More Billing Bits

I went to the Billing show on the Friday, and as is the norm, came back with a few bits more than planned.

I thought the show was better than the last couple of years, partly due to the weather and partly due to less non-Land Rover related stands being present.  It also benefited from having a much stronger club emphasis.   I seem to be the only one of the LR forum I frequent to feel this way, though I agree with the others that the prices are getting silly, for both admissions and what’s on sale (a lot of the goods are marked up significantly – as much as double the normal price).

I had intended to get a new winch hook, as the existing original Warn hook had no keeper (the safety catch, if you like), a winch drogue (or sail) and a new genuine bottle jack to replace the Range Rover’s, which burst its piston.

I got a brand new drogue, hook and bow shackle from Devon 4×4 (along with some free sweets for the kids – nice bit of customer relations, there!), the bottle jack (in not only serviceable condition, but clearly never used), and also came back with a few extras which, naturally, seemed essential at the time!

I got a pair of 5′ waffle boards and a matching jacking pad for £30, a set of new reflectors for the Sankey trailer, a pair of 90 degree intercooler hoses for the trip’s spares box, a new transfer lever red knob from the ever useful small-bits stand that attends every show, some ratchet straps with hooked ends (much easier and neater to use than my existing plain straps), and a new replica “Best 4X4XFar” window sticker (the classics are always the best!) from the Camel Trophy Owners Club.  The kids got a few bits too, including Rory’s (my son) club renewal.

The waffle boards needed about 4″ trimmed off (three holes’ length) to fit across the roof rack, and as luck has it, sit perfectly side-by-side between the roof storage bag and the wheel chocks with just enough spare room to make bungy-tieing them to the rack easy.  This means that not only do the waffle boards not rub against each other from being stacked, making crepitus like noises and shedding the “grit” coating all over the roof, but I also benefit from a wide area the the fron on which I can stand easily, a wind break for the Hannibal tent cover when it’s empty and folded, and affective sun screen for the sun roof (helping to keep internal temperatures down on the trip).