Essentials?

No familiar with the trip. How far are you going, what kind of repair facilities are available, etc.

I assume you are tak> We're starting to consider packing for the trip.

Dakar, cross country I think.

in article Xns943A6F5A6F880adrianachapmanfreeis@130.133.1.4, Adrian at snipped-for-privacy@achapman.freeisp.co.uk wrote on 21/11/2003 10:56:

A while ago, Grunff posted this:

Paul

ma_twain (ma snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

We leave the UK, rapidly through France and Spain (1400 miles), cross over the Med, into Morocco, through the disputed territories of the Western Sahara, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (which is pretty much entirely rocky or sandy desert, apart from the 200km beach where you have to race the tide or get a bit damp), Senegal and the Gambia.... Nearly 4000 miles in all. Oh, and we may have a little wander through Mali and Burkina Faso when we get there - Timbuctou has to be worth a visit - although the three different Meningitis vaccinations recommended for Burkina Faso are a bit offputting....

We may come across the odd arabic blacksmith at times. And camels. Plenty of camels. Hopefully.

Erm, yes . The GPS will also be useful. As will food, water and petrol for the desert stretchs. Oh, and a guide for the bits with landmines.

This is what I'd take: # Socket + spanner set # Assorted tools (hammer, mole grips, water pump pliers, that kind of stuff) # Set of plugs, cap, rotor arm # Couple of reels of gaffer tape # Spare belts (alternator + ps pump) # 5l of oil, 10l of water # Brake fuild and ps fluid

If I had the money/space, I'd also take: # Clutch master + slave cylinders # Ignition amp (s/hand) # Fuel pump (s/hand)

Grunff ( snipped-for-privacy@ixxa.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

So nothing "specialist" needed at all for anything we're likely to come across? Good news!

New plugs, cap, rotor going on, so the old ones going in the boot.

But of course!

New ones going on, so old ones going in the boot.

Ta!

Nothing else? That should be it?

Anybody fancy donating usable ones to us? Remember, the more money we spend on this, the less we can top the charity donations up with.

Paul Halliday ( snipped-for-privacy@blueyonder.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

A need for half of that list is going to see us sitting in the back of somebody else's car.....

I'd add a couple of jugs of antifreeze/coolant, some radiator stop leak and super strength windshield washer concentrate. Also an extra set of washer blades. Emergency tire sealant. A floor jack -- will work on uneven surfaces much better than the regular car jack. Or at least a couple of jackstands. A couple of those space age blanket things that fold up real small. A crowbar.

snipped-for-privacy@madmousergraphics.com

design, print design, photography

LauraK ( snipped-for-privacy@aol.comnospam) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Hmmm. Good thought. We're taking two full-size spares, but that's not a bad plan, for the amount of space a can's going to take up.

I've got an exhaust airbag jack that's coming.

Again, nice thought. Added to list. Ta.

in article Xns943A86B455197adrianachapmanfreeis@130.133.1.4, Adrian at snipped-for-privacy@achapman.freeisp.co.uk wrote on 21/11/2003 13:14:

Ensure all your major hoses are jubilee clipped up. You didn't say the age of the car, so double check whether you need Torx or Philips screwdrivers.

Spare vac hosing (3 or 4mm ID) Multimeter Reels of wire, terminals and fuses Spare relays Water purifying tablets :) Clean undies :))

Go Desert Vikings!

Paul

Cheap screwdriver set and socket set, Mole Grips and Pliers

5litres decent Oil 10 litres decent Fuel 10 litres pure water (for the car or you if you get stranded) Oil Filter Fuel Filter All belts Gearbox Oil Epoxy Putty (know the stuff that you cut a bit off and knead it together, good for fixing sumps) Throttle Cable Bulbs Gaffer Tape Lots of various size zip ties (if a coolant pipe splits gaffer tape and some zip tying will hold it)

Anything that breaks and you can't fix with the above is gonna be terminal. The above is what I take on my 2500 mile mad mission around europe. Many a TVR has been back up and running after some zip tie, gaffer tape and epoxy putty LOL.

Remember the front seat covers unzip so if you get stranded and its cold use em to keep your legs warm. Using the foam from the rear seats as insulation is also possible.

Matt

Oh and lump hammer/normal hammer

**-** ( snipped-for-privacy@btinternet.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Another little mental note.

Really? Well, I'll be buggered.

But.... But.... That's what they *MAKE* TVRs from....

Matches and/or disposable lighters, especially if nobody smokes. Some of that super strong but light rope that mountain climbers use. Enough to tie from your car bumper to a camel:) A solar battery charger for stuff you've got that uses batteries in case you get in an emergency situation where you can't use the car to recharge them. There are quite a few companies these days making solar battery chargers for just about any type of battery, including cell phones. Also solar recharged flashlights, radios, etc.

snipped-for-privacy@madmousergraphics.com

design, print design, photography

Swiss army knife.

You never know when you might need to cut something. Antifreeze Barrs Leak or other radiator sealer

The exhaust airbagt jack is a good idea, but what if you need to get under the car and it won't start? How do you inflate the airbag jack? I second the floor jack suggestion.

On that note, I would take LED flashlights. They run forever on one set of batteries and "never" burn out light bulbs. They are not inexpensive, but you can take them home with you.

The comment on cheap tools - fine if they don't break, but if they break in the middle of nowhere, they may cost you far more than the additional cost of a good set of tools.

Yep, if its spit wrap one or two layers of gaffer tape around it then zip tie it up, pull them tight and the rubber is forced together, forming a tidy seal. Any bits you've missed the gaffer tape will take care off.

GRP mainly ;-) My old Chim made it nearly 800 miles with the top rad hose zip tied together, rather worringly it lost less coolant than normal as well ;-)

TBF thought a stanlet 3/8 drive socket set is 35quid. Its okay and if you need to do something that'd break it your gonna be stuck there anyway ;-)

CraigBob ( snipped-for-privacy@csi.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

We will be travelling with other cars. It's perhaps more appropriate to ask what happens, though, if we need it and there's not a single exhaust left among us. Mebbe I will lob my trolleyjack in instead. More control, too, if it's needed to bend things back into shape.