Post by Jim Franklin on Jan 2, 2013 6:46:45 GMT -5
I thought it wise to post information for this trip in one thread post. If there is anything I have missed or anyone knows should be changed, PM me and I will edit this post.
Some of the roads in the mountains, and especially off the highways, are a minefield of semi-dirt track on rock to boulder strewn shakers that have to be negotiated carefully to avoid vehicle damage or worse. I do not propose to go where it is obvious vehicle damage would occur, being stuck at 3000m in a remote mountain location is not what I intend, but tracks change in the mountains, what starts out as basically gravel could turn into a real bone shaker within a short distance, as such there are some things all of us need to pay attention to and some spares we all must consider;
Mandatory items we must all carry:
Recommended Spares to take with you:
(Not an exhaustive list, but no point taking too much either as that just gets silly)
• Track Rod Ends (these are outside of protection)
• Two Wheel bearings.
• Pair of UJ's
• Brake Hoses (These get snagged occasionally, and for the weight, better safe than sorry)
• Brake fluid: More important than the other fluids for obvious reasons.
• Brake Pads, one set front and one set rear.
• Fuel filter (Best changed before leaving, but a spare for emergencies is good)
• Oil Filter (Best changed before leaving, but a spare for emergencies is good)
• Engine Oil (Best changed before leaving, but a spare 2.5L for emergencies is good)
• ATF (Power steering Fluid) small amount (1L) may be good to carry for emergencies.
• Wiper Blades: - Have a couple of spare sets. The sand and dust can tear the rubber to shreds and you may need a working set on the return journey. (It can rain in the mountains too!!
• Small amount of Diesel resistant rubber pipe to effect fuel line repairs in field, don't forget jubilee clips for same. (1m is sufficient and about half a dozen clips)
• Rad seal: in case the unthinkable happens.
• Puncture repair kit
• Jack: - A Farm Jack is not ideal, but will do. A good quality hydraulic jack is better, but if your budget can stretch to an exhaust jack bag then all the better. This is the only really effective way to raise a vehicle on very soft ground such as sand. At least one axle stand in case wheel removal is necessary.
• Ability to carry at least 40L of clean water (You may need some for a damaged rad!)
• Reasonable tool kit, 10-19mm spanners, grips, screw drivers, pliers, circlip pliers, Stanley knife and blades, perhaps a small 1/2 socket set. 27mm Socket and long handled bar for wheel removal, LED torch, cheap multi-meter for testing 12V circuits
• Length of old carpet or a "runner" to put on the ground if you’re in the mountains and it's rocky or wet.
Vehicle Preparation:
• Tyres:- Need to be decent quality and reasonably new to not only ensure decent traction, but that the sidewalls can withstand the beating they may face. A Quality spare and perhaps a tyre repair kit would be strongly advised. The condition of the tyre is more important than the size. about 235 is adequate for all conditions likely to be faced.
• Door Seals: - Make sure they are sound, there should not be too much wading involved, if any, but if it happens, we don’t want too much water inside the trucks.
• Compressor:-Decent one, not one of Halfords own. It is likely that tyre inflation pressures may be adjusted so you need a decent unit that can deal with the workload.
• Suspension:- Crucial it is in tip top condition, if yours has any weakness, the mountain tracks will find it and break it.
• Brakes:-Ensure the pads are reasonably new and can handle the workload, Ensure hoses are tucked away, if these get snagged you could loose break pressure, ensure your hand brake is more than adequate. A couple of spare brake hoses would be a wise choice with some DOT4 or DOT5 fluid.
• Bushes: - The generic rubber bushes for dampers and joints only cost a few pounds, well worth the investment because these can and will fail if they have any weakness in them. These are some seriously hard roads high up.
• Lift Kit: -Do not need it, ground clearance is king in the mountains, and your more likely to roll it with a higher centre of mass.
• Diff, Tank, sump and Steering guards: - Really an absolute for being on the high rocky tracks, repairing a diff, sump, steering or fuel tank in the field is no laughing matter: I do not recommend Aluminium ones, steel withstands the rock damage better.
