Things I need - any recommendations?

I'm compiling a list of things I need for our trip to Morocco this summer, was after some recommendations. I am trying to keep the spend down, so please keep them budget conscious - for instance, I don't wanna be spending £150-£200 on a CB radio when a £90 will do the job just fine! Things I want/need are:

- CB radio (been looking at the Thunderpole T1000 starter kit)?
- Roof tent - any recommendations/ones to avoid? Prices vary from £300 to £2,500 new, which is vast, and all the "branded" ones on eBay (Howling Moon, Eezi-Awn, Autohome, Magnolia (I know it's not actually Magnolia!) etc) seem to command premium prices, even for old ones...
- Roof rack - anyone got a decent sturdy roof rack for sale that will fit a RR Classic?

Also, spares wise - other than masses of gaffa tape and cable ties, is there a fairly generic list of spares I should consider taking? I am told two spare wheels is a good idea, and as my car is on air suspension I will be taking a spare front and rear spring assembly in case one blows out. Anything else worth considering, generic or V8/RRC-specific?

Cheers!

I wouldn't bother with the second spare wheel, just to heavy for what it's worth.
Roof tents,,,, there is a place on the south coast, I seem to remember they were about an hour to the west of Dover,
can't remember the name for now, they do a lot with Land Rovers, they have Chinese copies of the Howling Moon for £630.
Excellent, I know a good half dozen or so people got them now.

Thats all I can input, until I dig the name up for you about the RTT.

vette

uk_vette said:

I wouldn't bother with the second spare wheel, just to heavy for what it's worth.
Roof tents,,,, there is a place on the south coast, I seem to remember they were about an hour to the west of Dover,
can't remember the name for now, they do a lot with Land Rovers, they have Chinese copies of the Howling Moon for £630.
Excellent, I know a good half dozen or so people got them now.

Thats all I can input, until I dig the name up for you about the RTT.

vette

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Thanks, that's a great start! I am dubious about these Chinese copies, but that's not a bad price. The one's I really like are the 'clamshell' style ones, as they look a lot more aerodynamic that the others...but then are more restrictive in terms of space, I guess?

MikeV8SE said:

the 'clamshell' style ones, as they look a lot more aerodynamic that the others...but then are more restrictive in terms of space, I guess?

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true, but better weather protection for the UK (think longer term than just Morocco). Also consider a better RTT as an investment. unless it falls off on the M4 it will retain the money you shelled out on it and probably more. I bought my old RTT for £300 on Ebay, sold it 2 years later for £450 on Ebay. £300 wasn't a huge bargain at the time so it just shows that everything is going up in price both new and used. I dont have any quarms about spending good $$$ on quality because I know I can sell it again and lose a little if any $$$.

As Vette says, you wont need a 2nd spare, plenty of tyre places out there.

CB? You can pick a midland one up for £50 ish which would be suitable. Im not sure you need one though.

Roof rack - If its just for a RTT why not get 2-3 roof bars. Lighter, easier to use/take off etc.

Spares - UJ's, wheel bearings, gaskets, fan belt, air filter, fuel filter maybe oil filter. I replaced my radiator hoses, brake pads and a few other bits prior to our trip and kept the old ones for spares. take some fluids, engine and EP90. any bits you have laying around like diff drain plugs, rad plugs, wiper blades, thermostat etc throw them in.

Anything else, just holler.

G

Thanks Griffdowg, great advice! To answer each point:

- I see what you mean about the RTT, I guess it depends how much we enjoy this trip how often we do it again! But like you say, getting a good secondhand one should hold it's value anyway.
- Roofrack is solely for the RTT and second spare wheel/jerry cans. However, I do have a pair of Thule roof bars, will these (with maybe a third one) support a RTT OK if we don't need the additional spare wheel then? The jerry can(s) can go in the boot.
- CB radio - we are joining an organised trip and require one for that so do need one! Any recommendations?

Thanks for the spares list, that's basically one box so not too bad at all!

MikeV8SE said:

Thanks Griffdowg, great advice! To answer each point:

- I see what you mean about the RTT, I guess it depends how much we enjoy this trip how often we do it again! But like you say, getting a good secondhand one should hold it's value anyway.
- Roofrack is solely for the RTT and second spare wheel/jerry cans. However, I do have a pair of Thule roof bars, will these (with maybe a third one) support a RTT OK if we don't need the additional spare wheel then? The jerry can(s) can go in the boot.
- CB radio - we are joining an organised trip and require one for that so do need one! Any recommendations?

Thanks for the spares list, that's basically one box so not too bad at all!

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The tent should be ok on the 2 bars. which thule ones are they? the longer ones are usually 3mm thick. 2 of these will do unless you and the missus are big :scratching_chin: :argue:

CB - I have never used one, I prefer to use 2 way radios and stop to chat than continual chatter over a CB. so not best placed to judge but as your convoy will be travelling close a cheap set should suffice. The little midland one from maplins would be fine. midland are a renouned make so I dont see how you can go wrong.

