Impressions of the 40th Willys Overland Vehicle Meeting

Our impressions of the 40th Willys Overland Vehicle Meeting in words and photos. If you get the chance, go and attend this big, pleasant event in Germany!

In 2019, we attended Willys Fernreisemobiltreffen [Willy’s Overland Vehicle Meeting] in Germany, for the first time. We couldn’t have chosen a better time because it was the 40th anniversary of the gathering. It has long been recognised as the biggest overlander meeting of its kind in Germany, and all of Europe. Around 1500 expedition vehicles turned up for the event.

People came with vehicles in all shapes and sizes, from a few motorbikes to the largest 8×8 truck you could imagine, and everything in between. But the meeting is not only focussed on showing off your vehicle. For many it’s an opportunity to come together with like-minded folks, or to meet up with former travel companions they haven’t seen in ages. This happened to us!

Photographed at the Willys Meeting: the contrast couldn’t be bigger! On the right a fully fitted Mercedes NG expedition truck, complete with winch and tree branch protection rails on the roof. On the right a tiny classic Austin Mini panel van, which towed an equally tiny Eriba caravan to the meeting.

There’s a small program running alongside the meeting with some travel reports and seminars. They were held on Friday evening and Saturday. I attended 2 of these seminars. One was about travel photography, and it was really well conducted; entertaining, even funny at times, with lots of useful information packed into one-and-a-half hours.

But basically for us it was enough to be there, enjoying the warm summer weather, strolling around, or sitting and chatting with friends. Can you imagine: the area occupied by the meeting was quite big; it stretched along the banks of the Moselle for more than 1.5 kilometres. We didn’t even really find time to make many new friends…

The diverse overland vehicles at the Willys Meeting: a look at part of the camping area from the entry bridge. You can see all sorts of very different expedition vehicles, from Volkswagen vans to serious expedition trucks.

This post is more of a photo gallery, which I have sorted (as well as possible) into 3 topics. I have added fairly detailed descriptions to each and every photo shown in the sections below. So, if you would like to know what type of vehicle is pictured, chances are I have answered the question. Enjoy the colourful display!

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The Diverse Overland Vehicles at the 40th Willys Meeting

In this section I show you the variety of attending vehicles. For example, a large sealed parking lot right next to us was reserved for converted buses. (Many of the following photos were taken on Thursday and Friday, before the space really filled up.)
Please click thumbnails below for a larger photo with description.

The diverse overland vehicles at the Willys Meeting: on the left, an old Mercedes 1113 with a camper box on the back. I like the alcove roof, which looks like an upside-down aluminium boat. This one came from Great Britain. In the background, several other expedition trucks and smaller campers.

The diverse overland vehicles at the Willys Meeting: [left to right] a older Mercedes T2, a Unimog, a MAN truck with an old army box, and a monstrous TATRA 8×8 truck, which made a lot of noise driving in [origin Czech].

The diverse overland vehicles at the Willys Meeting: here in front is a Mercedes Vario (like ours), van-shaped with 4×4; then a Japanese pickup with a cabin on the back; and in the background, a historic Mercedes LP809, a former rolling shop converted into a camper.

The diverse overland vehicles at the Willys Meeting: a Mercedes Vario 4×4 with a Woelcke camper on the back. This one has been converted to single rear wheels – an expensive option. I have never seen this many Varios with 4×4 as at this meeting; they are usually rather rare!

The diverse overland vehicles at the Willys Meeting: [left to right] a Toyota HJ75, with a small camper box; and a beautiful old Mercedes LP809, a former rolling shop converted into a camper. People are allowed to set up small fleamarket stalls in front of their vehicles (here both have done so).

The diverse overland vehicles at the Willys Meeting: a small Citroen panel van, and a Nissan with a truck camper on the back.

The diverse overland vehicles at the Willys Meeting: [left to right] a green Bremach panel van with pop-top roof, the back of a big expedition truck with 2 spare wheels, a Mercedes NG 1017, and a large MAN Kat in yellow.

