Mid life crisis Cali Swamper!

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Makes sense, probably worse if you’ve got a lot of weight on a roof rack.

The one thing I always forget is to disable the diff lock when turning. End up with the diff lock “clunk” all the time. Haha


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[Kayleigh]

Great to see the swamper thread is alive again. When do we start discussing the benefits of bronze wheels?

 

[Kayleigh]

I do have a genuine question though.. Does off-roading invalidate your insurance or is that something you need to pay extra for?

 

[Corradobrit]

It might invalidate roadside recovery

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

I do have a genuine question though.. Does off-roading invalidate your insurance or is that something you need to pay extra for?

If you go on off-road tours they typically offer insurance. But if you go solo and mess things up you’re likely out of pocket!


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[Kayleigh]

It might invalidate roadside recovery

That’s worth bearing in mind even for light off-road I assume.

 

[The Merle]

Have you watched or follow on Instagram any of Travel_Beasts posts? He’s attempting to circumnavigate the Iberian peninsula all off road in his old converted Toyota. He previously did Wales. It’s very extreme, TBH I don’t know how that Toyota is still running!

Will check it out.
Best ones I like, no moaning
Itchy boots (her book free ride is great)
Nick & Mathilde (next meridian)
Eva zu beck
&
Dan (escape to rural France) amazing what he’s doing renovating château.

Your trip looked amazing, very jealous

 

[wildslammer22]

Great to see the swamper thread is alive again. When do we start discussing the benefits of bronze wheels?

Mine look a bit bronze at the moment with all the sand and dust!

 

[wildslammer22]

The one thing I always forget is to disable the diff lock when turning. End up with the diff lock “clunk” all the time. Haha


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Me too! I tend to only use it as a last resort now, the traction control is pretty good on the 4M. Not needed it at all on this trip, hill descent has been much more useful here. The diff lock has got me out of trouble a few times in the UK though.

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Me too! I tend to only use it as a last resort now, the traction control is pretty good on the 4M. Not needed it at all on this trip, hill descent has been much more useful here. The diff lock has got me out of trouble a few times in the UK though.

True, but my mechanic told me to use it at least once every 6 months to keep it in good shape.


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[wildslammer22]

I do have a genuine question though.. Does off-roading invalidate your insurance or is that something you need to pay extra for?

I’m with Comfort but I paid extra to cover off roading for this trip (Adrian Flux). My Cali is a daily driver so best be safe than sorry.

I did manage to lock my keys in the van earlier in the trip when on a camp site in the middle of nowhere in the Auvergne but that’s another story…

 

[wildslammer22]

True, but my mechanic told me to use it at least once every 6 months to keep it in good shape.


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Totally agree. If it’s not used it can bind up when you do need it!

 

[wildslammer22]

Will check it out.
Best ones I like, no moaning
Itchy boots (her book free ride is great)
Nick & Mathilde (next meridian)
Eva zu beck
&
Dan (escape to rural France) amazing what he’s doing renovating château.

Your trip looked amazing, very jealous

I follow Next Meridian and Eva Zu Beck - they have become very polished film makers.

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Totally agree. If it’s not used it can bind up when you do need it!

If you don’t use it you lose it!


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[wildslammer22]

True, but my mechanic told me to use it at least once every 6 months to keep it in good shape.


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Off on a tangent, my Ruuvi sensor on the roof next to the solar panel Is reading 68°c at the moment! I assume the solar panels don’t really work in extreme temperatures like that?

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Off on a tangent, my Ruuvi sensor on the roof next to the solar panel Is reading 68°c at the moment! I assume the solar panels don’t really work in extreme temperatures like that?

They will lose power, yes. My upgraded 4 way tilt helps a lot as there is lots of airflow underneath. It’s also bifacial.


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[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Off on a tangent, my Ruuvi sensor on the roof next to the solar panel Is reading 68°c at the moment! I assume the solar panels don’t really work in extreme temperatures like that?

For true outside temps I mounted a Ruuvi underneath the van away from the motor and exhaust.


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[Corradobrit]

Will check it out.
Best ones I like, no moaning
Itchy boots (her book free ride is great)
Nick & Mathilde (next meridian)
Eva zu beck
&
Dan (escape to rural France) amazing what he’s doing renovating château.

Your trip looked amazing, very jealous

Hah Itchy Boots. She had her motorcycle stolen twice in all the years she has been touring throughout the world. Once in Iraq and last week in....... Wales. Tells you everything you want to know.

 

[Corradobrit]

Check out Frenchman Kino Yves. Better than IB. And he does it all on his reclining trike. He cycled from Paris to Cape Town and filmed his travels over the 3 years it's taken so far. He plans to cycle back along the West Coast of Africa.

 

[wildslammer22]

They will lose power, yes. My upgraded 4 way tilt helps a lot as there is lots of airflow underneath. It’s also bifacial.


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Mine is mounted on the roof rack so has airflow underneath, I read somewhere to expect reduced performance if 0.5% per ° of temp outside operating range so I can expect to lose 15-20% of efficiency at those temps.

For my use case I’ve preferred to invest in more battery capacity and a powerful DC-DC. This trip though has made me wish for more solar. I might invest in a good portable one but will need to upgrade the MPPT

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Mine is mounted on the roof rack so has airflow underneath, I read somewhere to expect reduced performance if 0.5% per ° of temp outside operating range so I can expect to lose 15-20% of efficiency at those temps.

For my use case I’ve preferred to invest in more battery capacity and a powerful DC-DC. This trip though has made me wish for more solar. I might invest in a good portable one but will need to upgrade the MPPT

I just got a new one and am testing it now. A 400 watt Renogy Solar Blanket. Folds down super small and is really nice! I use it as a sun shade over the front windscreen when parked up. Also a fair price at an around 1.1 USD per watt.


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[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Mine is mounted on the roof rack so has airflow underneath, I read somewhere to expect reduced performance if 0.5% per ° of temp outside operating range so I can expect to lose 15-20% of efficiency at those temps.

For my use case I’ve preferred to invest in more battery capacity and a powerful DC-DC. This trip though has made me wish for more solar. I might invest in a good portable one but will need to upgrade the MPPT

This has Slammer all over it:

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[wildslammer22]

The 200w one will be added to my shopping list!

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

The 200w one will be added to my shopping list!

I have that one too. Put it on top of the awning!


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