Peaklander

Just for the record, I wasn't referring to recovering return costs using a claim from PayPal. Since 1/1/17 Paypal will cover up to £15 for return costs, for any return reason. It doesn't have to be a dispute with the seller.

Thread bump. Thanks to this thread and this one and some reading around, I got hold of some nicely priced, new, genuine RKB101111 springs for my 1996 110 SW with self-leveller. I have swapped the springs with no problems but had a tussle with the self-leveller. Those four bolts at the top were a bit painful to get out but the frustrating bit was releasing the lower ball at the A frame cup. I hadn't read about that challenge and when I pulled the bellows gaiter thing up I hardly noticed the nut at the bottom as it's soo thin (item 10 in the diagram). I don't have a 40mm open ender and all sorts of stillsons and things were offered to it but no 'purchase" was to be had. In the end I whacked it a bit with a little cold chisel and it started to move, eventually freeing off. The nice bit at the end was that the ball just lifted out and the Boge thing was off! So now I have the A frame joint with an open ball joint socket (item 8). I don't really have the time to replace that, so I wonder if others have just left it? I haven't driven yet but I can just clear the garage door so I'm up a little bit at the back, as expected. I'll drive tomorrow and so how it feels and looks. Thanks to @reb78 for this thread.

Yes paint is used to signify a torque operation has been completed. In my experience different colours signified different torque values, even on the same head size. I was never aware of any standard. Marks generally are used as a signal to a downstream process where the presence of the mark is checked as part of that process. Often it is a simple felt pen mark, for example to check there's a thread in a machined hole. It's better to 'overcheck' in this way before the thread is acually used, often many operations downstream.

I watched that video the other day and then read a lot of the comments below it. It seems a lot of viewers think it's an unsafe install but I haven't had time to research and see if there's a better way. The seats certainly look good and folding seems way better than in my 110 SW but if they don't perform well in an accident then I'd be less enthusiastic.

Yes fair enough I guess that's true, In actual fact I moved my lighter socket to the back corner of the tub and I use it for an occasional connection to the inverter I use for my PC charger. I did have a rechargeable torch that used it too but I've discovered cree leds now and the torch is redundant. So I guess I've just blown my own theory and concur with you.

It's good to see you are fitting a USB outlet rated at 2.1A as this is required for an iPad whereas an iPhone is a lower rating (other makes of tablet and phone are also available). I'm curious as to why you want to retain the cigar lighter unless it's for the obvious reason. Aren't most devices that might have used that form of connection now using a USB cable anyway, meaning that you can ditch the adapter and plug the device straight into your new outlet?

Has it been a long time? Have a go anyway. They will contact you within a couple of days if it's not valid or you've made a mistake.

If you register for the feature, PayPal will refund returns. I can't remember the £ limit but they will give you several per year. I've used this two times this year. You need to have proof of postage like a pic of the receipt. It's fairly straightforward and you can read about it on their help / FAQ pages.

Hi sorry for any misunderstanding. I agree it's (probably) not on any schedule. I was referring to my experience in the wider world of manufacturing. I've been taught and have taught others, to watch and listen to running equipment for any signs of potential failure and then ensure that a planned intervention is scheduled if at all possible before there's any chance of failure. In that way you probably reduce the overall time to repair and also do it when you want rather than when you have to. I was just impressed that you've done something similar.

A great example of planned maintenance being better than unplanned!

I had an Audi "written off" by insurance after a rear shunt, from a Land Rover funnily enough, in very icy and snowy conditions. I didn't buy it back but the valuation experience was interesting. The ins co. offered an amount. I declined and researched other identical vehicles currently on the market. This is easy with the internet of course. I provided evidence that their offer was too low and they made a second, higher offer. This too wasn't fair in my opinion and I don't know how but I ended up with some guy's phone number at the insurers and we continued the negotiation just as though I was selling. I got what seemed a fair price which was probably 10-15% higher than where we started. Hope this helps as you sound as though you may have two numbers on which to agree, write off value and salvage price.

I had similar and the drive shaft splines were like sharp teeth with the flanges warn to suit them. After replacing I still had a clunk although not as bad. I lived with it having re-bushed the suspension but eventually and I don't know why I didn't notice sooner but I eventually realised the remaining clunk was the rear prop. The splined joint was quite warn and a new prop sorted it. So maybe check that too.

I really like your roof JJ. It's a very good look. Yes that fabric triangle is isoscles not a right angled one. It's quite clear from your sketch and with hindsight😬

Thanks Davo. That's got an up-stand that holds the top of the rest of the body pieces together, with the roof then planted back on top of that. It is a key element of the conversion I think. I was interested in the Alu-cab roof for a Defender, having seen a few at the Stratford overland show last year. In fact I was in Cape Town with my wife earlier this year and knocked on the door of the factory that makes them and asked if we could look around. They were very happy to give us an impromptu tour. It was very interesting to see them working through a batch of the up-stands. They also make a whole lot of whisper - Land Cruiser trayback camper conversions and these are very complex, complete units. All in all it was a busy place. The final decision on the roof is that it is just too spendy and anyway you still have to kit out the rest as a camper to get complete independence and that's further spendy

It was definitely home brew. He pointed out all the design 'weaknesses'. Yes the fairy lights looked great too!