| Archive for The Potting Shed A forum to discuss Crafts, Cooking, Gardening, Countryside, Livestock and Pets |
| lloyd |
Off Road Land RoversMaureen has decided to get out and socialise more. She's joining the Bristol Land Rover Off Road Club. I'm thinking about doing some bush replacement on her, and moving over to Polybushes, with a two inch lift incorporated to improe articulation. If I do this, will she lose stability though?....And rather than replace her tyres with wider ones, shall I just put in spacers instead, or do I need the extra rubber?
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| mrutty |
Yes raising it will make more unstable as you have raised the centre of gravity. If memory serves me the new bushes will be much stiff so you'll feel more bumbs too (can be cured with a cushion on the seat).
To space or not to space. Spacers are cheap and quick to do and bring the centre of gravity back down. If you then want to go on and add rubber then you haven't wasted too much money. More rubber will give better traction but in muddy ditches sometine a smaller higher pressure tyre will cut down to firmer ground and you get a better drive. |
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| lloyd |
Hmm....I remember when I had the wood, and went for wide chunky rubber, several people said I would do better with narrow high pressure tyres. | ||
| mrutty |
It only works if you can 'cut' down to some firmer earth. | ||
| Haize |
Tee hee, the Fiat Uno we used to have was pretty good when everyone else was aquaplaning, due to the narrow tyres. 
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| Cabbagepatch |
Haize, we are hoping to go offroading this autumn.....Lloyd says would you like to come along with the fiat uno. At this point, I'm going tothe kitchen to put the kettle on. 
How many more tiles on the wall today? Keep at it girl, I'm full of admiration 
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| mrutty |
Alot of the off roading reviews list my Sportage as good off road, which is good coz it's cr*p on road. | ||
| lloyd |
What is a sportage???? |
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| mrutty |
KIA Sportage http://www.kia.co.uk/sportage.asp | ||
| Haize |
Well, at least if it got stuck, we could pick it up and carry it? Possibly in a backpack, even
I very much regret not buying my uncle's old landrover when he offered it to me for £40. Unfortunately, it was 6 months until my birthday then, and my mum refused to have it sit outside our house until I could use it! And who can say the old ones don't have any mod cons, anyway? My uncle's had a dining table you could set up inside
3 more tiles today, by the way 
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| lloyd |
Mine has mod cons: .....It has a ciggy lighter and interior light, as well as a trip meter!!!!! | ||
| Libby |
Just to put the cat amongst the pidgeons here.......................
do any of these clubs give any money to repair the damage done by these 'off roaders'? We have alot of these type of lanes around us and on a sunday (especially) it is not uncommon to see 5 or 6 landrovers or 4 wheel drive vehicles go past covered in mud and with only one occupant in!!!!!!! When I had the dog (3 years ago) a wet week, like we have just had, wrecked any chance of a walk because these lanes where impassible to pedestrians! There is one particular track that became impassible to all (walkers and off roader) the council closed it and spent £23000 repairing it! Within a year it was back to the same state prior to repair!!! I'm sorry but I totally disagree with off roaders and the damage caused. Libby |
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| lloyd |
I feel the same about the damage caused by horse riders, and the way hooves churn up the paths making them inaccessible to pedestrians. Responsible off roaders should only use approved and designated tracks and green lanes, in accord with borough guidelines. Their rights are no different to horse riders, and consideration is the name of the game. Some lanes are designated as "RUPPS", which is short for "Road used as a Public Path". This means the internal combustion engine has full right of access. This might be upsetting to pram pushing dog walkers, but its about te rights of the taxpayer. There. Dog amongst pidgeons too now!
http://www.blroc.co.uk/ |
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| Cabbagepatch |
ahem, cup of tea anyone?
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| Kathy |
Oh Crikey!!
Room for everyone in the right places then? |
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| Libby |
I don't dispute the right of access or the fact that these off roaders do use designated tracks...... I suppose its because it has become such a craze.... when I said I saw 5 - 6 landrovers I ment one following behind the other then they all pile in the pub later. I know the farmers round here charge to tow them out because they are sick and tired of it all and the damage caused to the local enviroment!!!
