Jen

Yeah, we've been doing less off roading to Filip - our factor has been having Izzy - even going up to Slab is the best part of £100 for the day. Economic pressures are putting on people in more than a stricly financial sense too, I'm currently doing two jobs in one and every now and again you just need a day in the garden instead of rushing around off roading

No worries Jason, I'm all for feedback, but I think it's important to post an honest response, and I think 'totally ignored' and 'mostly ignored' are a bit unfair when you consider what happened, especially as a comment to post on a public forum. At the time Dan was over talking to you we were sat with a group who had come over from Belgium and some 'first time' 7Sisters people from Cornwall, so as you know you would have been more than welcome to join us. I'm not really sure what would have helped make you feel more welcome? If you've got some ideas let the Committee know. I'll never forget getting an e-mail from a chap the day after a Hampshire Subaru meet - he was complaining as he'd turned up to a social meet and no-one had spoken to him... I asked where he was sitting (it turned out it was around the corner in the bar), what he was wearing (nothing 'Subaru related') and if he'd spoken to anyone (no, just sat with his wife) .... how on earth was I meant to know he'd turned up for the Subaru meet? The critical thing with clubs is, if you want to get involved, you have to talk to people - and the Committees/Working Partys are happy to take on comments and suggestions, but can't always do it all for you. Of course you could always do it the other way - if you're not happy join the Committee and start making the difference No need for PM, as I say, I'm not upset, just wanted to re-dress the balance a bit.

Oh, and my little 'on-topic' comment: I think the cost of things has alot to do with it these days, but in this instance, I think that Shires' have the Romsey site, Bunny Lane, in November is a massive factor - I think everyone's saving up for that one! As for the calendar, the 'pretty much complete' 2012 calendar is the next newsletter which was posted on Sunday - and on the website for easy planning B)

Really Jason? I find that bizarre - at 7 Sisters we saw you on Friday and you followed us for a bit on Saturday morning before deciding to head off on your own - as you know, you were more than welcome to stick with us all day if you'd have liked. I believe your little 'un also had a ride in Richards Dlander up the waterfall? You and yours were also invited to come over and join us all in Saturday night, but chose to stay over by your trailer? Dan, Ashley and Peirs spent quite a while over talking to you about all sorts - in fact, I didn't really see Dan at all that night. We saw Ross several times over the weekend and it is tricky getting around to see everyone at an event - especially when you're trying to entertain an 18month old, maintain your truck and run an event. In fact, 9/10 people come to events in groups and to be honest apart from a quick chat they don't want people following them around all the time. I know Richard and Tracy were at London 2 Brighton and invited you over when they were having a BBQ but again, you wanted you stay near your trailer? Clubs (in my 15 years of running/volunteering in them, car and otherwise) are all the same - you've got to put in to get back - come over and talk to people and join in and you end up with a group of friends you'd trust with your life... well, at least that's my experience. I hope you don't mind me replying, but I think if you do post things like that, it's only fair the other side of the story is also put forward. Thanks, Jen

Don't be so sure - we were 640miles between Petrol Stations at one point America also has some fab bits to get lost in instead of taking the 'normal' roads - BLM (beauru of Land Management) land also means rough camping galore I loved it, so much there, mountains, lakes, canyons, volcanos, wilderness, lava beds, Yellowstone, Moab, Colorado...(oh, and the Cheesecake Factory < sigh > ... great days. Dan's SWMBO

Please excuse the typing - I've got a seven week old asleep on the other hand!

Go to one of the shows this year and have a good nose around, you need to find one that suits what you want to do with it. Our Myway is over 5 years old and has been used more than frequently (icluding living in it for 5 1/2 months everywhere from Alaska to Death Valley) and it's just had a replacement zip and base...which we've sorted ourselves - not bas really! If your putting it on a trailer then Id recommend a trailer spcific tent that way you get your living area - a big bonus on rainy days. Again, Myway make some awesome ones which we'll hopefully be buying next year to accomodate sprog and dog Go have a chat with Paul and tell him Jen and Dan sent you. My Way

Ah, get well soon Bish When I wasn't allowed to move for two week's I spent the first day on Amazon and the next 13 catching up on all the films I'd wanted to see for ages! I wasn't allowed to move at all really though...

