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Raising the suspension? Raising the suspension?
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Light Overland Vehicle Tech Tech issues, tips and hints, prepping for travel
Under 3500kg vehicles, e.g. Land Cruiser, Land Rover, Subaru etc.
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Photo by Hendi Kaf,
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  #1  
Old 18 Jul 2010
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Question Raising the suspension?
Hi Guys,
Team 'Missing Lincs' are driving to Banjul in a Peugeot 306 this winter and the topic of raising the suspension has cropped up. What are peoples experiences with this? Is it worth while and can this be widely done in Morocco? How much can we expect to pay?

Any adive is greatly appreciated.

Dan
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Old 19 Jul 2010
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Hi Dan,

For a quick jaunt down to the Gambia I wouldnt bother, Ive seen plenty of cars from Europe make it to Banjul and a lot further on standard suspesion on lots of different makes of cars.

Peugeots have pretty good suspension as standard and if you try and bodge a lift you are going to end up with something breaking or a CV joint failing from too acute an angle of the driveshaft.

just pack sensibly - keep any heavy gear central behind the drivers seats (fix lashing loops through the floor to keep it secured- watch those brake/fuel lines!)

Any corrogated pistes you drive on will soon find weak points in cheap modifications.

Its pretty much asphalt all the way these days anyway - unless you take a few sidetrips.
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Old 19 Jul 2010
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yes, I agree.

Just an idea, but you could put slightly taller tyres on?

Cheers,
Matt
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Old 20 Jul 2010
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Pbc
Hi Dan

I did the PBC in 07 in a £90 shogun and it was great fun though my co driver bailed & flew home the day we got to banjul.!

you will be able to do it all in a 2wd car no problem, I would not modify it at all just make sure you can fix it if it is a real banger.
you can skirt the desert bit if you need to as there is a good road to nouakchott.

Oh and pick your company well, you will have more fun in a group and the niggles of travelling 24/7 for 3 weeks with a mate can be alleviated with the company of others.



regards

Gren
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Old 20 Jul 2010
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I travelled with a pug 306 on the mongol rally, via western kaz and west Mongolia. Heavily loaded and entirely stock, the only issues were gravel puncturing the plastic fuel tank, bending the steel wheels on nasty potholes, snapping the exposed clutch cable and ripping the exhaust from the manifold from too much dragging. If you travel *light* you won't have half the bother / stick to sensible pistes. FYI it is terrible in sand.
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Old 7 Aug 2010
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did this in 2006 with the PDC, and again in 2008 on our own

we used a suzuki sj413 which was fab, but teamed up with 2 brothers and their wives in a pair of montego estates which managed ok. this was before the nouakchott/nouadhibu link road was built. we went via rosso which I would avoid. next time travelling on our own in 2 landcruisers we went via the barage, which involves about 80km on tracks but would be fine for a 2wd, lots have done it. van wheels and tyres are useful if you can get them as they are tougher. make some sand ladders for yourself (from wood if necessary)and carry a good pump and tyre pressure gauge. airing your tyres down will get you out of most problems. would defo agree with falling in with other teams, for safety, mutual support and relief from your co driver. I had to be restrained from taking to my dad with a shovel at one point. being in a car with someone for 3 weeks does strange things to you!! the better you know them, the worse it seems to be.

you can read about our exploits in Me, Dad and the Plymouth to Dakar which is available on ebay.
Me, dad, and the Plymouth to Dakar suzuki expedition on eBay (end time 08-Aug-10 10:43:19 BST)
I am suprised they are still running it given the FO advice on Mauritania. whats the situation there now?
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