www.overlandwithkids.com

Our brand new website re: UK to Australia with Land Rover in 2010- please be kind!!! Still has to be properly populated with photos and content etc. but you can see we've made a start and listed Landyzone as a valuable contact. Let us know what you think.

Your website looks really good and the trip sounds great. I see you are looking at trailers for your trip. There seems to be a lack of options in the UK compared to US and Australia where they are spoilt for choice. Good luck. Have you seen any?

Initially, we were determined to keep it compact -i.e. just the vehicle with a roof tent BUT having done a shake down trip, we really enjoyed the ground tent option recently - more room and flexibility. The downside being set-up and pack away etc. - fine for a few days but not for quick pitch/overnight stays - but at least you could leave everything and just take the vehicle and go off sight-seeing. You can't do this with a roof tent, two kids, 4 bikes, camping equipment etc.
The other downside, was that the vehicle was fully loaded in the rear which defeated the object of us being able to use the reclining seats for the kids for example in 2nd row e.g. if we get stuck on border for hours or have a one day long-haul to next destination. Removes the flexibility.
Then, we saw a B'rakhah expedition type trailer mini caravan from SAfrica on e-Bay and thought WOW - this would answer everything - shower, 80ltr fridge, water tanks, chemical toilet - bedding that folded back into seating and a table, gun safe, awnings, 80-100cm wade capability, the lot. For us it seemed fantastic solution for our needs but unfortunately it was withdrawn from sale. Now we are back to square one and are having a re-think. But you are right, from doing further research, its either a trailer or a caravan or your back to either ground or roof tent options. The search continues with no firm decisions as yet but meantime if anyone hears about a B'rakhah becoming available in the UK - please shout - was really impressed with it.

hey, jus to say nice lookin site but MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT UPDATED.so many of these kinda sites get neglected.. sounds like a fookin amazin thing ur doin...cant imagine th size of ur budget for the trip...but its a once in a life time thing!also, i was trailin through ur earlier posts, aboot continuin education for ur kids...i jus thought i'd through my thoughts that for such a short period of time in ur kids lives i feel u shud forget about tryin to keep some educational continuity. let them experience things their friends now and in later life will never...thats an education that will be more valuable than attemptin to ensure they keep up with their readin and mathematics whilst crossin incredible scenary and adventures half the world away,
just my opinion
goodluck,

TEDDY

Thanks for the comments. Will try hard to keep website up to date - promise! Jury's out on education - we're not so concerned about our younger (boy) who'll be 5.5 at time of travel. It's the older (daughter) who'll be 9.5 and then at secondary school age when we return - she'll need some kind of daily education as a filler to keep maths, spelling, reading at the bare minimum up-to-date. Cos we'll be travelling for 12 - 18 months - we think some wider education and routine will also be important for both - we're trying to pre-plan and build education piece into what we do 'educate as we go' - this way won't feel like a chore along the way. Takes some pre-planning but already we are thinking about types of learning, excercises and what the children (and ourselves) will gain - and rather than worrying - its now starting to become fun and exciting and we are looking forward to the challenge as will be 1-2-1 with kids. Take the point though maybe not to take too seriously and just enjoy - hopefully we'll strike a balance.

Cassie,

Back on the trailer option. It might be worth approaching a trailer builder and getting a bespoke design done for you. You can buy the exped type tents that fit on top of the trailer from MyWay Roof Tents (UK).
The advantage of this is that you can have all the things you need and not waist money on things you don't need. I had a quote for an adaptation to a Sankey wide track trailer for under a grand. That included secure lockers and split charge system.
If you google bespoke trailer builder a few come up.

With the internet it should easy to keep the kids up to date on key skills, I agree with edbell - your kids will get an oustanding education in life.

Starting on my expedition trailer next week, will keep developments posted, starting with a 110 rear body

110 rear body trailer should be good, at least it will be same track width. You have to get it colour coded to your wagon tho?

Thats the plan, it is sitting on a custom chassis at the mo with transit wheels, might get a knackered chassis off a crashed 110 and make something. The idea of having the same wheels and a whole spare axle appeals. Was going to play with the idea of hooking an alternator to the axle so it can charge camping batteries while driving.
I'm fed up with loading and unloading the 110 everytime i go camping, a trailer must be the way to go.........colour coded of course

depends where you overland though doesnt it. If you not too bothered about really exploring then yes. but i cant imagine a trailer being any good around some of the Alpine tracks, and indeed much of the Atlas in Morocco, offroad tracks in Western Sahara, even parts of Spain would be unsuitable for a trailer.

