So, tomorrow is departure day. Are we ready - no. Are we going - yes.
The old adage that work fills the time available is very true. If we had another week, we'd find enough preparation to keep us busy every day. But the time comes, you start the engine and away you go.
What haven't we done? Well, not very much when I make a list. There are a few essential (well, nice to have really) tools and spares we haven't fitted in the van. There's a shelf needed in a cupboard, and one of those boy racer "Kev" and "Tracy" tinted sun strips to fit across the windscreen. Nothing that's going to spoil the trip, then.
A good night's sleep is needed. Then tomorrow we're off. Er..... all the way to Dover!
Tuesday 30 June 2009
Saturday 27 June 2009
Preparing the vehicle (2)
There were some things that were obviously going to need attention.
Firstly, the rear brakes were not performing properly, so the complete rear hubs were dismantled, new brake cylinders, shoes, drums and handbrake cables fitted. Also the rear wheel bearings and CV joints were replaced.
There were a couple of minor water leaks evident, particularly around the thermostat housing, so this was removed, cleaned and reassembled with new seals and hose clips.
The interior of the van was a bit spartan for the planned journey, so a Westfalia interior was found (unfortunately the brown/cream version not the grey/white that would have suited the existing fittings better). This was fitted over a period of a few weeks but has been in and out several times since as other ideas are implemented.
A water tank was fitted beneath the rear sliding door to help balance the higher loading on the drivers side, and a hot water tank is a later fitting in the position of the standard Westfalia water tank in a drivers side rear cupboard. This is a little experimental as it is heated by the engine cooling system and may develop as the trip progresses.
Tyres with a mild off-road tread pattern have been fitted, in anticipation of some unsurfaced roads in several countries.
The Google search turned up some concerns about the expected life of engine and gearbox. The expected engine rebuild time is around 130k to 150k miles, and Bertie has covered 136k miles. The symptoms seem to be declining engine oil pressure so an oil pressure gauge was fitted, and thankfully the pressure seems to be in line with the VW manual. The gearbox appears OK, no problems with gear changes, but a precautionary oil change will be done before departure.
Firstly, the rear brakes were not performing properly, so the complete rear hubs were dismantled, new brake cylinders, shoes, drums and handbrake cables fitted. Also the rear wheel bearings and CV joints were replaced.
There were a couple of minor water leaks evident, particularly around the thermostat housing, so this was removed, cleaned and reassembled with new seals and hose clips.
The interior of the van was a bit spartan for the planned journey, so a Westfalia interior was found (unfortunately the brown/cream version not the grey/white that would have suited the existing fittings better). This was fitted over a period of a few weeks but has been in and out several times since as other ideas are implemented.
A water tank was fitted beneath the rear sliding door to help balance the higher loading on the drivers side, and a hot water tank is a later fitting in the position of the standard Westfalia water tank in a drivers side rear cupboard. This is a little experimental as it is heated by the engine cooling system and may develop as the trip progresses.
Tyres with a mild off-road tread pattern have been fitted, in anticipation of some unsurfaced roads in several countries.
The Google search turned up some concerns about the expected life of engine and gearbox. The expected engine rebuild time is around 130k to 150k miles, and Bertie has covered 136k miles. The symptoms seem to be declining engine oil pressure so an oil pressure gauge was fitted, and thankfully the pressure seems to be in line with the VW manual. The gearbox appears OK, no problems with gear changes, but a precautionary oil change will be done before departure.
Sunday 21 June 2009
Preparing the Vehicle (1)
"Bertie" is a 1990 Volkswagen T3 Multivan. He has a Westaflia Pop-Top roof which lifts to provide a 6' by 4' bed, and also provides headroom for more comfortable cooking etc in the van. There was a tall cupboard in the rear corner, with an overhead cupboard across the engine area. He also had a swivel base on the passenger seat and a split charger for a second battery.
