Member Since: 06 Sep 2015
Location: Kent
Posts: 48
Nordkapp, Norway 2016/17
Im in the process of planing and prepping my D4 for a winter trip to Nordkapp in Feb 2016 if all goes to plan, if not i will go in 2017!
The proposed route is
This is a bit of a sounding board for recommendations and advice if anyone would be kind enough! it will change and evolve as i continue to plan for the trip. This plan is not complete it has some big holes in it at the moment and there are still some bits that I'm questioning.
The plan is to use the DFDS freight ferry from Immingham - Brevik to get there and the Esbjerg - Immingham to get back home. (this needs looking into in detail)
Recovery:
Is a winch needed or useful?
Would waffle boards be worth taking?
I will be taking my normal recovery gear (Strops, Recovery Rope, Shackles, Ect)
Protection:
Tree sliders - Fitted
Steering protector
Extra Lighting:
I have read that this can be helpful but I'm still undecided However i imagine it will include some lightforce lamps on the front and maybe 50inch curved led light bar (if i can come up with a good way of mounting this)
Sleeping and Storage:
I'm planing on building a false floor in the back of the disco that i can store stuff under and sleep on top. (we won't be sleeping in the disco every night we will be using hotels etc)
Proactive Maintenance and cold weather prep:
Flush coolant system and refill with coolent suitable to -40C
Buy Washer fluid Suitable for the Conditions
Flush Gearbox
Change oil in Both diffs
Enable park heat
thats all for now Current Vw Amarok
Current Discovery 5
Ex 2005 Hse
Ex 2000 D2 Es
Ex 2011 D4 Hse Siberian Silver
Ex 2001 D2 ES Oslo Blue 208k
Ex 1996 D1 3Dr Silver (Gone To Africa)
23rd Sep 2015 10:22 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73079
Gratuitous selfie of yours truely at North Cape this June. +1c, horizontal snow and 60 - 80mph winds. And that was my summer hollibobs.
Sounds a great trip, looking forward to the pics.
Last edited by DSL on 23rd Sep 2015 11:36 am. Edited 1 time in total
23rd Sep 2015 11:35 am
L319
Member Since: 14 Dec 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2083
This sounds a great journey . I have used the freight ferry from Immingham to Brevik which I found had excellent accommodation but would add one word of caution. Freight takes priority and sailing have, as a colleague of mine knows, been cancelled at the last minute, leaving him with a 2 day wait or a refund and make his way back by another route. The policy may have changed now but it would be worth checking the small print.
23rd Sep 2015 11:35 am
slrk1725
Member Since: 01 Aug 2010
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 29
Hi
Most important is really good winter tyres and I'm not sure Duratrac can handle the conditions in norhtern Norway and Sweden. The people that live and drive that far north have studded tires.
How do you plan to keep your self warm when you sleep in the car? Park heat will not be sufficient for a whole night.
Winch could be useful but you might end up with nothing to secure the the rope/wire to if you are alone, not too much vegetation at the top of Europe. I suggest getting some company during the trip so that you have a backup if something goes wrong.
Waffle boards could help if you end up in a ditch but either the roads will be cleared from snow or you will have snow drifts that waffle boards will be useless in.
A battery in perfect condition since Park heat draws a lot of Amps, oil with rating for extreme cold and as you said coolant for engine and washer (can be bought at any gas station in Scandinavia)
Fredrik
25th Sep 2015 9:18 pm
Ben-89
Member Since: 06 Sep 2015
Location: Kent
Posts: 48
hey guys thanks for the input so far its really appreciated, the more i look into this the more i fear i won't be able to do it next year but I'm still trying for 2016
i have been looking into the freight ferry and thinking on what L319 has said about cancellations and i think there will be a change of plans because it will be easier to book, cheaper to go harwich-hook of holland, and Germany-Norway, and i will get to see more of Europe.
DSL what route did you take from the uk-nordkapp?
Fredrik thanks for your input you have raised some things i was questioning myself.
With the duratrac i should have mentioned I'm looking into removable ice/snow studs can anyone recommend sone or are they easy to buy in Norway? i think there very expensive in England.
The sleeping plans were to set the park heat to activate halfway though the night to keep the temp reasonable within the car, I'm expecting worse case it will be -30c so I'm trying to find some 4 season sleeping bags rated to -30 (I'm struggling with this might have to use a double sleeping bag with them?) Can anyone recommend some? as i said the main plan is to use hotels and huts. but i want the faculty to have a kip in the car if need be. also i don't want to freeze if i end up getting stuck somewhere.
With the winch for self recovery i assume a ground anchor would be useless in a snow drift, but would it work with more compact snow? is it worth carrying?
Are the roads at that time of year used much and do people stop to help you get back on your way?
i was thinking that this might be better as a group trip and I'm still contemplating this but i think i would struggle to find people to go with.
and finally battery arrangements i have been giving this some thought i have three options
1 new standard battery
2 standard battery with a battery jump starter for emergencies and charge this when I'm using hotels
3 dual battery setup which isn't cheap or that easy to do in a d4.
