Final Instructions etc

The Final Instructions, Regulations, Itinerary and Scrutineering Checklist were sent to all the 2012 entants last night - a bit of a clue that the 16th June is approaching fast.

Hope all had some pleasant bedtime reading - and not too many nightmares

Now our honourable organisers have sent us all paper work we are required to carry , I am having to reconsider the vehicle originally thought of. Maybe 101 forward control might be better just to carry the paper work.

Keith can we tow a trailer just for paper work, bearing in mind we have to cope with the French side of the paper work just for the Carte Europeene D'Assurance Maladie, plus translation for the scruteneers?

There you go - a solution With all this 'helpfulness' I fear I'm going a little soft!!

I thought it was a 4x4 not 6x6 otherwise I would have entered this:

http://olive-drab.com/images/id_m3ht_4id_pettit_219_20051202_700.jpg

but thanks anyway

Sorry Richard - The 6x6 is okay but not the half-track - Regulations refer - Page 284, Section 23, Para 18 (b) iv) has the details.

I feel your disappointment

of course you do Keith but what about all that paper work? I had to go out today and cut down half my wood just to make enough paper to print it all on, and then drain the oil out of swmbo's car to create the ink

Richard - You are totally assured that your organisers are hugely concerned with the amount of bureaucratic work you have had to do.

As an offering of goodwill - we are renown for our compassion - we'll reduce your penalty points by 0.05.

I simply hope that others won't see this as a sign of weakness by the organisers and now jump on the bandwagon - they'll be disappointed!

No problem Keith, I have the ultimate answer to all the paper work problems, a box of matches

landie68rover wrote:

a box of matches

Perfect for setting light to some of that jap stuff if it gets cold overnight

Mark Avo wrote:

landie68rover wrote:

a box of matches

Perfect for setting light to some of that jap stuff if it gets cold overnight

The evenings in June can be quite cold

In short, the Japs are multi-functional; they don't break down and can also keep you warm at night

evo4x4 wrote:

In short japs don't break down

I can introduce you to a number of Navara & L200 owners with very expensive engine rebuilds that may have a different opinion.
Of the 4 l200's that have been thru the village garages this year, 3 have needed full engine rebuilds.

And as for the transmission breathers on navaras....!
According to nissan they shouldnt be driven thru deep puddles! Nissan deny all knowledge of the tv advert showing them driving thru waves on the beach!!!

How many green ovals have never had a problem ?
Or, put another way, how many green ovals have had expensive problems?

Probably about the same percentage as any other make, Jap, Jeep or otherwise.

I can show you a pile of LR transmissions, transfer boxes, front diffs etc... that have expired and several 2 and 300 TDI engines that decided water and oil belong on the outside.
Also a tricked up (expensively and professionally built) 90 that can't go out for a weekend of green laning without something going wrong.

My L200 has chewed it's way through a number of mechanical faults and failures (2 rear lockers, 1 front diff, 2 gearboxes and several prop u/js and front wheel bearings, a cracked cylinder head) ............ most due to the abuse it gets - or my lack of time before or after an outing.
Just thrown a crank bearing at 140+K (7 years old) - I thought it lasted quite well considering how much red mist appears in the cab from time to time.

The L200 club forum is full of horror stories about breakdowns, blown heads, snapped cranks etc... but it's a bit like any news media, only the bad news gets reported, no one ever reports of 200K without anything more than regular servicing.

But, I'm pleased to report that the NATO hitch on the rear has never let me down, even when pulling a green oval out of a bit of mud.

evo4x4 wrote:

In short, the Japs are multi-functional; they don't break down and can also keep you warm at night

That's what my colleague says and he should know - he's married to one

Are you speaking from experience too Keith ???????

Nick,
I'd never say any 4x4 is reliable except maybe a landcruiser & even they have their faults.

It's just that of the 4 l200's that have been thru the trade locally this year, 3 have had to have new engines - a frightening stat in anyones book as they were all under 10 years old.

Of course anything that is used hard will need bits replacing, but these were all road use chelsea tractor types with reasonable mileages & it's put us off them in a big way.