Last time I bought an STC4096G kit it came with a lipped bottom pulley. The 'G' at the end of the part number signifies a "genuine spec" kit. I've not seen lipped tensioners or idlers so can't comment on them but never had a problem with this kit, and I've done more tha my fair share of cambelts! The kit contains the timing cover gasket, cambelt, bottom pulley and the tensioner, so you will still need to buy the oil seals. You may also want to get an ERR4710 (number 10 in the picture) - O ring that sits on the crank behind the bottom pulley. The Inner oil seal is ERR4575. If I were doing a cambelt I'd change this aswell as the one you mentioned which is in the cover (see picture). Can't comment on the later oil seal as not used one before. If you are a spannering type person it will all become obvious when it comes apart. If you are not mechanically minded give yourself plenty of time and fully read Les's post about how to do it. Good luck! Dan Edit to add: Oooops.. sorry, just realised I'm logged in as Jen, not me so this is all from a womans perspective!

Nah, that's the weight of the camel! B)

Printed 2 copies off for Dan and I. Fingers crossed.

Thanks Rich, but they're too big and not wide enough, we need wiiiiiiiiiide for swamps Hopefully we can sell them on afterwards with enough cash to buy another set of new BFG's for Charlie. We only really want to use them for the event. Dave, thanks for the tips. Will give Silverline another call on Tuesday to get a price, but he was certainly more helpful than Silverline. If we do buy from him we'll see if he'll just source us the tyres.

Yup - there's no phone number so we're awaiting a reply on the e-mail with baited breath! ...knew I shouldn't have left this 'till last

An inch bigger than we're allowed Thanks for the quick reply B)

Nice idea, but we're going to Ladoga - I think that'd just dig us a nice big hole in a very big swamp Thanks anyway Al, TBH I don't want the hassle, if we miss it/miss the ferry/something happens we're then doing Ladoga on 5x knackered wheels... scary!

Is anyone running these that knows/knew the actual measurements when they were relatively new or with a couple 1000 miles on? I know manufacturers sizes vary quite a bit and I want to see if these would be within the sizes given in the regs if we were to put them on the Camel... Thanks in advance guys B)

That would leave us with 5x wheels and tyres to transport around - and my stress levels won't cope with that! I've started packing already!

Thanks for the quick advice everyone B) ... and that Defender just looks awesome B) No reason for the 16, I think we will probably go with 15", the 16" was just what came up on the search I did as I was typing this post We'll look to get the 8", I think the 10" would get tiresome based on your experiences. Looks like I'm going to spend tomorrow ringing around tyre companies B)

Hello all, Can anyone give me the measurement from the first hoop (nearest windscreen) to the second hoop (nearest rear of vehicle) for a soft-top truckcab set-up? I've only got the front hoop and George is going for his rollcage on Saturday, so I'd like to be able to indicate how far back the soft-top truck cab would be to make Dirty Diesels' life a bit easier Thanks in advance everyone Jen

Hello all, Can anyone give me the measurement from the first hoop (nearest windscreen) to the second hoop (nearest rear of vehicle) for a soft-top truckcab set-up? I've only got the front hoop and George is going for his rollcage on Saturday, so I'd like to be able to indicate how far back the soft-top truck cab would be to make Dirty Diesels' life a bit easier Thanks in advance everyone Jen

Evil Martin Nah, that is my build and only my build - it's taken my other half about 11 months to get the nerve to work on it when I'm not around, so the possibility of me giving it to anyone else to do (other than Dan doing the rollcage and Jez doing some tigg-ing) are very, very, very slim Besides, I think Mike's right, A series on portals is old-style stuff for the HOFS boys, I don't think this one will be diesel powered? My build will go and compete, hopefully in lots of places, but this year we're taking the Camel to do the tourist class (lack of willingness to get into debt ). I've got a few other events in mind for the 'George' build

Ah, that's ok - I do that every day! Team is cool, pulling vehicles appart/building and detail sorting this weekend B) It's critical the positioning of the mini-mirrorballs is just right... So if any of you lot are bored on Saturday night there's food/drink/ferry-booking at ours

...you told me it was just greenlaning... Just as I sign up and pay I find out there's a puddle involved?! I can't believe they've printed 3y/old pics.... still, Petal is B) so I guess that's forgivable.

Because Dan told me to ask the wrong question! D'oh! Serves me right for not asking why... Still, all sorted now Thanks for the offer Bish, but I think I'm all set up now No problem with the Chocolate though

Does anybody know the length of a Range Rover steering column? Thanks, Jen