Morocco - How much kit do you really need

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R

Robert

Guest
Hello,

I am planning on doing one of those organised Safaris through Morocco with
Trailmasters or one of the other similar organisations, and was wondering if
anyone here has actually done one, and if so, how much of the gear that they
list does one actually need to pack (or, do they insist you take everything
they say)? I have personally driven 7500Km unsupported through the Namib
desert in a 110, driven 2000Km through Mocambique in a series III, and done
hundreds of miles through Norther Maputoland in South Africa as well as
through Lesoto, and I have never carried as much gear as they list. My
vehicle for this trip would be a 1998 Series I Disco, and if I have to kit
it out with everything they list, it will be another year or two before I
can afford to go. On the other hand, I dont want to rock up looking like a
total prat without enough gear for the trip, and end up being a burden on
the rest of the convoy.

Any advice about this or any other aspects of such a trip from anyone else
that has done one would be greatly appreciated.

Robert



 

"Robert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello,
>
> I am planning on doing one of those organised Safaris through Morocco with
> Trailmasters or one of the other similar organisations, and was wondering
if
> anyone here has actually done one, and if so, how much of the gear that
they
> list does one actually need to pack (or, do they insist you take
everything
> they say)? I have personally driven 7500Km unsupported through the Namib
> desert in a 110, driven 2000Km through Mocambique in a series III, and
done
> hundreds of miles through Norther Maputoland in South Africa as well as
> through Lesoto, and I have never carried as much gear as they list. My
> vehicle for this trip would be a 1998 Series I Disco, and if I have to kit
> it out with everything they list, it will be another year or two before I
> can afford to go. On the other hand, I dont want to rock up looking like a
> total prat without enough gear for the trip, and end up being a burden on
> the rest of the convoy.
>
> Any advice about this or any other aspects of such a trip from anyone else
> that has done one would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Robert
>
>
>

I have afriend who goes into North Africa about once a year and he has now
cut down on the amount of kit considersably from his first trips - gone are
the shower heads fitted to his car and out comes the bucket and sponge!

Are you coming to the British Indoor 4x4 Show at Donington Park race track
on Sunday 13th Feb?
Trailmasters. Atlas Overland, Croatia Offroad and other tour operators
are all exhibiting so you could ask them direct and compare their info /
prices in the comfort of one centrally heated exhibition hall! Any kit they
suggest will also be available at the Show as there is several expedition
type equipment retailers ther!

Hope to see you there and hope you find the answers - but if my mate is
right what you actually need is very different to what an 'expedition' LR is
weighed down with!!!

David
LLAMa 4x4
www.llama4x4.co.uk



 
On Tuesday, in article <[email protected]>
[email protected] "David_LLAMA4x4" wrote:

> I have afriend who goes into North Africa about once a year and he has now
> cut down on the amount of kit considersably from his first trips - gone are
> the shower heads fitted to his car and out comes the bucket and sponge!

[snip]

> Hope to see you there and hope you find the answers - but if my mate is
> right what you actually need is very different to what an 'expedition' LR is
> weighed down with!!!

Some of us can remember when "Blue Peter" did a Land Rover expedition to
Morocco....

There's several overlapping objects in such lists. Basic spares,
camping, rough going, and outright survival.

Some parts of the USA, the gas stations are a hundred miles apart, and
survival is worth considering with any vehicle. And that's on good
roads. And you don't have to be getting into heavy off-road driving to
make puncture repair an issue. A spare tube, patches, pump, and tools
to fix a puncture don't take enough space to worry about.

Reading reports in the mags, there's a big difference between being
stuck in a village, waiting for spares to be delivered to the local
mechanic, and being in the middle of nowhere. But it depends a bit what
sort of person you are.

--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.

Wrought under license granted by Her Majesty's Apostropher Royal AD MMIV
 
Mr.Nice. wrote:

> I'd be interested in seeing this list, is it too long to type out?

http://www.trailmasters.com/routes.html

It's in the LH sidebar of the above page. It doesn't look an overly
large list to me - I carry close to that much when heading away to
remote areas for any period of time (and a decent toolkit that adds
about 20kg of weight but much peace of mind).

--
EMB
 

"nevillef" <F_CK@FF_SPAMMERS.COM> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>A Renualt 19
>
> http://www.podiatrypages.co.uk/moroc/index.html
>

Very interesting. This is exactly what I was thinking....I am pretty sure
that most of these trips could be done in a Micra with a dome tent in the
boot if you really wanted to.

The problem is, at the moment I am staring at what I call "The Land Rover
Paradox", lol. I cannot afford to buy all the kit you are expected to take,
so I have to wait, but as I wait, my Landy gets older, does more mileage,
and is therefore getting more likely to fail, requiring that I carry more
kit......LOL

Oh well, thanks for the info, it is really appreciated. Think I will need to
go to the 4x4 show (thanks for the info David) and chat with all the
operators there to see what the deal is.

Robert



 
You'll see plenty of 4x4's when you go to Morocco (mainly tourists). The
locals use 2x4's- you'll get to the end of long trail in the mountains
thinking what a severe track it has been- only to find a bunch of Renault
5's parked up at the other end! It really does make one wonder about our
urban 4x4's........ The deep sand in the South, on the hand, really is 4x4
country.