Spares are what I generally carry, your RRC may have some more specifics. The thinking behind it is 'what parts would cause me to become completely imobile?' so a UJ would be major, wheel bearing also. Hoses can be repaired along with other things but if you have them laying around take them, no harm. A friend of mine managed to get a defender windscreen in a day so your never far from parts really.

G

You could easily manufacture a sleeping platform in the back of the Rangie if you remove the back seats... and still have plenty room underneath for gear. Very handy too if you fancy a kip on the motorway.

uk_vette said:

I wouldn't bother with the second spare wheel, just to heavy for what it's worth.
Roof tents,,,, there is a place on the south coast, I seem to remember they were about an hour to the west of Dover,
can't remember the name for now, they do a lot with Land Rovers, they have Chinese copies of the Howling Moon for £630.
Excellent, I know a good half dozen or so people got them now.

Thats all I can input, until I dig the name up for you about the RTT.

vette

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Are these the guys you mean, vette?

Terrain Leisure

Griffdowg said:

The tent should be ok on the 2 bars. which thule ones are they? the longer ones are usually 3mm thick. 2 of these will do unless you and the missus are big

CB - I have never used one, I prefer to use 2 way radios and stop to chat than continual chatter over a CB. so not best placed to judge but as your convoy will be travelling close a cheap set should suffice. The little midland one from maplins would be fine. midland are a renouned make so I dont see how you can go wrong.

Spares are what I generally carry, your RRC may have some more specifics. The thinking behind it is 'what parts would cause me to become completely imobile?' so a UJ would be major, wheel bearing also. Hoses can be repaired along with other things but if you have them laying around take them, no harm. A friend of mine managed to get a defender windscreen in a day so your never far from parts really.

G

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It's actually mr brother and I going on the trip, we weigh about 14 stone each so getting on for 30 stone total weight - I think a third roof bar might be a good idea! How do roof tents work with the maximum roof weight of 50kg, I've never really got that?

Apparently the Thunderpole T1000 is a good starter kit, so will go for that or an equivalent Midland. Cheers!

muddyfox said:

You could easily manufacture a sleeping platform in the back of the Rangie if you remove the back seats... and still have plenty room underneath for gear. Very handy too if you fancy a kip on the motorway.

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I would, but I have a 100 litre LPG tank in the boot which is taking up valuable space! I may well remove the back seats for the trip, but even so...sounds silly, but ever since I had the idea to do this trip I've wanted a roof tent!!

Double check this with your trip organisers but I was led to believe that CB radios are illegal in Morocco. It may be worth considering a handheld unit just simply as it would be easier/quicker to hide at the border (you need to hide any external aerials/cables too I believe)

I was looking at handheld units recently (for laning mainly, not overland trips) and unfortunately, they are more expensive than a traditional set up. In the end though I went for a more traditional basic set up from these guys Communication Eleven Homepage :: UK 4x4 CB Radio Specialists - Expert Advice, Competitive Prices & knowledgeable staff - now in our tenth year of trading

Helpful & friendly people. Might be worth a call just to double check the Morocco legality thing too

You're right, technically CB radio's are not allowed into Morocco BUT plenty of people go in with them, even with their aerials still attached. Our trip insists on then from a safety aspect, but advises they are concealed and aerials removed for the border crossing and until they are necessary, i.e. up in the Atlas mountains or the Sahara..

Roof rack: We got bored of crappy designs that were supposed to be "overland" spec and we got bored of things breaking off, having to tie things together with ratchet straps etc so we made own own. I think roof tents add another expense/complication and I prefer to use a £40 tent but that is not everyones cup of tea.

I prefer to take two wheels...yeah it over the top I suppose but when I get down to one spare wheel I always feel a bit nervous :\

Like othersI don't really see the point in CB but oh well.

Spares...hmm...fairly generic to any vehicle unless a certain thing is prone to failing...I take spare dissy cap, arm, leads, plugs and various electrical fixings inc relays/wire. 2 x Wheel bearing kits and extra oil seals, 2 X UJ, spare rad hoses, oil and air filter, full gasket set, a few alternator belts, a brake cylinder for each side, a clutch slave repair kit. The most important thing for me so far has been threaded rods of various sizes and nuts/washers

That's a hell of a spares list, rustyrhino!! How much space does that all take up? I guess some parts are small.

We need a CB radio to keep in touch with the rest of the group apparently, still deciding which one is best.

Have bought a Maggonilia roof tent (second hand), that was a big part of the whole idea for me - sad but true!

MikeV8SE said:

Have bought a Maggonilia roof tent (second hand)

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:high5:

good man!

G

Griffdowg said:

:high5:

good man!

G

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I'm actually really excited about that, picking it up next weekend!

I would suggest (with no experience) that a couple of cheap walkie talkies may be useful. Especially if a rescue became necessary?

You can get a complete second hand cb setup for £30