Return to N.E. Morocco 2015...

Spring 2015...

Well, after such a great trip in October 2013, we are starting to consider a return to do some more exploring. While our first trip was a great adventure we all felt on reflection that there was a lot of that territory we either had to rush through or missed entirely. We also all learned a lot about our vehicles, what kit worked and what didn't and especially about weight and how to distribute it (and also what colour not to paint them!). We ended up shying away from sand last time and this time want to be better prepared for it so we can go looking for more.

We are looking at this trip as a preparation for a possible third trip in the future...to make a crossing of the Gran Erg Occidental in Algeria...visas's and security permitting...

Currently there are four vehicles signed up. We would consider a couple more if they are serious. Your rig has to be light, reliable and tough. And this is NOT a commercial tour. No fees. Just for the fun and adventure of it.

wow, sounds like a good trip, we have bought a rather large motorhome, just a bit bigger than sasha, but if we can find a suitable 4x4 would realy like to go back again. Will keep in touch.

Have been in touch with Garry about the HUUB will you be available, we will be doing the stand again, I will be there from the Teusday helping out set up, Tom has said he will get the marquee there.   

Yep I'm in for the trip, as we're staying in Morocco for this one I will probably use the Disco again and modify it accordingly. That way I will have longer to get some money together for a less hi tech vehicle for longer braver trip in the future.

I may have mentioned I'm doing Route 66 later this year    and with flights, vehicle rentals and the fact the others want to stay in motels and not camp it's going to drain my Series 3 fund quite considerably as I am a pensioner now money is a finite resource.

So here's to the next trip   

Was not thinging stright this morning, we have a 4x4 it is a very early Discovery 1 G-WAC, will see to get that set up, for traveling Light.   

Count me in! By Spring 2015 I may even have the RR camper actually capable of doing the trip ... then again!   

Nah, it will definitely be ready by then. I've just swapped the head-gasket prone 300tdi for a replacement engine, so is up and running again. It's now having welding done, then bodywork restored, then in the Spring it'll be heading down to the south coast to be fitted out as a proper camper!!!!

Gutted I missed out last time, but wild horses won't prevent a repeat. Wey hey!   

Hi Gary et al, Leanne and I would be up for doing a 2 week stint, but understand you'd be going further. We'll keep in touch and see what route evolves and where we could best get to in the time we'd have and if you'd rather have a complete full distance group as opposed to us splitting off early.

We have a route roughly planned and will have a map that we can share at the various shows this year with anyone seriously interested. I wouldn't see it as a problem to pull out part way through. One of the guys currently going may be doing the same depending on how much time he can get off work. We generally head out to find tar and a town to resupply every 2-3 days, so would be easy to finish up at one of these and turn back towards the ferry home.

jellybenitez wrote:

Hi Gary et al, Leanne and I would be up for doing a 2 week stint, but understand you'd be going further. We'll keep in touch and see what route evolves and where we could best get to in the time we'd have and if you'd rather have a complete full distance group as opposed to us splitting off early.

Would be great if you could make it, be like old times ... although Mr Tembo is a lot more organised than me.

What do you mean "that's not difficult"?  

Just FYI...Steve tells me his wife wants to come along this time after seeing the video and my wife says the same thing. So a bit more gender balanced crew this time hopefully.

Having said that though...the trip will still be mostly in really remote areas and wild camping pretty much every night. One routine we did establish on the last trip was that one of us cooks dinner for the group each night. So we usually had a nice curry or pasta, bottle of wine and a dessert around the campfire...a nice way to finish the day.

We generally set off each morning between 8 and 9am...whenever we were all ready. Finish up each day by 5pm with about an hour break for lunch. at 1pm. Average speed is about 15mph.

Navigation is generally done by standing on a hill with a compass and saying: 'That way!' Which could mean following a track if there is one or just bashing cross country.

Damn shame it is more than a year away...

Would be well up for it but would need advice on preparing my 110 for this type of trip

Mudplugging wrote:

Would be well up for it but would need advice on preparing my 110 for this type of trip

Do you belong to any of the Land Rover clubs in Kent ? I belong to the Invicta club in South Kent, North Downs club in North Kent, all these guys would be more than willing to assist you to prep the 110.

Failing that, I'm just across the water near Lakeside and have prepared a 130 and 110 for long haul trips so would be more than glad to help.

Mudplugging wrote:

Would be well up for it but would need advice on preparing my 110 for this type of trip

Asking for advice on setting up a vehicle on here could be a dangerous thing...

Maybe tell us a bit about the 110...year, engine type, kind of condition it is in.

The most important thing is to have it as mechanically sorted as possible. If your vehicle starts every morning and finishes everyday, takes you to Morocco and back again, then that really just makes the trip a huge success. Everyone has problems here and there, but the better prepared your truck is mechanically, the less stressful your trip will be. Other than that...

- We each have a CB (don't buy a crap one, mine packed it in on day 3)
- 2 Jerry cans of water was about what we each carried. Two of us have Lifesaver jerry cans which will give you the safest drinking water possible. So we each topped up our regular jerries at each resupply and the put what we needed for drinking through the Lifesaver.
-We each had a spare jerry of fuel, but no one ever used it. Unless you have a V8 and then maybe.
-Fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as bread were easy to pick up in the towns on resupply stops. I brought coffee, oatmeal, corned beef and tinned curries or pastas for dinners.
- Two of us carried sand channels/track mats so not everyone needed them. None had a winch...just tow straps.

The biggest thing is don't overload your 110. You don't need heavy bull bars, roof racks, roll cages or anything that makes your vehicle top heavy or just plain heavy. Come and see us at the various shows this season and we can talk more.