• Drive shaft boot: - These silicone boots slide over the prop-diff joints and provide dust protection, but importantly they will cushion the blow of an errant rock too, less likely to damage the flange, rubber or bolts then.
• Service the vehicle before departure: - Ensure that your totally happy with the diff, transmission and engine lubricants, they will all be worked hard on this trip, better to be safe than sorry.
• STEEL WHEELS: - You cannot straighten an Alloy wheel...once cracked or impacted badly, it's a few £ worth of scrap.
• CB: - All vehicles MUST have a working CB fitted so we can talk to each other in an emergency:
• Recovery Points: - At least two at the front and two at the rear. Not the factory installed ones either.
• Shackles: - These must be rated at least 4.75T to be any use.
• Strops: - You need two, one for general recovery (8m) and one for wrapping around things or acting as a bridle (4m). These need to be rated at around 5T to be effective.
• Winch: - Not Necessary, but if you have one, I would suggest investing in Dynema synthetic rope as it is far safer than steel rope and a lot less hassle. I have a winch on mine rated at 12,000Ib (5440kg) straight line pull with a 14.5T rated snatch block, if I cannot pull you out then your screwed basically and your own winch won’t help! If you have a winch, please ensure you know and understand how to use it safely; they can be deadly if used incorrectly.
• Roof Racks: - Very useful, but advise that all heavy equipment is stored in the vehicle to avoid making her top heavy. A low centre of gravity is always best, but on mountain tracks it is imperative.
• Snorkel: - If you have one fitted, great, if you don’t, it’s not needed as any water we wade through would only be inches to about a foot deep. A good filter, such as a K&N washable, is the most important,
• Hoses: - Ensure all hoses are secure and nipped up. Consider a few spare jubilee clips big enough for a selection of hoses in case something happens. A couple of roles of Self Amalgamating tape is very useful for minor repairs and takes up less space than a collection of hoses.
Food:
Food should be canned or so preserved it will survive in the heat of the Moroccan climate. I do not recommend fresh meat, fruit for vegetables. Items that have a long shelf life, such as dried goods, are OK if you know you’ll use them, but if not, no point taking them. Here are some ideas;
• Corned beef
• Beans
• Canned peas
• Dried egg
• Tuna
• Sardines
• Canned meat meals, such as Chilli’s and Curry’s.
• Canned fruit
• Dried Milk or coffee whitener
• Powdered coffee
• Tea Bags
• Sugar
• Cereal bars (ideal snacks when driving)
Fresh fruit and veg can be bought in Moroccan towns with little problems, as can eggs and many other items. There is no need to take enough food to feed the entire population, but you should consider how much you want to trust local hygiene standards for certain foods, take into account the amount of camping we will be doing and the fact that it is a good thing to add to the local economy. These are matters for you personally to consider.
Camping Equipment:
• Two man or larger tent:-One man is just too small for the most part.
• Ground sheet, even if your tent has one built it.(Cheap Tarp will do)
• Sleeping mat if you don’t have a camp bed or blow up mattress
• Pillow – You’ll be surprised how often this is forgotten!
• LED Hanging light for inside the tent.
• Camping stove and fuel. (if gas please ensure gas canisters are secured when not used)
• Pots and Pans
• Plate(s)
• Cutlery
• Cup(s)
• Sleeping bag: Quality is best, it can drop to freezing or below overnight in a desert, and certainly at elevations over 1500m the temperature will plummet at times.
• Magnesium Fire Stone, if you run out of gas or simply want a camp fire, these are handy.
Personal Items
• Wet Wipes
• Hand sanitiser
• Hand cream (it’s a dry environment, hands and skin crack)
• Toilet rolls
• Tooth brush
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo/Body wash
• Towels (two large and two small)
• deodorant
• Small metal painters kettle to burn toilet paper in
• Shovel (to bury waste food and waste products that are bio degradable)
• Bepanthen. (This is actually a clinical nappy rash, any sort of rash, cream..very good for areas of the body prone to chaffing)
• Black Sacks for storing non-biodegradable rubbish until we reach a town.
