Portugal trek august 2015 anyone?

james6546 said:

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.



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!

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Slightly James, unless you want to randomly steer about and eventually face the direction you wish to travel in only to find both front wheels facing opposite directions which I'm guessing may impede progress, track rod ends are a must, they sit really low as the design is crap plus they are quite thin. I took two Bearmach ones. Never used them though.

james6546 said:

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.



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!

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A good ball/track rod end joint is about £10, you will need a left and right.

Vince

How is your new tent?

Have you tried it out yet?

mikescuba said:

A good ball/track rod end joint is about £10, you will need a left and right.

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Ahh, ok. I have a couple of spare track rod ends left over from the rebuild, I thought we were talking about swivels!

Mash12 said:

Vince

How is your new tent?

Have you tried it out yet?

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Yes, we used it for our trip to Portugal last year.
It's a similar size to the Khyam we used with you, but it has an inner tent with a built in ground sheet.
It takes a little longer to put up as it uses the thin bendy poles rather than the Khyam's click together aluminium poles.
It's also lighter and less bulky which is a bonus.
I assume that your set up is the same as last year?

Certainly will be.

Almost ready, just a couple of items to source.

Mash12 said:

Certainly will be.

Almost ready, just a couple of items to source.

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I just have to buy some fluids, and another grease gun, as mine is inexplicably leaking!

I put a new indicator stalk on yesterday, so everyone doesn't need to spend their time wondering when I am going to cancel my indicator!

I have also worked out how to get fuel into my rear tank, you have to trickle it in. So that means I will take about 3x as long as everyone else at fuel stops. But on the positive side I will get more than 200 miles on a fillup and won't need to take a jerry can. I think I might take an empty one just incase and tie it to the roof if I have space.

Is the rear tank venting correctly?

MrNasty said:

Is the rear tank venting correctly?

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Yeah, I took off the return pipe and blew down it and it was fine. I think the problem is that the filler for the rear tank is a little too small and goes slightly uphill

Count down has started

Mash12 said:

Count down has started

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I know, right?!

Got this weekend to get packed and sort some last minute things. Hopefully we get a break from the forecast torrential rain...

Not wanting to temp it too much but it looks good towards the end of the week

The end of the week is no good, lol! I want to pack today

Hi when are you going...I am flying out tonight for 2 weeks will keep my eyes out for you

Craiggillin1985 said:

Hi when are you going...I am flying out tonight for 2 weeks will keep my eyes out for you

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We arrive in Portugal on the 20th, spending two nights near 'Coja'. We then head south arriving at Lagos on the 27th. By all means keep an eye out for us but we will be mostly avoiding the tourist areas so it will be a miracle if you spot us.

I am going south doing a bit of touring so u never no lol

Craiggillin1985 said:

I am going south doing a bit of touring so u never no lol

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Ok, we'll keep an eye out for a frantically waving Englishman. We are a tatty silver D1, followed by D4 towing a posh trailer tent, followed by a 90 on its bump stops due to the amount of tools and spares he's carrying!
(A response from James is anticipated)

Vincemcdonald said:

Ok, we'll keep an eye out for a frantically waving Englishman. We are a tatty silver D1, followed by D4 towing a posh trailer tent, followed by a 90 on its bump stops due to the amount of tools and spares he's carrying!
(A response from James is anticipated)

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I'll have you know I have done some serious pruning of my tools and spare parts!

We may have overdone it on the food and snacks though...

I have made a blog, so once I have put something on it I'll share the link

The blog is live...

https://jamesnsaz.wordpress.com/

Hopefully we will have internet at some places, so we can keep the location updated and put some pics

We're following your blog already. Well Belinda is, I don't really know what a blog is, a clog with a spelling mistake was my first thought, or a bog with a rogue 'L'.
Weather at Le Mans looks ok.