Thanks for the info Tembo what about tyres I have a set of 285 insa special tracks for mud but not to good in the sand I think

Tembo wrote:

Mudplugging wrote:

Would be well up for it but would need advice on preparing my 110 for this type of trip

Asking for advice on setting up a vehicle on here could be a dangerous thing...

Maybe tell us a bit about the 110...year, engine type, kind of condition it is in.

The most important thing is to have it as mechanically sorted as possible. If your vehicle starts every morning and finishes everyday, takes you to Morocco and back again, then that really just makes the trip a huge success. Everyone has problems here and there, but the better prepared your truck is mechanically, the less stressful your trip will be. Other than that...

- We each have a CB (don't buy a crap one, mine packed it in on day 3)
- 2 Jerry cans of water was about what we each carried. Two of us have Lifesaver jerry cans which will give you the safest drinking water possible. So we each topped up our regular jerries at each resupply and the put what we needed for drinking through the Lifesaver.
-We each had a spare jerry of fuel, but no one ever used it. Unless you have a V8 and then maybe.
-Fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as bread were easy to pick up in the towns on resupply stops. I brought coffee, oatmeal, corned beef and tinned curries or pastas for dinners.
- Two of us carried sand channels/track mats so not everyone needed them. None had a winch...just tow straps.  

The biggest thing is don't overload your 110. You don't need heavy bull bars, roof racks, roll cages or anything that makes your vehicle top heavy or just plain heavy. Come and see us at the various shows this season and we can talk more.

That is very good sensable advice

Mudplugging wrote:

Thanks for the info Tembo what about tyres I have a set of 285 insa special tracks for mud but not to good in the sand I think

Hmmm...probably not the best choice, no. Not the best for driving all the way down across Spain and the northern bit of Morocco either. Tembo is kitted out with Michelin XZLs from its military days and they did really well, even in sand when the air pressure was let down.

hi guys i have just been in spain for a few days and i have decided to leave a prepped truck down there so i only have to fly down to Gib pick the truck up and cross into morocco so hope to be doing a lot more playing over there this year and a lot more exploring so will watch your trip with interest so might join you ...but as always if you need to know anything just ask.... 

Thanks twende any help ans avice would be great cheers Ian

on my very long list to do

but have Romania in my head for 2015

maybe next time



how light

as my disco 1 is about 2.5 ton loaded for a 2 week trip

reliable

Is a Land rover, but in the last 3 trips she only had a bearing go on it

tough

she tough

My husband wants to go to Morroco ! So we could be interested ! Have you got any ideas of dates yet ?

We haven't decided on specific dates yet. But would probably be something like:

14 April: Meet up in Spanish campsite close to Morocco ferry
15 April: Ferry to Morocco
15 Apr-07 May: In Morocco (although some may turn for home after two weeks)
08 May: Ferry back over to Spain

We will have a meeting of all going at Tom's Adventure Overland Show in September to do the detailed planning and then a last planning session in January 2015...usually at a pub located somewhere we can all reach.

I think we are looking at the middle of April to the middle of May 2015 (as per James post) but exact dates are not written in stone yet but they are good enough to work on to book holidays etc.

sylvia johnson wrote:

My husband wants to go to Morroco  ! So we could be interested ! Have you got any ideas of dates yet ?

Why hello Mrs. Roadrunner, how the devil are you, well I trust? It would be great to have you along on a Moroccan trip. As I'm not organising the roadbook, you have every chance of making it all the way 'round!   

Tembo - those dates in April/early May are good for me.  

DITO to Tom's post clad to see you back, and would be good to have you on the trip, and the dates would be good for us as well tembo.   

God this year is dragging already!! Roll on next year I can't wait to get back out on a trip!!! Seriously guy's really looking forward to getting back out in the desert.

I concur totally with Tembo's comments re prep of the vehicles. I know from experience because I build what can only be described as a typical view of a overland truck, I was conscious of weight but as it turned out not enough and my aim for this trip is to be at least 200kgs lighter (that's the truck not me!) alright I will be keeping my roof tent because I really love it and at the end of a long day its really great to just crawl into and have a great nights sleep, but because of the extra weight that I was carrying it did slow me down, make the engine have to work harder in the mountains and cause me more problems in the softer sand. It could also add to reliability problems as well. Not ideal for this type of trip.

The important thing though is to get out there and really enjoy the desert, your trucks and the company. We certainly did that on the last trip.

  

All the best Guys

Hi a update for Morocco trip next year, regarding insurance and changing money.
Quote from the HUBB some one just got thier, and posted this.

"We had to wait a day to cross in the end as the winds were too high and Algeciras port was closed. As a result the ferry experience was quite chaotic. The next day we got to the port at 1pm. The 2pm sailing didn't happen and we eventually got onto the 5pm sailing which left at 7pm. Lots of pushing, shoving and fisticuffs going on and a few fender benders. Arrived at Tangier Med around 10pm. Couldn't get insurance at this time so drove to the Ibis at Fnideq (25 euro if you book online which they let us do in the hotel lobby). Next day we planned to drive to the Ceuta border for insurance but the road to the border was gridlocked (presumably as a result of there having been no sailings) so we left the car and walked. Found the insurance place (first of three white cabins on the right as you exit the border) and all was good.

Now in Chefchaouen and loving it! Wasn't overly impressed with Camping Azilane so have decamped into town. Staying in a lovely old Dar in the medina and car is in the Parador Hotel car park for 20 Dh a day."

So may be next year their might be proper offices!!?