Top90

I'd just like to add that going AWDC seems like a good idea to me too. My truck flew through the AWDC scruteneering and it's nice to know that the recovery gear has to come up to some standards. We have all seen enough horror stories on this forum. Richard

Looks interesting. I did run a mid mounted winch for a while on my red 90, it was great for self recovery and saving weight. The problem is that the drum is not normally easy to get to, if the plasma rope pinches on itself its a real PITA to sort out and quite time consuming so not any good for competitions, hence I've gone back to two winches. So you would need to make sure it's easy to get to the drum and that you can thread a new rope through if it breaks without getting under the car as you never know where it could go. (mine went it deep soil once with the chassis resting on the ground) If I was only using the vehicle for general recreation I'd have stuck with it. Also worth remembering that every time you redirect the rope it will be rubbing on something, so the material may have a shorter life than in normal use. I used a pulley set exactly lined up with the middle of the drum so bunching was not a problem. Instead it always piled up on the middle and hardly used the outsides, but if you have the clearence this is not a problem, you'll just lose the power a bit due to the large diameter on the drum when doing a short pull. Richard

Have a good Christmas all forum users and lurkers. (this includes you, Dom ) Look forward to seeing some more of you at events in 2007, I hope to get to more. Richard

Try a TD5 then..... absolute carp. I can see why the 2007 transit model has a vastly improved heater. Makes me wish I'd put off getting my new 110 for a few years. Edited to add........ for some reason though my 2 300TDi's have much better heaters and warm up a lot quicker.

We could get some interesting suggestions, mostly concerning the colour orange I suspect. Or LRe But anything like that is fine, otherwise only 280 posts to go............ Yes, I'm having a quiet day !!

Oh, didn't know that........ Only a year or two to go then.

Exactly what I thought, I've seen other forums that do this. It just makes you feel unwelcome.

Yes, I am probably going to regret this, but after over 200 posts none of the mods have seen fit to grace me with a novelty forum handle........ So why have I not been singled out for your love and affection? I'm still an "old hand". Richard

It would be useful if we wanted to have a "them" and "us" divide between people who have contributed and those that have not. Personally, no thanks. Richard

The quality of powder coating does seem to vary wildly, with a lot of the difference being in the preparatiion. I've had a spare wheel carrier that pressure washing (gently) has ripped off strips of powder coating, but a Devon 4x4 bumper I bought is very good, and has only had the surface broken where the weight of the car has pushed it against sharp rocks. My cage from Protection and Performance seems to be very durable too, with some scratches and wear marks but no bare metal showing or chipping. I once had a front bumper that after a small dent all the coating just peeled and chipped off. Hence I bought the Devon one. Richard

I'll add to the leave it alone roar from the crowd. I don't like anything too bright or flashy. Richard

I could lend you one as a spare until you get one in January, but you are probably too far away. (Chelmsford-Essex)

I've never had any problems with them, so I won't jump on the bandwagon to join "the gang" They are local and easy for me to pop in to. The main point they fall down on is return phone calls........ and the fact that everytime you want to know a price you have to ask which gets rather tedious so I'll have a look at websites with prices. By the way I use Devon, Gigglepin, Scorpion and X Eng (in alphabetical order) so don't think I'm "sponsored" I'm not that good. Richard PS. I like LRe too and thier holiday week in Wales that I've done for the last five years.

If it's on again next year I'd like to take part again. This years effort was my first time out with the orange 90 since it was built, so it went quite well! Richard

That's the funny thing. Many people from other cultures don't mind. It's all the flipping do gooders that are the problem !!! They don't want to upset anyone.

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see a placings list. Just the fact that the AWDC team won. Did laugh when I saw we were mentioned as a bunch of misfits though.

OK folks, your opinion please. Due to the fact that Taz is now up and running Top90 is seeing very little use. In fact it only gets used once every month or two for trialling when winches, lockers etc.. are not used. So I'm thinking of selling it when the number plate has been removed. I'm not letting the TOP90 plate go as I'll never be able to find another like it. I'd like to get an opinion on what a challenge truck is worth. Its a 1994 300TDi truck cab 90. Twin ARB's. Front and back 6hp XP winches. Safety devices cage. 4.11 diffs, Ashcroft shafts. 35" simex tyres. Extreme kit suspension. Cranked arms, double decardon prop etc... Brunel Intercooler and tweaked fuel. Other bits and bobs, but don't want to write a long list of the little things. Oh yes, and it goes very well. Crusies at 70 all day long. So what do you think it's worth? What it's likely to go for will help me decide to sell it or convert to hard top and remove some of the kit. Then use it for trips. I've got a hardtop 90 with cage already, so thinking of using this instead if TOP90 goes, or selling instead. I don't need a 110 and three 90's. Cheers Richard ps. it's the red one in the picture below.... B)

Not in our office, there's flippin' tinsel everwhere!

Signed. There are words to describe this idea, but not to be used here. Richard

I thought most women chose the car according to the colour of the paint.

I've had the same full set of (orange) polybushes in my red 90 since I got it..... three and a half years ago. It's still fine and has no play anywhere dispite having lots of axle travel and it gets used offroad regularly, including trialling nearly every month. So maybe blue are just too soft? Richard

Agree with you Ian. Often the rush to get out gets in the way with some people. I'd much rather use a winch any day. So much more control. and a lot less vehicles flying about.

While I prefer the name "clubman" your sponsor scorpion already run a clubman challenge. So that could prove confusing...... Richard

Even on a 300 TDi I couldn't get a fantastic fit, but it holds the pedals together and does the job. Not sure on the spacing, but even with some play there its undrivable.

My 110 is just a year old and had the black gunge all over the underneath. When did they stop doing it? Apparently body inspections are done with the services, mine goes in next week for it's 36,000 service. (it gets used a bit. ) I thought about kleentec (coloured black so not too obvious) underneath on mine, but the cost is nearly the same as a galvanised chassis (fitted!) so I thought I'd go that route if I keep it long enough. That way its cheaper if I sell it first. Richard