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JR



Member Since: 07 Dec 2012
Location: Auchtermuchty
Posts: 532

Scotland 1984 Defender 90 200 Tdi SW Coniston Green
110 roofrack & roof tent weights
I'm delivering an Off Road course for a couple going on Safari to South Africa/Namibia in September next week and could do with a bit of background information.

What sort of weight would a 110 roofrack and roof tent be, I don't have any information as to the makes that the couple will be supplied with when they take delivery of their hired vehicle. The reason for this is so that I can guage the effect on the vehicle's centre of gravity and so on.
Post #255181 1st Aug 2013 8:18am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17354

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
If I recall correctly my Patriot 2.8m rack is approximately 70kgs, and a roof tent is likely to be about the same again.

I would have thought however that the answer to your question will be very dependent upon what else the couple is going to put up there (jerrycans at 25kg each, spare wheel at 75kg, etc) and also how the rest of the vehicle is loaded.

To be brutally honest, it doesn't fill me with confidence that you are giving them an off-road training course and yet having to ask these questions, or that complete novices are planning the trip. Experience is very valuable (and may keep them alive) and I would definitely recommend some off-road driving in the UK with their expedition vehicle fully loaded as it will be, prior to departure.
Post #255191 1st Aug 2013 8:58am
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

United Kingdom 
It sounds like they're hiring a vehicle out there, so no chance to try in the UK beforehand, although presumably that's why they've asked JR to give them some tuition. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #255207 1st Aug 2013 9:43am
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3368

United Kingdom 
Hi JR, from the sounds of it the couple are doing some sort of fly drive safari and are looking at building up a bit of confidence before they head out? If that's the case, they're probably not going to end up doing much 'Off Road' driving in the uk sense and if they're unfamiliar with 4x4's would be unlikely to venture very far off the beaten track anyway.

I spent a couple of years out in Namibia as an expedition driver and the thing that causes 99+% of accidents is driving too fast on the gravel roads, not getting stuck up to your axles somewhere. If anything, our new drivers coming out who had done the 'off road training' back in the UK weren't at all prepared for what they really had to deal with.

In Namibia and SA, the main safari areas (Ethosha / Kruger etc) are all easily accessible on tarmac roads, once you get in there it's gravel but you're unlikely to be driving too fast within them anyway.
The main problem are the long drives between places on the dirt.
The first couple of times I went out there I was in an VW golf and got everywhere I needed to go, even way out in the bush.

My recommendations to newbies coming out were:

- Know how to change a wheel.
-Ideally have a means of communication other than a mobile phone if you're heading off the beaten track (hire a satphone or an EPIRB).
-Take it EASY on the gravel roads, they are wide but have a nasty camber which can catch you out.
-Slow right down on the bends, some of the straights are 30-40km long, people get carried away, brake hard for the bend and over they go.
- They might encounter long sections of sand on some of the Namibian routes, tyres down, bit of welly Smile
- Plenty of water in the truck in case the worst happens and they do get stuck. 
Post #255220 1st Aug 2013 10:41am
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JR



Member Since: 07 Dec 2012
Location: Auchtermuchty
Posts: 532

Scotland 1984 Defender 90 200 Tdi SW Coniston Green
Bit upset at Blackwolf's attitude towards me, I've never met or even talked to him before!

I am merely trying to do some research for what is a completely different course for me. The plan is to concentrate on gravel roads with some rough bits through them not the usual rutted tracks we use for our occupational courses. We are also finishing the course with wheel changing too. My biggest priority is to get the high centre of gravity thing through to the couple. Camelman's post is most helpful!
Post #255318 1st Aug 2013 3:14pm
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3368

United Kingdom 
Do you know if your clients have a planned itinerary? Let me know if you want to point them towards the best places to go Smile

I used to regularly end up doing 1100km day in day out over there on the dirt roads all over Namibia, tell them to watch out for warthogs and ostriches popping up out of nowhere Shocked

I ended up driving my Camel 110 back from home Nam when I was done... 
Post #255319 1st Aug 2013 3:26pm
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JR



Member Since: 07 Dec 2012
Location: Auchtermuchty
Posts: 532

Scotland 1984 Defender 90 200 Tdi SW Coniston Green
I most certainly will ask them and get back to you, thanks Camelman.
Post #255321 1st Aug 2013 3:36pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17354

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
JR wrote:
Bit upset at Blackwolf's attitude towards me, I've never met or even talked to him before!



Sorry, JR, no offence intended, though I can with hindsight see that my last para was poorly worded. I apologise without reservation for any offence caused.
Post #255377 1st Aug 2013 5:44pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8580

United Kingdom 
Hired vehicle probably means standard wheels/tyres suspension


We normally recommend roof bars to put a roof tent on as can save up to about 50kg.

Rooftent and rack is about 150 kg, spare wheel say 30 kg, a couple of jerry cans say about 50kg. You could easily have 250+ kg on the roof!

Travelling on dirt/gravel roads? Avoid harsh braking as may well skid and camber of road may take over!

Animals on road? Avoid harsh braking and violent manourves. Take foot off the go faster pedal and gentle braking.

Lots of people are killed in Australia trying to avoid roos!

Animal danger is greater at dawn/dusk


Brendan
Post #255392 1st Aug 2013 6:37pm
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SteveS



Member Since: 05 Oct 2010
Location: Devon & Berkshire
Posts: 388

England 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Here are the actual weights for my kit

Hannibal 110 full length rack - alloy including integral s/s table and ladder = 45kg
Hannibal roof tent 48kg
MT 285/75 on 8J steel = 41Kg

I put the second spare in the truck when I went to Morocco and the Jerry cans too
Post #256243 4th Aug 2013 6:24pm
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Steve B



Member Since: 22 May 2009
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 586

United Kingdom 2000 Defender 90 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Hi

In Namibia at the moment, well fly home today Sad

Camelman is spot on, I would add the unseen holes in the wide gravel roads plus the patches of soft sand which feels just like aqua planing. As said slow right down for bends, take your time. If you find yourself heading for an unseen hole/dip brake as much as you can in a straight line and take the hit. Never swerve.

Last year we had a 110 this year a Jimny, both great and if driven carefully never felt unstable. Remember to rein flare tyres after letting them down. Never needed to let the Jimny tyres down and never got stuck even in the deep sand from Linyanti to Savuti in Botswana.

Steve 
Post #260235 21st Aug 2013 8:14am
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Tuli



Member Since: 17 Oct 2012
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 9

1996 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Alpine White
Good advice from camel man. I have lived down there many years.

If you do want to go into the dunes - and we all do- any top weight will be greatly exaggerated as you dig into the lower side. Careful. Yet with an older Landy ( power to weight) you have to be brave. Experience is key.

But yes, the long sand/gravel roads with their camber, oncoming tucks, ridges, poor grading and often muddy edges are the problem. Especially with a short wheel base vehicle.

Keep the weight low. Dry jerries on roof, full inside for example and empty them asap.
Post #262470 30th Aug 2013 7:11pm
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