Pamir Highway by camper

[sammi&karo]

hi,

I came across this Pamir route when checking what to do in tajikistan. This immediately reminded me of doing the Kardung-la pass in india by bike. But this time we only could do it by camper. We are converting a 612D(diesel) Mercedes to camper, we have rear 2 WD and will weigh approximately around 6800 kg. We know very little of mechanics. We can change a wheel, change our oil, etc but nothing really mechanical.
If we'll do the Pamir highway it would be the M41 all the way to Kyrgistan. How we see the planning now is that we'll start around the beginning of June and we'll take about 20-30 days to do the whole pass.
Do you think this is possible?

Regards, Samuel & Karo

[mazeno]

you can get maximum 15 days of vremenny vvoz (temporary import of the car) at the tjk border.

[Lovetheworld]

I think a Mercedes 612D should be okay for the main Pamir highway. Those Mercedes busses usually have some ground clearance and a slow first gear, that's great. Don't make to much things that are sticking out on the bottom, that can be hit.

You get 15 days, which you can extend at the customs office in Khorog. Or not extend it, and possibly have some bullshit at the border.
They were giving us that bullshit, but we said that they didn't want to help us in Khorog (only partly true, we should come back next day, but wanted to leave that day)

If you're coming from Dushanbe and just stick to the main Pamir highway, it should not take 20 to 30 days, it should take a lot less.
Diesel is available at least in Khorog. Also in Murghab, but only after some asking around. Probably also in some towns along the Pamir highway beteween Khorog and Murghab, but we took some of the detours (which require a 4x4)

[mazeno]

> which you can extend at the customs office in Khorog
i tried alike in dushanbe, khorog and murgab.
the answer is always the same:
systiema nie puskaet (the system doesn't allow).
the only solution is "punk's not dead" - try to talk at the border, but russian is essential.

and there is no bigger reason to worry about this model of mercedes ;)
rear axle should be well weighted, as it is driving axle (for not to slide while "climbing").
fuel - take a lot in khorog, as in murgab and sary tash could be a roulette, next sure fuel station is in gulcha (kgz).

[Lovetheworld]

Well, other people have successfully extended in Khorog. But not everybody.

We don't speak any Russian. We also said that the road was very bad (obviously) and it is very time consuming.
Anyway, his first reaction was a bit angry, but he went into his shed to do the administration, and then he came out of his shed again, really happy and friendly and we could just drive on.

However, this is a border (from Murghab to Sary-Tash) where they try a lot of stuff to get some extra money out of you. For some reason they did not try to with us, and one of the "bullshit offices" selling you some unneeded medical paper was closed.

[Pamirski]

In 2013 we saw a Norwegian ambulance on the Pamir highway, entering from Kyrgyzstan, but they had to turn around, because the ambulance was too heavy and they did not make it over Akbaital (reduced power with the height), some days later they doubled us, apperently they made it somehow over Akbaital.

[Lovetheworld]

Well I don't know that Norwegian ambulance, what kind of car it is. Our car was a Norwegian Red Cross car, used in some of the search and rescue missions (8 seater 4x4 van) and it made it

But most of these Mercedes vans have a very short first gear, so that helps alot if you have little power. An automatic might help to maybe? But you don't want to press the throttle too much, because you will lose power ans have black smoke. I find it easier to keep engine in a bit higher rpm with lighter throttle, so engine load is a bit less, and less chance to have too much fuel in.
Just go up slowly in first gear, bit higher rpm than normal, and you will make it. Perhaps, if the engine is with turbo and worming really well, the above is not even necessary

[KaYe]

Hello Samuel & Karo,
How did it go? Did you visit the Pamir in the end?

Thanks
KaYe