Today I fitted the Voltset solar trickle charger to keep my battery crisp and charged in between short journeys and times of non use https://amzn.eu/d/cU0unHJ


Hopefully the new battery will stay charged and efficient with the lighter evenings and daytime sunshine

The solar charger is working well and starts well despite short trips the only faff is putting the Chanel back in position and plugging it in twelve volt socket previously used for the fag lighter or accessories plug in.

I’m happy as no mor cables and trickle charging from the garage and free electricity, a real bonus.

I drove 3 1/2 hours over (and back) to Bell Engineering to have the diff replaced and Haldex serviced. £812 or just a wee bit more than a years road tax!

Austen and his team have a happy set up. He is moving to a close by light industrial unit in early May, which will help. My i6 drove home happily so I am content that the rear end can look after itself for a little longer.

One minor criticism was that the footwell of my car was filthy from dirty boots, due to the poor conditions and diesel spill on site. A shame that a paper mat was not used to negate the problem. Anyway, it will not exist once Bell move to their new premises.

I took myself off to the Wyre Forest Visitor Centre, a couple of clicks up the hill from Bell. Wi-Fi, hot chocolate, cake and/or lunch available, comfortable and warm. The walk there and back was nice in the early spring sunshine.






 Tim

Freelander 2 HSE i6 Stornoway Grey with Alpaca & Tundra interior
Driven many miles in:
2 FL2s
1 Range Rover P38
4 Range Rover Classics
Many military LWB & 1/2 ton Lightweight Series IIA & III

Last edited by trw999 on 20th Mar 2025 5:30 am. Edited 1 time in total

Did a bit more logging - fallen tree was only a few 100m from home so didnt bother with the trailer

Click image to enlarge

Some good size twigs for the fire! Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

I am a part time Lumberjack as well. So Rachel Reeves can stuff her winter fuel where the sun don't shine.



[/img] 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented. The Enemy is our own corrupt Government.

I heard our government is due to outlaw wood burning stoves ??

What are the rules for the 2025 log burner?
Under the new regulations, only dry well seasoned wood with a moisture content of 20% or lower and manufactured solid fuels are approved for use in wood burning stoves, while wet wood and bagged house coal are prohibited.4 Mar 2025

Store mine for at least two years and have a DEFRA approved stove, pointless burning wet wood no heat from it. 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented. The Enemy is our own corrupt Government.

Likewise for me Jules

The days of logs being sold as a side line are long gone. They buy lorry loads in and feed the timber through an automated process, not standing and cutting up with a chain saw. It’s a big business now

Fitted new wiper blades to the car had a false start as the Bosch Aero blades come on two flavours the AU and AP I mistakenly got the P blades like on the 59 plate previous car only to discover they didn’t fit Anna’s to reorder plus getting a shorter blade fo the passenger side.

Hopefully good for a few more years, one hand car diy is not as easy as o thought

. Double post somehow...???

Last edited by ReggiePerrin on 20th Mar 2025 9:38 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Winter wheels off, wheel arches cleaned to within a mm of their very existence, summer wheels on and then ran the car up to the favoured 'money launderers are us' car washery.

... the wheels (19") seem to get heavier every season which makes me think that the next tyre renewal will be to all season and the winter wheels will be dispensed with. That said, with my annual mileage, there is likely to be a fair few seasons of summer/winter changes yet

Mine came on 17"s which I had AT tyres fitted to, bought a set of 18"s to use as summer wheels, had fairly decent Pirelli tyres when I got them, drove 2 years, swapping them about until the summer tyres were done, put AT tyres on the 18"s and they have been on full time for 3 years now! Full set of 17"s gathering dust in the garage. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

ReggiePerrin wrote:

Winter wheels off, wheel arches cleaned to within a mm of their very existence, summer wheels on and then ran the car up to the favoured 'money launderers are us' car washery.

... the wheels (19") seem to get heavier every season which makes me think that the next tyre renewal will be to all season and the winter wheels will be dispensed with. That said, with my annual mileage, there is likely to be a fair few seasons of summer/winter changes yet