In need of some advice, HHHHEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!

[MuddyDiscoveryJay]

Hi guys, It is with a heavy heart I write this but all will be explained.

A couple of months ago I lost my Grandmother (Daphne Day, 84) to a heart attack  :( She always understood my desire to travel and wanted me to see the world. Being a Landrover fanatic I can't think of a better vehicle to travel in. (I know there are other more reliable makes but the green oval means alot to me)

Me and my family decided to sell her house and move on. I will be inheriting some of the money and it is with this money I wish to buy my dream car. Nan did always hint towards the subject so I will follow her wishes and my dreams.

I have looked at various cars and spoken to many lovely and interesting people and also taken advice from the rugged guide dvd. (well worth a look) www.ruggedguide.com)

I have narrowed my options down to either a 90 or 110, 300TDi or TD5.
I have heard of issues with the TD5 and 300TDi engines be it just age, wear and tear and also the wiring loom on the TD5's. I'm now starting to get lost here.
Allow me to just say I have around £11,000ish to spend on the car including mods, Roof tent, snorkel, underbody protection, fridge, storage boxes, kit to take abroad etc etc etc.
What tent do i put on my car? mantec or safari snorkel? Devon 4x4, TBR, Mansfield 4x4, footloose 4x4? So it's not just what but who can I trust to equip my car?

My idea is to prep my car and go on some guided tours in morocco, pyrnees, alps etc so who do I go with? Is there anybody on the forum wanting to come with me next year in their car? all welcome of course  :D I have been advised to spend a weekend in wales to get used to my car and gear and this I WILL do.

Has anybody been on a tour? If so then who with? was it fun? Did the car and/or wife survive?

I hope I haven't confused anybody and I hope you great fellow offroaders can help me.

Also if anyone has a 90/110 for sale then please let me know. I'm based in Colchester in not so sunny Essex.

Thanks guys, Stay happy and stay muddy.

MDJ

[boss]

hi, i know where your coming from as i can relate.

baisically if you get a TD5 youll be eating more money out of your budget there is a timing chain on it and it can be tuned for either power or economy, it is a much smoother engine than a TDI but if it goes wrong there wont be too many people around with a diagnostic computer where your going. you could buy a nanno com but thats a nother £200 out of your budget the TDI engines are probibly your best bet as if anything does go wrong its pretty simple to sort out with ducktape and string or a violated bean can. people will probibly moan about timing belt issues but there is a firm called zeus engineering who make "timing gears" look good and not a bad price and will totally iliminate that problem.

90 will probibly be too small 110 possibly too big? a disco with air con would be very tempting for me,plenty of bits out there for them and they have the 100" wheelbase.

as for a company doing your vehicle prep, try devon 4x4 they are the nicest people on the planet and the quality of there stuff is second to none! you only haveto look in there gallerey or at jakes motor to see what they can do overland wise

[robert francis]

mate sorry to here about your loss,

i can give you much advice but try and do as much yourself as poss and even some second hand bits, as it will save alot of cash i recon,


good luck and hope you have fun.

[discowoman]

also have to work out whether petrol is a better optioion as a lot of '3rd' world countries seem to be better set up for petrol.
plenty of 'expedition prepared' vehilces appear on here, ebay and auto trader. may be worth a look as a lot of the work is already done...also read the 'members travels' board for some ideas.

[baz2236]

Hi there In TOR this month there is a company called Footloose 4x4 there address is http://www.footloose4x4.co.uk There are based in Peterbourgh so its not too far for you I belive they do all the bits you need and also have been on many trips, Might be worth a drive down there to see them or give them a call for some advice.

[Terranosaurus]

do as much yourself as poss and even some second hand bits, as it will save alot of cash i recon

And you'll know its been done right. Some of the work I've seen (especially electrics) coming out of so called specialist 4x4 preparation outfits beggars belief, and not in a good way.

[piggysteve]

Good luck on your vehicle hunt James looking forward to seeing what you come up with

Steve

[MuddyDiscoveryJay]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I have loads of ideas now and they seem to make sense.

I think I will go for a 110 300TDi Stationwagon and guess the rest.

Thanks once again.

MDJ

[Xtremeteam]

Being in a fortunate position of borrowing workshop facilitys of a friend who has been to africa twice in a td5 110 & having a close friend who toured europe & africa in a 300 tdi they are both very good cars,what ever you go for make sure they are well serviced before leaving & do some good miles in them before heading of into the wide blue yonder,
Faults? The 300 did nearly 19k before returning home,on return it stripped the rear drive flanges 2 weeks after getting back to scotland at a play day, the td5,other than needing bushes,service was all good, infact 8 months after returning was packed n heading south again, on return required an aircon pipe n more bushes, for going overland you have to keep in mind that you have to drive the car to survive,
if youy can get away with it ie not having more peeps than youerself n one other consider a 110 van, if you need more peaople space get a 110 csw n blank the rear windows n build your storage into the rear,

[Big Watty]

I've been to the Pyrenees and just got back from Morocco.

You don't say how many people you will be travelling with
All I can say is that I have done all my trips in  110 hardtop - get for security and space - I had side lockers fitted to make use of the dead space in the wheel arches.

The 110 performed faultlessly  (it's 300TDI)

What you do and how you do it is down to you - my 110 has a bed fitted inside so I didn't need a roof tent - has no air con (temperatures reached in excess of 50 in the Sahara)

Just make sure it's properly serviced and you take enough spares to make sure the wheels go round (you can then at least be towed to a garage  :D)

If you want more info PM me

Chris

[MudRat]

how was the trip Chris? if you fancy some evening greenlaning we are going once a month now.

[Big Watty]

Without wanting to hijack the thread the trip was great - four weeks away was along time but it was an experience that gets better as I remember more each time I talk about it!

You've seen my 110 and although it can be used as an"expedition" vehicle once back home it takes minutes to clear things out so it can be used "as normal".

I was invited to be guest speaker at junior prize giving to talk about it!!

I saw you were meeting last night at McDonald but couldn't come as I had something to do

Let me know when the next one is (please)

[J.D.]

MDJ - its not something I personally get involved with, but I have a good friend who has done several overland trips )Iceland, Morrocco, Africa amongst others) who truns a company called Better Prepared Vehicles - www.betterpreparedvehicles.co.uk. Get in contact with him and tell him JD sent you.

My opinion for what it is worth - if I was taking a vehicle overland I would kit it up myself - then everything can be as you want it, however, I appreciate not every one has a the inclination or the facilities to do something like that.

[morson4x4]

sorry for the news i would go for 90 but if you looking for more space and comfort and carrying alot of gear go for 110 and 300tdi anyday over td5, snorkels not matter i always prefer safari snorkels personally look smarter, i know guys who have tour'd morocco roof tent always good i would reccommend tho if you go to take plenty of cash kept safe tho, lots of spares (lights, couple of wheels, etc), and for your washing get a large plastic tub with water put soap suds in it and ur clothes strap it to your roof (make sure lid is on) and as you trekking the bumps will it them for you  :dance: