Built in Mar 2000 from a rolling shell in the paddock to registration in 5 weeks. It was built for a trip across The Simson Desert in June/July 2000. It had Country Buggy axles fitted to a 1200 beetle box (5.5 to 1) and CB front end, 1600 TP motor, basicly stock (009), 15x6.5 rims with 235/75 Mud Terrains on the back and 215/75 All Terrains on front. It had 170 lts of fuel, 82 lts water, dual batteries, 29 lt Engel fridge plus tools, spares and all our food and camping gear and weighed in at 1.6 tonne fully loaded. We did 7050 ks in 4 weeks and the only trouble was a cracked spring plate which I welded up using 2 batteries and jumper leads using 2mm rods.
Ian. (photo on top of Big Red -western side- near Birdsville)

Between Birdsville and Big Red.

Hi desert Bug glad to see you flying the VW flag in the outback, I hope you gave the megabuck 4x4 mob a good run for their money!
How did she perform?
Rob....

Good to see you get out there and test out your Desert Bug. Would be keen to hear more about your trip..

your crazy! unreal, good on ya

Yeah I'm crazy but hey I love it.
The Baja perform better than the 3 4x4s that were travelling with us, none of them were able to climb Big Red (some had 3-4 tries). There was a yellow Hummer there at the time (two Yanks and they paid $120,000 for it) and they saw me climb the western slope (steepest - 90 meter climb) first try and they tried for 2 hrs and gave up and went down to Chicken Red to cross over.
Ian.

What quality about the beetles make them so good for that type of work?

Is it power to weight?
Wheelbase?
Suspension type?
Approach angle due to cut off front?
Lift due to light front?

Peter, it's all of those things you mentioned plus the low gearing I was using and low tyre pressure (15 psi rear, 10 psi front).

Ian.

Wheres the picture of it in the clay pit?
Definately my favourite!

so know i know what u get upto in your spare time!!!! u sound like u've done all possible in a VW!!
cheers
rhys

Looks tuff. Cool.:thumb

Phatbugs fave pic, in the old claypit.