Morocco-GPS Question ?

Hi

In the middle of sorting out a trip to Morocco this summer with the wife & 3 sprogs, doing my head in trying to find out if a little GPS Garmin 245W (europe) is up to the job? Can I put Morocco on to it? do I need to? & How?

It will take coordinates but with out a Morocco map download first is that just going to guide me through lakes & off cliffs ??? Sorry to sound dim but errhhh I'm dim when it comes to this stuff !!

Anyone got any route advice for a two week trip round Morocco ? got the mitchelin map,Sahara overland & other ballest! We know it's going to be hot but we do heat to a certain extent! Just don't want to take any silly risk's with the kids!

Thanks in advance.

Jason

Ps Already sent a PM to Griff

Hi

I have the same dilemma with a 265w. When in Morocco last time it would give co-ordinates only and would say nearest fuel station was on the Gran Canneries!. I have just ordered the World map Mapsource cd from Garman and then will download Olaf maps onto it on the computer. After that am not sure. Does anyone know if a Toughbook laptop with gps incorporated be enough or will I need a separate Gps also. My advice is stick to coastal routes and do not go remote if on own. A great beach near TanTan for the chilren.

Oldun

Didn't get your PM Jason.

You dont NEED mapping software for Morocco, but it is nice to have. The michelin map is actually very good. you say you have a garmin, why not take the routes from sahara overland and plug them in? I know a couple who went around west africa in just this way.

you could always upgrade to a garmin MAP GPS and then download olaf's or T4A maps onto it. If your sticking to main routes though, you wont go wrong with the michelin map. Its only if your heading along pistes in the far south or off piste I would be wanting a GPS.

G

Cheers OLDUN, Griff

Griff

Sent again through pm on this site, original sent a mail through your website !

If there is no Morocco mapping software will the garmin just send me in a straight line to coordinates ???

Not got a problem about buying the right but to be honest I don't have a clue what to get

Through other post's I believe the Garmin 2620,2610,276C or the 7200 are all handy kit to have but I'l be dammed if I can find one for sale

So many questions

Yes the GPS will just send you in a straight line to co-ordinates, so pretty useless.

Even if you have a GPS with the olaf map, you will still be pointed in straight lines, because the olaf map is not routable, great for seeing where you are, but you won't actually have routing.

There is however a way, download Mapsource, instructions here.. How to Get MapSource Free From Garmin - Tips, Tricks & Mods

Download and install olaf map.

Figure out your routes, I could send you mine, but I nearly died numerous times, and some of those routes are not definately kid friendly. I strongly recommend buying Chris Scotts Morocco Overland book, he has hundred of routes in there, and you can see all the dangers before you start. Just a note the Circue Du Jaffar can be scary after rain...

Then when you have chosen your routes you can find the tracks on the olaf map(in mapsource), the book has all the gps co ordinates of the start and end points of the routes. Once you have located the tracks, use the track tool(in mapsource) to draw lines over the tracks.

Save the tracks and you can send to any garmin gps that can accept custom maps and tracks.

I use one of these... https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pID=27442 worked brilliantly.

If you don't have time to do all the prep you will be fine with the olaf map on a gps, and the book. In the book all the routes are written in road book format, ie drive 3 miles turn left at the tree, etc...

PM me your address and I'll send you my route, planning spreadsheet, not suitable for kids, but might be interessting.

Have you seen my trip report....http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f15/morocco-2010-boogers-report-105825.html

and youtube Leroy the land Rover for a hour of video

Actually just had a look at all my routes, they are all saved as separate routes, so you can just skip out the scary ones and use the others...

Booger said:

So many questions

Yes the GPS will just send you in a straight line to co-ordinates, so pretty useless.

Even if you have a GPS with the olaf map, that won't help, because the olaf map is not routable, great for seeing where you are, but you won't have routing.

There is however a way, download Mapsource, instructions here.. How to Get MapSource Free From Garmin - Tips, Tricks & Mods

Download and install olaf map.

Figure out your routes, I could send you mine, but I nearly died numerous times, and some of those routes are not definately kid friendly. I strongly recommend buying Chris Scotts Morocco Overland book, he has hundred of routes in there, and you can see all the dangers before you start. Just a note the Circue Du Jaffar can be scary after rain...

Then when you have chosen your routes you can find the tracks on the olaf map(in mapsource), the book has all the gps co ordinates of the start and end points of the routes. Once you have located the tracks, use the track tool(in mapsource) to draw lines over the tracks.

Save the tracks and you can send to any garmin gps that can accept custom maps and tracks.

I use one of these... https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pID=27442 worked brilliantly.

If you don't have time to do all the prep you will be fine with the olaf map on a gps, and the book. In the book all the routes are written in road book format, ie drive 3 miles turn left at the tree, etc...

PM me your address and I'll send you my route, planning spreadsheet, not suitable for kids, but might be interessting.

Have you seen my trip report....http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f15/morocco-2010-boogers-report-105825.html

and youtube Leroy the land Rover for a hour of video

Actually just had a look at all my routes, they are all saved as separate routes, so you can just skip out the scary ones and use the others...

Click to expand...

So many answers

Thanks a lot for all that matey Already seen all your vids etc... last year and is one of the reasons we are going off this summer also a great story you told about going off in a taxi to get a replacement gearbox !

I will try and sort the download maps out, if not I can get a Garmin SD cart with the map for Morocco for £49 snakes!

I will pm you my e-mail for your route/planning sheet - cheers !

I won't say "One last question" but how do you get on for parking in towns,villages & even citys ??? Theft?? Will the Landy be covered in bodies minus wing mirrors & everything that was on the roof rack everytime we do a bit of shopping ?

I'm going to put a switch on the injection pump solonoid wire & maybe make a bar up to padlock the clutch & brake peddle together !

