preparing for expedition

Hi
How must i preparing my Disco 1 for the next year expedition in West Africa.
What parts i have to change/check? Suspension , steering, etc
I'm in Romania and i have to order the parts in UK, to find a good mechanic, to find money!
That's a lot of time and have to make in time a plan and a budget!
Thanks for you advice

A bit of common sense says to check everything that can break. If it isn't broke or very worn I wouldn't replace it. What countries are you thinking of doing in West Africa? It can get quite complicated there!

Morocco, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal!
Check my website: Craiova-Budapesta-Bamako-Dakkar 2009
A part of the problem is that i don't know the English words for all automotive parts and is hard to look trough parts catalogs !

Not trying to put you off but do know that Mali really isn't a wise place to go at all? The chances of getting robbed or falsely arrested in Mali is very likely - particularly near border crossings. We decided to avoid it in the end and do a different route. The idea of having our car taken from us by armed bandits, or even worse, getting shot at by a group of ex-military rebels heavily armed with AK47s who are probably suffering from some sort of power trip charisma did not appeal.

If you don't know the names for things - I am sure you could ask on here and someone will figure what the part number is that you need. Worst case scenario if you cant figure the name of it at all is to take a picture of it and circle the part you need!

slightly offtopic but a good resource non the less: Sahara Overland ~ the book and online resource

if you go to Country info there is some good sutff there. the forum (HUBB) is also an excellent place for up to date info.

G

Sahara Overland is quite a good resource, especially for border crossings.

Also see Foreign & Commonwealth Office travel service (but take with a pinch of salt otherwise you will end up going nowhere and locking yourself in at home)

This might also help!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XnE_J7yOY.../2-k0F_DSkRA/s1600/sahara_routing_problem.jpg

mmmmmmmmmmm i worked for a overland company and have done many trips through mali with no problems at all, but good luck with the trip by the way.

Apologies if this is thread stealing - but Ad, when is the last time you went through Mali?

Anybody from here has traveled recently in Senegl? I need a Carnnet du Passage to ontry the country, for my 1994 Disco?

rustyrhinos said:

Apologies if this is thread stealing - but Ad, when is the last time you went through Mali?

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november last year why?

Ah right, interesting...so no political problems...or people waiting across the other side of the border to hi-jack you then as people would lead you to believe?

You should not always belive what you read and see on the tv, its just like Iran, has to be one of the best countrys i have traveled in but accoring to the news everyone wants to kill you!!!

Yeah, I know what you mean...things like the hitchhikers guides, and even the government run sites put you off places...and they are nothing like as described when you visit them in person.

What kind of storage systems you used for the back of the car in expeditions?
Can you put some pictures, to give me some ideas ?

rustyrhinos said:

Yeah, I know what you mean...things like the hitchhikers guides, and even the government run sites put you off places...and they are nothing like as described when you visit them in person.

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Yes just like the lonely planet and rough guide, my advice would be throw them in the bin!!!

What kind of storage systems you used for the back of the car in expeditions?

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I used cardboard boxes and the stuff-it-in-every-nook-and-cranny-and-eat-your-way-through-food-to-get-some-space-and-a-rear-view-method


Reading through them can be interesting, but only for the laughs of it from my experience. Good luck with the Mongolia trip btw, if you havn't been already, it's a fantastic place.

rustyrhinos said:

I used cardboard boxes and the stuff-it-in-every-nook-and-cranny-and-eat-your-way-through-food-to-get-some-space-and-a-rear-view-method


Reading through them can be interesting, but only for the laughs of it from my experience. Good luck with the Mongolia trip btw, if you havn't been already, it's a fantastic place.

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I will be using these folding plastic crates.
The measure about 14inch x 12 inch and about 12 inch high.
When not used they fold flat.
I expect to use about 20 of them.
they are "stackable" so makes it a bit easier!

If I remember, the wife first got a few last year from the local "Poundland" shop.
At £1.00 a go, it's hardly expensive.
They are grey sides, black base, and hand hole grips in the ends.
.
Like theses but grey, and just a quid !
Folding plastic storage crates for camping and caravanning

FFS your gonna break all 20 of them in 1 day, those boxes will NOT last. Give the guys a plastor a shout and get some proper HD stacking boxes in any size you like. Currently got 8 of them in the back of my 90 ready for next saturday

Plastor - Plastic container and storage specialists

G

Griffdowg said:

FFS your gonna break all 20 of them in 1 day, those boxes will NOT last. Give the guys a plastor a shout and get some proper HD stacking boxes in any size you like. Currently got 8 of them in the back of my 90 ready for next saturday

Plastor - Plastic container and storage specialists

G

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Depending on where you are going I would recommend dust proof containers - if travelling in a Discovery.

we are only taking the best vehicle... a Defender

With regards to dust proofing, the lids are hinged only exposing 3 sides. This is effectively and neatly proofed with a bead of black silicone.

Our clothes are in a Zarges box and electric equipment is stored in Peli cases.

G