Preparing for next year's 4x4 tour

[Barrbeast]

Well it was my birthday on Saturday and the gf got me 3 hours tuition in my own vehicle at the Scottish Offroad Driving Centre in Fife - figured with the plan to do the Vampire4x4 tour next July it would be a good way to get to know Foxy (the 'trol) properly as she's different to my old Shogun, plus most of my knowledge so far has been through trial and error!

It's got me thinking about what other prep I should be thinking about (so that I can start budgeting etc).

I had thought about a lift but want to keep it as "rest of the family" friendly as possible, so have ditched that idea!

So far plan is:-

-Front and rear offroad bumpers (ARBs are nice but £££ for what you get imho so will likely get someone to make some up for me... maybe even one of our Scottish members who does that sort of thing...).

- Roof rack, to carry some of the kit (they recommend you take a few spares) and I might get a roof tent.

What other suggestions do folk have? Would like to have almost a list of priority as I don't know how much I will have to spend yet.

There will be a number of vehicles on the tour so I reckon I can get away without a winch. A-bar/bullbar would be nice but would rather have the offroad bumper if it was a choice.

[Fez_uk]

Hi lift jack - great pieces of kit, worth getting used to it before you go on the trip

Can be used for various things such as a winch (with chains, very slow but better than nowt).
jacking the vehicle to put waffle boards, rocks under wheels if your stuck and for extra height when working on it if anything breaks (use a axle stand or a log to take the load, don't work under it with just the hi-lift jack holding it up).

If you get a set of bumpers done worth getting hi-lift jacking points made into them.

Also think about rock/tree sliders?

I am guessing the spare wheel is stored on the rear door? I'd seriously think about a swing away wheel carrier type of system. You could also then mount the hi-lift jack, maybe some waffle boards or extra fuel on it too.

A rear work light might be helpful.

Some more things will come to me.

[(RIP) PLANK]

it might be worth asking for specific 'servicing' advice for that engine as some of the patrols had issues. I think cleaning the erg and manifolds is highly recommended, was AndrewK the member who looked into all that stuff?