Portugal trek august 2015 anyone?

[james6546]

Hi Guys, can you confirm dates as i looks like I'll be in France around your time and would be looking for some time off.

We are meeting around Le Mans around the 18th June, then heading down to S. France where we will camp for the night, then pick up the other guys in Santander the next day.

Then the next week(ish) is the expedition through Portugal, intending to get , back to S. France for the 1st July and getting the Channel tunnel back to the UK on the 4th.

Sorry for the vagueness, hopefully Vince will come and make things clearer!

 

[james6546]

So yesterday we bought:

- Spare UJ, AUX belt, spare one shot grease, prop shaft tool, complete filter set
- High output compressor
- Deflator
- Stuff to make a shelf on the rear door
- 2 more wolf boxes and a dual wolf box carrier to go on the roof (to put light things in)
- A load more straps and bungees

So...other than food I think we are finished with shopping

What fluids are you taking? I will prob take a small amount of each, but most importantly power steering fluid as it is currently the only thing that is leaking...fingers crossed!

 

[Vincemcdonald]

So yesterday we bought:

- Spare UJ, AUX belt, spare one shot grease, prop shaft tool, complete filter set
- High output compressor
- Deflator
- Stuff to make a shelf on the rear door
- 2 more wolf boxes and a dual wolf box carrier to go on the roof (to put light things in)
- A load more straps and bungees

So...other than food I think we are finished with shopping

What fluids are you taking? I will prob take a small amount of each, but most importantly power steering fluid as it is currently the only thing that is leaking...fingers crossed!

What's a deflator? Is it just the compressor running backwards?

And what's a propshaft tool? Is it a spanner that fits properly as I always get away with ill-fitting metric scanners.

The fluids that I'm taking will be red, white and pale brown..............

Other less essential fluids I normally keep about a litre of each all tucked in under the bonnet. The Disco engine bay is a handy storage place.

Have just had the cam belt, pullies and auxiliary belt replaced. And the rear shock absorbers too.

 

[Vincemcdonald]

Hi Guys, can you confirm dates as i looks like I'll be in France around your time and would be looking for some time off.

We meet at a campsite just south of Le Mans. I get there on Tuesday 16th June and James & Sarah join us on the 17th.
Then on the 18th we head south stopping at Contis plage. Tordesillas in Spain for the night of the 19th.
Then into Portugal, stopping for two nights stopping in my farmhouse close to the town of 'Coja' where we meet the third car, Jamie & Lu.
Then, finally on the 22nd we head south following my Offroad route.
The plan is to reach 'Lagos' on Saturday 27th. Then start heading home on the 28th.
You are welcome to join us.

 

[james6546]

What's a deflator? Is it just the compressor running backwards?

And what's a propshaft tool? Is it a spanner that fits properly as I always get away with ill-fitting metric scanners.

The fluids that I'm taking will be red, white and pale brown..............

Other less essential fluids I normally keep about a litre of each all tucked in under the bonnet. The Disco engine bay is a handy storage place.

Have just had the cam belt, pullies and auxiliary belt replaced. And the rear shock absorbers too.

Ahh, I don't have as much space under the bonnet. I will be taking plenty of beer though

A deflator looks like the tool you put on a compressor to blow up tyres, but it is only used to take air out. It is just incase we need to air down for anything. James who went on the Morocco trip recommended one.

The prop shaft tool is a really long socket with a small shaft that makes it easier to undo the bolts. I put both back on after the rebuild with a 14mm spanner and don't fancy doing it again!

You shouldn't need any standard UJ's I have 4! Only one of the bigger ones though.

 

[mikescuba]

So yesterday we bought:

- Spare UJ, AUX belt, spare one shot grease, prop shaft tool, complete filter set
- High output compressor
- Deflator
- Stuff to make a shelf on the rear door
- 2 more wolf boxes and a dual wolf box carrier to go on the roof (to put light things in)
- A load more straps and bungees

So...other than food I think we are finished with shopping

What fluids are you taking? I will prob take a small amount of each, but most importantly power steering fluid as it is currently the only thing that is leaking...fingers crossed!

Did you get a CB in the end? What about spare ball joint and wheel bearing.

 

[james6546]

Did you get a CB in the end?

I had one, but for some random reason it started taking about 15 mins to turn on, so now I have a different TTI one, for £50 it seems pretty decent. Worked fine last weekend.

 

[Lyn]

Thanks for the dates James, but it's my youngest daughters birthday on the 21st so I will have to pass on this trip. Every time a trip is on something gets in the way, that's the trouble with having so many children.
Hope you all have a good one.

 

[james6546]

Thanks for the dates James, but it's my youngest daughters birthday on the 21st so I will have to pass on this trip. Every time a trip is on something gets in the way, that's the trouble with having so many children.
Hope you all have a good one.

That's a shame, maybe you could meet us on the way somewhere after the 21st?

 

[Vincemcdonald]

Oops.

 

[Mash12]

Not sure what spares to take this time, might get a front wheel and rear wheel bearing just in case but I think that will be my extent. Have spare wheel bearings for the trailer though but must buy some grease!

Have been trying to work out where stay on our first night before we catch you up.

Vince, it Looks like you need a new shocker absorber.

