The following companies have very kindly provided support in terms of goods and services and have really helped our journey so far. Thanks to you all we're extremely grateful! Have a look at the websites below to see find out more about their ranges and to locate your nearest stockists.
All the products below have been used by us on the trip so far and thus have been tried and tested and are highly recommended. Please contact us if you have any specific questions.
TOYOTA:
Throughout our travels around the world Toyota has been a huge help to us in many ways. The following are the various outlets/people who helped us:
Indonesia:
Toyota Agung Automall
Here Wayan Tena (0361 425547) really went out of his way to assist us in servicing our vehicle when we were in Bali.
India: All the below outlets assisted us with our oil change using Mobil 1 5W50 Oil.
www.nippontoyota.com, Kuchin
www.nanditoyota.com Bangalore
www.lakozytoyota.com Mumbia & Delhi
www.pioneertoyota.com Chandigarh
www.topseltoyota.com Kolkata
www.fieldtoyota.com Bhubaneshivor
www.castletoyota.com Amritsar
Bangladesh:
Nepal:
Sri Lanka:
Pakistan:
www.toyotaislamabad.com –Islamabad
www.toyota-indus.com (Karachi)
Oman:
Name:
Website: www.toyotaoman.com
UAE:
Thanks to all the above -we really appreciated your help.
We've been using Maxxis Bighorn 235 x 85 R16 tyres since we were in Thailand in April 2008. The tyres have certainly been put through their paces - some incredibly rough roads - including the beaches and sand deserts of India and the snow and ice of Ladakh and they have performed excellently throughout. We rotate the tyres 2 by 2 -the rear ones have done 51,500 km to date and the front 12,000km. In terms of strength and durability they have been incredible - far better than any previous tyres we've used.
http://www.exxonmobil.com http://www.mobilbd.com
We've been using Mobil1 Oil throughout the trip and have always been very satisfied with its performance. On a journey (80,000 km to date and as much to go!) which has encompassed extremes of temperature from minus 10 (Ladakh) to 50 plus degrees (the deserts of Rajasthan) Mobil1 has done us proud throughout. Being 100% Synthetic the oil is also compatible with an older (26 years) 2 H diesel engine. After switching to this oil a welcome surprise was how much cleaner the internal engine appears which in turn protects the bearings and moving parts by stopping friction. We feel the condition and longevity of the engine is much improved, and we're very happy to be promoting Mobil1 on our trip around the world.
Big thanks in Sri Lanka to Mobil's distributor McLarens Holdings Limited -particularly Director Dinesh Jayawardana and Marketing Executive Randika Fernando. These guys provided oil, gifts and a huge amount of hospitality to us in Sri Lanka for which we're very grateful. See their sites http://www.mclarensgroup.lkand http://www.mclarenslubes.lk
Big thanks go to Exedy in Australia who are sending us a brand new clutch to replace the old one which is still going strong after an incredible 250,000km. Thanks to all at Exedy but especially Georgia & Karin in marketing. Have a look at their site above to see more of their great products.
Lakozy Toyota's service agents in Delhi have always looked after us really well, so we'd highly recommend them to all Toyota owners and other overlanders as they are specialists for servicing foreign vehicles. They are also proud agents for Mobil1 oil.
We installed our Raw 4x4 shocks as we first arrived in India in March 2009. Since then we have covered over 40,000km including some of the roughest roads and biggest pot holes in Indian, Nepal and Bangladesh (which is quite saying something believe us!) Thus far the shocks are doing a sterling job and giving us a safer and far more comfortable ride than we'd otherwise be having. Thanks to all the team at Raw and their parent company Powerdown for all their help.
NB: Raw have really kindly agreed to sponsor us a new set of shocks after our old (along with our air bags see below) were smashed to pieces when we went down a mammoth pothole in Darjeeling. Thanks a million can't wait to get some suspension back!!