The Toyota Landcruiser, specifically the HJ & HZJ models, are always popular vehicles for long-term overland journeys. Here are 2 newer HZJ79, with two different fibreglass alcove campers mounted on the back.

The diverse overland vehicles at the Willys Meeting: on the left a Mercedes Sprinter 4×4 with a camper box on the back. Sprinters are becoming more and more popular, but – unlike in the USA – the Europeans usually buy a chassis and mount a fibreglass insulated camper box on the back. To the right, a newish custom-built MAN expedition truck, probably worth €300k+.

The diverse overland vehicles at the Willys Meeting: [left to right] a regular Pössl camper van, a standard RV, and a classic Mercedes with a raised roof – very likely an old fire engine from the 60s.

Two classic expedition trucks just leaving Willys Treffen. On the left, a red Mercedes 710, the oldest version of this shape, likely still without any mod cons like power-assisted steering. The box on its back is a typical build used by the German military and border police for decades. On the right, a Steyr 680, probably even older than the Mercedes.

Right next to where we were camped, an entire section was cordoned off for buses. We have never seen this many buses, from 16-seaters to double-deckers, converted into camping vehicles. I don’t know how practical they will be as travel vehicles, considering they had a reserved level and sealed space at Willys Treffen.

Some go low-key, others have the most modern MAN 4×4 expedition truck, with their own private verandah and luxurious accommodation. I liked the snake design on the side of this truck.

Somebody’s dream for sale at the Willys Expedition Vehicle Meeting: a monstrous MAN Kat for a monstrous price: €255.000. It’s advertised as the perfect “world travel vehicle”, a claim I would doubt! These things are really thirsty, noisy, extremely heavy and wide – all issues which can reduce the reach. This one has never been anywhere exotic. The camper box was built in 2015, probably fitted out in 2016, and from 2017 onward there is a collection of participation stickers from various German meetings in the windshield = no time to get very far away…

A classic Kässbohrer Setra bus – an icon from the 60s and 70s. To this day Setra is the top brand for buses in Germany. More about their formerly revolutionary SETRA body design on Wikipedia .

Unusual Overland Vehicles at the Meeting, from Classic to Rare

Germans seem to be known all over the world for their affinity with unusual travel vehicles. But it wasn’t only Germans who attended. I saw countless vehicles from Holland and Belgium, Swiss, Austrians, vehicles from the UK and Scandinavia. In this section I show some of the real classics, like several models over 50 years of age. Others are rare brands, which you might not often see, if ever.
Please click thumbnails below for a larger photo with description.

There were plenty of Mercedes Unimogs at the Willys Meeting. This one (from Holland) stood out thanks to its ingenious roof, which gives the living space a second floor as a sleeping platform. The way the box is shaped I could imagine that this design is long-term waterproof – an aspect that is rather important in such designs.

Here, a second photo taken from the back of the Unimog, with the ingenious fold-up roof. Only one small issue: the roof has to go up every time you want to reach the door. (Note the beautiful classic Mercedes bus at the far right! Unfortunately, I only ever saw it drive in and out, I never found it parked at the meeting.)

Some rare, old vehicles at the Willys Meeting: these old Magirus-Deutz air-cooled trucks, with this kind of box-shape, seem to have been sold only in the Netherlands. Whenever you see one today, it always has a Dutch number plate. Their age and low body probably make them rather a slow travel vehicle – not an overland camper to take to remote places…

Another one of these old Magirus-Deutz air-cooled trucks from the Netherlands. I noticed at least 8 or 10 of them at the Willys Meeting – with various roof shapes, but always a similar looking body.

Another one of these old Magirus-Deutz air-cooled trucks from the Netherlands. This one has a raised roof in the middle section – something you will notice frequently on this model truck. The large Magirus-Deutz symbol on the grill is a stylised picture of the cathedral of Cologne – the emblem of Deutz.

