First Green lanes in the Hilux

[AndyCook]

On Friday after we got our canopy fitted and fabrication work to fit tent and awning at N&J aluminium in Clitheroe, we headed down to North Wales and the Llangollen area.
Drove an easy lane up over hill into Ceiriog Forest - it was mostly tarmac but then a couple miles of track with some large washouts, which a normal car would have struggled with

then i spotted another lane leading back to Llangollen on the map... not a good move
i have found out since it is called "The Baddy" or "Langollen steps"
we started down it, and there were some culvert drop-offs, the towbar took a hit on these which wasn't surprising, but this meant that we wouldn't have been able to reverse back up this steep loose rock lane..
and the bottom lip on gearbox cross-member also got scraped and the front sump skid plate took some dings

suspension lift and skid plates are on the shopping list already

after camping in campsite in Llangollen

we headed a few miles on Saturday morning to collect "Jet" our new 8-week black lab puppy. a lovely young lady
she was great in the car, no problems

we headed north and i couldn't resist driving Breasthigh Road nr Tebay, East to West

there has been erosion on the lane since i drove it last year, and the first step is reappearing on the climb, people have placed rocks to aid getting up it
one of side steps took a knock on this

The traction control was kicking-in lots on the loose rock climb, since we still have HT tyres on the vehicle for now
but it worked really well,

First lane - Ceiriog Forest














Ceiriog Forest lane










Breasthigh Road








meeting Jet for first time




The "Baddy"/"Llangollen Steps" leave their mark



jet








Ford on Breasthigh Road

 

[Gary820]

Looks really good with the canopy etc fitted.

 

[David]

Liking the looks of that

 

[Charlie]

Looking good.....

 

[SpinDrift]

Looks good Andy. Some nice tracks. Havent been to Wales in a while. Those first scrapes really hurt when you hear them. No major damage though.

 

[Ben]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

That lane dropping down into Llangollen used to be a lot more interesting before it got graded a few years ago!

You were lucky.

Cute puppy!

 

[AndyCook]

I was trying to kid myself I was going to use the Hilux more for overlanding, and not so much laning... but couldn't resist a few lanes whilst down in England/Wales

yeah Ben i read about the grading this morning, but looks like most of it has been washed away now

next time i try a lane i am not sure of, i should go up it, not downhill, then there is an option to reverse out if needed!
quite a few lanes round Llangollen

will go back sometime, as i want to try driving up "The baddy"

not upset about the scrapes - i expected them,
and will push me to fit ASFIR plates

 

[froggy Steve]

great! love that top with tent. love Jet too

 

[ratrace]

very nice truck so now where are u going overland with it?

 

[AndyCook]

very nice truck so now where are u going overland with it?

thanks
France, Italy, Spain, Iceland, Morocco for sure

 

[ratrace]

France, Italy, Spain, Iceland, Morocco for sure

if u do Morocco give us a shout as its on my list to do

 

[clivehorridge]

Very nice set-up Andy, impressed!

All all you need now is a (little) lift and some slider steps.

 

[Gav Peter]

Looking good Andy

 

[moggy1968]

you need to post those extra picks on 'that other forum', looks real good.

here are some pics of my bash plate and front suspension a few weeks after a spot of off roading, where I got bellied on a muddy lane.










So, I took the plates off and took them for shot blasting and powder coating, then painted the suspension with POR15. £60 for the blasting and coating plus about 20 quid for the paint and an uncomfortable day on my back in the road painting the underside!







If I was going to use my truck off road in ernest regularly then I would definately go for something more robust but thats what my landcruiser H60 is going to be used for. I'll be getting someone like stringer to make me up some decent bash plates as non are available commercially for the 60