Essential items for overland trip

[georgemason]

I'm soon to be taking my Disco on a 2000 mile trip across Europe, from the UK to Greece, where she is going to live for some time.

As I've never done anything like that before, I'm interested to know what you all think are essential items to take with me, spares or other stuff. I haven't got infinite funds but don't want to take too many chances. So far I've got:

Jerry cans
12v mini compressor
Electric cool box
Tent
Folding chairs
Gas stove
Massive torch
Blow up sheep:yikes:


Whaddya think?

George

[Madoobri]

More like a blow up goat if your going to Greece! :p

Tools (obviously)
Spare bulbs
Oil & water
Belts
Warning Triangle
Hi-visability vest
Good tow rope
Jump Leads
etc etc etc

I know your going to beautiful Kriti, I`m jealous!! :(

[Geobloke]

How to **** in the Woods: An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art

By Kathleen Meyer

Read it before you go and you'll never be stuck wanting again!!! Great read too! :D

[oRGie]

AA 5 star cover ;) gsm mobile phone, check you have international use activated with your phone line supplier.

toilet roll
food
water
warm clothes/cool clothes/towel/sleeping bag
coffee making stuff, gas burner etc, unless your bringing full camping equipment.. (cant take gas canisters on eurotunnel, not sure about ferries)

spares as above
vest/triangle as above
basic tools/work gloves
gaffa tape ! cable ties ! <--- amazing what these two items can fix :D

check spare wheel, pressure etc and you have a working jack, wrench that fits and the locking wheel nut key ;)

very handy to have at least a tarp and some rope so you can make a sun shelter..

errr, bet there's loads more stuff I'll remember later :)

[Ferryman]

More like a blow up goat if your going to Greece! :p

Tools (obviously)
Spare bulbs
Oil & water
Belts
Warning Triangle
Hi-visability vest
Good tow rope
Jump Leads
etc etc etc

I know your going to beautiful Kriti, I`m jealous!! :(
Spare fuelfilter to cope with dirty diesel
Spare wiperblades (they tend to steal them over there)

Tony.

[Madoobri]

oh & headache tablets for the day after you`ve been drinking the local krassi & raki :drunk:

[Snagger]

Light lenses to deal with bent police, 2 spare tyres, rad hoses and some radweld for small leaks. Get an anti theft device too - a clutch claw of similar: your vehicle may be less attractive as RHD, but a British vehicle's theft will just be sneered at by the local police.

[BASHER]

All the above are very good with 5 star cover top of the list. With some knowledge of your vehicle a few items are also worth stowing in those odd corners. My basic system means carry a few things which can be fairly easily replaced by the roadside or in your nigthyl camp. All the following items are not terribly costly from many suppliers on the web. Firstly spare wheel bearings take minimum 2 with new lock tabs easily fitted and a common ailment.It really is wise to check every bearing before you leave as these can suddenly weld themselves to stub axle especially if the vehicle is used frequently off road. Presumeably new pads fitted all round so no need for spare.Next item in my 90, track rod ends and drop arm ball joint these items can just go wrong without warning.Spare fan belt I take an old one which is still serviceable.I also have the maincooler hose looks like a pile of spagetti but is a combination connection to engine can leak at many points. You realise the best part next to 5 star cover is a loaded wallet, I say this as some years back (France)we had rear bearing failure with no spares carried. Cost for 2 bearings, lock tabs, new pads as the bearing when collapsed destroys the pads very quickly and a litre of hypoid £320 smackershttp://www.landrovernet.com/forum/images/icons/icon9.gifg

[AJC]

Light lenses to deal with bent police, 2 spare tyres, rad hoses and some radweld for small leaks. Get an anti theft device too - a clutch claw of similar: your vehicle may be less attractive as RHD, but a British vehicle's theft will just be sneered at by the local police.

Concur with your suggestion of anti theft device Snagger, however, I don't agree with your sweeping statement that local police will sneer at the theft of a British vehicle. That may be true of some local police, probably at some resorts that experience drunken british yob tourists but I don't think it's fair to generalise that all local police will have the same attitude.

Stavros

[ROB 110 HICAP]

Do you need jerrycans crossing Europe? Don't think there are too many places in europe that have fuel gaps over 200 miles, but I may be wrong. Otherthan that some propshaft UJs are a good thing as they are small to pack and likely to go on long haul trips.

Somebody once said 'Its the interuptions that make the journey, not the miles' or something like that, so basically be patient and enjoy the things/delays that are out of your control. Good luck.

[paradiddle]

Read 'The Long way round' by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. It might only give you a few tips that are useful practically, but it does have a list of the mods and kit they took at the back - a very useful reference.

[P00DLE]

Beer?????? :d

[georgemason]

Beer?????? :d
Good idea!! :guiness::D:D

Light lenses to deal with bent police, 2 spare tyres, rad hoses and some radweld for small leaks. Get an anti theft device too - a clutch claw of similar: your vehicle may be less attractive as RHD, but a British vehicle's theft will just be sneered at by the local police.
Was thinking of a clutch claw, don't fancy my Disco not being there when I go off to explore :eek::eek:!! It's got the standard alarm and immobiliser too although I need to get a replacement fob. Was also thinking about bolting an ammo box in the boot for valuables that I might want to leave in there.

BTW good ideas everyone, keep em coming!

