Advice from those who know

Hi all
Hope you are well
I was reading the topic about the GPS and want to know if we are chosen to join your group going next year,do we need a GPS?
We do have a sat nav(TomTom One) would this be any good to use?

Tom Tom will be fine... assuming you have eropean maps installed as well as UK ones.

There is no complicated navigation, it's onl to use if you get real stuck with the tulip diagrams in the road books (these are easy to use too!).

Kindest

Skibum

Ok thanks,european maps added to shopping list.
P.S tulip diagrams?

A simple way of describing a route by providing line diagrams of junctions being used (i.e. if you stay on the main road through 15 junctions.... no needto describe them!). Each day each car is issued with one or more road books to lead them (hopefully!!) to the end location.

There is a nice simple explanation with examples here

Ah thanks,have seen them before,the maps for green laning in the off road mags,just did not know they were called tulip

I'll give you a demo on Sat.
Should be at the workshop most of the day - ring first though to make sure I'm there !!

nickburt wrote:

I'll give you a demo on Sat.
Should be at the workshop most of the day - ring first though to make sure I'm there !!

What time has Spanners got the bacon on then ?

Might nip over,

Not sure he's allowed out at the moment - in the middle of exams at school.

Mark - Most of your Qs have been covered. Just to add

1. The 'safety' element of having GPS: have the unit in 'Clear Route' mode - so it will show you where you are but not offer directions. The safety element is you can 'read' the road ahead re junction/bend etc

2. Lat/Long references (if/when given out) will be in degrees/decimal configuration not degrees/minutes/seconds.

Nick/Richie can explain when you meet.

Thanks to Nick for your advice and the cuppa

Yet another question(and yes there will be many more(sorry ))
Is it better to have an air bed or a camp bed?

Wal wrote:

Thanks to Nick for your advice and the cuppa

Yet another question(and yes there will be many more(sorry ))
Is it better to have an air bed or a camp bed?

Depends who's in bed with you !

lol does it matter

Air bed and a spare Lasted till the last day

Air bed is recommended; there's a lot of hot air floating around during the rally so it's easily captured

When i have been camping it has taken about 1 hour to blow the air bed up!!!

Or should i invest in a better air pump?

Depends on the size of your tent... but with lots of setting up and tearing down of campsites... I would be going for the simplest, most comfortable option available.

A few years ago we managed to get hold of two folding beds like the one shown below. The go up in seconds and feel like a real bed. Sure beats an hour waiting for an airbed that has lost most of it's air by morning!



Trouble is... can't seem to get them any more!

However, if you've got plenty of space, the US pattern camp bed (assuming you can get an origonal) is hard to beat.



Good luck with your plans!

Skibum that is what i was thinking

Have found this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200605414369&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Sorry for not putting the pic on but could not work out how to

We used a couple of Fishing Beds. Only problem is that they don't fold down very small.

These don't look too bad

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_747683_langId_-1_categoryId_165733

Just watch out for the legs poking through the ground sheet.

nickburt wrote:

Just watch out for the legs poking through the ground sheet.

Make sure she stays inside

nickburt wrote:

Just watch out for the legs poking through the ground sheet.

i did think of that,might try it and use them things that are used to stop the wheels on a couch marking carpets

m109a3uk wrote:

nickburt wrote:

Just watch out for the legs poking through the ground sheet.

Make sure she stays inside

LOL

Mark - Keep your options open. Dependent on the Driver/Nav co-op/understanding during the day there might be occasions when it'll be prudent to have separate sleeping arrangements!

LOL

The missus and i never have arguments

Am doing all this prep and dont even know if we are going to be accepted on the rally

AlpKit self-inflating bed roll is v.comfy