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DanWhite Gate Opener
Joined: 28 Dec 2009 Odometer: 16 Location: Herefordshire
1999 Land Rover 110
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:51 pm Post subject: Prepping a 110 for the Falkland Islands!
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Hi all, I’ve lurked on here for a while now but this is my 1st post and will probably be my longest. Apologies for the essay but I’ve got so many ideas I’d like to be picked apart by some more experienced heads.
A bit of background, my name’s Dan, I’m 23 and I’ve been in the Royal Navy for 4 years, I’m currently serving in HMS Mersey, an Offshore patrol ship (sounds like blind date!). In May this year I’m flying down to the Falkland Islands to take up my next post on HMS Clyde, the Falkland Is Patrol Vessel. When I’m not annoying fishermen, my life revolves around my 110 CSW “Nessie” who is my second home when camping and surfing.
She’s a TD5 but registered in 1999 (does this make it quite an early td5?) and I’m not scared of any major mods, although my credit card is. I’ve already spent 6 months in the falklands in 2007, and although it may prove a ballache and I might not get to use her that often, I know that if I don’t get my truck down there I’ll regret it. Plus my family will be coming down for 2 weeks half way through during my R&R. So over the next few weeks I’ll be researching shipping on the resupply vessels and costings, which I’ve heard may vary between a packet of hobnobs to a few hundred quid.
Now I know I’m not driving to Cape town, however I need to prevent as much as possible against anything major going wrong when I’m 8,000 miles from home
So, dear Difflock, I wonder if you’ve got any thoughts on my ideas on the following overland/camping prep!?
Jobs to do Mechanically:
Prior to starting, strip out carpets/seats etc and steam clean as much as poss.
Full service, change all filters, look for and stop any leaks. – New hoses?
Wheel tracking once I’ve fitted a new set of MT’s (possible new damper) – currently pulls left on hard braking.
Replace UJs – currently clonking unless v careful with clutch.
Recondition Rear crossmember and rocksliders/sills as they’re starting to go.
New door hinges alround - starting to contract the inevitable defender door hinge disease.
Camping/External:
I’m going to make my own awning, but I’m going to invest in a roof tent, after a year of shows and lots of debate I’m set on a Hannibal opening over the rear for a multitude of reasons.
Currently I have a home made set of shelves in the left hand side of the rear loadbay, with a water jerrycan (+ electric pump!) in the space left by the angle of the rear seat. (And the standard rear door fold down stove.) What I want to fit is an opening locker door where the left hand rear window is, turn the shelves around and fit it out as a kitchen accessible from outside. I saw these last summer on the front runner stand I think? I cant find much info on these but I believe there may be 2 types, the main one being a square fit which means I would have to cut a square hole, or one which fits into the existing rounded corners. The latter being preferred as it leaves me the option of returning it to a window. Any info on these would be brilliant!?
Underneath this I’m going to cut down an existing ally table to make one that slots onto the side of the truck with legs that prop onto the wheel (again knicked from front runner!).
Swing away rear wheel carrier + highlift mount ( I want as little weight as poss uptop so the jack wont be going on the roof and my current stowage, under the rear seats, is about to be filled with speakers and electronics!)
This is possibly for another post entirely, and I’ve read the ongoing debates in other threads but…recovery? The terrain down south is a bit like dartmoor, so whilst I’ll be avoiding any peat as much as possible for all the ecological reasons, I need to consider possible recovery – Waffle boards or sand track style? And/Or ground anchor? – challenge type or hammer in posts? After function, my main consideration here is cost and what I can make myself?
Finally I’ve got lots of ideas and plans for electrickery, but theyre for another thread entirely!!!
Again, sorry about the essay but if anyone has any ideas or criticism I’d really appreciate it.
Cheers, Dan.
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Nightbar Difflock Royalty
Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Odometer: 20799 Location: In a state of anticipation...
1999 Land Rover Defender
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:20 pm Post subject:
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Erm - don't forget that most of the mil down south use LRs so there would be no end of helpful advice for broken bits you might endure for a tinnie or two...
...and several companies are very good at delivering parts to BFPO (and some are not - PM if you want to know who to avoid).
But seriously as long as the old girl is mechanically sound and has good recovery points and strops then that is a pretty good starting point. Ensure new cam belt and full service before hand as you said although beforen shipping she will be stripped and certified free of oils and fuel to be cargo safe. If you want to mess around with ground anchors and the like then consider the actual need as unless you are going seriously off track but then again the tracks ain't good but are passable most of the time.
You will always check in and out of station down there so folk will know where you are but its always good to go in tandem as they can pull you out. Roof tent? Cheaper and easier to get a good tent and use decent mats (thermarest) and bags than waste dosh on a roof tent.