Another Magirus Deutz truck. These wider square fronts were built for many years and you see still quite a few around in Germany. I’m not sure if this is the “Merkur” model or a little bit newer. Occasionally, the German fire departments still have one for sale – with barely any kilometres on the counter…

A very rare Magirus Deutz truck (built in 1961, I asked the owner). You won’t find many anymore with 4×4. The fibreglass camper box on the back seems to be much newer. Overall, a beautiful vehicle – I don’t know how well it would be suited for a “real expedition”.

Willy, the founder of the meeting, drove a Hanomag A-L 28 for most of his life. He was known for crisscrossing the African Sahara many times. In his honour, the central row near the administration tent was reserved for this line-up of old Hanomag A-L 28s, once a popular vehicle for the German army and border police.

A small and very capable 4×4 vehicle: the Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer. These were designed specifically for use in the European Alps and climb almost as well as a goat or ibex. Unfortunately, they are really small and noisy – not an inviting choice for a travel vehicle.

This is a vehicle you won’t see often in Germany (or out in the desert or on any piste): a French-built Saviem, later taken over by Renault. When he left I was really surprised at how smoothly and quietly the engine was running. To get spare parts would be a nightmare – even in France!

A rare sight nowadays: a Hanomag Henschel F65. The company was bought by Mercedes in 1972 and this model inspired the later Mercedes T2 truck, of which our Bertita (a Mercedes Vario) is the last shape built. So basically this shape survived, with modest changes, from the 1960s to 2013, the last year a Vario was built.

A vehicle you don’t see that often as an expedition truck: a Mowag (or Bucher) DuRo. These are Swiss-made, usually for their army and firefighters. They come in 4×4 and 4×6. The technology is mostly imported: a Perkins Diesel engine paired with an Allison automatic transmission (no manual option available). More at Wikipedia about the Bucher Duro .

Another fairly rare expedition vehicle at the Willys Meeting: a Bremach T-Rex with a fibreglass camper on the back. These are from a small company in northern Italy. Their technology is mostly based on the older Iveco 40-10. An in-house developed frame, made from tubular steel, gave them better off-road capabilities and higher payload. More about Bremach on Wikipedia . (I believe the company is insolvent by now.)

The diverse overland vehicles at the Willys Meeting: in the front are two Iveco 40-10 WM, very capable small offroad vehicles. These small box shapes were specially made for the Belgian and Dutch army and police. The square bonnet and front doors are the original design of the military version, which was sold in Italy and worldwide. There was a flood of used ones about 10 years ago, but now it’s hard to find one in good condition.

It’s rare that you see one of these English Landrovers in a box shape. It’s an original build; we still have a few of these in Australia, but they are becoming collector’s items.

This old MACK truck was certainly a one-off at Willy’s Meeting. With its bright red paint, it really stood out.

Well, this classic Scania truck will make the heart of any trucky beat faster. With a comfortable camper box on the back, all painted in shiny red and gold, with lots of chrome.

A vehicle you really don’t see many of anymore: an Opel BLITZ, probably from the very late 50s or early 60s. The camper box on the back is likely 10 to 20 years younger, but overall it still qualifies as an historical vehicle.

If you don’t have the money for a fully fitted expedition camper (which can easily cost 300-400.000 Euros): buy an old Mercedes NG 1017 from the German army and fix an old caravan on the loading area in the back. Although, the furnishings in a regular caravan might not survive rough roads for long.

This is probably one of a kind: a Swiss made bus from a company I have never heard of, EBV. Very uniquely Swiss is the fact that it has heated windshields!! Pretty much a novum, particularly for something produced in the early 60s.

What else was happening at the Willys Meeting

Of course, the social aspect of the meeting was most important. I usually don’t like to take my camera out when I’m sitting with people – so there’s not much to show. We reconnected with a few people we had previously met during our South America trip from 2014 to 2018. But the most pleasant surprise was to meet and chat with a couple we had spent time with in Paraguay – back in late 2008, during our first Pan-Am journey.
Please click thumbnails below for a larger photo with description.