I'm really not sure how you can compare hoof print holes with great gulleys of liquid mud!? coffee please! |
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| Cabbagepatch |
So the local economy benefits as well, then?
Most recognised off roading clubs insist on responsible use of the land, and also contribute actively to the management of access routes that otherwise would become neglected and inaccessible to all. A quick Googling will throw up numerous links to these voluntary groups who maintain byways, in order that they and others can enjoy them. Sadly the same cannot be said of the equestrian fraternity who leave paths suitable only for pondlife to enjoy. |
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| Cabbagepatch |
I would just like to point out that that last post was Lloyd....I was still logged in.
On a slightly different note, what makes me angry is horseriders who amble along side by side, making it impossible to pass them. They make no effort to get into singlefile and then complain about thoughtless drivers passing them too close. They don't pay roadtax. I'm not against riders in anyway, and love riding myself, its the lack of consideration that I find so rude. I feel a glass of sherry coming on!!! |
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| lloyd |
This morning I learned of a young mother convicted of infanticide. This doesn't mean we should ban all young mothers. It's wrong to blame tha majority for the actions of a minority. Our world is overlegislated all ready. 
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| Kathy |
It's the same old story, the responsible ones, whether it's horses, motors or whatever do things properly, the irresponsible don't. It's these people who get everybodys backs up and cause the kind of reactions we are seeing in this thread.
It's a sad fact of life and will happen everywhere and in every sport, the few spoiling it for the rest. 
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| Libby |
I totally agree with you cabbagepatch..... they think they own the road!
I honestly know nothing about off roader clubs so can't really comment, but it is the usual story as Kathy said its the few who spoil it for the majority! Please don't take offence at what I've said, I am not directing it at you just stood on my soap box saying something I beleive in, ......... its good to hear the other side of the story and have a bit of a dig at one another... keeps the ol brain cells ticking over. Chances are that the people I see are not even in a club!!!!!! Libby 
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| lloyd |
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| Cabbagepatch |
I like a good stomp on top of my soapbox from time to time as well
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| Libby |
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| Cabbagepatch |
Phew, order is restored and lloyd is in the kennel
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| Becki |
I don't think i own the road, in fact nearly every time a car goes past me when I'm riding, it scares me, because in fact you are essentially putting your life in the hands of a horse, so to speak, so you hope it's well trained enough. I make every effort to get as far away from cars and lorry's as possible, but you get idiot drivers as much as you get idiot riders.
I would say off roading is in fact safer than riding to some extent. |
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| lottie |
Blimey they are cheap aren't they - I could have bought a more modern version than the 4x4 I have just bought and for the same price I could have had two of the Kia Sportage with money left over for a foreign holiday. Nice idea - I could have had one and a spare. Different colours to match my outfit. One for muddy allotment stuff and one for posing
I hereby declare that my little 4x4 will be used responsibly to get me around our very narrow and muddied lanes, in order that I can enjoy Lloyd and Mr Rutty for as long as possible. And - I do give a very wide berth to badgers, pheasants, horses, dog walkers, dopey tourists walking three or four nattering on the wrong side of the lanes, cyclists doing the same, and the odd bemused deer with a death wish. Live and let except wild bunnies, but they are far to clever to walk in front of my car
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| mrsnesbitt |
We have a Toyota Highlux 4x4
We have had a vitara, 2 suzuki jeeps (one which I wrote off  ) a range rover and 2 land rovers....a series 3 and a series 2.
Jon has had a lot of off roading experience, he needs to due to the weather conditions here. |
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| lloyd |
Oh I say!!!...I thought it was only me, Lottie, dear!.....Whats young Smutty been up to? 
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| Kathy |
LOTTIE...............................
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| lottie |
I meant enjoying them causing havoc, controversy and mayhem - I think they are hilarious
A real comedy duo
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| Haize |
Yep, could only be improved by one of them turning around whilst holding a ladder, and accidentally belting the other one about the head with it...
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| lottie |
Ah bless 'em they are harmless
They just feel a bit left out some times being out numbered by all us girlies
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| Cabbagepatch |
Oh dear, crying with laughter again, just brilliant!