Thanks to Mr. KG Satheesh of Kenwood for providing us with a new stereo and speakers -much appreciated.
http://www.airliftcompany.com
We have long used Airlift Company's air bags to give us a comfy ride. We're really thrilled that after our prang in Darjeeling (October 2010) they've also agreed to supply us a new set ....looking forward to getting a more comfortable ride back -thanks loads guys!
Thanks to Mr. Sourabh Sharma of Bosch India for kindly giving us a new battery.
We've used Mr. Site since we left Australia to document our trip and we are now onto our second site. Our aim was to create an on-line diary for our sponsors, family friends and as an information source for other travellers - so that they might be saved from making some of our mistakes!! Thus - being complete IT novices -we wanted a product which was simple to use and to update. Mr. Site has really fitted the bill and believe us if we can use it so can you! The guys on the customer service team and the clear instruction manual are great too. Shame they can't improve on 3rd world internet connections (particularly now the product is available in India) - but that one's outside anyone's power!!
Thanks for Britax for providing new mirror heads to replace those knocked around by Indian truckies!
Thanks guys for helping us out with a new set of racks after the origins were torn asunder by a tree collision in Dhaka! A great system to support our solar panel which hinges off the front basket.
Thanks to Red Ranger and Nolathane for providing us with suspension bushes. What a difference in the handling these little red suckers provided! Mind you we did get 120,000km out of the old ones (also Red Ranger) so they didn't owe us anything!
Our original shoes have been tested to the extreme having been on the go 3 years and 90,000 km, so we're very pleased to be replacing them before they fall off our feet! Thanks.
Big thanks go to Grant Davina and Margy for designing and making our rear awning which has kept us dry through monsoonal downpours and our camera bean bag which supports the camera and takes some of the strain on the more bumpy roads.
Hema maps came on board very early on and so were really helpful in the planning stages our trip. When we hit a new country our first task is to pour over our Hema map and "join the dots" linking up the best roads between things of interest. Certainly one of our most important sponsors - without them we'd be literally lost ! Thanks to all at Hema.
We have been using HR products a long time, our HR tow bar was installed over 20 years ago. It has been faultless - tough and durable - to date. Before we left Australia we installed a HR lockable pin which has given us 100% security for our spare wheel and bikes.
http://www.engelaustralia.com.au
Our in-car solar driven Engel fridge has been operating for 7 years straight and has been a real godsend on the trip - particularly when providing a life saving cold beer when necessary!
William at the Felixstowe Container Company was a great help to us when we shipped home some excess good, providing free storage. A huge help thanks so much.
TMH provide our plastic storage containers, which have worked perfectly keeping the dust out of our clothes and electrical gear. Thanks for your help guys
Thanks for the $10 voucher guys - every little bit helps!!
These guys got our car looking good before shipping, and also dark tinted the widows - a real help in the tropical heat.
http://www.goldentriangle.anantara.com http://www.helpingelephants.org
Thanks to Anantara for giving us a few nights of luxury. We hope the recent Thai troubles haven't affected you or the elephants too much.
http://www.mermaidecoresort.com
Thanks to all at this gorgeous luxury beach resort in south Bangladesh for giving us a wonderful night's accomodation in the "Surfer Dude" bungalow. A wonderful relaxing spot with perfect sea views.
Other luxury hotels which were amazingly generous to us include the Mount Pandim in Pelling thanks to Ian and Tshering http://www.elginhotels.com
Thanks also to all at the Park Hotel Vizag for all their assistance. http://www.theparkhotels.com
Finally the majority of our sponsorship stickers were produced by the team at Aussie Signs in Darwin. Contact Howard on aussiesigns@bigpond.com or on 08 8924 3772.
Aussie Signs of Darwin were a great help dressing the car up for its voyage by providing our stickers. Almost 3 years later despite much exposure to the elements handling wide extremes of temperature (minus 10 to plus 50 degrees) the original stickers are still in great condition.