Few days in Wales

[Gary820]

Got back earlier from 4 days in Wales laning with a group of mates.
I've got nearly 500 photos to go through on the camera but just for a little taster...........



Strata bomb hole, low box in drive and centre locker in, 80 just walked it





I'm the first to admit my 80 is a bit of a shiny and does get polished etc but I'm not afraid to use it for what it's built for, can see the scratches pretty much covering the bonnet from over grown bushes





More to come and I'll write a few lines I guess. Truck to wash and tidy up tomorrow then I'll sort the camera out.

 

[Ian Chuter]

Looking forward to the report Gary
Ian

 

[clivehorridge]

Looking forward to the report Gary
Ian

Me too Gary! The polish will probably do away with the scratches.

You could wrap it in clear plastic like I have, It's worked so far...

 

[Gary820]

Right a bit more to add. going to do in a couple of posts so bear with me

Back in 2013 myself and few mates got talking about a trip to wales, rather then a weekend it was decided to take a week off work and make a lads holiday out of it.
we decided rather then camping as we've been washed out far too often we'd find somewhere as a base to work from.

We booked Llanerchindda Farm for the week so a bed and meals cooked and served with it being mid week it cost us £38 each plus food which was very reasonable and they were big meals.

so the digs for the week...





And of course it was self catering but we choose to eat in the guest house part, the 2 fridges had another purpose



There was supposed to be 8 vehicles going but a week before one had major engine problems and had to drop out needing a new engine

Then 2 days before another dropped out with a major oil leak and no time to fix as parts not available, so the jeep got swapped for something else

The jeep that should've gone


so rather then missing out Darren came along in his car to ride shotgun


We arrange to meet up along the way at various points and eventually we were all together


The 80 looking good


While at the digs I decided to test the new camera out, it has 50x optical zoom and I'm crap with a camera and it impressed me


Then I zoomed in


The lads sat chilling after a long drive


Adams trooper with rear winch



we made an early start after a very big breakfast and hit the lanes, routes were already sorted and ready to go
By now feeling outnumbered with the Isuzu's surrounding me but atleast no landys


Mik realising I've left the keys and wanting to swap for his red swb troop


Some fantastic views and great weather




The 80 still looking good



more to follow in a few mins

 

[clivehorridge]

A good looking team Gary.

Yes, the 80 looking just fine

 

[Gary820]

more .......................










And the 80 still looking good and not even breaking a sweat on anything wales could throw its way



others were having to punch it a bit more to get up and everyone was impressed how the 80 walked up with only the centre loacker in and very little throttle, sliders didn't even touch






yet more great views









And Mik found a friend

 

[clivehorridge]

Enjoying the photos Gary, keep 'em coming

 

[Gary820]

more..................

We got to nice rocky section so it was time for a bit of flexing, ashamed to say the 80 lost but I already knew it doesn't have big flex, it got nowhere near it's limit where others were twisted right up
the others did comment that when following me they noticed the 80 just rolled over everything with no fuss or drama where their axles were flexing all over the 80 stayed composed and flat just taking the obsatcles in it's stride

Adams swb




The 80 taking the same line just brushed it off like it was nothing and made it look like a kerb




Mik took a different line so didn't flex it much



Pete's swb has had a lot of input from myself, it's set up the same as my old blue trooper and performs very well




Dan's lwb which isn't majorly modded, just a lift and tyres



Steve's lwb




What a lovely 80


along for a couple days for a journalist from total off road mag, he's new to the 4x4 scene and we got the job of breaking him in

so Mik decided to show him something while in the middle of nowhere


We came across this lane and it looked like a tractor had been down it, the tyre tracks and size were agricultural. so had a good check first as didn't want to chew it up as looked boggy, turns out to have a very solid base so carried on



not deep at all.

more to come....

 

[Gary820]

A nice ford crossing, still waiting for pics of the 80







Drove a lot of woodland lanes,


some had a lot of water sitting on them



Just to prove to the other it will flex when you make it do it as so far the 80 just walked over everything


Loads of room left in there



Just to add this wasn't on a lane, it was back at the digs not a grass bank on a lane

Adam managed to get through front and rear brake pads so a bit of spanner time needed


He would later start to have running issues with air being drawn into the fuel lines, suspected fuel tank area so ended up as a passenger for a bit

this was at the farm, they'd restored it themselves and was a nice motor



more views


And there's that lovely 80 again



Took other various photos some not for public viewing

We had to cut the trip short as one of the group got a phone call to say his wife's brother had passed away suddenly
we started as a group and leave as a group, some left early but myself and Steve stayed back with Adam as he had to overnight some parts so he could get the truck going well enough to drive back to Newcastle!!!

It was a long drive home with him having running issues so regular stops and it kept cutting out at junctions etc, not so bad when cruising. I was the last one to part company with him at York and he limped the trooper home.

we've already booked the farm for next year for the same time but for a bit longer

today I spent a good part of the day cleaning the 80 and gave it a polish as she picked up a lot of scratches.


I don't deny to having a shiny truck but I don't get all upset when it gets scratches, it's what it's built for after all.

I covered about 800 miles and prob should've taken more pics but I took 500 lol.
thanks for looking

 

[Gary820]

The funny thing about the group, every trooper there has parts fitted that came from my old blue one that I drove to destruction!! It still lives on and made some great trucks better lol

 

[Ben]

Great trip report Gary.

Ive stayed there a few times, nice place and nice people.

Did you have a go on their off road site?

Thats where this was filmed:

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

Looks like you had a good time now all your mates will start buying 80's

 

[karl webster]

Great photos Gary.

Looks like you had a nice time. God those black 80s look good

 

[Gary820]

Cheers Ben. No we didn't get chance to go on it, we had a lot of lanes planned and with the phone call and a few repairs to be done time got taken up.

We've already decided we'll be spending a day playing in there next year though, went for a walk round and looks great
It's a great set up they've got, we hired the 5 bed cottage out. We booked again before we left so don't miss out.

 

[Gary820]

It was mentioned Jon lol.
It's the first proper trip in the 80, until now it's just had the odd day here and there.

Yeah they do look good Karl

 

[sae70]

Wow, it's like a trip down memory lane is that Are the two brothers still running it together? Looks like you had a lot of fun Makes me want to jump in the ol' truck and hit some dirt I've got a video somewhere of Myself, Ben, Karl and a whole heap of others going through that ford 'twas a great weekend. PM me when your up there next and ill drop some co-ordinates upon you

 

[Gary820]

Wow, it's like a trip down memory lane is that Are the two brothers still running it together? Looks like you had a lot of fun Makes me want to jump in the ol' truck and hit some dirt I've got a video somewhere of Myself, Ben, Karl and a whole heap of others going through that ford 'twas a great weekend. PM me when your up there next and ill drop some co-ordinates upon you

Yeah they still run it. I think Wales will be next year now, might see about a mini trip to north Wales to do some lanes we didn't get chance to do.

North York moors and lake district first though

 

[sae70]

Did they mention anything about Sarn-Helen?

 

[AndyCook]

Good to see a laning report, recognise most of the places too

Thanks for sharing

Sent from my GT-P1010 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Gary820]

Did they mention anything about Sarn-Helen?

No it wasn't mentioned. Quite a few lanes had been closed and routes we already checked and marked up were a no go, sounds like the weather washed a lot out so waiting to be repaired.

We're going to book somewhere north Wales for next year for a night or 2 aswell to break up the on road driving. Already got somewhere in mind, a few of us stayed before when we went for my stag do lol.

Next trip isn't planned till august now but got euro Disney next month
Need to save up for the fuel again lol, put a fair bit of unleaded through it this week