 

[Vincemcdonald]

Not sure what spares to take this time, might get a front wheel and rear wheel bearing just in case but I think that will be my extent. Have spare wheel bearings for the trailer though but must buy some grease!

Have been trying to work out where stay on our first night before we catch you up.

Vince, it Looks like you need a new shocker absorber.

There's a nice campsite at Satillana del mar (the spelling may be slightly wrong) which is about 15 minutes from Santander. But that will give you an 8 hour drive the following day - but it is an easy drive.
A new pair of shock absorbers were ordered yesterday. Glad it broke now and not half way through the trip.

 

[james6546]

There's a nice campsite at Satillana del mar (the spelling may be slightly wrong) which is about 15 minutes from Santander. But that will give you an 8 hour drive the following day - but it is an easy drive.
A new pair of shock absorbers were ordered yesterday. Glad it broke now and not half way through the trip.

That's true, would have made for an uncomfortable ride!

As for breakdown cover we have repair for europe, but the onward travel and recovery is UK only. You reckon that would do? Worst case I guess is I can get a tow to the UK, though I think you need to get onto the chunnel under your own steam.

Are you taking any food for breakfasts/lunches, or are you buying all your stuff there?

Two jobs left to do on my 90 then I'm ready to go 3 weeks today...

 

[MrNasty]

James, I can send you details for European recovery back to the UK later on tonight, I think for a year was £70

 

[mikescuba]

Not sure what spares to take this time, might get a front wheel and rear wheel bearing just in case but I think that will be my extent. Have spare wheel bearings for the trailer though but must buy some grease!

Have been trying to work out where stay on our first night before we catch you up.

Vince, it Looks like you need a new shocker absorber.

Might I suggest perhaps a couple of ball joints and perhaps a fan belt if it hasn't been changed in recent years.

 

[james6546]

Might I suggest perhaps a couple of ball joints and perhaps a fan belt if it hasn't been changed in recent years.

They have a disco 3/4 so don't think they have anything that is user changeable!



You think I should take a couple of ball joints?

 

[Vincemcdonald]

That's true, would have made for an uncomfortable ride!

As for breakdown cover we have repair for europe, but the onward travel and recovery is UK only. You reckon that would do? Worst case I guess is I can get a tow to the UK, though I think you need to get onto the chunnel under your own steam.

Are you taking any food for breakfasts/lunches, or are you buying all your stuff there?

Two jobs left to do on my 90 then I'm ready to go 3 weeks today...

James, I have been asked in the past,what breakdown cover do I use for our frequent trips through Europe? My reply is to wave my hands and say that I have all the breakdown cover I need right here.
This maybe stupid or brave but as yet I have got away with it.
So your cover to me seems a bit over the top.
Plus don't forget that two mechanically identical and simple vehicles travelling with two mechanics, spares and tools, is the best travel insurance available.
We will buy food as we go. France has great supermarkets and camping El Astral in Tordesillas has a brilliant and cheap restaurant.
Indeed, 3 weeks to go. I'm glad that I'm so bone idle and lazy otherwise I may start panicking at this stage.

 

[mikescuba]

They have a disco 3/4 so don't think they have anything that is user changeable!



You think I should take a couple of ball joints?

I took a couple of ball joints and bearings, you only need to hit a couple of big boulders. They are fairly easy to change. Luckily none of us need them. Ken who was in our group blew two pistons in Spain on his way back on a recent trip. It depends how far from civilization you are going to be. The next Morocco trip I will take the same again. They don't take up much room and they did take a pounding on the last trip. Especially going over these gullies.

 

[Mash12]

Have land rover breakdown cover as well as AA to cover the trailer in case of an accident or serious failure. So on that front well covered.

Place found to stay on route to Coja a couple of hours out of Santander.

 

[james6546]

James, I have been asked in the past,what breakdown cover do I use for our frequent trips through Europe? My reply is to wave my hands and say that I have all the breakdown cover I need right here.
This maybe stupid or brave but as yet I have got away with it.
So your cover to me seems a bit over the top.
Plus don't forget that two mechanically identical and simple vehicles travelling with two mechanics, spares and tools, is the best travel insurance available.
We will buy food as we go. France has great supermarkets and camping El Astral in Tordesillas has a brilliant and cheap restaurant.
Indeed, 3 weeks to go. I'm glad that I'm so bone idle and lazy otherwise I may start panicking at this stage.

I think if we had done anything like this before I would probably have done nothing! As it stands I am over thinking EVERYTHING!

The wolf boxes and roof carrier arrived yesterday, so I think that is it on stuff to buy. Except maybe some wind deflectors for the windows.

I took a couple of ball joints and bearings, you only need to hit a couple of big boulders. They are fairly easy to change. Luckily none of us need them. Ken who was in our group blew two pistons in Spain on his way back on a recent trip. It depends how far from civilization you are going to be. The next Morocco trip I will take the same again. They don't take up much room and they did take a pounding on the last trip. Especially going over these gullies.

The bearings in the ball joints on mine are new, but the ball joints are the originals I think. Problem is they are not cheap and I have already spent a lot more than I should have for this trip...but if your ball joint snaps off you are in a world of trouble I guess!