I'll start this off with a little mishap, I did plan on having a load of pictures to go with this road trip, but now i'm sat at the computer I can see where my camera has been sat for the last 28 hours or so (at time of writing). Imaginations will need to be used here!
The beginning
Original collection plan was for saturday, however, upon arriving at hire place to pick up transporter it transpired that it was abandoned in bournemouth with a flat tyre and no spare. On the upside I got offered the use of it monday for free!
7.30 monday
In the car and off to horsham (again) to collect the transporter, having phoned ahead to make sure its good to go.
8.30 - 44 miles
Collect transporter, realise its the same shade of yellow as the datsun, add 10 tart points for colour coding! Notice that rear light is broken indicator and brake light works but theres a improvised bike light side light taped on drivers side. Trip to local tesco’s to fill up - £75
9.30 - 88 Miles
Arrive back at home (at this point I'm hoping theres a scrap metal place open to get rid of that BMW-FAIL!!) Little while later make a call to Mr. sumo to collect some springs to go up with me.
11.40 - 106 Miles
Arrive at Mr.sumo's for collection. Leave at 11.45
14.10 - 223 Miles
Arrive in leicester, have a cup of tea and a smoke.
14.40 - 223 Miles
Realise the transporter has a flat tyre, theres a 1/2 inch slit in sidewall and no spare!! Quick call to hire co and they are on it.
14.50 - 223 Miles
Quikfit have one in stock, they are 30 mins away (without 1 flat tyre) and close at 16.00. Around this point benzboy arrives, I explain the situation and he wishes me well and departs moment before I do too.
15.40 - 234 Miles
Arrive at quickfit, they umm and ahh about how to torque wheel back up as they don't have an extension long enough, I give them full permission to use all available power from the windy gun and it will have to do. Issue, they won't take payment over the phone, so I have to pay £93 to get it sorted.
16.30 - 245 Miles
Back with the car now, time to suss out how it’s all going to fit on the transporter. With a cup of tea, some quick measuring (using my feet) the engine would fit in the boot, 2 wheels on back seat, other 2 wheels in cab with me,2 boxes of bits on passengers seat and one sunroof over the front and rear seats. Quick use of the engine crane, slight mishap with some escaping ATF, quick bodge with electrical tape and a tesco bag and it was in. All the above took about an hour, at which point I had calmed down and everything that had happened had set it I realised i’d just spent car funds on a tyre! Becci and the “rocket ship” came to the rescue and little while later sorted out.
Sometime later – 245 miles
After a good old tug of war with the stuck on rear drums v’s the transporters winch, the car was free to move, I hadn’t really thought about the amount of weight over the rear of transporter with a bootful of engine, but it did fit on the back tight up to cab and once I had got the rear free of the pavement it didn’t sit too badly.
21.00 - 360 miles
Arrive home in the dark, having just done 115 miles without stopping in quite bad rain sat at no more than 55mph, with intermittent electrical/lighting niggles and headlight that point almost straight at floor. Time for something to eat before offloading. At this point i’m quite tired and been on the road on my own most of the day so the mrs helps unload then comes along for the last leg.
21.45 – 360 miles
Car is now safely on my drive tucked away and blocked in. Quick pitstop for fuel on way to drop transporter off
22.45 – 404 miles
Drop transporter off with hire company, there is 100 miles less fuel than when I started in the tank but the chap lets me off and gives me £45 to go towards the tyre. Time to get back in the car and head for home and sleep.
23.55- 448 miles
Arrive home, knackered, fall into bed, smallest one kicks off and decides its play time 1.5 hours later I get to go to sleep. 7.30 goddam alarm goes off and I remember why I'm tired and that I would rather like to get up and on with it...............
The beginning
Original collection plan was for saturday, however, upon arriving at hire place to pick up transporter it transpired that it was abandoned in bournemouth with a flat tyre and no spare. On the upside I got offered the use of it monday for free!
7.30 monday
In the car and off to horsham (again) to collect the transporter, having phoned ahead to make sure its good to go.
8.30 - 44 miles
Collect transporter, realise its the same shade of yellow as the datsun, add 10 tart points for colour coding! Notice that rear light is broken indicator and brake light works but theres a improvised bike light side light taped on drivers side. Trip to local tesco’s to fill up - £75
9.30 - 88 Miles
Arrive back at home (at this point I'm hoping theres a scrap metal place open to get rid of that BMW-FAIL!!) Little while later make a call to Mr. sumo to collect some springs to go up with me.
11.40 - 106 Miles
Arrive at Mr.sumo's for collection. Leave at 11.45
14.10 - 223 Miles
Arrive in leicester, have a cup of tea and a smoke.
14.40 - 223 Miles
Realise the transporter has a flat tyre, theres a 1/2 inch slit in sidewall and no spare!! Quick call to hire co and they are on it.
14.50 - 223 Miles
Quikfit have one in stock, they are 30 mins away (without 1 flat tyre) and close at 16.00. Around this point benzboy arrives, I explain the situation and he wishes me well and departs moment before I do too.
15.40 - 234 Miles
Arrive at quickfit, they umm and ahh about how to torque wheel back up as they don't have an extension long enough, I give them full permission to use all available power from the windy gun and it will have to do. Issue, they won't take payment over the phone, so I have to pay £93 to get it sorted.
16.30 - 245 Miles
Back with the car now, time to suss out how it’s all going to fit on the transporter. With a cup of tea, some quick measuring (using my feet) the engine would fit in the boot, 2 wheels on back seat, other 2 wheels in cab with me,2 boxes of bits on passengers seat and one sunroof over the front and rear seats. Quick use of the engine crane, slight mishap with some escaping ATF, quick bodge with electrical tape and a tesco bag and it was in. All the above took about an hour, at which point I had calmed down and everything that had happened had set it I realised i’d just spent car funds on a tyre! Becci and the “rocket ship” came to the rescue and little while later sorted out.
Sometime later – 245 miles
After a good old tug of war with the stuck on rear drums v’s the transporters winch, the car was free to move, I hadn’t really thought about the amount of weight over the rear of transporter with a bootful of engine, but it did fit on the back tight up to cab and once I had got the rear free of the pavement it didn’t sit too badly.
21.00 - 360 miles
Arrive home in the dark, having just done 115 miles without stopping in quite bad rain sat at no more than 55mph, with intermittent electrical/lighting niggles and headlight that point almost straight at floor. Time for something to eat before offloading. At this point i’m quite tired and been on the road on my own most of the day so the mrs helps unload then comes along for the last leg.
21.45 – 360 miles
Car is now safely on my drive tucked away and blocked in. Quick pitstop for fuel on way to drop transporter off
22.45 – 404 miles
Drop transporter off with hire company, there is 100 miles less fuel than when I started in the tank but the chap lets me off and gives me £45 to go towards the tyre. Time to get back in the car and head for home and sleep.
23.55- 448 miles
Arrive home, knackered, fall into bed, smallest one kicks off and decides its play time 1.5 hours later I get to go to sleep. 7.30 goddam alarm goes off and I remember why I'm tired and that I would rather like to get up and on with it...............
