kirkyboy5 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Dear all, Thinking of planning a Road trip... from Wolverhampton to the Somme battlefields in the Westie. What are the top hints you can all give me for a long road trip? We will not have a hood because of the roll over bar so will be open to the elements aha Things to do before we go is Full service, get westfield to fix a few bits and bobs. Also is there anybody on here that can point me in the right direction for a luggage holder to fit onto a RAC rollover bar etc? Thanks in advance Dan Quote
Andy798 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Thats a long way to go without a roof, fair play! As for storage, http://www.softbitsforsevens.co.uk/ have some boot storage bags that I think work with the RAC bar (might want to get someone who has used one to confirm though) 1 Quote
Norman Verona Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Dan, that's not that far. I assume you will cross Dover-Calais. It's about an hour from there along the A16. A bit longer on the N and D roads. We used to go Sheffield - Le Mans with no hood or screen and the (Caterham) boot full of our stuff with the tent and chairs tied on the back. We were away for a week. Quote
SteveD Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Dan, that's not that far. I assume you will cross Dover-Calais. It's about an hour from there along the A16. A bit longer on the N and D roads. We used to go Sheffield - Le Mans with no hood or screen and the (Caterham) boot full of our stuff with the tent and chairs tied on the back. We were away for a week. yeh but we had summers then ,weeks without rain ,thses days you have all four seasons in a day ,every day Quote
frag68 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Dan, that's not that far. I assume you will cross Dover-Calais. It's about an hour from there along the A16. A bit longer on the N and D roads. We used to go Sheffield - Le Mans with no hood or screen and the (Caterham) boot full of our stuff with the tent and chairs tied on the back. We were away for a week. I went from Lanark near Glasgow to Le Mans via Dover/Calais in the Westy this summer without a roof. I basically had all my camping gear in the boot, down the back of the seats and all the clothes in a rucksack bungeed from the harness eyes onto the chassis/spare wheel mount with my clothes in it. In fact my avatar picture was taken at Eurotunnel in Folkestone Take a pair of waterproof troousers and a waterproof jacket for the showers and sunscreen as your legs do get burned as well in the sun. Oh and if you plan on doing the journey in one go, a coccyx ring for your derriere as it doesnt half hurt after a fw hundred miles in the saddle. Its great fun though and I would certainly do it again. Quote
housebeautician Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 I'm impressed Dan. And i dont doubt the old girl will do it easy. But after saying that i'd join the rac or someone just in case. Be interested to know how you got on. Tony Quote
frag68 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 The AA/RAC or indeed any European brakdown service is essential. My westy only made it as far as Rouen on the return leg and I had it trailered from there to Lanark. I bought the breakdown cover as part of my Westy insurance package. However dont expect the French to know what they are doing or indeed the breakdown company, as it is farmed out to some foreign lot who have absolutely no knowledge of these specialist cars, despite taking out a "specialist" policy to cover you. I could write a whole book on my debacle home. However the £40 or so for the policy was extremely good value for money. I would recommend it. Quote
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Never fails to amaze me when I hear about some people's travels in these cars! Very well done! Quote
lippydave Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Surely a half-hood is an ideal compromise for this sort of trip? Quote
CL290005 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Get a cage fitted then buy a large top box, now you have luggage space and a roof Quote
Pistol Pete Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 (edited) Just make sure you read the small print of the recovery you choose, I don't think RAC Greenflag cover kit cars - I went with AA last year for a trip to France. So nice driving out there, great roads you'll enjoy. Also make sure you take you yellow vest and spare bulb kit. Edited to correct. Edited January 5, 2012 by Pistol Quote
frag68 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 My insurance was with Adrian Flux and I cant remeber who the breakdown cover was, but they certainly covered kit cars. The roads are a joy and the Frenchies like to see these type of cars. Quote
Norman Verona Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Steve, we got soaked at some point every year, It's an attitude of mind. If you consider it a problem it will be a problem. If you think of it as a great blat it will be a great blat. Quote
Mark Stanton Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 a good set of waterproofs (leggings & jacket) is much better than any hood Quote
Welly Jen Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Drove my car from Loughborough to near Grenoble the summer before last. 800 or so miles in two days, then the same back again. No hood, no screen. I was lucky with the weather, but I wear a helmet, so its like your own personal hard top. Only problem with the rain is when the visor steams up. Full waterproofs were taken of course. Considering taking it to northern Spain this year, but will probably cheat and stick it on the ferry to Santander, or Bilbao. Jen Quote
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