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New Member - long intro sorry!

G

Guest

Guest
Hi Folks,
thought I would introduce myself - I know the list is European and I
am in Africa, but you never know, maybe one day someone is passing by
and I can be of some help or vice versa! I recently moved from a
much loved 110 Tdi 300 to a Troopy. The Tdi was fun and I really had
some great times with it, having been all over Ghana and a fair bit
of West Africa with it, BUT I got tired of unreliability... Not
major stuff but door locks, belt tensioners, constant hub bearing
adjustments, half shafts and drive flanges wearing out. To be honest
every journey we would wonder what would go next... This is maybe
acceptable playing in a fun pit in the UK, but not in the middle of
the rain forest or miles from anywhere in the Sahel or further
North. So, decision made the 'rover needed replacement. Replacement
decision was a tough one, if I bought a new or newish Defender then
everything would swap straight over - sills, guards, winch etc. But
then I thought about how often I really used all the 'adventure
stuff'? Winch has been more a toy (even in the Rainforest!) than
anything else. When travelling you do your best to avoid situations
where you might need to use it, and if you really are in trouble then
a tirfor will do the job (and backwards!).
So, what I really wanted was a reliable, simple, tough expedition
vehicle - only one vehicle sprung to mind! Problem was that used out
here means trashed (ex mine bus as they are only used by mines out
here, in fact mine is one of a tiny number of private ones out
here). I started scouting Euro sites (Oz r/hand drive cannot be
imported here) but used prices were HIGH. Eventually my local Toyota
dealer came up with a super price - largely due to it being classed
as a mini bus and hence not attracting any duty worth mentioning!
That and the fact he gave me a good discount as my company are pretty
regular customers. So I got myself a new troopy for the price of a
four year old used Defender!
So now there are a few things to do to equip it as the expedition
wagon (hopefully) for many years to come. I drew up my list of stuff
it must have based on usefulness:
- good lighting (inside and out). Travelling at night here is to be
avoided, but if you have to then good driving lights might save your
life! Lightforce are superb.
- Compressor
- Rooftent (but on robust bars, not a full length roofrack (troopy is
high enough to want to avoid more weight up top)
- Stereo upgrade as the standard one is a joke.
- Recovery kit of hilift/tirfor and usual straps and ropes...
Next stuff is:
long range sub-tank (which then means a device to carry spare
wheel... as the wheel hangs where the tank will be)
Minus 40 fridge
Sorry for my long winded intro, Cheers,
Gilmour Dickson
Samreboi, Ghana West Africa
2006 HZJ78
Hannibal Roof tent
Viair Compressor
Lightforce driving lights
265 BFG MT on 105 series rims...
Otherwise totally std for now
For Work:
105 Series GX
HF Radio
no other mods...
 
welcome gilmour..you made a great choice..drove through ghana last year and
onto australia in an 80 series..pity yu werent on earlier we could have had
a beer in ryans in accra
regards
jeff watts
www.gonewandering.co.uk
_________________________________________________________________
Could you be the guest MSN Movies presenter? Click Here to Audition
http://www.lightscameraaudition.co.uk
 
Hi Gilmour, probably find yourself invaded by all the ELCO members luck
enough to travel, slobbering over your new HZJ troopie.... sound like you
got a good price, hope it lives up to you expectations.
Malcolm Bagley
Stafford UK
FJ45 '75 & FJ45 '76
From: [Email address removed] [mailto:[Email address removed]] On
Behalf Of Gilmour Dickson
Sent: 18 May 2007 19:45
To: [Email address removed]
Subject: [ELCO] New Member - long intro sorry!
Hi Folks,
thought I would introduce myself - I know the list is European and I am in
Africa, but you never know, maybe one day someone is passing by and I can be
of some help or vice versa
No virus found in this outgoing message.
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10:47
 
Hi Folks,
thought I would introduce myself - I know the list is European and I am in Africa, but you never know, maybe one day someone is passing by and I can be of some help or vice versa
Hi Gilmour
welcome to the list :)
maybe one day my dream will come through and we can meet in Africa....
cheers
Lubo
Oslo,Norway
HDJ80,96mod
 
Gilmore, welcome. Without wanting to take anything from this Land Cruiser Club, if you are in Africa then have a look at www.landcruiserclub.co.za
Most of the members there are in South Africa but we have a few members in the rest of Africa, even up into the Gulf area, as well as one Aussie. You'll find some interesting and helpful advice there on kitting out your Troopy.
Cheers
Allan Webber
Pretoria, South Africa
2004 FJ79 double cab conversion with a few cool extras
----- Original Message -----
From: Gilmour Dickson
To: [Email address removed]
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 8:45 PM
Subject: [ELCO] New Member - long intro sorry!
Hi Folks,
thought I would introduce myself - I know the list is European and I am in Africa, but you never know, maybe one day someone is passing by and I can be of some help or vice versa! I recently moved from a much loved 110 Tdi 300 to a Troopy. The Tdi was fun and I really had some great times with it, having been all over Ghana and a fair bit of West Africa with it, BUT I got tired of unreliability... Not major stuff but door locks, belt tensioners, constant hub bearing adjustments, half shafts and drive flanges wearing out. To be honest every journey we would wonder what would go next... This is maybe acceptable playing in a fun pit in the UK, but not in the middle of the rain forest or miles from anywhere in the Sahel or further North. So, decision made the 'rover needed replacement. Replacement decision was a tough one, if I bought a new or newish Defender then everything would swap straight over - sills, guards, winch etc. But then I thought about how often I really used all the 'adventure stuff'? Winch has been more a toy (even in the Rainforest!) than anything else. When travelling you do your best to avoid situations where you might need to use it, and if you really are in trouble then a tirfor will do the job (and backwards!).
So, what I really wanted was a reliable, simple, tough expedition vehicle - only one vehicle sprung to mind! Problem was that used out here means trashed (ex mine bus as they are only used by mines out here, in fact mine is one of a tiny number of private ones out here). I started scouting Euro sites (Oz r/hand drive cannot be imported here) but used prices were HIGH. Eventually my local Toyota dealer came up with a super price - largely due to it being classed as a mini bus and hence not attracting any duty worth mentioning! That and the fact he gave me a good discount as my company are pretty regular customers. So I got myself a new troopy for the price of a four year old used Defender!
So now there are a few things to do to equip it as the expedition wagon (hopefully) for many years to come. I drew up my list of stuff it must have based on usefulness:
- good lighting (inside and out). Travelling at night here is to be avoided, but if you have to then good driving lights might save your life! Lightforce are superb.
- Compressor
- Rooftent (but on robust bars, not a full length roofrack (troopy is high enough to want to avoid more weight up top)
- Stereo upgrade as the standard one is a joke.
- Recovery kit of hilift/tirfor and usual straps and ropes...
Next stuff is:
long range sub-tank (which then means a device to carry spare wheel... as the wheel hangs where the tank will be)
Minus 40 fridge
Sorry for my long winded intro, Cheers,
Gilmour Dickson
Samreboi, Ghana West Africa
2006 HZJ78
Hannibal Roof tent
Viair Compressor
Lightforce driving lights
265 BFG MT on 105 series rims...
Otherwise totally std for now
For Work:
105 Series GX
HF Radio
no other mods...
 
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