Just to get my credentials on the table, I'm no dyed in the wool LR man. I started in an SJ & have had a few jap pickups, 6 more SJs & a Landcruiser & loved them all. The fact I have Landies now is probably because i can buy then cheap & fix them cheap, enjoy them for a while & hopefully come out on top. Parts are plentiful & cheap which helps.

If i could find another Datsun 720 King cab that wasnt rusted beyond salvation I'd have it. I really enjoyed my time with the last one untill the gearbox exploded on the north circular. Sadly trying to find cheap replacement parts was impossible & it had to go.

One of the most annoying things about owning a Jap is the cost of parts, especially genuine Mits parts.
The L200 4D56 engines seem to have had 2 problems - heads cracking in 2003 models at around 40 - 50K (EGR cooler related in some cases), and crank bearings on some engines (we think this depends on which engine plant they came from). Seems to go in spates - mainly mileage related, but not always, depending on how well the servicing has been kept up.

There's a couple of guys across the yard from my unit and they have nothing but LRs and the kit they trick them up with costs a fraction of what it costs to do the same to mine. They can also build a "new" truck quickly and easily from a collection of parts and just bolt them together, more easily done than virtually any other make.

While I am one of the first to fuel the Lr vs Jap/Jeep "discussions" I do think there's a benefit in the methods of construction and adaptability. (There ....... said something in favour of L...La...Lan...Land...Landr... green ovals )



Admin: +1000 penalty points, and continue abuse of Jap V LR will result in you being relegated to Car 40!

Hmmmm

Virtual Check Points .........

nickburt wrote:

One of the most annoying things about owning a Jap is the cost of parts, especially genuine Mits parts.
The L200 4D56 engines seem to have had 2 problems - heads cracking in 2003 models at around 40 - 50K (EGR cooler related in some cases), and crank bearings on some engines (we think this depends on which engine plant they came from). Seems to go in spates - mainly mileage related, but not always, depending on how well the servicing has been kept up.

There's a couple of guys across the yard from my unit and they have nothing but LRs and the kit they trick them up with costs a fraction of what it costs to do the same to mine. They can also build a "new" truck quickly and easily from a collection of parts and just bolt them together, more easily done than virtually any other make.

While I am one of the first to fuel the Lr vs Jap/Jeep "discussions" I do think there's a benefit in the methods of construction and adaptability. (There ....... said something in favour of L...La...Lan...Land...Landr... green ovals )



Admin: +1000 penalty points, and continue abuse of Jap V LR will result in you being relegated to Car 40!

I love the way Nick is mellowing.

nickburt wrote:

One of the most annoying things about owning a Jap is the cost of parts, especially genuine Mits parts.
The L200 4D56 engines seem to have had 2 problems - heads cracking in 2003 models at around 40 - 50K (EGR cooler related in some cases), and crank bearings on some engines (we think this depends on which engine plant they came from). Seems to go in spates - mainly mileage related, but not always, depending on how well the servicing has been kept up.

There's a couple of guys across the yard from my unit and they have nothing but LRs and the kit they trick them up with costs a fraction of what it costs to do the same to mine. They can also build a "new" truck quickly and easily from a collection of parts and just bolt them together, more easily done than virtually any other make.

While I am one of the first to fuel the Lr vs Jap/Jeep "discussions" I do think there's a benefit in the methods of construction and adaptability. (There ....... said something in favour of L...La...Lan...Land...Landr... green ovals )



Admin: +1000 penalty points, and continue abuse of Jap V LR will result in you being relegated to Car 40!

What has Nick been drinking?

Not mellowing, just agreeing that none of these wagons of ours are perfect.

Anyway, if we all agreed on everything we'd have nothing to moan about - Now where's the fun in that?

Dont worry about the point loss, I'l get you them back for a decent Pork & Apple with ginger relish Tebay pie....

Mellowing ........... never
Drinking ........ not at this time of the day


Yup, them pies are the nuts ........ might have to pick up a couple in time for the Convoy meet next week - I pass Tebay twice a week.

But it would go against the grain to even think about bribing a marshall ......

Nick has finally 'lost it' -I knew it would happen and reckon it's all been brought about by his longing for the 'Car 40' slot. Easily arranged