Thanks very much chaps. It took a while for various reasons but mainly, and recently, because I wanted to make sure that I knew exactly what I was letting myself in for and to be sure I could fit this into both my life at home and work and into the lives of my family. The answers are all there now. The only real way to find out for sure is to do it.
Well, to Steve's message, I suspect I will be seeing you sometime. When's the next pub meet for a start?
To Tony's message. That looks very much like my FL. I found its handling of the snow and ice as just outstanding. I took the step of taking it places that would otherwise have been inaccessable in a normal road car, namely the little lanes on steep hills that had seen little traffic and were covered in snow and ice. With careful driving it handling was spot on. I know the Freelander is considered by some to be not a proper Landrover, and it is true that the Discos, Rangys and Defenders are better in the really rough stuff. However, from my contributions to another forum on Landy's I get the impression that the severe weather, while on road, conditions is where the FL really shines.
What I have not discovered yet is how deep a snow fall it can handle....
Okay, so now that I've started the joining process I had a think about equipment that I should kit the car out with. I already have a small first aid kit on board (having children warrants this) and I've recently refurbished that so its a good start. When the snow first arrived I invested in a reasonable tow strap, a 15 ft strap rated at about 900Kg. Not massive but good enough for most things. It was just in case I came across anyone that was in trouble. As it turned out I didn't, but I was prepared. I've also got a reasonable rechargable working light and a 80 channel CB.
Now, things I am considering investing in, in some sort of order of priority are:
Fire extingusher.
Basic HAM license.
2m radio system.
Second set of hubs, fitted with reasonable all terrain tyres. Not quite so necessary and dependent on money.
The HAM license and kit is based on a conversation at the meeting last Friday, where it was suggested that CB was next to useless. Now I have a technical background and although radio is not my strong point, I have dabbled in years gone by, So I do recognise that the 2m system is superior in range. A friend of mine is a HAM and I've seen what his kit can do. The question I have is this. Is the CB (which I did buy exclusively for 4x4 response) actually useless? I'm going to leave it in the car as its short range operation is okay and more people are likely to have one. However, is the 2m rig a good investment? I don't mind spending a bit to help but I don't want to two radios that have no real use.
Comments and suggestions are always welcome.
Many thanks,
Dave