The rear seat was a full width Westafalia "rock and roll" bed which we sold back to the guy we bought him from as the intention was to fit out the interior as a camper van.
He spent the first 17 years of his life in the country of his birth (so is left hand drive), but then travelled to the UK in 2007. He languished at Kombi Kampers in Wimborne Dorset until we spotted him and made Mike an irresistible offer to become his next owners.
So, what do you do to prepare an almost 20 year old vehicle for a journey through 21 countries to the other side of the world? You start with Google, as somebody will have done something similar already, and have passed on their experiences.
The rear seat was a full width Westafalia "rock and roll" bed which we sold back to the guy we bought him from as the intention was to fit out the interior as a camper van.
He spent the first 17 years of his life in the country of his birth (so is left hand drive), but then travelled to the UK in 2007. He languished at Kombi Kampers in Wimborne Dorset until we spotted him and made Mike an irresistible offer to become his next owners.
So, what do you do to prepare an almost 20 year old vehicle for a journey through 21 countries to the other side of the world? You start with Google, as somebody will have done something similar already, and have passed on their experiences.
Saturday 20 June 2009
The Vehicle
What to take was a difficult question. A long time Land Rover fan, that seemed to be the obvious choice, but the group had an underlying principle that we should endeavour to make even the sternest border guards smile. So it had to be something a little different.
Two of the group had already settled on Baja Beetles, so a VW seemed a good route to go. Trying to get all of our "essential" items into a Beetle would have proved too much of a challenge, so we looked at the VW van range. Split Screen - great looking but the age and cost was a problem, Bay Window - also good looking but still a bit pricey for a solid one, T3 (or T25 in UK) became the best option, so we bought "Bertie" last July. Plain white paintwork, with a very useful Westfalia Pop-Top roof.
Since July 08 I've read and listened to alot of useful information on how to prepare the van, so we have stuck on a few balloon decals and crossed our fingers...... (See "Preparing the Vehicle" for the reality on this)
Two of the group had already settled on Baja Beetles, so a VW seemed a good route to go. Trying to get all of our "essential" items into a Beetle would have proved too much of a challenge, so we looked at the VW van range. Split Screen - great looking but the age and cost was a problem, Bay Window - also good looking but still a bit pricey for a solid one, T3 (or T25 in UK) became the best option, so we bought "Bertie" last July. Plain white paintwork, with a very useful Westfalia Pop-Top roof.
Since July 08 I've read and listened to alot of useful information on how to prepare the van, so we have stuck on a few balloon decals and crossed our fingers...... (See "Preparing the Vehicle" for the reality on this)
The Route
Country/Expected date
England 01 July
France 02 July
Belgium 02 July
Germany 02 July
Austria 04 July
Slovenia 06 July
Croatia 06 July
Bosnia(about 5 miles!) 08 July
Montenegro 08 July
Albania 10 July
Macedonia 11 July
Greece 12 July
Turkey 14 July
Russia 20 July
Kazakhstan 23 July
China 05 August
Laos 22 August
Cambodia 27 August
Thailand 31 August
Malaysia 03 September
Indonesia 06 September
East Timor 19 September
Australia 24 Septmber
England 01 July
France 02 July
Belgium 02 July
Germany 02 July
Austria 04 July
Slovenia 06 July
Croatia 06 July
Bosnia(about 5 miles!) 08 July
Montenegro 08 July
Albania 10 July
Macedonia 11 July
Greece 12 July
Turkey 14 July
Russia 20 July
Kazakhstan 23 July
China 05 August
Laos 22 August
Cambodia 27 August
Thailand 31 August
Malaysia 03 September
Indonesia 06 September
East Timor 19 September
Australia 24 Septmber
Who are we?
Mark and Beth are travelling overland to Australia from the UK leaving on 1st July 2009. This became a serious possibility when a fellow participant in the Plymouth-Banjul 07 Rally worked out that, yes, it would be feasible to travel overland to Australia, with very few water crossings required.
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