Yes, very valid point made by Dan on keeping it standard....

Im running DeCarbon shocks and scrap-iron racing springs on the 90 in the UK so it handles better....than a 2cv (just).....would I use them overland ?.......nope....

Id replace the radiator and hoses (...I see you have already) as a matter of course with a 97 - corrogations will find any weak areas in the rad - and rover rads have a habit of rusting out around the bottom, where water/mud gets trapped around the crap drainage holes in the mounting frame.

Its all pretty much been covered by the guys.....water pump, alternator, wheel bearings/seals (and a few extra locking tabs), prop shaft UJs for sure, head gasket as eightpot mentions, plus all those 'lil bits n pieces.

pack in as many fuel/oil filters as you can cram in....they can be quite expensive....at one place in Accra they wanted £15 for one fuel filter (last time I was there)- plus if you have bought them and wrapped them in clingfilm in the UK, then you know they are not full of dust/sand !!!


* Looking at your website, seems everything has been covered - a couple of things I can think of after a few s are:

a fine mesh grill infront/behind the black plastic grill is good for keeping locusts/bugs and grass seeds out of rad, a swingaway pulley block will make the winch much more versatile - and take at least 1 inner tube with your puncture repair kit- just in case you lose a sidewall - get a local to patch/sew it up and put a tube in and at least you can use it as an emergency spare on the back end.

I also use the small black 5 litre diesel cans for my oils -2x Engine oil /EP90/ATF - they are very tough and dont leak, just mark them with tippex.

I do an oil change every 5000km, check wheel bearings and fresh grease in those UJs, if you go West Africa way, consider doing a couple of interim fuel filter changes.

...and if you go through Ghana, stop at Brenu Beach and enjoy a few 'Star' s !!!

Have a good one
Cheers

Gipper

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Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

Gipper,
I noticed you mentioned about fitting a fine mesh grill to help keep crap away from the radiator, don't suppose you have any pics of a finished one do you? We're about to do something similar on our 110 and are unsure how 'fine' to go!

I'd like to see that too please, I am just back from 3 weeks in europe and my rad is full of beetles bugs and butterflies!

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Cheers Dan
gettinglostagain.com

Hi ...Sounds like it's going to be a great trip....

This could be you!!!!!!

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I agree with what is written above.

A few tips would be to take a throttle cable. Just lie this along the front of the dash where the windscreen meets the plastic area...it'll in fact fit neatly in the gap between same.

On the idea of an auxiliary belt tensioner. Rather than take a new one,the bearing can be replaced. It's awkward to do but once done you'll be able to take a few bearings with you if it starts to squeal. When buying new bearings,if you don't already know, prise the plastic side seal off with a small fine screwdriver and re pack with good grease....pressing the seal back on. The grease that comes with bearings,in my experience,can only be described as minimal!

Lift pump for sure....

To carry a couple of shock absorbers...stash them along and inside the front bumper ensuring they're packed well....

As for spare hose clips...just double them up where they will be being needed...At present I have another around my top hose where it rubs against the side of the plastic radiator cover....check in case your hose is touching same too...

If not done already make sure that the radiator plastic plug along with the thermostat plastic plug have been replaced with brass before you leave. These are cheap as chips and saves the plastic ones getting hot brittle and braking up...a common fault in the 300tdi


Make sure there's no weeps at the oil cooler pipes..these are a common leak....maybe even go the extra and have proper banjo jointed ones made up by your local farm supply....

If possible maybe a PAS pump to bring along...small and easy to stash and can fail easily...dead easy to fit in the field with no special tools....


Throw in a spare P gasket...easy to store eg.in sun visor....another common fail...(Just had a wee peep at your website...take one anyway due to easy to store)


Make sure you have a Torx 55 bit to remove gearbox bung,remembering to loosen this off before you drain the oil


As an aside remember,when driving at all times,to let the turbo run down to prolong longevity...

Take a tube of silicone which can be used as a gasket and to repair other small stuff.

If I can think of more I'll post it up....

On Aux belt tensioners. It is worth remembering the quick fix of a small coin or washer at the 9 o'clock position for a squeel. This is a very quick, I'll fix it later solution.

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Cheers Dan
gettinglostagain.com

Nick!

Hope all is well buddy. My 2p worth:

Knowing your suspension set up with the twin shocks you don't need spare shocks (I still have the 2 spares I took - unused). If you do break a shock on the Moyale road ('cause you drove too fast) get one from Schumachers in Nairobi (probably the best Land Rover garage in Africa). They stock everything you'll need.

Take a handful of spare nuts and bolts, maybe a clutch master cylinder (although i'd get Paul to put a new one on before you leave) - don't take the repair kit is is a waste of time - , duck tape, cable ties, light bulbs, fuses, wire, more wire, a selection of hoses of various diameters, hose clips, liquid gasket, clutch & brake fluid, tyre repair kit, compressor, jack a not much else.

If you have taken the time to prepare your vehicle well upfront then that means you have to take less with you on the road. Trust me you don't want to weigh yourself down with a lot of redundant spares.

You are well set up so rather save on weight, that way you'll need fewer spares!

Happy planning!

Bruce

.....and maybe a length of electrical cable so that you can fix any dodgy earth issues. African cops love a light that dosn't work...

Just one comment from me;
I had my water pump replaced 5 months before a trip to Tunisia, brand new, LR genuine part, it failed on the first day in the dunes. That was a 200Tdi Discovery. So, no good assuming that as it has been fixed/replaced recently it will not let me down. Take the old one as a spare, it'll save you money over buying a second new one. I replaced all of my steering ball joints when one was shot, took one L/H and one L/H of the good ones as spares.
Kevin

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www.4x4-travel.co.uk

For one, in Europe, especially the western part, I wouldn't take spares at all. The number of garages is large enough to have one within easy reach, and spares can be delivered easily overnight.
If you allow plenty of time for your journey, very few spares are needed in any country. Just make use of the extra stop-over time, and enjoy yourself locally !
I think that the art of travelling lies not in keeping going, but in enjoying the journey, no matter how fast or slow it goes...
Besides, what's the use in carrying spares you're very ulikely to need, given a good preparation of your car.
Sod's law (or Murphy's , for that matter) dictates that the only parts on your car that will definitely fail are the ones you do not carry with you ....

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Landrover Discovery 2 Td5 with a Garmin 276c and a great co-driveress