Clothing
What clothing you take is personal choice, you should remember that whilst Morocco is a hot country, in the Mountains and at elevations over 1500m the temperature can be alpine at any time of the year, I have known temperatures below freezing in high mountain passes and even overnight in some low lying areas where there are lots of dunes (this is why the rock becomes sand!). I would recommend you take the following in case it’s needed.
• Thick socks: Woollen walking socks are best.
• Cold weather fleece
• Gloves
• Beanie
• Waterproof cold weather jacket
I would also recommend that whilst it is OK to take sandals (so called Jesus Creepers), I would recommend a decent pair of above ankle boots, possible Military desert boots, for general use when driving in mountains and trekking because if you need to get out and misplace your foot, with boots there is less chance of a serious ankle injury. Trainers are best avoided during the day unless you have some serious odour eaters, but at night or in camp sites they are OK.
Driving Aids
I would recommend having the following with you, even though we will be in a group, it would be foolhardy to only have such items in one vehicle;
• Functional compass (and that you know how to use it)
If you have a smart phone then you can download electronic compasses from either the Apps store or Google Play for Android phones.
Standard Compass, worth paying about £20 for a decent one, cheap ones are pretty useless in my experience. Ask in a quality camping store.
• GPS
Again, smart phones have this built in and is a useful aid, ensure you have the widget that allows you to automatically update the GPS for errors as they do go out of whack due to orbital changes etc.
If you’re taking a laptop, consider a USB GPS receiver.
• Gloves: Ok so you may not always wear gloves when driving, I don’t, but in the mountains and very loose or highly rutted surfaces where you need to ensure you have a good grip it is wise to wear a pair of gloves, cycling gloves are sufficient for this purpose.
Paperwork:
Please remember you will not be driving in the UK, thus other rules apply and must be adhered to avoid issues should you be stopped by the local Police. They are simply doing their job and onus is on you to ensure you comply with local regulations.
• Passport: This must be valid for at least 6 months AFTER you plan to leave the country, so it should not expire before May 2014.
It would be wise to take photocopies of the important pages of your passport and having them all on one A4 page, this can be laminated and used for ID so you do not have to hand over your valuable passport. However ensure you carry the original with you securely.
• Driving License: This should be as your passport and not set to expire whilst I the country. It should be up to date.
As with your passport, photocopying your paper and photocard license would be a wise move, again laminate it and use it to give to officials instead of your actual license. Carry the original with you securely.
• Carnet-de-passage: These are not required by officials in Morocco.
• Vehicle Registration Document: These are mandatory in Morocco, officials that the port and if your stopped by the Police will require this to be available for inspection and to demonstrate the vehicle is not stolen.
As with your passport, photocopying your V5 would be a wise move, again laminate it and use it to give to officials instead of your actual document. Carry the original with you securely.
• Vehicle insurance Document: Required by law to be carried in the vehicle when on public roads in Morocco. A Laminated copy would be wise.
• Travellers insurance: Not a legal requirement, but a laminated copy of this would be a wise addition.
• A4 Document: On this you should clearly print your full name, Residential Address, Date and Place of Birth, Nationality, Profession, Marital status, Fathers Name, Mothers name, Vehicle registration Number, VIN Number, V5 reference No, Driving License No, Passport No, Insurance reference (car and travel).
Some will say this level of information is not required, but it is better to have it on there and not need it than it is to need and not have it. This document can also be used in Hotels and as check points (normally in Western Sahara in the South) instead of handing over official documents such as passports and licenses etc.
