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Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4242

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black

Overland preparation checklist

I'm off to Morocco in seven months via France and Spain. Being an excitable sort, planning is well under way. My top priority is vehicle reliability in Morocco. France and Spain, not such a worry, just call the recovery and let them deal with it, but as I understand it, a serious break down in Morocco could be a real head ache. We'll be in Morocco for around 11 days and the whole trip should be 4k to 5k miles. Two month after that trip, I will have a further 2k miles around France.

The starting point is a well maintained 2007 Puma 110 with 70,000 miles on. I intend to go through it ahead of the trip, do some preventative maintenance and put together a list of bits and pieces it might be prudent to take with me.

Here's my current thoughts, be interested in what others would/wouldn't bother doing. Bear in mind, I don't have a bottomless pit of money, so things need to be kept in proportion. Don't won't to do things with little or no benefit.

Preventative Maintenance
Engine oil change, new oil filter
Air filter change
Diesel filter change
Gearbox, transfer box and axle oil change
Ancillary drive belt renewal (what about tensioner? Was last replaced August 2014)
Coolant (Would you bother with this? Was done last done summer 2016)
Replace all 4 prop shaft UJs (No play currently, but relatively inexpensive)
Grease prop shaft sliding joint
Replace all four drive flanges, new gaskets (a little play in them all at the minute, but serviceable).
New front brake pads, rears are nearly new so will do the trip.
Replace brake fluid
Replace clutch fluid

Spares to take along
Nanocomm OBD Tool
Oil filter
Air filter
Diesel filter
Engine, gearbox and axle oil (but how much?)
Coolant
Brake fluid
Ancillary (old one if it still looks decent)
Propshaft UJ (Best of the old ones taken off. are all four the same?)
Drive flange (Best of the ones taken off)
Cam sensor (had two fail already and vehicle is immobilised when it fails)
VCV Valve and Fuel rail pressure release valve (Because I already have them and I guess a dodgy batch of fuel could affect them.)
Some sort of wheel bearing kit?
A decent selection of tools, but is there anything LR specific I might need? 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

1st Aug 2017 4:54pm

Sockpuppet

Member Since: 17 Sep 2011
Location: Leicester
Posts: 479

ADAC do (or did) breakdown cover that extends to Morocco. Might be worth a look for peace of mind.

1st Aug 2017 7:19pm

greenlandrover

Member Since: 09 Jul 2017
Location: Stourbridge
Posts: 145

2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Tonga Green

The Tom Sheppard book has got some good info on this subject.

http://www.desertwinds.co.uk/expedition_guide_06.html

I'll dig my copy out at the weekend and see if I can scan some pages for you.

PM me if you haven't heard anything by Saturday morning!

1st Aug 2017 9:00pm

Maris Widgeon

Member Since: 11 Dec 2013
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 216

2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black

Did a trip to Morocco a few years back with a 2007 90 took most things on your list and needed none of them, was advised before we left to take a vacuum pump as a spare as the early puma engines were susceptible to blowing the seals on rough tracks. It wasn't needed so is still in the garage !!
The only problem we encountered was the truck going into limp mode on long pulls in the heat , so on return I fitted a fan extension from Brendon at 4x4 Overlander for a few quid and have not had any issues on later trips and seems to be a good modification.
The Moroccans are very resourceful people and can usually sort most problems,as long as you are not in too much of a hurry.The people you meet usually make the holiday especially in the rural communities,just have fun.

Nick

1st Aug 2017 9:48pm

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4242

Sockpuppet wrote:
ADAC do (or did) breakdown cover that extends to Morocco. Might be worth a look for peace of mind.

Thanks, I'll check it out. I know few people who use ADAC for expensive classic cars as they guarantee repatriation of the vehicle from Europe, which most U.K. Breakdown companies don't. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

1st Aug 2017 10:13pm

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4242

greenlandrover wrote:
The Tom Sheppard book has got some good info on this subject.

http://www.desertwinds.co.uk/expedition_guide_06.html

I'll dig my copy out at the weekend and see if I can scan some pages for you.

PM me if you haven't heard anything by Saturday morning!

Thanks, that would be helpful. I'm in the xcited phase where f reading every piece of info on overlanding I can find! 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

1st Aug 2017 10:19pm

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4242

Maris Widgeon wrote:
Did a trip to Morocco a few years back with a 2007 90 took most things on your list and needed none of them, was advised before we left to take a vacuum pump as a spare as the early puma engines were susceptible to blowing the seals on rough tracks. It wasn't needed so is still in the garage !!
The only problem we encountered was the truck going into limp mode on long pulls in the heat , so on return I fitted a fan extension from Brendon at 4x4 Overlander for a few quid and have not had any issues on later trips and seems to be a good modification.
The Moroccans are very resourceful people and can usually sort most problems,as long as you are not in too much of a hurry.The people you meet usually make the holiday especially in the rural communities,just have fun.

