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A bunch of questions

G

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Hi all,
Anyone know Waypoint Tours? http://waypoint-tours.com/about.htm I'm
planning on going to Morocco with them in November, wondering if
anyone has done it before.
Now I've got the landcruiser pretty much fixed up it's time to use it.
I tried it out at the Buxton and District Land Rover Club "playday" a
few weeks ago, and thrashed around an old quarry near Buxton. I
discovered that Landcruisers are significantly longer and wider than
Land Rover Defenders, and you can't always follow them.
As a result I managed to bend the side step so I couldn't open the
passenger door, and found an advantage of being fat - you can jump on
it and bend it back again. Finally an excuse to eat and drink even
more. Also lost the fog light and tow hitch electrical connector which
can easily be replaced, higher next time.
Ripped off a mud flap too. Do these things serve any purpose or are
they just cosmetic? I was thinking of removing them or cutting them to
be as short as possible.
What is the consensus of opinion of under body protection? I hit a few
things and am paranoid about sticking a big hole in the LRFT or
breaking something important.
I'm not sure if the front locker (ARB airlocker) is engaging
properly. It makes an appropriate hissing noise when you hit the
button, but I didn't notice any difference in steering or grip with it
engaged. What is the easiest way to tell?
Also been thinking about upgrading the lights, it would be
particularly useful for me if there was an easy way of changing dip
beam angle for UK driving on the left & Europe on the right. Any
ideas?
All replies and suggestions gratefully received!
Cheers,
--
Andy Haxby
Macclesfield UK and Den Haag NL
94 Jap import HDJ81 with mods.
 
Andy,
Put the electrical connector in the rear bumper and it will not suffer
again.
I doubt if tou will need underbody protection in Morocco.
You can put tape on part of the headlamp lens to convert it to vertical
dip, legal in most, if not all countries.
Jack the front of the vehicle up, and turn one front wheel, the other
one should turn in the opposite direction, now lock the front diff, the
wheels should now turn together.
Regards,
Clive Marks
Home: +44 1293 514600
Mobile: +44 7821 491897
Crawley, West Sussex, UK.
 
Hi Andy,
That sounds a lot like my first Pay & Play day, mudflaps gone (leave them
off), both side steps redesigned (get some rocksliders), exhaust system
ripped off (got a S/S fitted a lot higher up), branch through windscreen,
missing front number plate (now stuck on bonnet) I think that's all, but it
was great fun!
TTFN
Chas
London UK '94 1HDT 80 Auto, 110000+ miles, Safari snorkel, Rocksliders,
Maggiolona roof tent, Engel fridge, Custom Winch bumper & winch
.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Haxby" <[Email address removed]>
To: <[Email address removed]>
Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2008 4:58 PM
Subject: [ELCO] A bunch of questions
As a result I managed to bend the side step so I couldn't open the
passenger door, and found an advantage of being fat - you can jump on it and
bend it back again. Finally an excuse to eat and drink even
All replies and suggestions gratefully received!
 
Hi Clive,
Now that's a good idea, why didn't I think about that.....
OK, thanks,
I do that (sometimes), the problem is I'm back and forwards all the
time and it's a pain. I was wondering if you can get lights that will
switch or something. I used to have a Peugeot that had a little lever
that changed the angle of the whole headlamp.
OK, thanks. I'll need to get a trolley jack first, only got a bottle
jack at the moment and no axle stands.
Cheers,
 
Hi Andy,
I've not come across Waypoint Tours, but believe that one of the other ELCO members may be going with them to Morocco.
Yes, the side steps are prone to damage on pay and play sites, and also if you do a lot of serious playing in the dunes, otherwise most overlanders aim to conserve their vehicles a bit more so are a bit more gentle with them :) The alternative is to fit sliders which tend to be quite heavy.
The mud flaps are useful for reducing the spray - one option is to slice off the bottoms on them and then attach some rubber to act as a flap that can stop the spray, but fold out of the way when they hit something.
The standard aluminium underbody protection will help on the pay and play sites, but again it is extra weight that is less likely to be required whilst overlanding. Most kits run from the front to half way down the body, protecting the bottom of the engine, gearbox and transfer case - they don't go as far back as the LRFT - these should be strong enough as they are.
When you engage the diff locks, can you hear a clicking noise from the front diff? The air will activate the lock, but it won't engage straight away if the wheels aren't spinning.
On the lighting front the first step is to put in an upgraded wiring harness so the headlights are being powered straight from the batteries. The standard factory wiring loom leads to quite a voltage drop which is why the headlights are pretty weak, particularly on low beam - I'm upgrading my harness next week and fitting some 80/100w bulbs ready for the winter.
As for being able to switch the dip beam pattern for UK and Europe, the only way to do this is with the stickers. If you upgrade the wiring harness the stickers should have less of an impact.
Regards
Julian
Email: [Email address removed]
Tel:=A0+44 (0)845 508 6863
 
:) and I forgot to mention the mud. Mud everywhere inside and out,
and now all over my girlfriends drive..........
 
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Ah well, mud, that goes without saying.
Chas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Haxby" <[Email address removed]>
To: <[Email address removed]>
Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2008 6:06 PM
Subject: Re: [ELCO] A bunch of questions
 
Hi Julian,
Hope I don't put them off :)
I don' fancy heavy sliders so I guess I'll have to have more
consideration for the vehicle...
Might try that....
OK, thanks, I'll give that a miss then. Again I guess I just need t be careful..
I can't hear anything from inside when I press the button, I'll get
someone else to press the button so I can check (& also jack the front
up and turn the wheels)
OK, I think I'm in for a lighting upgrade soon.
The problem is keep putting them on and taking them off again rather
than lack of illumination. Through the summer I just don't bother as i
seldom drive in the dark anyway. Now the winter is coming it's a pain.
What about a spare set of headlights????
Cheers,
 
Andy,
I would rather use the tape than a spare set of lights. As I said, the
tape can be left on as it is legal here and abroad.
Regards,
Clive Marks
Home: +44 1293 514600
Mobile: +44 7821 491897
Crawley, West Sussex, UK.
 
Morning Clive,
Ahh, I've overlooked one small but important detail. Without thinking
about it I just took them off in the UK. Never thought that it is an
option to leave them on permanently.....and with more powerful lights
I'll be able to see better anyway.
Problem solved. Many thanks both to you and "the list" for connecting us :)
Cheers
 
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