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| mrutty |
Having walked, rambled, hiked, climbed, rode horses, rode mountain bike, green laned 4x4 and motorbiked a little. I can honestly say that each and everyone of them damages lanes in the wet. Anyone going in to Breacon, Black Mountain, Dartmoor, Peaks, Moors, Snowdon, Scotland, downs and a million other places will have seen the damage as well as little paths in towns and cities. Not one of the groups will support the other, that's why it has taken so long to get access rights to many areas of land.
Most areas have footpath/lane maintaince teams and I'm please to say I used to help out when I lived with y parents. But the biggest issue was it was very clicky and if you were with one interest groups then anyone from another was forced out. Many time around Keevil we could have done with a 4x4 to move sawn logs and the like. But as has been said there are always one or two tossers to spoilt it. I used to ide my mountain bike up on Westbury white horse and there is a fab down hill section which was trashed when a not local culb decided to shut the footpath for the day and 'improve' the section for their day. I won't have minded but it was a great uphilll 4x4 section. They even cut out sections on the footpath part which made is damn dangerous fr horseriders. As for horses tearing up the land, take a trip to Alison's and peer over her fence to see it for real. |
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| lloyd |
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz | ||
| mrutty |
Have I sent you to sleep or are you chainsawing a path for the Landie?? | ||
| Haize |
You're the ladder holder! You hit him and knocked him out. Possibly what he actually means is "tweet tweet tweet" too... | ||
| Cabbagepatch |
Oh dear oh dear oh dear, what are we to do with our two likely lads...
Its like the Mitchell bruvvers...
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| lloyd |
I'd nodded off, young Smutty! | ||
| lottie |
Time for bed boys - another day - another topic
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| lloyd |
Strewth Lottie!!...I'm worn out!! |
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| lottie |
Heavens be praised.
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| mrsnesbitt |
hmmm thought I had a valid contribution here but obviously not!
Ok Ok............... get the hint. Topic for the boys. BUT...............we do have regular use for 4x4's here.................so we have had many and still need one, because of living on the moors! Anyhow....................... Bye. |
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| mrutty |
Everyone has a point D.
I only bought mind coz it was 15000 on the clock compared to 76000 on the Vectra and it was only £3K on a 51 plate compared to a T plate. Also once we move to Devon I need a 4x4 to get to Deb's house and if it snows I'll need a 4x4 to get out to a main-ish road. |
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| mrsnesbitt |
That is why we have a 4x4!
Hubs business depends on being able to get out of village. But we have lived on the NY moors all of our lives, we know it is essentail. 2.8 miles to the left of our house is the A171 moor road................ie it crosses the moors............. 3 miles to the right..................coast road. We need 4x4! |
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| Kathy |
I never drive in the snow, but Mr Kathy wishes he could afford one. I've only ever seen photos of the moors in the snow D, frightening, I can see why you would need one. As a sport, not my cup of tea but I know people who enjoy it.
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| lloyd |
At present, Maureen continues to be primarily a furniture removals vehicle. She used to work in my woodlands, and when her use is done, I guess I'l upgrade and refit her for her new ife. | ||
| lloyd |
Mind you, she is looking quite sexy at present, mud all down her frosty flanks.......maybe a coat of polish, I think?
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| Riverflow |
Hi, guys.
Gotta correct you, Lloyd - unfortunately earlier this year, the government brought in the National Environment and Rural Communities Act which re-classified all roads used as public paths (RUPPs) as Restricted Byways. These are illegal to drive a motorised vehicle along. This means us honest green-laners have approx 90% less routes open to us (definitely here in Hampshire, may vary depending on location). See http://www.glass-uk.org/pub-library/articles/nerca-notes.html In my opinion, these lanes that have vehicles passing through on a regular basis are going to clog up and become overgrown without landies and the like keeping the veg back and consequently they will not be usable by anyone. Rant over. Just when I got the truck (see avatar) back up and running too. Go for the polish! Shiny but muddy landies are good! Col |
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| lloyd |
Depressing news, Col. Glad the 4ward control is sorted anyway. 
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