At Willys Meeting, we met several people we had previously encountered on the Pan American Highway – during our trip 2014-18. But we hadn’t seen Igel and Paola since Paraguay in 2008! What a pleasant surprise to catch up with fellow nomads.

Willys Treffen offers some green space for relaxation too. Here a small mini-golf section, fun for the attending kids. In the background, you can see once more that Mercedes is probably the preferred brand for Europeans to take overland.

Sitting around and socialising, exchanging experiences, meeting up with former travel companions – these things were the main focus of Willy’s Meeting.

A real surprise for us: our friend Cornelius greeted us right after checking in for the Willys Meeting. We would never have expected him to be there; he had learned from our newsletter that we would attend… Naturally, we camped together.

Yasha is catching up with Paola. I wonder what (or who) these girls are laughing about…

Part of the Willys Treffen program were seminars and several presentations. This one was too popular for the small room they had allocated…

Monday morning, nearly time to leave the Willys Meeting! Most left on Sunday, and now we are all packed up – ready to leave too. In the foreground Cornelius’s new Pössl campervan.

Our guess: not many of the participants of the meeting made it into the town of Enkirch. This small place is actually quite nice, with its stone and half-timbered old houses.

Another street scene from Enkirch. By pure chance the sun was shining into Sonnenstrasse (sun street) on an otherwise rather grey Sunday.

The Moselle valley (Mosel in German) with vineyards on the steep hillsides. This is the idyllic location of the Willys Meeting for quite some years.

Conclusion and Information about the Willys Fernreisemobiltreffen

If we have made you curious and you would like to attend: Willys Meeting is held every year on the first weekend of September on the Moselle River in Enkirch, Germany. The website for the event, with most information (but unfortunately not in English), is Fernreisemobiltreffen.de [ps: the website also has photo galleries from previous years. The record attendance was over 2,000 vehicles a few years ago!]

We found the event much better organised than we had experienced at last year’s Abenteuer Allrad in Bad Kissingen. The arrival section was well laid out, offering space for 15-20 large vehicles to park while their owners walked up to the registration tent. After paying their participation fee (€40 per vehicle or €45 for vehicles arriving before Friday, as we did) people could drive around and pick any spot they liked – providing it was still vacant.

Expedition vehicles come in all sizes and colours! Here a line-up at the Willys Meeting Registration sometime on Saturday. From left to right: an older Landrover Discovery in Camel Trophy look, a Mercedes Vario 4×4, a large MAN expedition truck, and an even larger double-decker bus (not much of it in the photo).

The site was equipped with enough sanitary trailers to provide toilets for everybody who didn’t have one in their own vehicle. These were kept clean all through the day and we never noticed any excessive queues – unlike at some festivals we’ve been to in the past. The town of Enkirch has modern hot showers in walking distance, for a nominal fee of €1, and 2 washers and dryers (which we made use of). For in-camper cassette toilets, emptying points were available throughout the site. At one end of the parking is a full motorhome service station, where large waste tanks can be emptied and water refilled.

The atmosphere during the 5 days was very relaxed and friendly. We never saw any show-offs creating noise or racing around with their big expedition trucks or quads. Nobody reserved excessively large areas for “friends” possibly arriving late (unlike in Bad Kissingen). On Saturday afternoon the site was jam-packed almost everywhere, but late arrivals still found a vacant spot to camp…

Our conclusion: if we are ever back in Germany at the right time, we will certainly come again! In contrast, we have no interest in attending the Abenteuer Allrad again; we found that entire fair too commercial and over-crowded.

Build your Own Overland Camper Manual is the number 1 English language book with clear step-by-step guidance, which will help you through the process of designing, building and fitting-out your own ultimate expedition vehicle.

You can order this manual on Amazon.

 

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