Some of the roads in the mountains, and especially off the highways, are a minefield of semi-dirt track on rock to boulder strewn shakers that have to be negotiated carefully to avoid vehicle damage or worse. I do not propose to go where it is obvious vehicle damage would occur, being stuck at 3000m in a remote mountain location is not what I intend, but tracks change in the mountains, what starts out as basically gravel could turn into a real bone shaker within a short distance, as such there are some things all of us need to pay attention to and some spares we all must consider;
Mandatory items we must all carry:
- Spare lamps
- Breathalyser Units (x2) (Thanks Charlie)
- Hi Vis Vest/Jacket
- Warning Triangle
- First Aid Kit: - You may not be a first aider, but the carrying of a first aid kit is highly recommended in case of an injury. This does not need to be for surgery in the field, but should have a nice selection of wound dressings, slings, bandages, medical tape, eyewash and some antiseptic cream to put on any cuts you will pick up. This should always be kept in an easy to reach place, such as the front foot well.
- Fire Extinguisher: - A small one is a good idea to carry, unlikely to be needed, but better safe than sorry.
- Load Straps: - NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING should be loose in your vehicle, loads shift when negotiating obstacles and gradients, if they are strapped down they can’t and they can’t tip you over, move and hit you or otherwise be a nuisance.
Recommended Spares to take with you:
(Not an exhaustive list, but no point taking too much either as that just gets silly)
• Track Rod Ends (these are outside of protection)
• Two Wheel bearings.
• Pair of UJ's
• Brake Hoses (These get snagged occasionally, and for the weight, better safe than sorry)
• Brake fluid: More important than the other fluids for obvious reasons.
• Brake Pads, one set front and one set rear.
• Fuel filter (Best changed before leaving, but a spare for emergencies is good)
• Oil Filter (Best changed before leaving, but a spare for emergencies is good)
• Engine Oil (Best changed before leaving, but a spare 2.5L for emergencies is good)
• ATF (Power steering Fluid) small amount (1L) may be good to carry for emergencies.
• Wiper Blades: - Have a couple of spare sets. The sand and dust can tear the rubber to shreds and you may need a working set on the return journey. (It can rain in the mountains too!!
• Small amount of Diesel resistant rubber pipe to effect fuel line repairs in field, don't forget jubilee clips for same. (1m is sufficient and about half a dozen clips)
• Rad seal: in case the unthinkable happens.
• Puncture repair kit
• Jack: - A Farm Jack is not ideal, but will do. A good quality hydraulic jack is better, but if your budget can stretch to an exhaust jack bag then all the better. This is the only really effective way to raise a vehicle on very soft ground such as sand. At least one axle stand in case wheel removal is necessary.
• Ability to carry at least 40L of clean water (You may need some for a damaged rad!)
• Reasonable tool kit, 10-19mm spanners, grips, screw drivers, pliers, circlip pliers, Stanley knife and blades, perhaps a small 1/2 socket set. 27mm Socket and long handled bar for wheel removal, LED torch, cheap multi-meter for testing 12V circuits
• Length of old carpet or a "runner" to put on the ground if you’re in the mountains and it's rocky or wet.
Vehicle Preparation:
• Tyres:- Need to be decent quality and reasonably new to not only ensure decent traction, but that the sidewalls can withstand the beating they may face. A Quality spare and perhaps a tyre repair kit would be strongly advised. The condition of the tyre is more important than the size. about 235 is adequate for all conditions likely to be faced.
• Door Seals: - Make sure they are sound, there should not be too much wading involved, if any, but if it happens, we don’t want too much water inside the trucks.
• Compressor:-Decent one, not one of Halfords own. It is likely that tyre inflation pressures may be adjusted so you need a decent unit that can deal with the workload.
• Suspension:- Crucial it is in tip top condition, if yours has any weakness, the mountain tracks will find it and break it.
• Brakes:-Ensure the pads are reasonably new and can handle the workload, Ensure hoses are tucked away, if these get snagged you could loose break pressure, ensure your hand brake is more than adequate. A couple of spare brake hoses would be a wise choice with some DOT4 or DOT5 fluid.
• Bushes: - The generic rubber bushes for dampers and joints only cost a few pounds, well worth the investment because these can and will fail if they have any weakness in them. These are some seriously hard roads high up.
