Member Since: 10 Mar 2012
Location: Johannesburg
Posts: 205
My HSE Build Thread - Preparing for a 10,000km adventure
So I thought I would create a build thread and a preparation thread for my Adventure planned for December.
The plan is to drive up to Chobe for 10 days, then hop across to Namibia down to Cape Town, up along the garden route to the Kruger park for a few nights.
So this is my build Thread and progress on the car and all extras.
Day 1 When she was collected from Daly Land Rover in Potchefstroom. All pretty and shiny and smelling like new inside. I have figured out what that smell is and how to replicate it (More on this later).
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16th Sep 2014 10:02 am
Jetlag
Member Since: 10 Mar 2012
Location: Johannesburg
Posts: 205
The first step that I needed to do was get rid of those HP tyres and replace them with a suitable All Terrain. My intention was to go with the Cooper Zeon LTZ but a few people recommended the Goodyear Duratrac and so I went with them.
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They really do look the bees knees
16th Sep 2014 10:04 am
Jetlag
Member Since: 10 Mar 2012
Location: Johannesburg
Posts: 205
I then decided that I need a nice drawer system and this one came around in the classifieds on one of the South African forums! I had to have it.
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Last edited by Jetlag on 16th Sep 2014 10:11 am. Edited 1 time in total
16th Sep 2014 10:06 am
Jetlag
Member Since: 10 Mar 2012
Location: Johannesburg
Posts: 205
I then had to register the car as the 2 week permit window has lapsed. I transferred my personalized plate from my D3 onto the D4 and she got a Mozambique triangle towing sticker! Slowly Getting there..
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While all these mods were taking place, I had to order a 6th Mag wheel so that I have 2 spare wheels. Finding one locally was becoming very expensive so I took to the net and managed to find one online for $220. Shipping it to SA cost me $150. All in all a good bargain.
Had the spare wheel fitted with a Goodyear Duratrac so I now have 6 wheels with same tyres and mags.
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I also managed to find a Inmarsat iSatphone Pro for a bargain so included it into my wheel shipment along with a Pelican case.
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Now, when cutting into the pelican case sponge i found that those smell like a new car... got me thinking... I should stick some foam under my seats - wonder if it will make my car smell new.
The most important part was to fit the Front Runner roof rack with a ladder. I found a second hand one for a good price so ended up selling my 1.6m.
The roof rack and ladder was fitted by Broadacres fitment centre. (Thanks Gavin for a good job)
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Also had to order a bunch of Front Runner goodies such as water tanks, roofrack fittings and brackets. Will post more photos of these later.
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16th Sep 2014 10:07 am
Jetlag
Member Since: 10 Mar 2012
Location: Johannesburg
Posts: 205
For those curious as to how my trip looks, see below for a map and trip plot plan.
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So yesterday evening started fabricating the spotlight bracket for my 2 x Hella 700 spotlights. Now I know these are not the best of spots however from a profile point of view they are what I am looking for.
My next step is to do an HID conversion on them - bought a Phillips HID kit which wasn't cheap - I decided to go for one of the better brands vs cheap chinese ones.
The Manufacturing work in progress
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Doing a test fitment
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Then closed everything up to see how they look.... Must say that I think they are too close to each other so on Sunday going to make a different prototype which can take up to 4 spots with variable options So if anyone is interested in one of these brackets - PM me
There is ZERO modifications to the body work and they do not mount onto the bumper. Takes max 10mins to fit which is pretty cool (Yes I know the LR badge is missing, I was a dumbas-s -ordered 2 black badges but didnt measure, removed the green one and the new black one was too small. Waiting for the black one to arrive)
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As soon as the final spot light bracket is done, will post photos
16th Sep 2014 10:07 am
Scarab
Member Since: 11 Jun 2011
Location: Hastings
Posts: 1283
Looking great so far. Will enjoy seeing it develop.
Alex
16th Sep 2014 10:12 am
DaveC
Member Since: 29 Sep 2009
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1034
looks great.
how many miles / Km will that route be approx?
keep pictures comming XC90 T8 R Design Pro
MY14 D4 HSE Lux (sadly gone)
Mariana Black with Ivory interior and lots of toys!
16th Sep 2014 10:25 am
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3079
FANTASTIC Thread. Keep it up
Subscribed.....
16th Sep 2014 10:30 am
Jetlag
Member Since: 10 Mar 2012
Location: Johannesburg
Posts: 205
Hi Dave,
The trip is about 10,770km over a period of 28 daysDisco 4 SDV6 HSE with Compomotives, BFG 265/65R18s, BigCountry drawer system, Melvill & Moon covers, NL 52L fridge, FR Spare Wheel Carrier, FR Roof Rack, Tenco RTT, FR 50" LED Bar, dual spots, Lift Rods, Mantec Snorkel, C-TEK Dual batt system, 270 Ostrichwing, Maxtrax, Icom ID-5100, Icom ID-51 as secondary, IIDtool BT
Follow my adventures on Instagram @XpeditionAfrica
16th Sep 2014 10:30 am
Iguana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2013
Location: 'Sunny' Zomerset
Posts: 9424
Just pulled up my virtual armchair and beer and very much looking forward to following this thread
All you work so far is excellent
Iggy/Ieuan
Current LR =
2015 RR Sport Autobiography
&
1992 Land Rover Defender Camper
- Gone but not forgotten:
MY10 D4 GS
MY05 Disco 3 'S'
MY14 FL2 HSE manual in Blue
MY15 Disco 4 HSE Lux in Santorini Black
MY08 Disco 3 SE manual in Buck Blue
1960 Series 2 88" (No idea why I sold it!)
16th Sep 2014 10:47 am
Landie71
Member Since: 23 Oct 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire
Posts: 1019
Looks good - will be watching with interest
16th Sep 2014 4:01 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26774
Love threads like this
Could you give me some idea how deep (front to back) those spot lamps are? I would like to fit some extra lamps to my D4, but the front profile does not suit the deep lamps like the LF 170s etc. They end up sticking out in front of the bumper line.
My old D3 had an A bar around its spotlamps, and it looked OK, but the 4 does not suit the A bar in my opinion.
16th Sep 2014 4:11 pm
Gianni330
Member Since: 08 Jan 2014
Location: Latina
Posts: 102
Great post
and wonderful trip around an amazing place
Do you have plans for a winch, snorkel and sump protection plate?
I will stay tuned as I love this kind of trips, so, maybe one day, I'll be ready and go for mine
See you soon
Gianni
16th Sep 2014 4:39 pm
DerbyshireDisco
Member Since: 12 Mar 2012
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 1397
I too would like to follow this thread so also subscribed.Displaced Yorkshireman.
=^:^=
SDV6 Auto obviously, Loire blue/Ebony, ugly kid glass, RLD wheel protector, private plate and maybe side steps.
16th Sep 2014 5:08 pm
nestu
Member Since: 12 Sep 2011
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 392
D4 looking great...good luck with your adventure...look forward to future posts
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