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The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club Landcruiser Club - Dedicated to Toyota Landcruiser, Amazon, Colorado and Prado Owners
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garystockton Lifetime member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1190 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 21:28 Post subject: |
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Can't believe I don't see any 'miggies' or 'mozzies' in the glare from that lamp - you probably burned them up before they even got close to you!!
Sheesh - not long to go, hey, and you'll be on your way! If you end up in sunny Scotland for a while and need room for a night or two, let me know
Otherwise, I'm sure you may need a porter - nudge, nudge, wink wink - I don't take much space
If you plan on getting up to north Africa, let us know when - I'm planning on being there August 2010 (seems so far away) but if you're in the vicinity, I suspect a North African B&B may be in order!
Hamba Gahle,
Cheers
Gary |
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 21:28 Post subject: Google Ads keep this community free to join! |
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gilghana ****
Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 265 Location: It varies at the moment!
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 21:43 Post subject: |
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Sawubona Gary!
Forgot that I also fitted a big cut out switch... Once had Lucas the prince of darkness try to melt my Defender (as well as detonate a battery - if you know where Defender batteries are mounted you can imagine I got a HELL of a fright!):
If I can be ar**ed I might stick it through the body work like a track car... maybe not - my wiring motto is kind of "function before fashion"
_________________ HZJ78 - a Turbo and a 'bit' more! |
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Landcrusher Lifetime member
Joined: 21 Oct 2005 Posts: 2689 Location: Chesterfield, East Midlands
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 21:53 Post subject: |
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Hey Gil, I like the auxiliary mounted drill. Are you planning to run some kind of extra off that? Say an extra pump? Or a maybe a revolving satellite dish?
LC _________________ HDJ 80 but still a 90 owner at heart (yeah right!) |
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gilghana ****
Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 265 Location: It varies at the moment!
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 20:36 Post subject: |
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Don't be daft!!! I will keep it strictly for it's intended use - winding up our collection of rare Swiss cuckoo clocks that we have in the back
Well, I had to mount that big disconnect switch properly:
This might also have a use as a primitive anti-theft device. Obviously it wouldn't take long to bypass, but it might make someone think twice. It cuts the negative feed to everything connected to the cranker as well as the negative feed to the split charging/cuckoo clock power module.
I got the solar panel wiring and regulator wired in. This just feeds the rear batteries, in the event I wanted to charge the cranker (crisis time) it would be easy enough to undo two wires or swap batteries.
I say it again, the cargo barrier is so damn useful for mounting stuff to. I also mounted a fire extinguisher on there - securely bolted with a quick fist picked up on last leave.
I wasn't happy with the heavy cables coming up through the floor into the rear batt box, so I also got a hole saw and fitted a BIG cable gland from an industrial panel. I was concerned about cables chaffing with big currents.
On the passenger side of the barrier there is also a totally over engineered switch for the sub-tank pump. Looks kind of like a self destruct button or nuclear launch console. Turn switch, press illuminated push button. Cool as. It was 'liberated' from our electrical w/shop... more fun than a small toggle switch. Adds to the sense of drama. "hold tight darling we are switching to the sub-tank. On my mark, turn key, push fire button - whey hey we are PUMPING"
The towing strap is lying around still from recovering a 3.5 ton Kia light truck that ploughed into a swamp... Nae bother at all. _________________ HZJ78 - a Turbo and a 'bit' more! |
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gilghana ****
Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 265 Location: It varies at the moment!
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 21:02 Post subject: |
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I am sure people are tired of pictures of switches, valves and things like that, so here are some West African trip pictures to break it up and whet appetites! And it does say pictures "in action". Okay my Defender is not a LC, but I did paint it a Toyota colour...
_________________ HZJ78 - a Turbo and a 'bit' more! |
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garystockton Lifetime member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1190 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 23:15 Post subject: |
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B@ST@RD
Now I HAVE to win the Lotto
Pleased to see you adopting the true LR stance (under the bonnet ), and that you solicited the services of a decent tow vehicle
What fantastic scenery - obviously not all Ghana? - looks a bit like you headed up to Mauritania / Western Sahara? Place names to pics, please?
BTW - love the goats!! Only in Africa - reminds me of the one about at OR Tambo Int'l: 'Which plane is going to Lesotho?' - answer - 'the one with the roof-rack'
And you must have pee'd off that madala umfaas something special!! |
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Olazz **
Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 87 Location: UK
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 23:49 Post subject: |
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garystockton wrote: |
And you must have pee'd off that madala umfaas something special!! |
Ja, she looks pretty p*ssed off....... if pictures could talk ! _________________ Aaim not varry smaart, bat aai kên lift hevvy boxxes!
Read my travel Blog:
WWW.derfstravels.com |
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gilghana ****
Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 265 Location: It varies at the moment!
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 12:40 Post subject: |
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The pictures are all from Mali, mostly around the Dogon area. Superb place...
Cross posted from last Thursday:
Well, the last couple of days have been hectic - I got sick on Monday/Tuesday and that put a serious blip in the prep... however we are there!
Spare filters, belts, hoses, fluids, tools and loads of camping stuff is stowed aboard. The contents of the kitchen drawer is laid out ready for tomorrow. Last minute prep is done and container test fit (tent will have to come off ) done. Coolant changed (it was a dodgy mixture...). Tested everything - but unfortunately the real shake down test couldn't happen.
So tomorrow we take the car down to Takoradi and stuff it in... Gulp! My brain is fried - after 6 months of planning it's so last minute now I am wondering what 'vital' thing is forgotten... Oh well I will have 30 days (hopefully!) to think about it!