• Lift Kit: -Do not need it, ground clearance is king in the mountains, and your more likely to roll it with a higher centre of mass.
• Diff, Tank, sump and Steering guards: - Really an absolute for being on the high rocky tracks, repairing a diff, sump, steering or fuel tank in the field is no laughing matter: I do not recommend Aluminium ones, steel withstands the rock damage better.
• Drive shaft boot: - These silicone boots slide over the prop-diff joints and provide dust protection, but importantly they will cushion the blow of an errant rock too, less likely to damage the flange, rubber or bolts then.
• Service the vehicle before departure: - Ensure that your totally happy with the diff, transmission and engine lubricants, they will all be worked hard on this trip, better to be safe than sorry.
• STEEL WHEELS: - You cannot straighten an Alloy wheel...once cracked or impacted badly, it's a few £ worth of scrap.
• CB: - All vehicles MUST have a working CB fitted so we can talk to each other in an emergency:
• Recovery Points: - At least two at the front and two at the rear. Not the factory installed ones either.
• Shackles: - These must be rated at least 4.75T to be any use.
• Strops: - You need two, one for general recovery (8m) and one for wrapping around things or acting as a bridle (4m). These need to be rated at around 5T to be effective.
• Winch: - Not Necessary, but if you have one, I would suggest investing in Dynema synthetic rope as it is far safer than steel rope and a lot less hassle. I have a winch on mine rated at 12,000Ib (5440kg) straight line pull with a 14.5T rated snatch block, if I cannot pull you out then your screwed basically and your own winch won’t help! If you have a winch, please ensure you know and understand how to use it safely; they can be deadly if used incorrectly.
• Roof Racks: - Very useful, but advise that all heavy equipment is stored in the vehicle to avoid making her top heavy. A low centre of gravity is always best, but on mountain tracks it is imperative.
• Snorkel: - If you have one fitted, great, if you don’t, it’s not needed as any water we wade through would only be inches to about a foot deep. A good filter, such as a K&N washable, is the most important,
• Hoses: - Ensure all hoses are secure and nipped up. Consider a few spare jubilee clips big enough for a selection of hoses in case something happens. A couple of roles of Self Amalgamating tape is very useful for minor repairs and takes up less space than a collection of hoses.
Food:
Food should be canned or so preserved it will survive in the heat of the Moroccan climate. I do not recommend fresh meat, fruit for vegetables. Items that have a long shelf life, such as dried goods, are OK if you know you’ll use them, but if not, no point taking them. Here are some ideas;
• Corned beef
• Beans
• Canned peas
• Dried egg
• Tuna
• Sardines
• Canned meat meals, such as Chilli’s and Curry’s.
• Canned fruit
• Dried Milk or coffee whitener
• Powdered coffee
• Tea Bags
• Sugar
• Cereal bars (ideal snacks when driving)
Fresh fruit and veg can be bought in Moroccan towns with little problems, as can eggs and many other items. There is no need to take enough food to feed the entire population, but you should consider how much you want to trust local hygiene standards for certain foods, take into account the amount of camping we will be doing and the fact that it is a good thing to add to the local economy. These are matters for you personally to consider.
Camping Equipment:
• Two man or larger tent:-One man is just too small for the most part.
• Ground sheet, even if your tent has one built it.(Cheap Tarp will do)
• Sleeping mat if you don’t have a camp bed or blow up mattress
• Pillow – You’ll be surprised how often this is forgotten!
• LED Hanging light for inside the tent.
• Camping stove and fuel. (if gas please ensure gas canisters are secured when not used)
• Pots and Pans
• Plate(s)
• Cutlery
• Cup(s)
• Sleeping bag: Quality is best, it can drop to freezing or below overnight in a desert, and certainly at elevations over 1500m the temperature will plummet at times.
• Magnesium Fire Stone, if you run out of gas or simply want a camp fire, these are handy.
