Thanks for the replies to my earlier message about booking ferries to Ceuta.

A new query...

I plan to travel to southern Morocco in a Series I Discovery. I intend to travel from Marrakech --> Ouarzazate --> Vallee du Draa and then try the journey described in Chris Scott's book from Tagounite to Taouz and Merzouga.

My questions are as follows:
1. Would readers who have done this route recommend fitting underbody protection such as steering and diff guards and fuel tank guards?
2. If so, which would be considered most essential?
3. And, which makes are considered to be particularly good for a Discovery?

Many thanks.

TM

Tony,

Your SI Disco is basically the same underneath as my SI Rangie. My own personal view is that diff guards don't weigh much and will certainly reduce the chances of an immobilising punctured diff pan. I've not made a trip to morocco yet, so can't comment on the terrain - but I have off-roaded in the UK for many years.

My advice on diff guards is not to fit the type that just clamps onto the diff itself - sort of like a big jubilee clip. If you crunch the guard, the diff casing gets crunched too. QT makes some that protect the pan without attaching to the casing (www.qtservices.co.uk).

I'm sure some of the more experienced overlanders/desert-goers here will help you decide whether you need them or not! If you're going to encounter ANY rocky terrain, I'd fit them.

Ben

Hi Tony,

I've done that piste last year. Back then I saw some 60 (!!) Renault 4 (seemed like a group of French students getting their kicks in Easter time) escorted by 3-4 Mitsubishis doing it.

So as long as you don't plan to do serious off-road (or off-piste !!), you don't need any special protection.

Just good mood !!
José

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Desert Crocodiles of Mauritania: http://cibio.up.pt/crocodilos/en

Tony,

If you stick to the piste and are able to keep your concentration on the obstacles ahead all the time, you can easily avoid any damage, even to tyres. If you want extra protection, think of the front diff and fuel tank as the most vulnerable parts.

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Roman (UK)
www.polandrover.com

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Roman (UK)

Hi Tony
Did that 18 months ago - its great - highly recommended. Take both Rough and Lonely Planet Guides - both have holes in and inconsiustencies that each the other corrects. If you are avoiding Todra then you can probably get away with no underbody protection if you stay off the rougher rough stuff. My Defender had various underbody guards (front, rear diff, steering) but all were untouched at the end of the trip. My rear tank is high enough that Id have to be doing something really silly to bop it. A Nissan travelling with us got hammered in Todra, tread warily, and that goes for tyres too. What type are you taking? Take tubed, take plenty of spare tubes too, Moroccan rocks are sharp as hell - saying that we didnt have a single flat - we were on Michelin XCLs (dont take mud tyres if you can avoid it - we couldnt!) - nor did the Nissan - they had Dunlop Grandtreks.

Dont forget that big lumps of metal like underbody guards add weight.

Gentle Touch Fabrications make excellent guards at a very good price. I *think* they are also suppliers to people like Craddocks who more or less *double* the price!

QT Services, as someone's said, make a good rear diff guard.

Think about jackable sills. Mantec do good ones.

Southdown make the best underbody guards there are, IMHO, but they are quite heavy and VERY pricey.

Might be worth fitting an extra fuel filter - some Moroccan diesel is fairly ropey. (Looked like real ale - with a head!)

Are you crossing at Ceuta or Tangiers?

Youll have a whale of a trip - Morocco is fab

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Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but wheeltracks..... tread lightly.

Guys,
Thanks for the advice. Very helpful.

Ben, I checked out the QT website and the rear diff guard certainly looks the business. Is it straightforward to fit?

Land Rover Nomad, I haven't come across Gentle Touch Fabrications and can't find a website. Do you have a contact for them?

Hmm. The added weight is a concern. Do you know roughly how much these things weigh? Do they affect handling?

I hadn't planned on Todra for this trip, I wanted to spend more time around the desert. But I guess there are plenty of rocky passes on the way to test the vehicle. However, plans change and it would be nice to know that the car is protected if I should decide to venture into rockier more challenging parts.

I'll have to use my regular tyres, namely Goodyear Eagle 235/70R16. They are in good condition. Hope they're up to it.

Thanks for the tip about the fuel filter!

We'll be crossing via Ceuta. The last time I went was in 1976! Can't wait.

Cheers

Tony

While we're talking about Todra, how wide is the narrowest stretch of track there? If there's nothing on each side it's not a problem, but in the gorge I imagine there is a cliff or two to squeeze past.
Ta
L

Theres plenty of room around the todra

Well my 101 ambi got through ok - Todra is a mere 15m wide !

The tracks beyond are stoney and they took out a 10 ply nato mil spec tyre so yes, do take tubes

The only vehicle not to puncture was running on BFG trac edges



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Rich
LR101 300Tdi Ambi 'Tiggurr'

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Rich

Iveco Turbo Daily 4x4 40-10
Ex Owner LR101 300Tdi Ambi 'Tiggurr'

Tony,

The QT rockslider (rear guard) took about 30 minutes to fit - most of that time was taken up by jacking the vehicle up and putting axle stands underneath it! A set of ramps would have made life much easier...

B

Tony...
Gentle Touch fabrications... I have bought kit from them at the last two Billing shows but I havent got any contact details for them! Best bet is to post messages on the various LRO/LRE Internet BBSs and see what turns up, maybe email Craddocks etc and ask them too.

I cant remember weight... the steering guard is heavy, the diff guards not too bad. Altogether they dont affect handling (Southdown ones do but they are so tough they are probably mine-proof) - they do however help to keep your centre of gravity low esp when you have a heavy roof load, which is worth bearing in mind.

Rich C and Tiggurr... you on for green laning at Christmas? We have a mutual friend - Phil and his yellow 101 Fran - ask him about Elsa the white 110 Should be three or four of us going looking for snow and mud in the Dales or the Peaks...

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Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but wheeltracks..... tread lightly.

Tony....

Gentle Touch Fabrications website is
www.gentletouch-fabrications.com
but it's down at the mo. They were at the latest Old Sodbury Sortout so they are still trading but 'investigations are proceeding' as to how to contact them. There is a thread to this effect on the LRE BBS.

To give you a rough idea about what they do and their prices....

For my 110 (prices in sterling)

Comparisons with Craddocks are for product that in my opinion is identical

Steering guard 43.00 (Craddocks price 70.50)
Salisbury diff guard 25.00 (Craddocks 35.25)
Front diff guard 25.00 (Craddocks 44.65)

Their kit is well-made and solid, though Im not about to try and test it Its easy to fit as well, with all relevant nuts and bolts. I seem to remember they are a one-man-band run by a Landy enthusiast. That's maybe why their admin and advertising arent that special!

Im not slagging Craddocks here by the way, I use them myself, but I was amazed at their apparent markup on these items.

Another thought is all my Gentle Touch stuff was bought at Billing so it may be a Show Discount in effect, at least in part.

Ill keep you posted

LRN

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Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but wheeltracks..... tread lightly.

LRN

Thanks for the info and help. The prices are certainly very competitive.

I managed to find the same URL, but as you say, it doesn't work. I also managed to find a phone number (01922-401751) , but that doesn't work either!!

Let's hope they're still operating.

Cheers

Tony