Desert or mountains though- I think Morocco is a 'must see'.

Nevillef


 
On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 08:15:47 +0000, Mr.Nice. wrote:

>> (and a decent toolkit that adds about 20kg of weight but much peace
>> of mind).

Tools aren't mentioned at all. Lots of sensible spares but nothing to
enable you to fit 'em other than the bulbs... B-)

> That list looks fair to me, not over-the-top.

I suspect some of the camping stuff could be revised, air bed? Why
Army kit bags?

> The first aid kit is beyond what I carry though, but I expect to be
> within dashing distance of medical help 90% of the time.

Also a bit strange, cold/flue tabs when you already have paracetamol?
No ibuprofen, *much* better for acute pain (toothache earache etc)
than paracetamol. Multivits, is the food provided that poor? Sterile
syringes but no needles?

> I saw no mention of a snorkel which I'd fit for a trip to such a
> place to help keep the dust out of the air filter. fit a cyclone hat
> on it.

Looks like they are really aiming at people who have a 4x4 and want to
play but don't want modify their vehicle much beyond how it comes from
the factory. Note that all filters and fluids should be fresh at the
start...

Playing in the snow this morning, trying to get up steep (well for a
public road steep... 1:5 or steeper on the OS map) 2" snow/ice covered
hills without waking up the traction control. I made it mostly,
impatience and a slightly too heavy right foot woke it up once. B-(

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail



 
On Wednesday, in article
<[email protected]>
[email protected] "Dave Liquorice" wrote:

> On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 08:15:47 +0000, Mr.Nice. wrote:
>
> > That list looks fair to me, not over-the-top.

> > The first aid kit is beyond what I carry though, but I expect to be
> > within dashing distance of medical help 90% of the time.
>
> Also a bit strange, cold/flue tabs when you already have paracetamol?
> No ibuprofen, *much* better for acute pain (toothache earache etc)
> than paracetamol. Multivits, is the food provided that poor? Sterile
> syringes but no needles?

Considering border crossings. maybe ibuprofen is a problem. These days,
the pre-packed sterile syringes come with the needle in the pack.
Multivits seem a bit OTT, could be counted as insurance. Maybe it's a
spell of +2 against lawyers.


--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.

"I am Number Two," said Penfold. "You are Number Six."
 
Hi Robert,

I have done this trip with trailmasters, it was several years ago. Most of
the kit they recommend to take is well worth it, 2 spare wheels a definite
you could be a long way from a place to fix it unless you want to do it your
self.
You can pack a lot of gear in a couple of boxes.
I did the trip in a 1969 2a with a V8, my only problem was 1 of the twins
fans packed up on day 4, eventually found a replacement in a backstreet
garage in some small town. I took spare starter alternator, half shafts and
a few seals, brake shoes, brake pipe and hoses, I took a couple of lengths
of universal flexible hoses.
Trailamsters say to fit a CB, when I went 8 out of the 14 vehicles had
theirs confiscated at border control (illegal in Morocco), mine was fitted
in the cubby box and the aerial tucked away in the back until we cleared the
border, even Trailmasters had theirs taken away, got them back on way home
at a cost.

Extra money for the police will be handy, they like a bribe, (sorry instant
roadside fine) that's if you can understand what they are trying to nick you
for, mine was £50 for not stopping at a crossroad in the middle of nowhere.

If I can offer any more advise e mail me, the trip was fantastic, I hope to
do it again next year but not with Trailmasters!!

Mark
"Robert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello,
>
> I am planning on doing one of those organised Safaris through Morocco with
> Trailmasters or one of the other similar organisations, and was wondering
if
> anyone here has actually done one, and if so, how much of the gear that
they
> list does one actually need to pack (or, do they insist you take
everything
> they say)? I have personally driven 7500Km unsupported through the Namib
> desert in a 110, driven 2000Km through Mocambique in a series III, and
done
> hundreds of miles through Norther Maputoland in South Africa as well as
> through Lesoto, and I have never carried as much gear as they list. My
> vehicle for this trip would be a 1998 Series I Disco, and if I have to kit
> it out with everything they list, it will be another year or two before I
> can afford to go. On the other hand, I dont want to rock up looking like a
> total prat without enough gear for the trip, and end up being a burden on
> the rest of the convoy.
>
> Any advice about this or any other aspects of such a trip from anyone else
> that has done one would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Robert
>
>
>


 
On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 17:20:11 GMT, murph wrote:

> ... brake pipe and hoses, I took a couple of lengths of universal
> flexible hoses.

This sort of stuff is probably more useful than dedicated actual
spares. Obviously bare lengths of brake pipe would also need a flaring
tool and maybe a few jointy bits but you could then bodge up any bit
that got mangled.

> Trailamsters say to fit a CB, when I went 8 out of the 14 vehicles
> had theirs confiscated at border control (illegal in Morocco),

Is Morroco part of the EU? There are pan-european approvals for CB
these days, though of course countries can opt out or be slow in
implementing the legislation. Do you get so spread out that you need a
vehicle mounted rig though? A few PMR446 hand helds might be good
enough, easier to hide.