Also - I assume you will have an FMT 600 whilst down there - just sign out a LR in case the RFA don't deliver (they never delivered what I asked for - and then it was a 3 month lead time to get a chacon down there for me to pick up as my ship passed last time I had to do that a couple of years ago).
Happy to help and firing from a tired brain at the mo after a few days sick on shore.
__________________________________ The ex-Difflock Ambassador to Naples, Sir Nightbar DCJC DFS and 2 bars.
Plant a tree for the Difflock 3 |
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DanWhite Gate Opener
Joined: 28 Dec 2009 Odometer: 16 Location: Herefordshire
1999 Land Rover 110
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:41 pm Post subject:
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ha, cheers!
Yeah, the MT section down there is a LR graveyard! Particularly with all the wrecked ones due to the huge drops either side if the stanley road! We had an absolute donkey of a 110 and a minibus with no side door when i was there last. got a touch chilly in winter.
The tent is a longterm thing aswell, not just for the falklands, my surfing mates all kip in their vw vans (so stereotypical!) and the back of the landy isnt that comfy!
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ed Mud Obsessed
Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Odometer: 4312
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 10:04 am Post subject:
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get a good coat of waxoyl or similar on the steel bit.
And let us know about the surfing.
__________________________________ So let's not talk of love and flowers
And things that don't explode |
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chrisvitarasport94 Off-Road Guru
Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Odometer: 1255 Location: South Devon
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 6:38 pm Post subject:
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.....what a pleasure to read a well thought out and presented question, with proper grammar and spelling!
will follow this one with interest and envy!
I wish I'd joined the Navy 35 years ago
__________________________________ '94 3dr s/top Sport, roof bars, roof lights, Calmini bumper, SuperwinchEP9, CB & handheld, GPS, fwh's, 8x15 alloys, 31x10.5x15 BFG MT K/M's, 2" body lift, skid plates, 2.5" susp lift, & hi-lift. Safari Snorkel. R Lockright |
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leeds Just got MTs
Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Odometer: 244 Location: Leeds
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ooky_123 Just got MTs
Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Odometer: 236 Location: Andover, Hampshire
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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:45 pm Post subject:
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Pop up to the Air Strip and ask them if you can borrow one of theirs !!.. I have a mate that spends a few weeks a year down there and always ends up borrowing one of the RAF's spare ones ... Only proviso is you get it stuck, were not coming to get you !
Mind you ... if you get a Miliary 4x4 stuck then you deserve not to drive one !
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naughtyboy Articulating
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Odometer: 966 Location: west yorks
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 2:53 pm Post subject:
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can you do us a favour when you get there pls?
was stationed there as part of the R.I.C in 90 spent some time teaching in the stanley school as pr thing.
stayed with one of teachers called arthur nutter.
his family are witnesses as are my parents
if you get chance and they are still there will you say hi from mick pls?
cheers
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DanWhite Gate Opener
Joined: 28 Dec 2009 Odometer: 16 Location: Herefordshire
1999 Land Rover 110
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:25 pm Post subject:
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Hi All, Long time no post I'm afraid but I'm now back on dry Land!
Cheers for all your replies and help, however the MOD has decided that I wont be heading down south after all, and I will be changing Ships in the summer instead. Although I was looking forward to going back to the Falklands, particularly with my own truck, this change does actually mean a sort of promotion so I cant complain!
As such, I can't really plan anything after June/July but it is my intention to spend any leave I get on a Foreign Trip, and my Brother and I have an idea to do the standard 1st overland stuff into Morocco but combine it with some surfing on the Western coast, possibly venturing off the beaten track and further South into Western Sahara for a bit.
Therefore, all the above preps will still be happening but at a slower pace!
Priorities at the moment are the Side locker (still no UK stockists found for these kits, only Front Runner) and a roof tent...on that note, saw this on fleabay. They look slightly better canvas than the normal ebay ones, but at that price???
[url] http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TERRAIN-EXTENDED-ROOF-TEN...bd#ht_2898wt_1979 [/url]
Anyone have any experience with these?
[/url]
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idratherbesurfing Just got MTs
Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Odometer: 434 Location: In my garage with a cup of tea and the heating on
1985 Land Rover Defender
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:23 pm Post subject:
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nothing to add... except expect to pay up to £1500 for a good roof tent. Theyre certainly not cheap!!!
__________________________________ Ditched the jap crap and bought a 90 ... and then dropped a V8 into it |
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CarpeDiem Just got MTs
Joined: 11 Mar 2007 Odometer: 297
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Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:32 pm Post subject:
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Hi, I was there in '82, great place enjoy. Get to the other islands if you can.
__________________________________ "For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." -- Robert Louis Stevenson |
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