Know nothing mechanically about my first ever Landy vehicle CSW 110 300 TDi - of 4 months - - it makes me smile but I need to get to grips with it so not completly ignorant and need be knowledgeable and self-reliant to some degree while on our travels. Can anyone recommend the best way to get to grips with this non-electric grogeous beast. Plan to do off-roading session to learn more about capabilities but need much more savvy (I can't even change a tyre at the mo!). Am travelling with children so mindful of risk should we breakdown in any risky/exposed areas. Have plenty of time to learn (I think!!!!) as not planning to leave for a while. Any ideas?

How many adults going ? What route are you looking at?
You could start off by doing a course at FE centre .
Join a local Landrover Club, I am sure you will find suitable persons to give you more detail tuition re LR110 , and they might even let you help them do some of the repairs, of which there will probably be plenty of choice
Thre is a reason for the first two questions

2 adults and two children (girl and boy) who will be aged 9 and 6.5 at time of travel. Route we are planning includes Europe (we plan to include Norway and then 'Turn Right at St Peterburg' before coming back down again). Plan to travel right through to Singapore (will ship vehicle at this point) via Iran, Pakistan (like idea of China if change travel rules at time we leave if not we will omit). May possibly enter India but focus ultimately on Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam.
I take it you want to know in order to determine how much mechanical skill/vehicle prep expertise needed? Sorry for sounding dumb - what is FE centre??????????? Please see my other post re: children and security for more info. Good idea about joining local LR club - will look into. Many thanks.

Further Education , they run vehicle maintaince courses.
another idea personal DVD players (with headphones) for the kids as travel quite often loses the novelty pretty quickly I take it you already have the CSW.

Have already got the CSW. DVD with headphones - keep those tips coming!!! Much appreciated.

one of the landrover mags lro i think did a series of articals last year on similar trip they even went through china will find mag name/issues out and post here

as for the kids try to maintain similar routine to home life as regards meal times bed times etc and give them jobs to do each day along the trip ie dishes fill up water etc to keep them occupied

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Originally Posted by nickh75
i'm gonna have to agree with davie
Originally Posted by odenne
Wooooooo, yer gettin close to magical Davie

hi cassie i just read your post on offrd camper thread
im building a 110 camper which i intend to live in when working away from home and to take the wife and 2kids away camping in
ive decided after a lot of measuring and planning to go for a 110 h,top rather than a csw as it seems better suited to conversion and more secure

basically im putting 2 windows inthe back 2 foldling sheets f/ward facing and ive bout a tent that attachs to the rear and designed plywood storage for the rear load area with 2 folding beds for kids in the back one above the other and me and wife in tent as you have to go through the tent to get in

it should be starting this weekend and finished by the end of august im keeping a photo diaryu of it so you can have a look every so often and see what you think
i think the fact that due to my job most of the lads live in converted vans campers and 110s for 9 mths of the year
although as im a boos now i get a 90 and a hotel
id have a think about the vehicle that best suits your need youve got two years to prepare

goodluck

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Originally Posted by nickh75
i'm gonna have to agree with davie
Originally Posted by odenne
Wooooooo, yer gettin close to magical Davie

As DD says if you have got 2 years to get ready, might well be worth considering a vehicle change I would venture to suggest that a 130DC with a built on rear body might be better Idea. I dont know how handy you are with diy but what I have in mind would be a luton style rear body ,the children would then be able to sleep in the luton part, and the adults in the main part. The cab area would be smaller(i.e. only the two rows of seats would have to be cooled by the aircon. The 130 is a bit big for UK use but presents no difficulties in OZ (parking at malls etc) look at Foley vehicle site to get the sort of thing i have described.

Like this but double cab http://www.foleyspecialistvehicles.co.uk/gallery/28.jpg

Oh bugger - am feeling a bit sick/deflated - have just had a look at the double cab on Foleys and it looks much more geared for the task while at the same time dealing with much of the security issues I'm thinking about, especially where the children are concerned. Wouldn't mind but have just spent a pretty penny on a good specification, fairly low mileage CSW. Am going to have to have a bit of a re-think on this. One of the reasons for choosing CSW has been also due to working in the building trade - carry lots of materials and tools etc. Thought it could double up/convert back into a work-horse too whenever needd, especially with the roof rack. Vehicle for life type purchase also - not just for Christmas! Nothing to do with the fact that we have been salivating after one for years (all else fails we could do the dog, berber jacket and pipe once a year - just a joke!). The double cab would not enable that option but the workhorse bit is very much secondary - when I think about it now - more of a perk. Primary concern is long-term travel capability and comfort/security of family while on the move. Agggh - decisions, decisions. Am off to chew the cud on this one. Immediate observation though is that - wouldn't the kids be a bit confined - no windows to look out of and see all the world we are going to be viewing? Looks a bit as if it could be a bit of a prison camp for them while on the move - they'd never know or see the hot beautiful climates we're hoping to experience. Hmmmmmmm! Another thought though is that - driving is a means from getting from A to B - once we reach each destination - plan to be stationery quite a bit also (want to avoid shunting the kids around every 5 seconds) so in this vein double cab looks more favourable - decisions, decisions - why did you have to show me this to me??