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Higgers
Member Since: 07 Oct 2010
Location: Lower Saxony
Posts: 95
  
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Looking at going to Iceland with the D4 this summer.
Without going over the top, what sort of prep to the vehicle would be required?
Has anybody been an got any top tips?
Thanks
Ian 
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 Sun Jan 22 2012 10:21am |
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DSL
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Heading here ^^^^ :)
Posts: 24237
  
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RAI for river crossing & that's about it.
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| Sun Jan 22 2012 11:28am |
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grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: Berks
Posts: 2831
 
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very good MT boots like BFGs as terrain is like on the asteroid in places easy to shred normal tires in pieces in no time
some rope should you be force to check the depth before crossing river (get it attached to the car will not get drowned)
underside protection like that from Devon 4x4 including the tank and front wishbones
D4 two air intakes two snorkels??? not LR RAI as it is not waterproof
lots more camping equipment and roof rack for sure
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| Sun Jan 22 2012 12:07pm |
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DSL
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Heading here ^^^^ :)
Posts: 24237
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Most of the non Tarmac icelandic roads are not as hardcore as peeps think, was there 03 in a standard 90 with RAI & standard road tyres. It's a bit disconcerting when you think you're in the middle of nowhere, then behind you appears a campervan or bus. The only issue we faced was depth of rivers for crossing but they were fine because snow that winter had been light.
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| Sun Jan 22 2012 12:14pm |
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grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: Berks
Posts: 2831
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reassuring but I always go prepared than sorry later on
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| Sun Jan 22 2012 12:17pm |
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DSL
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Heading here ^^^^ :)
Posts: 24237
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Don't rely on your mobile phones to work. The coverage is main towns/city and round the ring road, not the interior. You're not allowed to go "off piste" so generally you won't need a satphone as fair amount of tourist & local traffic. If you go off piste or wild camp they can get stroppy about it.
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| Sun Jan 22 2012 12:31pm |
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DrLex
Member Since: 15 Jul 2005
Location: Ciderspace [Oi be in Zummerset]
Posts: 3497
 
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| Re: Iceland - Advice welcome |
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Higgers wrote:[...]
Has anybody been an got any top tips?
Thanks
Ian
Yup; avoid Þorramatur in Jan/Feb.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Þorramatur for the curious - site won't make it a link, thanks to "Þ" character.) Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
Member of Club Med Sucks
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| Sun Jan 22 2012 7:56pm |
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David-H.
Member Since: 13 Nov 2006
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 122
 
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Hi Higgers.
We did this back in July 2008 in our D3.
Vehicle prep was a Mantec sump plate (we'd already fitted this prior to deciding to go to Iceland), General Grabber AT2 tyres, replaced the space saver spare with a full size wheel and took a Jerry can for extra fuel - this turned out to be unnecessary. While we did encounter a couple of scary river crossings I never considered that a snorkel or RAI was required.
We did drive across the interior on our own which isn't recommended. This was a fantastic drive, though very long. Bizarrely while doing this we came across an elderly Icelandic couple towing a caravan with a Kia Sorrento. Just a nice weekend out for them.
My top tip - go! It's a fabulous place to visit.
Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions, and I'll try to answer.
David. 2012 Orkney Grey RR Evoque Dynamic.
Suzuki Jimny - lifted 2".
SWMBO's BMW 135i M Sport.
Member of The Scottish Off Road Club.
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| Sun Jan 22 2012 11:58pm |
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AAA.Happy.Disco1.Fan
Member Since: 04 Nov 2010
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 557
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| Re: Iceland - Advice welcome |
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DrLex wrote:Yup; avoid Þorramatur in Jan/Feb.
Or any time AT ALL ?
Þorramatur consists of many different foods, including:
Kæstur hákarl, putrefied Greenland shark
Súrsaðir hrútspungar, the testicles of rams pressed in blocks, boiled and cured in lactic acid.
Svið, singed and boiled sheep heads, sometimes cured in lactic acid
Sviðasulta, head cheese or brawn made from svið, sometimes cured in lactic acid
AAA 
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| Mon Jan 23 2012 12:59am |
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WINDSWEPTISLANDER
Member Since: 21 Jul 2011
Location: Way up north
Posts: 14
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I've been to Iceland twice, loved it twice. First time was is a stock hilux, second time with a modified 90 and a stock jeep. You need to be prepared to do some river fording, and if you plan to do the old F910 then you will definately need a jerry can. I think that's probably the most serious road though. It is illegal to wild camp, some of the roads are patrolled in the evening, the F910 being one such road - looking for stragglers.
Having been twice I would be happy going with my D3 stock. I might consider getting 17" wheels for is as the roads can be relentlessly bumpy, make sure all your bushes are in good condition. I would also consider a snorkel, more for the incredible ammounts of dust that tends to be flying about. Most fuel stations have free carwashing facilities to help you combat the dust.
I would have no issues croossing the interior myself, there is always a steady run of folk coming and going, what I wouldn't go without is breakdown insurance of some sort. Last time I had to tow the Jeep hundreds of miles along the south coast. The first time we went we took the lonely planet guide and tried to do all their 'must see in iceland' things, acheivable in a fortnight.
If I was going again I would avoid Rekjavik, it just wasn't for me, though I'm sure some people love it.
Also worth thinking of going later rather than earlier in the year. Going last week of August + first week Sept we saw the northern lights (which I am used to - but these were exceptional) and as it was getting a little colder at night again there was less water coming down the rivers (Locals told us we had chosen our dates well)
I could ramble on about Iceland for ages, for me it is a first and second best holiday memry and I loved every moment. Feel free to get in touch if you want to hear more ramblings. Or with any specific questions
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| Tue Mar 20 2012 3:44pm |
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