I did a very brief intro in the new members section and then an update at which point I found myself in the middle of hundreds of spam posts. So I have exited that section and copied over my last post and will sort out my progress in this area. In summary I picked up a 957 GTS in rather good condition to take up duties from my Touareg as an overland / expedition / lightweight tow vehicle. The plan is:
Remove the body kit
Replace the 21 inch wheels with 19 inch and Pirelli Scorpion AT+ tyres. I now have the wheels and tyres as mentioned below
Fit an electric brake controller
Some decent mudflaps to help the paintwork
Selective underbody protection
For my own enjoyment, white gauge faces
I don't have immediate plans to add bull bars, any sort of additional markings or to sugest this is a Transsyberian. Just fly under the radar and use the built in capability as best I can.

This is my second post updating my intro and copied over from that section for completeness.
Small progress. VCDS is a goer, not the problem it was said to be.
I have my tyre rack on the way, has to travel nearly 5000 Km to get to me so a little while to wait yet.
I bought a set of 19x9 wheels, 7L5 601 025B for my AT Tyres. Despite some pretty concentrated looking I haven't been able to nail down the load rating. Have read a ton of posts on here with no apparent success. It does seem that P/N was made in Germany and Italy at times and the only thing I can see that might have a connection is 885N cast into one spoke. Any ideas? I also have a set of VW V10 Terra design wheels and I need to settle on the best of those two options to use.

If anyone can shed some light on the load rating I would be grateful. I'm busy reading up on the many before me who have off roaded their Cayenne and picking the eyes out of their valuable comments.

 

Seeing as my vehicle didn’t get the full size spare tyre option ticked, I went for an aftermarket solution from Mirack in West Australia. They offer two versions, a swing away and a tilt carrier. The usual roof or boot solutions weren’t optimal my needs, even though I have been using the boot for a few years.

The tilt carrier ticked my boxes and some time later it arrived, the box a little the worse for wear from the carrier but the product is bullet proof. The order process is pretty straight forward, the latest instructions are well put together and with those, assembly is a straight forward activity.

Installed, it is rigid, takes a wide range of offroad wheel tyre combos and is easy to use. For those considering a full size spare, this is certainly a viable option. I’ve just done the trial fit and soon it’ll be installed, possibly permantly.

Trial fit of the Mirack

 

This is the start of a laid back improvement of the GTS into a more cross purpose expedition style tourer. The scope called for a lot of paved road miles but not necessarily highway quality. A lot of dirt road miles that vary greatly in quality and some cross country. Two people plus all the gear. Certain trips include a lightweight camper trailer tent, not sure how the US describes such a thing. There have been delays and more while waiting for the supply of various components, since Covid a lot of the more "exotic" equipment has vanished from the supply chain here and others have incurred great delays. This is the initial list of equipment:

Porsche 19 inch alloys to replace the 21 inch (Would have liked the Transsyberian 18 inch but unobtainium. Likewise OZ racing in 5 x 130 etc)
Pirelli 255 / 55 x 19 AT+ tyres (already use them on a Touareg and good enough for me and the task)
Spare tyre rack as above
Rally armour mudflaps F&R
Porsche metal engine guard (Final desision that a full length trtay was an overkill, too heavy to move around etc. Separate trays better outcome. Would have gone Eurowise or such but shipping is just over the top.)
Metal transmission guard (same)
Fuel tank guards etc
Bull / Brush Bar. I did try the firm that made up the OTIS brush bar but they declined to even respond so it will be a locally made product in the end.
CB radio
Same awning and room layout as OTIS for non trailer travel.
Removal of the front end body kit but leaving the rear, arches and sides alone