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More May Not Be Better?
Preparation is about taking a standard vehicle and turning into
something that is fully equipped for the journey ahead.
Turning through the pages of any LR magazine you
will find vehicle with every conceivable accessory bolted on, and given
an unlimited budget the temptation (for many) is to take a scatter-gun
approach to preparation and fit all manner of accessories which will
never be needed
Fortunately for the rest of us the constrains of
our budget force us to choose what we need carefully.
Your choice should take into account the terrain
you are travelling across - desert conditions dictate that your vehicle
should be a light as possible - and soft sand, assuming that it's
rock-free, means you have less reason to bolt on heavy under-body
protection plates and guards.
Auxiliary fuel and water tanks are a necessity for many routes, but if
you aren't venturing outside of Europe these become expensive luxuries.
The key to successfully preparing your vehicle is
to objectively assess the case for each piece of equipment in terms of
cost, frequency of use, and weight. Only then should you draw up your
shopping list
Legally
Required Equipment
2 x warning Triangles (Spain)
fluorescent waistcoat (Spain)
Spare Bulb Set (Various)
First Aid Kit (Various)
2x Fire Extinguishers (Various)
Reflective Tape (Mozambique, avail. locally) |
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General Vehicle Preparation
The sections in this expedition planning guide cover many aspects of
preparation, but this section looks specifically at what you need to do to
equip your vehicle before you set out.Roof Rack
An essential addition to your load capacity, as well as a place to sleep
assuming you opt for a Brownchurch roof tent.
Bull Bars
Not necessarily a must, but this addition can save your radiator, and maybe
windscreen too in the the event of running in to an animal. The are also the
ideal mounting point for:
Vehicle Winch
Winches are quick easy to use once you've
mastered the important safety rules. To counter that they are expensive and
heavy, and they rely upon a suitable anchor point, which means that in a
desert they are far less useful than on a green lane. We supply and install
Warn winches, and can offer you valuable advice if you need it.
Spot Lights
Roof mounted lights are far superior to bush-bar mounted lights when it
comes to night driving. An ideal system will include two spots for the road,
and two wide-angle lights which allow you to anticipate dangers approaching
from the sides, such as startled wildlife). A rear facing lights also very
useful for reversing, as well as for recovery, loading, or simply setting up
camp.
Snorkel
While important for wading, these are essential for keeping your air filter
intake out of the dust that dominates African driving.
Fuel Tanks
Fuel range and consideration are discussed in detail in the
Fuel & Oil section. Whatever your needs, we are
able to supply and fit a range of third party products - call us for more
details.
Protection
Various guards are available to protect you underside, including diffs,
steering rods, your sump, as well as fuel tanks, lights, and sills. In
dense foliage bush lines can deflect branches away from your windscreen, and
chequer plate panels can be applied to turn wings into stepping points.
While window grilles are less popular with overlanders, they are considered
obligatory if the vehicle is being shipped with equipment inside.
Mechanical Preparation
Don't just think about what you can bolt on to your vehicle - think about
what's already there, and ensure you get the most out of it by ensuring your
seals, bushes and all other components are up to the journey you are
planning.
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