Thanks once again

Jason

Hi Jason,

If you are staying in the town, the hotel/campsite will have safe parking. Even if you are not staying in a hotel, park your car in front, they usually have a toothless old dude that keeps an eye on things, you can can give him a small tip and you'll have a mate for life

Any Garmin GPS should do to find co-ordinates. Especially if you are lost, it is a good way of getting un-lost...it obviously cannot give you the route back, but at least it can give you the direction back to a known co-ordinate.

If you are interested in a 2 week route, see our route at The Rusty Rhinos - Moroccan Road Trip 2010 - our route (there are also videos/pics and the such)

rustyrhinos said:

If you are interested in a 2 week route

Click to expand...

But 2 be honest, a 2 week Rusty Rhino's route would take normal people 3 weeks

Thanks a lot for that rusty... looks like a wicked adventure, will have a proper read through later

How did you get on with the series 11 ?

We will be going in a 1990 110 SW 200tdi, was wondering if dextron 11 was up to the job in the gearbox in that heat? & the other oils?

What happened to your g-box Booger??

Cheers

Jason

Hi, Just back (2 Days ago) as reguards the oils. I was planning to go in a S2a 200tdi, but the oil cooler leaked into the cooling system, last check before closing the bonnet and leaving. All the kit was then moved over to my 110 also with a ex Disco 200tdi, disco transfer box and standard main box, all we had time for was to pump up the tyres and check the oil levels, then we were on our way. 5200 miles later the only thing that broke was a washer on the off side rear shock and the front passenger door lock came apart.
It used 3/4 of a litrer of oil a bit of clutch fluid and some grease (prop shaft).
We used a Map, for the desert part we had a guide, worth every penny, and I cannot stress this too much, as when I was left behind in a sand storm he was unbelivable, just came walking out of the haze as if he was walking down the local lane. Pointed in the direction of where the others were, (not the direction he came from) I'd been stood on the roof rack and could not see 4 Land Rover 200 yards away.
Look here for the blog
MOROCCO OVERLAND

Jason2 said:

What happened to your g-box Booger??

Jason

Click to expand...

It just died, no drive. It's just luck of the draw, woods767 had a 50 squid ebay box in a massively overloaded 110 and did everyting I did and his worked fine on ATF.

The locals use EP80 in their boxes, and they were adamant that my EP90 was no good.

Not sure how much hotter it will be when you go...

Booger said:

It just died, no drive. It's just luck of the draw, woods767 had a 50 squid ebay box in a massively overloaded 110 and did everyting I did and his worked fine on ATF.

The locals use EP80 in their boxes, and they were adamant that my EP90 was no good.

Not sure how much hotter it will be when you go...

Click to expand...

Sounds more like the splines in the transfer box input gear or on the shaft went!

They use EP80 in there gearboxes (lt77 & R380) ????

Yes they do, not sure it would have helped me... O well I got to meet some interessting dudes and drink some fooking fantastic tea... After digging out my routes for you I'm really tempted to do it again...

smokey 11a said:

Hi, Just back (2 Days ago) as reguards the oils. I was planning to go in a S2a 200tdi, but the oil cooler leaked into the cooling system, last check before closing the bonnet and leaving. All the kit was then moved over to my 110 also with a ex Disco 200tdi, disco transfer box and standard main box, all we had time for was to pump up the tyres and check the oil levels, then we were on our way. 5200 miles later the only thing that broke was a washer on the off side rear shock and the front passenger door lock came apart.
It used 3/4 of a litrer of oil a bit of clutch fluid and some grease (prop shaft).
We used a Map, for the desert part we had a guide, worth every penny, and I cannot stress this too much, as when I was left behind in a sand storm he was unbelivable, just came walking out of the haze as if he was walking down the local lane. Pointed in the direction of where the others were, (not the direction he came from) I'd been stood on the roof rack and could not see 4 Land Rover 200 yards away.
Look here for the blog
MOROCCO OVERLAND

Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for that smokey Nice read !

I actualy know Drew (met him at a French LR event) probably lives about 1hr from me.

I have heard a few people recomend guides but where do you put them when there's already five of you and the backs full of clobber? On the roof-rack? bonnet?

What's the norm when meeting fellow Landy overlanders on the road ? (besides flashing your lights and peeping your horn )

Cheers Jason

Booger said:

But 2 be honest, a 2 week Rusty Rhino's route would take normal people 3 weeks

Click to expand...

Hehe We don't hang about!

Jason2 said:

Thanks a lot for that rusty... looks like a wicked adventure, will have a proper read through later

How did you get on with the series 11 ?

Jason

Click to expand...

Got on perfectly well. Already been to Algeria and back in it so we know the vehicle quite well. We had a few issues - clutch slave cylinder died, chassis snapped on both front legs at the same time, 1st and second gear stopped working when you wanted it to, replaced a few wheel bearings...but nothing that couldn't be resolved Fuel consumption is of course rubbish...but I love it

Booger said:

Yes they do, not sure it would have helped me... O well I got to meet some interessting dudes and drink some fooking fantastic tea... After digging out my routes for you I'm really tempted to do it again...

Click to expand...

Do it

Jason2 said:

Thanks a lot for that smokey Nice read !

What's the norm when meeting fellow Landy overlanders on the road ? (besides flashing your lights and peeping your horn )

Cheers Jason

Click to expand...

I personally dont see the need for a guide for Morocco but there you go. Fellow land rovers on the road? Most of the Land Rovers I saw in Morocco were parked up, and typically recovery trucks!

rustyrhinos said:

Do it

Click to expand...

I just need to save for a new gearbox, and maybe an oil cooler, O and a spanish phrase book

I'm going to do the next one solo And definately without a guide