After years behind the wheel of our faithful Land Cruiser, a machine that carried us across deserts, mountains, and countless unmarked roads for 10 long years, the time has come for a change. The decision didn’t come easy. Letting go of something that’s been part of so many adventures never does. This is the story of that transition from the rugged simplicity of the Land Cruiser (Voukefalas II) to the open possibilities of our new 4×4 Sprinter Camper(Voukefalas The Great). A farewell, a beginning, and a reflection on what it means to evolve as a traveler and long term overlander.
All vehicles become part of you. They shape the way you travel, the way you see the world, and even the way you move through it. For us, that vehicle was our 120 Toyota Land Cruiser. Tough, honest, and utterly dependable, it carried us across countless landscapes through mountain passes , high altitude lakes under a pale winter sun, and endless gravel roads that stretched toward nowhere. It was never just a means of getting from A to B, it was our home, our companion, our constant reminder that freedom was only ever a turn of the key away.
Our Land Cruiser asked for very little and gave us everything. It endured river crossings, desert heat, and the occasional “shortcut” that turned into a full-day recovery mission. I learned to trust it completely. Every dent and scratch told a story , a reminder of where we’d been and how far we’d come. Over the years, I as the driver came to know every sound of that engine, every vibration through the steering wheel, and every quirk that made it uniquely ours.
Whole 10 years have gone by……but as time went on, our overland travels began to change. We found ourselves want to lingering longer in wild places, craving not just the drive but the stillness that comes after it. The back of the Cruiser started to feel smaller with each passing year not in capability, but in space and comfort. We began to dream of a setup that allowed us to live on the road, not just travel it. Somewhere to make coffee in the morning without stepping out into the rain. Somewhere we could sit, write, and plan the next route while the world turned quietly outside the window. That’s when the Sprinter came into the picture, our new chariot a 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 316 CDI 4×4 converted into a cozy camper. A completely different kind of machine. Where the Land Cruiser was raw and mechanical, the Sprinter feels like potential permanent home ,an almost blank canvas (as it is already converted to camper) ready for transformation. It’s still capable, still rugged enough to find its way to the hidden corners of the map, but it offers something new: space to stretch, live, and slow down. We can not help ourselves dreaming how it will feel to be able to slow down and become a part of each and every small place that we will stop in our future travels.
The day that we will eventually let go our Land Cruiser is closing , so I can help myself seating behind the wheel and listened to the engine idle remembering the long drives in the middle of nowhere, and the laughter we shared with Rochelle around its tailgate in those cold nights cooking our meals outdoor. It would not be easy to say goodbye. You don’t just sell a vehicle like that, you close a chapter of your life.
The change from Vekki II to Vekki G comes from love and cuddles ,from the way we loved our flexibility, comfort, familiarity, and even our almost camouflage into normal life while traveling. Now, it brings bigger feelings , an unexpected nervousness. The exciting energy of the new has opened up into new adventures and a bigger space ,not only physically, but mentally too. We have bathrooms, kitchens, lounge rooms, and even a roof terrace! This one is going to be hard to step away from… the adventures are already unfolding, and we just sitting inside! As we turn the key in the Sprinter, it feels like stepping into a new story. The comfort is different, the sound is different, but the spirit remains. A new dimension is opening up for us and we are looking forward to experience it at its best. Adventure has simply taken on a new shape, one that allows for longer stays, deeper connections, and maybe even a little more warmth when the snow or the heavy rain begins to fall. The Land Cruiser will always be part of us. It taught us how to chase horizons and trust the journey, no matter how uncertain the road ahead. The Sprinter, though, represents the next evolution, a shift from chasing to living, from surviving the elements to being at home within them.
So here’s to the transition, from dust-covered trails to diesel hums and quiet mornings inside a vehicle built for a slower kind of adventure. The journey never stops but the opposite it continues, just in a new way. The roads are still calling …..and we are still listening. So here it is a warm welcome to our new travel buddy, Vekki G(Voukefalas The Great). Welcome to the Overlanddiaries family !!!
