Chris Collard
The names Gary and Monika Wescott are as familiar to overlanding circles as Mallory and Hillary are to mountaineers. They have been weaving an intricate web of tracks across and around our blue planet since the 1970s. Tales of their adventures have been featured on television shows, in international newspapers, and have graced the pages of magazines the world over. A seed of inspiration that originated at a café in Istanbul, Turkey, germinated into a lifestyle that has become the envy of millions. Their method of travel is slow, relaxed, and methodical, and resembles that of their mascot, the Galápagos tortoise. And as is the case with a tortoise, their house is always right behind them. Like many successful endeavors, this nomadic duo hasn’t achieved overland nirvana alone. They have relied on several generations of Turtles, their latest being the exquisite example of overland bliss before you: The Turtle V. The Wescotts recently returned from a two-year, 40,000-mile expedition across Europe, the Middle East, Stans, and Asia, and I caught up with them in Northern California for a detailed look.
The magical trail through Tajikistan’s Wakhan Corridor along the border of Afghanistan was one of the more exciting sections of our Trans-Eurasian Odyssey. This portion of the Silk Road was made famous by Marco Polo.
Playa El Requesón on Baja California’s Sea of Cortez has always been one of our favorite campsites.
To the casual observer this global explorer may appear like other über-overland rigs with a custom home in tow, but further examination reveals features and details that could only be conceived by minds that thoroughly understand the challenges of living on the road, in some of the most difficult environments on the planet. Gary said, “The goals were safety, comfort, functional performance, and reliability. Above all, reliability.” To ensure these objectives were met he called a number of mechanical and fabrication specialists, including Overland Journal contributor Ned Bacon.
The Gates to Hell in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan is a natural gas crater that was set on fire by Russian geologists. It has been burning since 1971.
Suspension and Drivetrain
The latest Turtle rolled out of Ford’s Kentucky truck plant with a tough, working suspension, but a number of tweaks would be required to survive its future as a world traveler. The first was to install heavier-duty National springs and Rancho RS9000XL adjustable shocks at each corner. Fore and aft Hellwig sway bars, along with rear Hellwig air assist bags control body roll and the additional weight of the onboard house. The OE duallies were exchanged for Michelin 335/80/R20 XZL MPT tires on custom 20- by 11-inch Rickson wheels. A Lee hydraulic ram assist keeps them rolling down the road in a straight line. Because the failure of a 41-inch tire can be disastrous, a SmarTire wireless pressure/temperature monitoring system was added. The final configuration has provided a functional and reliable suspension that is reasonably comfortable. The decision to maintain a stock-height suspension mandated trimming the fenders to eliminate rubbing. Bushwacker stepped in to assist and used the Turtle as a template to fabricate their first Super Duty cutout fender flares.
The rear Dana 135-S sports an Eaton Detroit Truetrac. Behind it, a custom Transfer Flow fuel tank was designed to fit between our aftermarket exhaust and camper support.
Captions for four images above
(Top left) Left to right: gray water tank, Magnaflow exhaust, Transfer Flow auxiliary fuel tank, AccuAir 5-gallon air tank.
(Top right) Up front is a Dana 60 fitted with an ARB Air Locker.
(Bottom left) The Michelin XZL 335/R20 tires have performed perfectly. Not a single flat in 40,000 miles over roads you wouldn’t want to walk on.
(Bottom right) Rickson 20 x 11 steel rims are fitted with valve stems on both sides so front and rear tires can be reversed.
(Below) Song Köl Lake in Kyrgyzstan turned out to be one of our favorite campsites on our way to the Chinese border.
Dana 60 and 135S axles, which are fitted with an ARB Air Locker and Eaton Detroit Truetrac respectively, are kept contaminant free by K&N breathers and take no issue with the 550’s 17,500-pound GVWR. Dynatrac Free-Spin hubs were installed up front after two sets of the factory unit bearings failed. Twin Extreme Outback compressors and an AccuAir 5-gallon tank support the ARB locker, air bags, and Fiamm air horns, as well as power pneumatic tools and any tire needs. With long hauls through remote regions in its future, a Transfer Flow 33.8-gallon auxiliary fuel cell was installed, increasing capacity to 75 gallons and providing a range of 1,000 miles. A custom switchover valve manages tank selection.
Splashing through a creek crossing on a back road near Grass Valley, we took some pictures for our current information card.
Under the Bonnet and Recovery
The base vehicle is a 1999 Ford F-550 equipped with a Navistar 7.3-liter Power Stroke intercooled turbo-diesel and 6-speed manual transmission. The mill, which was the one millionth Power Stroke off the assembly line, generates 305 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque. The OE air filter was tossed in lieu of a more space-efficient system, and Bacon fabricated a custom tray for a K&N high-flow washable unit and Outerwears Pre-Filter. The truck was ordered with the ambulance package, which allowed for an auxiliary alternator. An externally regulated Prestolite/Leece-Neville high-output unit is managed by a Balmar Max marine charge controller and dedicated to charging an array of “house” batteries. Bringing the Power Stroke to life is a pair of Odyssey Extreme Series batteries and MPA Xtreme starter. Other improvements include an ATS Aurora 3000 turbo, Dieselsite high-pressure oil pump, and Dieselsite coolant filter.
