MAN-oh-MAN (more truck repairs)
Although choosing to stay in Zambia due to COVID 19 for all of 2020, we unfortunately did not have the opportunity to explore Zambia as much as we would have liked. Big Bertha developed a front and rear wheel hub bearing oil leak in March and this was not fixed until December.
This is the biggest disadvantage of travelling in a modern truck in Africa – local expert knowledge and parts are mostly non-existent; and this is why the development of an international support network is absolutely vital to an Overlander.
I am lucky – I have access, via a good friend, to a MAN Board member in Munich; and this has helped us immensely. I have also developed MAN contacts in Spain, Denmark, UK, UAE and South Africa – from the workshop to management. I have found MAN personnel to be incredibly helpful when you reach out to them.
It has taken time (nine months) to fix our oil leak – it turns out there is a design or production fault in the bearings that were originally fitted to Big Bertha. This has necessitated changing the wheel hubs/bearings, with all tools and parts coming from Germany. I cannot stress enough how helpful MAN has been in this process. I must also thank Laz at overlandingtrucks.com for bringing a MAN Service Instruction, detailing the issue, to my attention.
So now we are on the road again and on our way to Tanzania.
Lessons learnt for a modern truck in Africa:
1/ You can’t take spares for everything – but the basics are ‘must haves’: air, oil, fuel filters, brake pads and air dryer.
2/ Don’t expect local dealerships to ‘know’ your truck – especially if it is a modern one. Try to source workshop manuals.
3/ Make sure dealerships have the necessary spares and specialist tools before commencing work. It can takes weeks to source parts, and your truck may be immobile in the meantime.
4/ Expect your truck to breakdown and be ready for trip delays.
5/ Keep in mind your visa constraints and factor in the possibility of having to leave a country during a prolonged truck repair.
The team from MAN Lusaka
Replacing Big Bertha’s Wheel Hubs
Yes Well I guess thats why land rovers were / are so resilient – ease of repairs, simple mechanics, unboltable body work, spares readily available and not complicated to fit. Toyota landcruisers fit in a similar mould but not so easy mechanically wise.
Anyway, good luck in Tanzania! Let’s hope she has had her breakdowns for a bit!
Very true Stuart. But I can’t imagine living in the back of a Landy for more than a week, let alone 2 years!! 🙂
Well Done Dave, basically you’ve MAN-upped for the exercise. Perhaps there’s an alternative career there for you as a trucking-support specialist (or you could make a really good FMECA for them). Hope you got the wheels turning soon.
MAN-upped…very good Victor! FMECA… even better!!
I’m glad Big Bertha is up and running again, thank goodness for MAN eh!
Can’t wait for your next instalment from Tanzania, good luck, take care and happy new year!!
We hope to cross in a day or two. Fingers crossed!!
Fantastic. Big Bertha is there to keep you in Africa!!!!
Yes Claire!!
Well done in finally getting moving again
Thank you Carole!
Hi There, Sorry for the delay in writing back to you but I am taking in all that you write and enjoying hearing all about life with you. I am watching Tales from Zambia all 7 episodes and enjoying it immensely and thinking of you too. Glad we are all together in Singapore with life almost back to normal if there is a normal nowadays. Keep up the travel tales, I’m enjoying so much!!
LoveJean
Happy New Year Jean
We have not heard of that series – we’ll look it up.
Dave