I have no hesitation in recommending Julian and Overland Cruisers to all LC owners.  Read More…
Piers Finlayson
I have no hesitation in recommending Julian and Overland Cruisers.  Read More…
Richard Kaad
We'll be using Julian again and wouldn't hesitate to recommend him others.  Read More…
Paul Driver
‘Overland Cruisers’ are the ONLY company that we would use for work on our client’s Landcruisers.  Read More…
Matt Richards
I highly recommend Julian for his knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm in relation to Land Cruisers  Read More…
Barbara Hawksley
His enthusiasm and knowledge is unrivalled in the UK (or Libya and Morocco as well, BTW). We wish Julian and Overland Cruisers all the very best.  Read More…
Paul Blackburn
I have no hesitation in recommending Julian, his knowledege and his workmanship.  Read More…
Graham Smith
I would have no hesitation in recommending Julian to do work on your Landcruiser, I have always found him to be very knowledgeable and friendly.  Read More…
Chas Spencer
I was impressed by Julians knowledge, and the suggestions that he made . . . Highly Recommended.  Read More…
Ken Jordan
.........it was Julian's voice that came through on the forums offering excellent advice.  Read More…
Graham Naismith
I am happy to say that I would thoroughly recommend Julian and his work to anyone, and would be happy to be contacted to verify this.  Read More…
Paul Mills
I recommend to anyone doing an overland trip in a Land Cruiser to spend some time in the Overland Cruisers workshop.  Read More…
Neil Lister
Julian is the acknowledged heart-surgeon of LandCruisers for good reason; what he doesn’t know is not worth knowing.  Read More…
Barrie Dunbar
We would recommend Julian to help with pre trip arrangements and servicing.  Read More…
Bob and Anne Finch
I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending, without qualification, Julian and Overland Cruisers to anyone needing work done on their Land Cruiser.  Read More…
Peter Jacques
A true specialist, I would not hesitate to recommend his services to any Landcruiser owner.  Read More…
Colin Moore
....the greatest resource you can have is a fully charged telephone and Julian Voelcker's phone number  Read More…
Daniel Dungate
With an unmatchable knowledge of Land Cruisers and continued support on the road we couldn’t recommend Overland Cruisers more.  Read More…
Martin McGowan
I drove from my home in Southern Spain up to their workshops in Hereford.....I can definitely say that it was worth the journey.  Read More…
Dave Heppell
Julian's knowledge of cruisers is second to none, and I thoroughly recommend him.  Read More…
Andrew Wightman
I thoroughly recommend Julian as someone who is honest, brilliant at what he does and has your interests closest to his heart.  Read More…
David Gittelson
Julian is a master of Landcruisers. He took us from being a couple of novices into knowledgeable mechanics....  Read More…
Charlie & Nina
Discovering Julian and his knowledge of the Landcruiser is one of those "at last" moments when you finally discover an expert.  Read More…
Damien J. Hill

Richard Daniel Dungate - UK to Cape Town via the West Coast

I was refereed to Julian in December of 2010.

I needed someone of calibre to examine and prepare a 1994 Turbo Diesel 80 series Land Cruiser for a London to Cape Town Expedition that I was to undertake alone commencing February 2011.

I had some mechanical knowledge, but certainly not enough to appraise and prepare my newly acquired machine.  Given this deficiency combined with my limited budget I needed someone I could trust to let me know what was essential and what was not.  Also someone to explain what the consequences and risks of cutting corners would be, thus allowing me to make informed decisions. I was relieved to find that Julian fulfilled this role to the letter.

Having done the essential work, what I found to be the most important and reassuring service was that I was told I was "good to go". With my limited knowledge it was this endorsement from some-one that I could trust, that gave me the confidence I needed to board the ferry to Santander in Spain one cold February morning.

It was my belief that mine and Julian's relationship had finished there in a damp, misty yard in England,  after I filled his palm with some greasy 20 pound notes. This was not to be the case however. Without a shadow of a doubt the most useful and unexpected thing that Julian did for me was continue to support me for the next eleven months as I made my way, sometimes painfully slowly, down the west coast of Africa to Cape Town.

The benefit of having a professional, well used to the rigours of African travel and the limited availability of parts and service was tested quickly after I lost all my gearbox radiator and oil in the Moroccan Sahara. After 4 hours trying to ascertain the problem myself and believing it to be steering fluid oil; with a mouth full of sand I phoned Julian who put me straight and talked me through the options. Without this I might still be with the Bedouin and his camel who I had broken down next to - He tried to sell me the Camel!

This service continued through the following countries and problems which included:-

Mauritania: Overheating. Removal and cleaning of all radiators.

Gambia: steering pump removal and rebuild.

Senegal: Air con rebuild.

Mali: On-going problems with ABS that I had been attempting to fix  for three weeks resolved when Julian told me to remove the fuse.

Ghana: front wheel bearing change

Nigeria: With a severe steering wobble I had changed and balance the tyres 4 times when Julian told me it was the universal joints on prop shaft.

Congo Gabon Boarder: Front wheel caught fire after the wheel bearings disintegrated and destroyed the front stub Axle. Amazingly was able to source new stub Axle and Julian (+ a Haynes manual) talked me through replacement at the side of the track I was on.

 

The above is a few, but by no means an extensive list of the help that was freely extended to me in my many hours of need in difficult circumstances. When I left England my knowledge was limited and Julian's patience with my sometimes painfully idiotic questions was exemplary.

All I can really say is that when undertaking a Trans-Africa, a working Air-Con system and a good stereo are great things to have. But when you find yourself alone, far from civilisation, in a hostile country and the machine your life depends on suddenly grinds to a halt, imprisoning you in the landscape that was previously slipping by you effortlessly; the greatest resource you can have is a fully charged telephone and Julian Voelcker's phone number.

Richard Daniel Dungate.