We have now acquired a low mileage Toyota Surf with uprated suspension, which will be suitable as a back up vehicle for our expeditions.

We've now collected it, put it through the MOT, taxed it and now it's being serviced and having those little odds and ends fitted...

Equipment that will be fitted include an 'A' bar with spotlights, Warn 8274 winch, CB radio and aerials, 12 volt to 240 volt inverter to run a laptop, cargo net, electric compass, worklamps, and a 'cuddly toy' in the form of our mascot, 'Captain Chaos'!!!

It will be out of the workshop soon with a new 'full' flywheel/clutch as the intermitent and rather loud 'tinkling' sound turned out to be the flywheel dismantling itself, although the clutch was still working perfectly.

I'd rather it was replaced now before it fails somewhere rather remote, like North Wales or Kazakhstan!!!

So, we ordered a 'conversion' kit to change the flywheel to the solid version from Milner Off Road (Telephone: 44 (0)1629 734411) in Matlock and it's now fitted and the Surf's back on the road.

So, it's now time to cary on with the other 'little' things that need adapting/doing!

We will be converting the Surf to run on
Biodiesel/Straight Vegetable Oil/Chip Fat,
the majority which will be collected and processed en route -
details to follow shortly...

We've now acquired a tubular front bumper, incorporating an "A" bar and 'bash plate', which will help protect the front of the vehicle when we're in 'wilder' climes.

The bumper will be modified to take my Warn 8274 winch and the A bar will have spotlight mounts attached.

I've picked it up from the wilds of Yorkshire, in the pouring rain (same weather as we had when we were last on holiday there!), so it will shortly be entering the workshop to be cleaned up, modified, painted and fitted.

During a visit to Snowdonia, the 'useless' (it didn't seem to do anything except make it look like a 'boy racer' vehicle) big bore exhaust decided to part company with the vehicle (I don't know where, as it didn't sound any different and it's now probably fitted on someone's Corsa!), so a new tail pipe (and centre box as that was found to be split) was ordered and fitted the following day, by the nice guys at Minera Tyres and Exhausts.

It now looks more 'normal' now!