[Snagger]

Concur with your suggestion of anti theft device Snagger, however, I don't agree with your sweeping statement that local police will sneer at the theft of a British vehicle. That may be true of some local police, probably at some resorts that experience drunken british yob tourists but I don't think it's fair to generalise that all local police will have the same attitude.

Stavros

It's not meant as a pointed jab at the police, more an observation that the British really aren't liked abroad, and with a fair amount of justification. I think they are less inclined to recover a visitors car anyway, more so a Brit. As for the light lense remark, that covers anywhere in the world, an is just a rarity that is best prepared for; I don't expect any of that sort of thing in Europe, but for the sake of a couple of pounds worth of lenses, it's best to be prepared.

[Murphree]

Look I'm sure you don't need all those spare parts - you are driving a Land Rover and they don't break down! RIGHT?:D Good idea on the beer! :guiness: Agree with a carton of smokes for the bent cops in Germany:o But basically you need some cash Dollars and Euros, a credit card, your passport and a map.

Oh and fix your Land Rover before you go on your trip not while you are on your trip.:rolleyes:
Have fun:D :D

[Top90]

We took a series 2 disco around Morocco and took all sorts of stuff which was never used. Including Jerry cans that we never had to fill.

People forget that with a 21 gallon tank and 25 to the gallon, you can go a long way between stops.

Unless you are going off to the middle of nowhere you should be able to source parts within a day or two.

The only thing we did have to do was take the air filter out every three or four days and give it a shake.

Rich

[ROB 110 HICAP]

We took a series 2 disco around Morocco .Rich
When did you go Rich? How much tarmac was there through the mountains around Imilchil (if you went there) I haven't been since '96 so would like to know for future reference. Thanks

[georgemason]

but for the sake of a couple of pounds worth of lenses, it's best to be prepared.
Where might I get some of these redirected lenses from? (or do you just mean those sticker cutout jobbies? Since the car's going to live in Greece for at least the medium term it sounds like a good idea...

[BASHER]

It's not meant as a pointed jab at the police, more an observation that the British really aren't liked abroad, and with a fair amount of justification. I think they are less inclined to recover a visitors car anyway, more so a Brit. As for the light lense remark, that covers anywhere in the world, an is just a rarity that is best prepared for; I don't expect any of that sort of thing in Europe, but for the sake of a couple of pounds worth of lenses, it's best to be prepared.
We are the original miserable gits been going abroad for ten-12 years and have never bought a set of lens deflectors, the Landy headlamp is well marked for banging on a couple of strips of black tape, this saving could buy a couple of extra beers.

[Snagger]

Where might I get some of these redirected lenses from? (or do you just mean those sticker cutout jobbies? Since the car's going to live in Greece for at least the medium term it sounds like a good idea...

I actually meant the standard lenses for the indicators and tail lights on a Defender - sorry, I didn't read your sig properly!

[Top90]

If you get the proper stick on beam redirectors (halfords do them, or most ferry companies) they convert your lights to left hand drive type and in my experiance work very well. Many people just cover the triangle on the lens that throws the beam to the left with black tape and still get plenty of light though.

ROB, I went last easter. Through the Atlas mountains, across the Sahara to Zagora and back up the Altantic coast. The tarmac was not too bad between cities but as soon as we got through the mountains there was hardly any for five days. And when we did find some it was pretty rough. They have fairly recently put a dual carriageway down the Altlantic coast though, so if you want to go straight to the desert in the South its quite easy.

Sorry for the thread hijack.:o

Rich

[ROB 110 HICAP]

Thanks Rich, I had heard most of the 'gaps' between towns had been tarmaced, glad theres plenty of dirt left.

[georgemason]

If you get the proper stick on beam redirectors (halfords do them, or most ferry companies) they convert your lights to left hand drive type and in my experiance work very well. Many people just cover the triangle on the lens that throws the beam to the left with black tape and still get plenty of light though.
Thing is, the car's going to be in LHD land for some years I reckon - so a more permenent solution wouldn't be a bad thing. Can you even get LHD lenses in this country??

[Top90]

Get a cheap pair of headlights on french or german ebay, then get 'em sent over.

ROB. Get down to Erg Chebbie. Awsome part of Morocco and no roads in sight.

Rich

[ROB 110 HICAP]

ROB. Get down to Erg Chebbie. Awsome part of Morocco and no roads in sight.

Rich
Been twice m8 on dirtbikes! Tis the best offroading ever in the dunes. See my avatar.

[EasyMan]

I think you might find that John Craddocks sell LHD lights.

[AJC]

Get a cheap pair of headlights on french or german ebay, then get 'em sent over.

ROB. Get down to Erg Chebbie. Awsome part of Morocco and no roads in sight.

Rich

Rich,

Agreed that Erg Chebbie is awsome but as for not a road in sight I have to disagree. There is now a tarmac road from Erfoud to Merzourga (Erg Chebbie) and there is now one under construction from Merzouga heading in the direction of Zagora. There are still plenty of off piste tracks but certainly over the last 6 years that I know of, tarmac has been replacing many of the popular tracks.

AJ

[JamesD]

was dissappointed when i went 3 years ago with the amount of tarmac there was... then we had a bit of trouble when the locals wanted to buy my sister which wasn't going to happen... specially not with the offer of 12 camels, which although a lot in morocco, was no where near enough for my sister! i'd want at least 14 ;)