So the last Ghana pictures will be container loading after the w/e, but in the meantime here is our last minute fabrication. The BBQ grid I am really pleased with Okay the shower curtain will be put on a sliding rod that goes into a roof bar. Otherwise here are our last prep pictures. It has been a blast, and thanks for all the interest/appreciation and encouragement. The thread will continue in a few days, then a bit of a break and then we will resume from an internet cafe somewhere in Southern Africa!
This is two IKEA shower curtains stitched together and on a foldable spring steel top frame:
_________________ HZJ78 - a Turbo and a 'bit' more! |
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garystockton Lifetime member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1190 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 12:44 Post subject: |
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Hey - that's a cool braai grid!! Clever. When in SA you can look at the Jackalberry canvas stuff and get seat covers, as well as a dust-bin bag that also fits to the rear spare wheel.
Good luck!! |
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gilghana ****
Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 265 Location: It varies at the moment!
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 21:27 Post subject: |
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Thanks Gary - seat covers are in place already... Australian ones actually (apologies to my African brothers ) The rubbish bag I just bungee a plastic fertilizer sack to a rear spare... When it stinks I ditch it!
Yah the Braai grid I like - saves mucking up inside and saves space.
So here's the last Ghana pics. As I speak it is hopefully being put on a boat... Now I know why Ghana has a bit of a problem as a drugs transit hub We loaded the car, messed around lashing down and securing the tent and then sealed the container ourselves - no one, not one security/customs check... I dunno what temp was inside the container, but crawling around with container belts was HOT. Believe it or not I had to dismantle the rear tyres and mounting hubs on the carrier to get the tent in behind the truck.
After the container stuffing we left to our favourite beach spot for a couple of days of this:
_________________ HZJ78 - a Turbo and a 'bit' more! |
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garystockton Lifetime member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1190 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 23:15 Post subject: |
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Oh very cool - of course you do know we are all probably very jealous right about now
Even SWAMBO was not a happy bunny at that last pic having just completed her final clinical medicine exam yesterday
Now - if she'd just get working I may be standing like that looking very pleased with myself one of these days! |
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gilghana ****
Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 265 Location: It varies at the moment!
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 23:32 Post subject: |
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Well here I have to comment :
The 80 series pictured was "well used" and not that reliable... The IP was totally shot with fuel consumption through the roof! My Defender was totally rebuilt and prepped, but stupid stuff let me down on countless occasions JUST on this trip:
- water pump
- alternator (about three times)
- fan belt idler bearing seizing
- wheel bearings working loose
- blown turbo hose and the usuall oil leaks everywhere.
It was all a bit of a palaver! The 80 did have to recover me to a town at one stage where I had to modify the idler to get home... However at the Mali/BF border the 80 dropped a valve Phhhffft. Stop.
We ended up with three of us in our two seat Defender going hell for leather for home and leaving the two girls not working to stay with the 80. I then had to organise a used 1HZ on a bus up to Mali from Ghana.... they got home almost two weeks later. Of course the 80 should never have even left for the trip in the condition it was in...
garystockton wrote: |
Pleased to see you adopting the true LR stance (under the bonnet ), and that you solicited the services of a decent tow vehicle
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_________________ HZJ78 - a Turbo and a 'bit' more! |
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garystockton Lifetime member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1190 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 10:13 Post subject: |
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I like it - leave the girls to look after the truck while the boys head off for more cold beer
Glad it turned out ok, and glad you graduated to a Cruiser - you know it's the stronger vehicle! The reason why Landie spares are so easily obtrainable throughout Africa is becasue so many of them died on the roads there, or were just abandoned! The design (of the Defender) lends itself to over-loading, and it's already top-heavy before you start adding racks and tents etc. - most I've seen are an acident looking for a place to happen. BUT there are the feww that just do go on for ever. I've driven many a military LR in the dark after the Lucas (Prince of Darkness) electrical system decided to pack up. Not the best way to negotiate Chimanimani mountain passes, or the Zambesi valley and elephants! |
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gilghana ****
Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 265 Location: It varies at the moment!
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 21:14 Post subject: |
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Well guys - we are officially off...
Saturday night/Sunday morning was the mother of all leaving parties... Sunday was supposed to be packing but we got waylaid by a massive curry lunch. Today was packing time - all the stuff we have and don't need on our trip. Has been hectic!
Tomorrow we hit the road - boxes of stuff get's (hopefully) shipped to Germany on the basis that Julia has a garage and I dont! GPS is loaded with maps,
passport, wallet CHECK!
First of is some weeks R&R in Spain - then Germany and LTU to Namibia first week in July. Totally mixed emotions at this stage - so many people stopping by to say farewell. On the one hand we are so excited, on the other hand we are sad... 14 years in this place.
Who knows where we end up! As I said the trip is open and very loosely planned, I just hope MSC and their multiple vessels come right. This will be the last time I can access TLOCUK for a while, so I just want to say thanks for the interest and particularly to Gary S whom I have never met but feel like I have. He lives in my home town and also obviously has a" foot" in Africa - and has always been quick to comment and encourage.
I am not really into this blog/website aspect of travelling - would rather just post a thread here and on 'mud, so stay tuned!
Gil & Julia _________________ HZJ78 - a Turbo and a 'bit' more! |
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garystockton Lifetime member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1190 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 22:22 Post subject: |
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Thanks, Gil - but not to worry - it's just me living vicariously!!
Wishing you and Julia Bon Voyage, and Hamba Gahle through Africa - it's a dream come true - you guys have worked hard, now go play
All the best - stay in touch - and if you need any help, shout. The boys on LCCSA are waiting for you, I think!
BTW - try Coastways Tours in Namibia if you want to get into the concession areas - great team, and well thought of. And remember to have a cold Windhoek or Tafel for me!!
Cheers |
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