But it would suit some situations. wouldnt fancy Strata Florida or Happy Valley with a trailer

G

Cassie, speak to Nene overland i believe they import trailers from SA also Frogs Island 4x4 in Oxford may be able to help. they hve lots of contacts/sources and there is a chance they know of a customer selling one.

G

Trailers are OK if as mentioned you limit yourself to rogh roads or tracks.
Once it starts to get difficult, i.e sand snow mud they become a real liability, also they tend to get hammered a lot worse than the tow vehicle ,
The axle width being the same in some situations is a plus and also the opposite applies.
Try to keep them as light as possible, and as strong as you can. which tend to be in direct conflict.
They are very maintenance itensive as wear rates in the shackle bushes are very high. Shock absorbers are very advantageous but mounting them in a effective manner is a problem. A good long A frame helps with stability, and also makes them easier to reverse, although too long an a frame leads to problems with ramp over angles. A high tow point on the tow vehiclke is preferable to avoid problems with the hitch digging in when having to deal with a sharp climb.
You need a curtain on the front of the trailer to stop the stones that fly back from the tow vehicles wheels hitting the front of the trailer, and stripping the paint off , but more importantly they then rebound and take the back window out of the tow vehicle.
I used two in Oz , built both myself , put a roof top tent on top of the trailer , (wife refused to climb up the ladder on to the top of the landrover, something to do with being pregnant at the time I think ) .

Re education a laptop with suitable educational programs should allow the older , or even the younger one to keep upto speed with the relevant stage of learning for that age, and also it can be structured as a game in some of the progs. The real bonus is the learning by experience, my own daughter greatly improved her geography knowledge, also general knowledge, mapreading etc,

And that's part of the issue we've had all along - want to be compact to do some proper exploring - not weighed down having to think about additional equipment and towing etc. but it is the pack/unpack hassle consideration. Suppose the trick is 'don't bring anything!'

Re the pack unpack hassle, I found the answer to be put pretty well everything in boxes( tin trunks & plastic crates) i.e. catering in one, parts in another, clothes etc If they are strong , you can use them to sit on , or stack them to make the table , that way you can make multi use of items, no need to take chairs saves weight . The ones you dont need very often go on bottom , vice versa , shelving and draws arnt bad but it all adds to weight , and is non usable other than for storage, and saves you a bit of a work out, which in view of the amount of time spent sitting down , would be a bad thing. With two adults and two kids, the 110 will be need to utilize every bit of space, eg under seats , etc but should still cope on its own JMHO

Perfect tips - great ideas - fantastic advice - am off to steal the childrens plastic crates for starters - just to get the idea and could use for now and get used to adapting and improving more. Back of vehicle just looks ridiculous at present and is definately a health hazard. Love idea about sitting on boxes - duh! why didn't we think of that.
Understand need to use every nook and cranny - e.g. behind seats/underneath etc. and about this versus fit out issues re: weight and this way continue to retain flexibility etc.Thank you thank you thank you. Feelin' happy happy happy. Right - back to work - lunch over!

PS - will post some photos once we get into the flow!

http://www.reallyusefulproducts.co.uk/uk/

Staples sell them - and they stack nicely

Sean, Those boxes look great. What is the quality like?? I have been using wolf boxes but you can't utilize all available space because of the size.

anthony5351 said:

Sean, Those boxes look great. What is the quality like?? I have been using wolf boxes but you can't utilize all available space because of the size.

Click to expand...

i think they are good - find your nearest Staples are go have a look, they might even let you sit on one

Cassie said:

Our brand new website re: UK to Australia with Land Rover in 2010- please be kind!!! Still has to be properly populated with photos and content etc. but you can see we've made a start and listed Landyzone as a valuable contact. Let us know what you think.

Click to expand...

it seems you need to practice offroading a fair bit get a very good land anchor and a decent winch basically try and prepare like the camel trophy did i.e take spare altenator, starter motor, master and slave cylinder braking etc and i hope your budget is excessive