Nick

I hope I need none of them too. TBH , I've done a lot of long tours in Europe, with no problem. It's just the addition of plenty off road driving that that's an unknown additional strain on the car. I'll speak to Brendon regarding the fan extension. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

1st Aug 2017 10:28pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8582

A well serviced Defender, well driven on good tyres should do 4-5k miles without issue.

Do NOT overload your vehicle and ensure your tyres are in good condition and fairly new.

Do NOT have too much lead in your right boot as that may well cause you problems. If you can not make a section within 2-3 goes find a different route!

If travelling in a group of similar vehicles share the spares out.

Half to 2/3 of your trip will be through France and Spain.

Get a good working relationship with the parts manager at your local independent specialist. They will be able to get anything you need within 2-3 days.

Brendan

5th Aug 2017 8:21pm

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4242

Thanks Brendan, Good advice. Although I will be joining a small guided group in Morocco, I won't know any of them ahead of the trip so will need to be self sufficient with regard to spares/tools etc. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

6th Aug 2017 8:59am

walfy

Member Since: 29 Aug 2007
Location: Frome
Posts: 2673

A set of coolant hoses, ensure your turbo hoses are good as well. If you don't want to get hoses, a decent brand of amalgamating tape 110 D250 SE HT
110 USW SOLD
RRE HSE Dynamic Gone, wife killed it
VOLVO XC60 R Dynamic with some toys

Polaris RZR 900XP SOLD

9th Aug 2017 7:37pm

Mo Murphy

Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2285

1984 Defender 90 BMW M57 3.0 Diesel HT Auto Pennine Grey

You can buy oils, brake fluid and coolant in other countries too, why carry them ?
Change your filters before you go then you don't need to carry them. If you are concerned about dust clogging the air filter then blow it out each day when you are in dusty conditions.
Weight is your enemy.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.

50 Shades of Pennine Grey

9th Aug 2017 9:14pm

Mdm

Member Since: 11 Sep 2013
Location: Sunny Lancashire
Posts: 1639

2 many grades of oil so i would take the correct 1 and enough oil for a top up only

halfords style tool socket set has most tools you will need

no need for hoses if in good order just take repair tape.

part wise i would make sure you have all the part numbers for what you may need as you can order online for next day or 2 day delivery in most places.

a fridge full of food and beer is better than a crate full of tools and spares that you never use.

10th Aug 2017 8:19pm

greenlandrover

Member Since: 09 Jul 2017
Location: Stourbridge
Posts: 145

Bluest,

Sent you a PM. Sorry for delay.

Jason

13th Aug 2017 10:27am

Gilloverland

Member Since: 12 Nov 2017
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 61

Add a small reel of welding wire to your list. It doesn't take up much room but it is useful for reinforcing tape repairs to hoses etc.

You could always see if your local land rover specialist will do you a sale or return deal on spares? I don't know much about the transit engines but with the TD5hite I carried a spare in tank fuel pump, injector and a crank sensor.

21st Dec 2017 10:28pm

xcentric

Member Since: 17 Jan 2016
Location: Midlands
Posts: 247

most mechanical things can be temporarily fixed, or bodged, or managed when away. Hydraulic hoses are hard to make, so take some pipe and jubilee clamps to fix those. Belts are cheap, easy to fit in, and hard to get right if you don't have one. Plus a decent toolkit and some knowledge to use it. The rest, as others have said, can be done with time. I'd probably take a sat phone so you can order parts from a friendly supplier who knows you and will take a card over the phone (or invoice you later) and it'd be good for health etc. issues too - cheap on eBay.

Driving slower than usual helps, and keeping weight down (and low) also good. But don't sweat it - people have taken them half way round the world, and whilst they will break down, they will be able to be got going again.

I'd also take a lithium battery charger emergency pack, definitely a suitable OBD reader, and an electrical multimeter.

Daily checks are a good routine to get into - fluid levels, visual check for anything out of place/drips/damage. Oh, and investigate odd noises straight away if you're driving - don't assume they will disappear. It will probably be brush caught in a body part or something, but can be more critical.

A smartphone with a downloaded version of Google translate in the local language(s) is also an effective tool nowadays, allowing a much clearer discussion if the problem, if somewhat stilted....

22nd Dec 2017 10:51pm

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