> Extra money for the police will be handy, they like a bribe, (sorry
> instant roadside fine)

B-) Very common, always worth doing a bit of background research
before you go to find out what is worth having tucked away "just in
case". Can sometimes be very simple things like biros or jeans, though
neither of those is likely to be relevant to Morroco. Tabbaco products
might be though, of the right sort. Find out what isn't available...

> ... the trip was fantastic, I hope to do it again next year but not
> with Trailmasters!!

Flying solo, another company or where trailmasters that bad? The
website seems to indicate that the trips are fairly leisurely, rather
than a whistle stop tour. I've had the "travel" bug since spending 3
months backpacking around the world, 6 weeks of that in China. This
sort of thing appeals...

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail



 
On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 14:03:04 +0000 (GMT), David G. Bell wrote:

> Considering border crossings. maybe ibuprofen is a problem.

Maybe but it's a very common no precription pain killer. Nurofen
etc...

> These days, the pre-packed sterile syringes come with the needle in
> the pack.

But, but the choice of needle is down to what you are doing and not
really related to quantity of the injection. No canulas either, OK
they take skill to put in but surely the idea of having ones own known
sterile syringes, needles etc is so you don't have to use the possibly
iffy local stuff.

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail



 
It was 6 years ago I went so thing may have changed, you can get away from
the convoy and do your own thing on a daily basis, contact between vehicles
is recommended as you say handhelds would do.

All the spare in the possible would be useless unless you have the tools to
fit them.

Fags are a very acceptable currency, plus very cheap in Gibraltar before go.

I found £550 a head to Trailmasters is a lot of money for what you get, as
said in the group do the research and do it yourself.
As I said I hope to go back next year, this will be with some like minded
friends or anyone who wants to do it.

Mark


"Dave Liquorice" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 17:20:11 GMT, murph wrote:
>
> > ... brake pipe and hoses, I took a couple of lengths of universal
> > flexible hoses.
>
> This sort of stuff is probably more useful than dedicated actual
> spares. Obviously bare lengths of brake pipe would also need a flaring
> tool and maybe a few jointy bits but you could then bodge up any bit
> that got mangled.
>
> > Trailamsters say to fit a CB, when I went 8 out of the 14 vehicles
> > had theirs confiscated at border control (illegal in Morocco),
>
> Is Morroco part of the EU? There are pan-european approvals for CB
> these days, though of course countries can opt out or be slow in
> implementing the legislation. Do you get so spread out that you need a
> vehicle mounted rig though? A few PMR446 hand helds might be good
> enough, easier to hide.
>
> > Extra money for the police will be handy, they like a bribe, (sorry
> > instant roadside fine)
>
> B-) Very common, always worth doing a bit of background research
> before you go to find out what is worth having tucked away "just in
> case". Can sometimes be very simple things like biros or jeans, though
> neither of those is likely to be relevant to Morroco. Tabbaco products
> might be though, of the right sort. Find out what isn't available...
>
> > ... the trip was fantastic, I hope to do it again next year but not
> > with Trailmasters!!
>
> Flying solo, another company or where trailmasters that bad? The
> website seems to indicate that the trips are fairly leisurely, rather
> than a whistle stop tour. I've had the "travel" bug since spending 3
> months backpacking around the world, 6 weeks of that in China. This
> sort of thing appeals...
>
> --
> Cheers [email protected]
> Dave. pam is missing e-mail
>
>
>


 
So Dave Liquorice was, like

> Is Morroco part of the EU? There are pan-european approvals for CB
> these days, though of course countries can opt out or be slow in
> implementing the legislation.

Last I heard, Morocco was still in Africa. :)

--

Rich

Pas d'elle yeux Rhone que nous


 
On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 19:46:05 -0000, Richard Brookman wrote:

> Last I heard, Morocco was still in Africa. :)

Turkey is in Asia, but a good point... B-)

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail



 
On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 14:11:01 GMT, murph wrote:

> It was 6 years ago I went so thing may have changed, you can get
> away from the convoy and do your own thing on a daily basis, contact
> between vehicles is recommended as you say handhelds would do.

PMR446 wouldn't really be suitable for more than a mile and thats not
very far when the vehicles are not in convoy...

> All the spare in the possible would be useless unless you have the
> tools to fit them.

I thought I'd mentioned the lack of any tools in the Trailmasters list
earlier. B-)

> I found £550 a head to Trailmasters is a lot of money for what you
> get, as said in the group do the research and do it yourself.

Per head! <cough> Doesn't seem particularly good value as you are
doing the shopping and cooking. Now if they had that all sorted and
done for you it would be better. Travelling isn't hard, just takes a
bit of thought and preparation then go with the flow and not get into
a tizz when today is Tuesday and your carefully planned itinerary says
you should have been in Azkabhan yesterday...

If there is one thing I learnt from China is that no matter where you
are the basic human requirements of water, food and shelter are
universal and getting them with only sign langauge in common is not
that hard. Smiles and laughter are also universal.

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail



 
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