Road trip.
As promised here is the story of todays road trip to pick up the GTV. So grab yourself a beer/coffee/whatever and have a read.
I'd got all the prep done for the trip well beforehand. Cash for the car, trailer booked, Land Rover checked over and alarm set. So up bright and early, coffee and check of emails, then stick the kettle back on to take through a coffee for the co-pilot and, wonders will never cease, she walks into the kitchen. Seems like a good omen to me, we might actually stick to the schedule today.
Leave the house only 5 minutes late for the quick trip across town to pick up the trailer, not too much traffic about so its all going fine, that is until the last roundabout before the plant hire place. One commuter on morning auto-pilot decides she doesn't need to give way to me. Luckily I was paying attention so managed to slam on the anchors and squeal to a stop (no ABS in the Disco) before ending up on her lap. At least there was no damage done and it probably woke her up to. Being a RHD Disco I was able to look straight down on her, and her face was a picture seeing my bull bars coming straight at her.
So after the morning adrenalin rush its on to the plant hire place, fill out all the paperwork (the UK driving license seemed to confuse them) then outside to hook up the trailer.
HOW BIG? The trailer looks like it might be a little over the top, its bloody huge. The length is not a problem, but it sticks out at least 40cm each side above the width of the Disco. Luckily most of the trip is going to be on main roads. Quick fill up before we leave Bergerac, and blimey I can already feel the weight of the trailer on the hills, whats it going to be like with the car on as well.
The trip up was totally uneventful, clear roads and we actually beat the Satnav time. Pick the guy up from the garage then its off to the farm where the car is.
This is where the car has been for the past few years. Its actually been off the road since 1995. I had been told the brakes were seized on, but they were in fact only partially seized, so Chris (seller) sticks a battery on the car and turns the key. Starts up with a clatter and drives it up onto the trailer (Hydraulic bed which is nice).
Quick shuffle on the tie downs and stops and its all secure. Both front wheels with special straps, the rear just around the main suspension tube.
Oh and the winch was connected up as well, just to be safe. All nice and tight and we even get waved off.
A quick stop off for some food as it was lunchtime, KFC located, RESULT!!
The trip home was fairly uneventful, downhill sections were used to give the engine a break and heat the brakes up, uphill sections were used to cool the brakes and burn through a lot of diesel.
Only got caught out once on a downhill section when the brakes started to feel a little odd, plenty of space though so no problems, and on one hill we did slow down to 60kmh, tired slush-box is the problem there.
Just one stop was required to remove a piece of trim that was flapping around, better to travel in the back of the Disco than to vanish off into the French countryside.
Getting back through the town roadworks with the car on the back was interesting, amazing how people get out of your way when there is a wide trailer facing them down.
Finally got it home safe, and here are a couple of pics to show just how wide and long the trailer was.
Quick check over the car reveals a boot full of goodies, I'm sure some will come in handy.
All that was left was to battle through town again to take the trailer back, not fun at school chucking out time.
So now the car is safely tucked up in the garage ready for some TLC. I've already got a big list of jobs to do on it.
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