Personal Items
• Wet Wipes
• Hand sanitiser
• Hand cream (it’s a dry environment, hands and skin crack)
• Toilet rolls
• Tooth brush
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo/Body wash
• Towels (two large and two small)
• deodorant
• Small metal painters kettle to burn toilet paper in
• Shovel (to bury waste food and waste products that are bio degradable)
• Bepanthen. (This is actually a clinical nappy rash, any sort of rash, cream..very good for areas of the body prone to chaffing)
• Black Sacks for storing non-biodegradable rubbish until we reach a town.
Clothing
What clothing you take is personal choice, you should remember that whilst Morocco is a hot country, in the Mountains and at elevations over 1500m the temperature can be alpine at any time of the year, I have known temperatures below freezing in high mountain passes and even overnight in some low lying areas where there are lots of dunes (this is why the rock becomes sand!). I would recommend you take the following in case it’s needed.
• Thick socks: Woollen walking socks are best.
• Cold weather fleece
• Gloves
• Beanie
• Waterproof cold weather jacket
I would also recommend that whilst it is OK to take sandals (so called Jesus Creepers), I would recommend a decent pair of above ankle boots, possible Military desert boots, for general use when driving in mountains and trekking because if you need to get out and misplace your foot, with boots there is less chance of a serious ankle injury. Trainers are best avoided during the day unless you have some serious odour eaters, but at night or in camp sites they are OK.
Driving Aids
I would recommend having the following with you, even though we will be in a group, it would be foolhardy to only have such items in one vehicle;
• Functional compass (and that you know how to use it)
If you have a smart phone then you can download electronic compasses from either the Apps store or Google Play for Android phones.
Standard Compass, worth paying about £20 for a decent one, cheap ones are pretty useless in my experience. Ask in a quality camping store.
• GPS
Again, smart phones have this built in and is a useful aid, ensure you have the widget that allows you to automatically update the GPS for errors as they do go out of whack due to orbital changes etc.
If you’re taking a laptop, consider a USB GPS receiver.
• Gloves: Ok so you may not always wear gloves when driving, I don’t, but in the mountains and very loose or highly rutted surfaces where you need to ensure you have a good grip it is wise to wear a pair of gloves, cycling gloves are sufficient for this purpose.
Paperwork:
Please remember you will not be driving in the UK, thus other rules apply and must be adhered to avoid issues should you be stopped by the local Police. They are simply doing their job and onus is on you to ensure you comply with local regulations.
• Passport: This must be valid for at least 6 months AFTER you plan to leave the country, so it should not expire before May 2014.
It would be wise to take photocopies of the important pages of your passport and having them all on one A4 page, this can be laminated and used for ID so you do not have to hand over your valuable passport. However ensure you carry the original with you securely.
• Driving License: This should be as your passport and not set to expire whilst I the country. It should be up to date.
As with your passport, photocopying your paper and photocard license would be a wise move, again laminate it and use it to give to officials instead of your actual license. Carry the original with you securely.
• Carnet-de-passage: These are not required by officials in Morocco.
• Vehicle Registration Document: These are mandatory in Morocco, officials that the port and if your stopped by the Police will require this to be available for inspection and to demonstrate the vehicle is not stolen.
As with your passport, photocopying your V5 would be a wise move, again laminate it and use it to give to officials instead of your actual document. Carry the original with you securely.
• Vehicle insurance Document: Required by law to be carried in the vehicle when on public roads in Morocco. A Laminated copy would be wise.
• Travellers insurance: Not a legal requirement, but a laminated copy of this would be a wise addition.
• A4 Document: On this you should clearly print your full name, Residential Address, Date and Place of Birth, Nationality, Profession, Marital status, Fathers Name, Mothers name, Vehicle registration Number, VIN Number, V5 reference No, Driving License No, Passport No, Insurance reference (car and travel).
Some will say this level of information is not required, but it is better to have it on there and not need it than it is to need and not have it. This document can also be used in Hotels and as check points (normally in Western Sahara in the South) instead of handing over official documents such as passports and licenses etc.
