Overland in a Series?

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H

Home Guard

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North Walsham, Norfolk
Has anyone done this in recent years? Disco's and 110's seem to have been the weapon of choice for the past 2 decades. Apart fro sacrificing comfort, fuel economy, reliability and speed, i'm sure it'd be great to re live that golden age of expeditions off road.

Has anyone tried it?
 
There's a chap on here who does it regularly - always for charity, can't for the life of me remember his user name, but, he normally posts in the expedition section...

In general though, no, most people don't. I think you'd want to spend a long time preparing your vehicle and take lots of spares, but, other than that you can't go wrong really. They are simple vehicles, easy to fix, I would have loved to do Morocco in the Series, but, the missus wouldn't have come with me so we took the D3 instead!
 
Why not, if your vehicle is well prepared and giving good service in daily use. I would say do not over do the carrying of spares, weight is the killer. I have done some hefty trips on motorcycles and soon learnt to travel light.
 
there's three or four of the carawagon lads did the morocco expedition thing a couple of years ago with little to no problems, i think the major modifications were TDIs under the bonnet and 3.54 diffs for the better cruising speed/fuel economy

RMS is the chap to speak to on Land Rover Classic Campers he'll either point you to his write ups or give you a list of the taken spares and used spares

if there's three or four similarly specced vehicles going spares aren't quite such an issue as they can be spread around the vehicles, example .. 4x series landrovers and at least one "expected" halfshaft failure but unlikely to snap 4 so you only need to carry two, so on that basis spares/weight can be shared

i hope that helps
 
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didn't someone repeat the original overland expedition recently in some s1's, that oxford expedition of the 50's might be the one in that utube vid posted earlier, not sure if it ever got off the ground though
 
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thanks for that link, pity it didn't go ahead, £33k would be small change for tata motors, mind you if they are still going to withdraw the defender they probably wouldn't be interested in sponsoring it
 
My dream is to do a good bit of the overland to Singapore route (the bits you don't get shot at too much) then ship across to Australian and do that too...the missus won't be in it, nor most of my mates - they all reckon its too uncomfortable!
 
Another interesting question would be what sort of modifications would have been done to the vehicle, and performance parts and equipment added to them for expeditions/overland's from the early sixties to seventies?
 
brackets to carry a couple of spare leaf springs, brackets for fuel and water cans, maybe some secure waterproof boxes for a few electrical items and tools, a puncture repair kit (including stirrup pump) and a spare tube or two, a spare wheel complete and bare tyre, i'd also squeeze a halfshaft in being as i have a Rover axle under the rear, a box of hub/brake and clutch seals along with brake fluid and a litre or two of ep90 and a gallon of oil to top the engine up, a winch possibly wouldn't go amiss but i doubt you'd really need one unless your intentions were to really get off the beaten track nowadays...

pack not too much clothing, a couple of blankets/dossbags, mosquito nets maybe along with possibly a couple of collapsable beds/hammocks and a canvas for shelter, think carefully about cooking arrangements, a coleman petrol stove is probably the best

but the main thing really isn't to travel alone when using a 50 year old motor, travel in a convoy of at least two to have assistance to hand should things breakdown badly in the middle of nowhere

back in the fifties a pistol was also a viable option :lol:

today i guess a satellite phone and an aa card is probably your most valuable asset

p.s.
the furthest i've ever been is the Isle of Wight :eek:
 
I quite fancy Northern Spain as a novice adventure. Boat from Portsmouth to Spain and go from there. My main concern is my potential lack of ability to fix myself at the roadside in minimal time. I'm happy enough on my drive with the Workshop manual and all the gear I need, swigging tea leisurely and tackling most stuff that breaks....but stripping out diffs at the side of the road to remove knackered bits of driveshaft and rebuilding might be a step too far. :rolleyes:
 
piffle, a broken halfshaft is easy enough to sort

both halfshafts out of the rear axle, roll underneath, drain the oil, undo the prop from the rear diff (blocks under the front wheels), undo the ring of nuts from the diff and wriggle it out

diff on floor look inside diff to see the broken stub, big screwdriver and tap it out

new gasket or silicone sealer, refit diff, refit halfshafts, reconnect prop, refill with oil

remove chocks and continue your journey

an hour and a half and you're all cleared up had a cup of tea and still feeling happy
 
A magnet on a long stick and if you're luck (like I was) you can fit it at the side of the road in about 5 minutes...so long as you have one. If not remove rear halfshaft, engage FWHs, engage 4wd and job's a good un.
 
Having done a fair few motorcycle trips, most of Europe,Norway Tunisia etc. My advice is go for it. Just drive as smoothly as you can to avoid undue stress on the driveline. The worst I ever had was a couple of broken spokes in the rear wheel. That was on my first trip when I took to much stuff, I like Nitemares list that should get you round the world. Maybe tie up with a parts supplier before you go that is prepared to ship parts out if you need them, most things can be got in a few days.
 
So rural France it is for myself and two other land rover gents! My machine 2a 109 petrol, a 2 88 petrol (previously owned by myself, and a wonderful series 3 88 diesel shall be making the trip. Only the diesel series 3 has overdrive. I plan on fitting an ashcroft higher range transfer box, but doubt I shall get round to it. We all are equipped only with one under the driver seat tank. How much in Jerry cans do you recommended we carry?
Apart from gaskets, tools and oil, what else do you recommended we carry?
I do apologise for my misspelling and illieratness, it's the drink talking.......
 
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