Any advice ?

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oncebrewed

New Member
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I have been thinking about getting a Defender for some time ( never owned a Landy in my life ) to do a trip to the Swedish arctic next Feb but am worried about my lack of mechanical knowledge and lack of 4x4 driving skills. My budget is not huge either ( about 5k ) and was thinking about a 300tdi. Can anyone suggest a reliable place to buy such a vehicle, anywhere where I could do a day or two of experience driving in various conditions and finally is there somewhere I could do a couple of days basic mechanics ? A farmer I know advised me not to get a Defender ( he suggested buying a Toyota ) but that sounds too dull.

Cheers,

Cris
 
oncebrewed said:
I have been thinking about getting a Defender for some time ( never owned a Landy in my life ) to do a trip to the Swedish arctic next Feb but am worried about my lack of mechanical knowledge and lack of 4x4 driving skills. My budget is not huge either ( about 5k ) and was thinking about a 300tdi. Can anyone suggest a reliable place to buy such a vehicle, anywhere where I could do a day or two of experience driving in various conditions and finally is there somewhere I could do a couple of days basic mechanics ? A farmer I know advised me not to get a Defender ( he suggested buying a Toyota ) but that sounds too dull.

Cheers,

Cris
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Try Brightwells Auctions for the landy but take someone with you who knows what he's looking for.

try evening classes for the mechanics side of things.

Plenty of off road driving courses about But I'd suggest you go out greenlaning with someone and learn for free Just keep an eye out for people local to you organising a day out on this forum.
 
This may be known to you...but sweden is BIG and very lightly populated..the area you want to go to has population density of 1 person per 50 square miles...if it goes tits up you are in a lot of trouble...do you have radio skills? First aid certs? Basic survival techniques??

If i may be so bold...i think you are ill-trained and ill-informed..You have no experience of the vehicle you will be driving...or the conditions you will meet..

Bon Voyage...
 
I have been there before and to be honest it sounds more exotic than it is. Think Milton Keynes in the snow and that's where I'm going. Likely to be on main roads most of time and will have equally hopeless ( mechanically speaking ) assistant with me.
 
oncebrewed said:
I have been there before and to be honest it sounds more exotic than it is. Think Milton Keynes in the snow and that's where I'm going. Likely to be on main roads most of time and will have equally hopeless ( mechanically speaking ) assistant with me.
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I'd be inclined to go for a 300tdi disco plenty around the £2k mark, and the heaters work which will be ya prime concern out there. :D
 
oncebrewed said:
I have been there before and to be honest it sounds more exotic than it is. Think Milton Keynes in the snow and that's where I'm going. Likely to be on main roads most of time and will have equally hopeless ( mechanically speaking ) assistant with me.
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Well you aint going to the north as you posted originally...im in denmark mate so i have an idea what its like here in feb...the north of sweden is NOT like Milton Keynes...:mad:
 
I'm going to Jokkmokk which is in the Arctic but only just. When I have been there before in winter the driving conditions have been pretty good even in snow but I have not driven there from the UK. I see this trip as a test to see if I can do anything more adventurous in the future but of course I am interested in opinions.....
 
oncebrewed said:
I'm going to Jokkmokk which is in the Arctic but only just. When I have been there before in winter the driving conditions have been pretty good even in snow but I have not driven there from the UK. I see this trip as a test to see if I can do anything more adventurous in the future but of course I am interested in opinions.....
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Jokkmokk is approx 300km north of bergen and as you say right on the edge of the arctic circle...its a fair old trot....1000km from me..and even if you get the ferry harwich to esbjerg (denmark) you are looking at a 700 mile trip..in the middle of winter...in a vehicle you are unfamiliar with...with freezing diesel, fuel lines waxing...etc..it'll be fun!!

At some point north of stockholm i fear you may look at your inexperienced mechanic passenger and think ''i wonder if he really does taste like chicken if i eat him?''
 
If I were you, I'd postpone for a year, get a vehicle, get trained to drive it, and get used to what it can do in the relative safety of your home country; believe me, plenty of people get it horribly wrong, even in relative "safety" remember, no-one plans to fail, but many fail to plan!!

And Big Dave is right Nogbad; human flesh does taste like pork apparently! :rolleyes:
 
Yes, perhaps I should get to grips with the vehicle before undertaking this journey in winter. There will be other opportunities but I don't want to be undeterred from getting Defender for future trips. I have never considered my assistant as a meal but after just having stopped at Avonmouth services on the M5 I now see him in a different light ( lightly seasoned ).
 
The consensus seems that my plan will be foolhardy and as I came to the forum for advice I am happy to take it. I will try and find a Landy over Christmas and spend some time getting to know it before embarking on any adventures ( although I will be the first to hit the streets of Milton Keynes at the first sign of snow ). I'm something of a Scandophile ( if that's a word ) so will be back. I have spent a lot of time traveling in Denmark and Sweden but rarely by car so I still have enthusiasm for a future road trip.

Now, what's a bulkhead ?.........
 
oncebrewed said:
The consensus seems that my plan will be foolhardy and as I came to the forum for advice I am happy to take it. I will try and find a Landy over Christmas and spend some time getting to know it before embarking on any adventures ( although I will be the first to hit the streets of Milton Keynes at the first sign of snow ). I'm something of a Scandophile ( if that's a word ) so will be back. I have spent a lot of time traveling in Denmark and Sweden but rarely by car so I still have enthusiasm for a future road trip.

Now, what's a bulkhead ?.........
Click to expand...

Its the rusty thing at the front that collects water and cleans your feet...
 
oncebrewed said:
The consensus seems that my plan will be foolhardy and as I came to the forum for advice I am happy to take it. I will try and find a Landy over Christmas and spend some time getting to know it before embarking on any adventures ( although I will be the first to hit the streets of Milton Keynes at the first sign of snow ). I'm something of a Scandophile ( if that's a word ) so will be back. I have spent a lot of time traveling in Denmark and Sweden but rarely by car so I still have enthusiasm for a future road trip.

Now, what's a bulkhead ?.........
Click to expand...

it's just above your neck mate.:D:D
 
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