Expedition check.

Everything is staring to fall in to place. matt has finished the expedition check on the Truck. He has managed most of the jobs and I am going to pick it up tomorrow. My mate dave has done a fantatsic job on repairing our winch (A Ramsey RE 8000). Dave is also lending us a land anchor for the trip. I must say now that Landrover enthusiasts are fantastic and have hearts of gold. My mate John has nearly finished making a bed for one of the kids (now we all have beds in the truck). I have a warm glow all over - such good people.

My Mate Matt

My mate Matt is a Landrover fanatic, he owns one, he has a baby one for his son and he works in a Landy garage - best of all he loves working on my Landrover! Matt has been a true source of help and inspiration for me in learning how to love and look after my Landy.

He now has a real task and his biggest Landy test to date: he is sorting out the final problems and doing an expedition check on my Landy expedition truck.

As well as the major expedition check he is going to sort out my final snagging list:
- Repair winch on front of vehicle
- Radiator: It needs lowering so that it does not catch the radiator hose. The bearing/fixing also needs tightening/repairing
- Rear air locker is leaking air through the rear axle
- Change front wheel bearings (save for spares), and check rear ones.
- Fit windscreen water jets (supplied)
- Repair small leak in roof – water is coming through in to the top of the cab and damaging the electric’s (radio etc). I have sealed some of the joins in the roof but have been unable to locate and repair the leak source
- Fix a rear recovery point plus something on the front (tow hook and rings?). Three and a half ton pin hitch?
- Replace both broken wing mirrors
- Replace brake light switch

Matt is a top bloke and I'm very happy to be his friend. I only wish he was coming on the expedition with us! Thanks Matt :-)

Satellite phone

We have decided to take a Thuraya satellite phone with us for emergency use. Those of you that would like the number please contact us. Be warned that they can be quite expensive to phone but it is possible I believe to send free sms texts messages from the Thuraya website (http://services.thuraya.com/sms.html). For more details about Thuraya check out this good site: http://www.nomadic-one.com/travel/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=2

Online Thuraya services: http://services.thuraya.com/

Russian and Mongolian Visas

Russian and Mongolian Visa application forms were huge but have now been filled-in and sent off. Now just got to send them the fee, ouch! As we are getting multiple entry Russian visas we have had to provide letters of introduction.

New curtains!

Cath has made new curtains for the truck, hooray. We also got an elctronic ignition fitted which was donated to us by the very nice people at Autocar Electrical Equipment Ltd - I will be putting up a thank you note to them on the website shortly. I have booked in the truck for its expedition check this week. My current snagging list is: Winch needs repairing, radiator needs moving so that itn does not catch the hose, and rear axel air locker needs repairing. Plus I want the front wheel bearings changed (take the old ones as spares), a front and rear recovery point fixed and all the oils, filters, plugs, hoses, wires, clips, seals etc checked and replaced as neccesary (I have checked them but I want someone with knowledge to check them!).

Getting the truck ready

We have been working fast and furious on getting the truck ready. In the past week we have fitted the roofrack, checked all the electrics (including repairs on the TV, radio, fridge and heater), sourced a new starter solenoid (no longer a fire hazzard!). Cath started making curtains by hand and has now finished all the cushions. John is making our final bed. Just ordered an electronic ignition - that should stop the points problem. Commuynication is going to be easier in out of the way Mongolia with our new satellite phone.

We have nearly had all the injections.

Planning is all on track.

Everyone is excited.