbers on all four corners and foam cell steering damper.

4x BF Goodich Mud Terrain T/A KM2 Tyres

The best of the best. BF Goodrich has won the Dakar Rally consistently over the last ten years and these tyres are the outcome. Extremely good in the sand and the mud. We fitted them in Tsumeb, Namibia at roughly 180,000Km. They are secured with locking wheel nuts for security (which can be seen in the Manual Locking Hub photo below).

Eezi-Awn Jazz Tent 1.2m

This tent is Eezi-Awn's cheapest tent but we have found it very comfortable and reliable. This is the 1.2m wide by 2.4m long model. The simple design means it can be set up in about 5 minutes by one person and is very waterproof.

40L Engel 12/240V Refrigerator

We bought this second hand from an ex-pat family in Lusaka, Zambia. This is an old-school Engel refrigerator with the ultra-reliable Sawafuji Swing Motor. It was originally bought in Germany where it was modified by Woick for extra cooling capability. Supposedly capable of -18 degrees Celsius.

12-240V 300W Pure Sine Wave Inverter 

This 12-240V 300W Pure Sine Wave Inverter is mounted under the passenger seat and allows electronic devices such as Cameras, Laptops, Phones, iPods to be charged as if they were plugged into a regular 240V wall outlet. The location means it the devices can be plugged in without stopping the car. The plug is an Australian outlet.

Safari Snorkel Clone

Bought in January, 2012 from South Africa this is a copy of one of the brand name snorkels. It's primary benefit is to draw less dust into the air filter as the factory air intake is much lower (above the driver's side wheel).

Aussie Locker XD-20830 Auto Locking Differential

The Aussie Locker XD-20830 Auto Locking Differential is an 'auto locker' (sometimes known as a Detroit Locker) which provides semi-permanent differential lock. When the outside wheel overruns the speed of the inside wheel in turns the locker automatically unlocks. The upshot is that you gain a massive amount more traction when offroad and often don't need to engage 4x4. More information available here.

Hella 700FF Spotlights

These spotlights were brought up for me from South Africa and are basically the best brand for spotlights. These Hella lights are extra big and are extremely bright. If you are unfortunate enough to need to drive at night then at least you know everyone will turn down their highbeams when you turn these on.

Braai (BBQ)

This braai (barbeque) grill was made in Livingstone based on a very clever design coming out of South Africa. The braai easily mounts to the rear spare tyre so as to take up very little space but also serves as a security system for that spare tyre as it is locked on.

Manual Locking Hub

These manual hubs replaced the factory electric ones which have a very high failure rate due to them being drowned in water or not being serviced properly. These are Aisin Brand which are the factory ones for the bigger Land Cruisers and offer much better reliability.

Gallery