This is great movie, showing a couple of youngsters getting out in the bush with their Dad and trying out Swag camping for the first time. It makes quite a good job of explaining how a swag works – these OzTrail swags are a bit more sophisticated and complicated to set up than most true Australian swags, almost like a mini tent and they don’t quite have the ‘roll and go’ quality that I like with the simpler more traditional swags, but as the chap says in this video they are probably good for a youngsters first time out in a swag.
For more about swags and why they are a great piece of 4×4 (meaning Land rover of course) camping gear see our main post and another short video.
Based in the small village of Stanton Drew about 10 minutes just south of Bristol the Stanton Drew Garage has given me tremendous support maintaining variously my Defender 110 Hi-Cap, the family Discovery II, a 109 Truck cab, and most recently my 109 ex-military Series III FFR dual fuel. They have great knowledge of Land Rovers through and have always gone the extra mile to solve a problem and get things fixed in good time to get back on the road they have been a great team to work with and I would recommend them to anyone needing Land Rover work done.
They do regular chassis-up rebuilds and have a Defender re-build just started that I will be keeping a close eye on and hopefully featuring on this site as it develops.
But from me, for all your efforts the past few years, thanks Stanton Drew Garage!
A short video of a trip we did back in December, just as the snow was starting to fall for what become three weeks of some of the heaviest snow we’ve had in the UK – just when you appreciate your Landy!
This is awesome – a video of a somewhat smaller-than-life Camel Trophy Defender going ‘off road’! Really well filmed and looks the business – if only I was 5 inches tall I’d want to drive it!
Interesting idea from local 4×4 specialists Overland Autos: they are thinking of a service where you can book one of thier ramps, get your own work done with your own tools, and also have expertise on hand for if you get stuck.
Saw this on thier facebook page – have a look and they are asking for feedback as to whether to run with this idea so if you think its a good one let them know!
Made by www.classiclandrover.co.uk these panels are a great solution for adding extra dials to any Series Land Rover interior – the makers supply a range of fittings and shapes for all Series vehicles. The new LRE 109 Series III truck cab badly needed tidying up inside, as previous owners had added more dials and wires were everywhere. The panels proved very easy to fit, with clear instructions and are beautifully finished, once installed they looked like OEM parts – with a really original look, they fitted in ingeniously using the original wings from the centre unit, to create this very useful centre dash console. Here’s how they went in and the finished result.
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The new LRE 109 Truck Cab Series III standing in the sunshine.
Land Rover wings make a working flat surface as always...
The panel kit comes nicely packaged in bubble wrap with full instructions.
The starting point. This centre console is about to be replaced by the new kit.
Removing the dials.
Unscrewing the existing console which supports only a couple of cigar lighter sockets.
Removing the centre piece
This shows where the two wings are joined, and where the new panel kits integrates.
removing random bits of old dash architecture...
the shiny new panels are out of the bag...
Fitting the back plate.
Then the new front plate fits to the two side wings of the original Land Rover centre console.
Creating this fantastic fitment with four new spaces for dials and sockets, all facing forward, and nice and high up on the dash.
A screwdriver was all that was needed to fit the new console.
Looking good...!
It's a piece of genius how these panels fit with the existing system - a really well thought out and beautifully elegant solution.
Starting to take shape and looking just great!
Adding more dials.
The positioning gives really good visibility.
The new auxiliary dash panels kit fully installed - it looks like OEM equipment! Just need to clean up my cab now, and polish everything up around this new centre console. The 109 is re-born (on the inside anyway).
We’re not overly blessed in my area for specialist Land Rover garages, so when members of the Good Garage Scheme “Overland Auto Engineers” opened up near me specialising in 4×4 and Land Rovers, I called them up to find out more.
Overland Auto Engineers are located just outside Bristol in North Somerset, at Nailsea, and offer a complete range of services, including servicing, MOT’s, repairs and bodywork especially for Land Rovers and other 4×4’s including fitting of winch and snorkel kits and other off-road and overland accessories. They are also currently offering a free winter check (which I intend to avail myself of next week for my Series 3 109 truck cab). I found the staff very friendly and they provide free wifi and a hot coffee. They have lock up facilities capable of holding 8 vehicles should your prized Landy need to stay overnight.
If like me you’re a member of the North Somerset Land Rover Club (www.nslrc.org.uk) then Overland will also apply a special discount on all labour charges for any work undertaken, very helpful indeed!
I recommend you give them a shout – ask for Paul or Jules on 01275 866223, or visit at Unit 9, The Vines Industrial Estate, High Street, Nailsea, United Kingdom, BS48 1BG: here’s a map to find them. Opening hours are 8.30-5.30 Monday to Friday.
Ebay is the Land Rover Owner’s best friend… parts, workshop manuals, rare items and of course complete (or often less-than-complete!) Land Rovers of all kinds are listed on there – it’s like living next door to the biggest used Land Rover showroom and Autojumble combined!
Here’s some nice Series 3 Land Rovers listed today on Ebay UK and if you don’t have an Ebay account yet (what?) then you can sign up below and get started hunting down the parts you need, or just browsing some nice old Series Landys or modded up Off Road Defenders!
Manufactured and designed in Southern Africa where off road means long expeditions in the african deserts, savanna and jungles, Howling Moon have been leaders in Roof Tent production for over 30 years. Their website features a great section on roof tent owners photos and stories from around the word – really whets the appetite if you’re thinking of going on an expedition yourslef, but also shows these great tenst in real world scenarios – (see http://www.howlingmoon.co.za/Tour.html).
Fantastic image of a Land Rover Defender with HM roof tent set up in Egypt, from the Howling Moon On Tour pages - click for LARGE image
The latest variation of their ‘Tourer’ tent features 2280 gms/sqm Polyester/cotton ripstop material, Fluoro carbon coated with a lightweight vacuum laminated composite base construction with Zip operated, ventilated and insect screened windows.
Aluminium mounting extrusions, 2 Piece ladder with internal ladder access to tent, flysheet and 75mm thick high density mattress come as standard. The tnet also features useful internal storage pockets and maintains space for bedding when the tent is folded. A unique bungee cord system helps when packing up the tent.
Howling Moon Tourer roof tent - cick for LARGE image
Also a zip integrated annex tent with built in groundsheet provides large living room space for lounging around the camp after long days on the trail, whatever the weather. The tent comes in several size configurations as well as different size annexxe tents. This is a staple roof tent and one you should consider when choosing a roof tent for serious expeditions. Available in the UK from trekoverland.com