I'm thinking option 2 currently unless anyone thinks i should go a different way.
thanks for you help once again
BenCurrent Vw Amarok
Current Discovery 5
Ex 2005 Hse
Ex 2000 D2 Es
Ex 2011 D4 Hse Siberian Silver
Ex 2001 D2 ES Oslo Blue 208k
Ex 1996 D1 3Dr Silver (Gone To Africa)
26th Sep 2015 3:56 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73079
I did a bit of a figure of eight route due to the rubbish weather. Chunnel then up through Germany to Denmark then up the E4 in Sweden. After Ornskoldvik hooked a left to Fauske, then Engeloya & Lefotons where I had enough of the weather (early June) and headed inland via Kiruna to Finland and up to Tana Bru. Then to North Cape and down the coast to Tromso then down a bit and back to Kiruna then a bit inland before heading south to the E4 to head out the same way as started.
Oh and just a thought re sleeping bags. Watch the temp rating in them, I remember seeing that the temp number is a survival number, not a comfort number, so you won't be warm as toast. Also sleeping in the car will result in a lot of humidity & condensation, that will freeze so you may have issues with doors freezing shut. Not from experience (freezing) but I do sleep in the car on road trips and there is hellova lot of condensation.
26th Sep 2015 5:00 pm
Ben-89
Member Since: 06 Sep 2015
Location: Kent
Posts: 48
DSL wrote:
I did a bit of a figure of eight route due to the rubbish weather. Chunnel then up through Germany to Denmark then up the E4 in Sweden. After Ornskoldvik hooked a left to Fauske, then Engeloya & Lefotons where I had enough of the weather (early June) and headed inland via Kiruna to Finland and up to Tana Bru. Then to North Cape and down the coast to Tromso then down a bit and back to Kiruna then a bit inland before heading south to the E4 to head out the same way as started.
Oh and just a thought re sleeping bags. Watch the temp rating in them, I remember seeing that the temp number is a survival number, not a comfort number, so you won't be warm as toast. Also sleeping in the car will result in a lot of humidity & condensation, that will freeze so you may have issues with doors freezing shut. Not from experience (freezing) but I do sleep in the car on road trips and there is hellova lot of condensation.
Thanks for your route I will look into it.
Sleeping bags temp ratings I know from personal experience that at the max rating you will not be cosy(freezing all night in a snowy field in a tent), and that -30 this is an extreme rating and the real rating is -5 at best. I saw on you thread that you used two sleeping bags what sort of temperatures where you dealing with. and I see you took a tent but did u prefer sleeping in this over the car?
Also when you was wild camping did u just stop somewhere and set up or was there more to it than this? I'm worrying about getting stuck somewhere if the weather turns or something to be honest, infact the more I think about it im thinking I might go later in the year or try to put together a groupCurrent Vw Amarok
Current Discovery 5
Ex 2005 Hse
Ex 2000 D2 Es
Ex 2011 D4 Hse Siberian Silver
Ex 2001 D2 ES Oslo Blue 208k
Ex 1996 D1 3Dr Silver (Gone To Africa)
26th Sep 2015 11:43 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73079
Much of the first part was sleeping in the car because of the high winds, no way I wanted a tent up in that. After that it just depended on where I ended up and whether tent was practical. Re places, I just kept my eyes on little tracks down to lakes (seen on iPad map as often not visible from road) or layby with a small picnic area attached. Found a couple of good places on street map where I knew I was likely to be. Re temps, nothing below freezing but very windy so any heat in car was being whipped away.
so you can use at night and only a few mins to put up
Home of RLD Hidden winch mounts Spare wheel Locks Trailer Body Fabrication ray@rld-tech.co.uk D3/4 sump plates MY 14 sump plates and the Discovery Sport wheel protectors Discovery 5 wheel locks
more Helsport tents and other things for camping Law of Mechanical Repair:
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27th Sep 2015 10:56 am
Ben-89
Member Since: 06 Sep 2015
Location: Kent
Posts: 48
Thanks DSL
Thanks for the tent recommendation ray i need to get in touch with you about the steering guard!
Right I've been thinking about vehicle storage
I'm thinking of building a plywood frame 18mm sides 18mm top and 10mm floor
This will accommodate 6x 35l really useful boxes for storage, that might be on sliders in a tray. and the front half will have storage with prob a cut out for a fridge behind the centre cubby box (still thinking about this).
Does anyone know where i can get some 1000mm or there about drawer sliders for a reasonable price?
The top will provide somewhere to sleep on.
This will be removable and fixed to the factory lashing points in the back, once removed it will be able to be dissembled and stored flat.
pics
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Current Vw Amarok
Current Discovery 5
Ex 2005 Hse
Ex 2000 D2 Es
Ex 2011 D4 Hse Siberian Silver
Ex 2001 D2 ES Oslo Blue 208k
Ex 1996 D1 3Dr Silver (Gone To Africa)
29th Sep 2015 7:46 pm
LittleG
Member Since: 21 Sep 2013
Location: Wombourne
Posts: 392
I've almost finished my own drawer/storage, they fit with the middle row of seats up.
I can let you have the dimensions if you want along with a cutting plan for the boards?
I've made them deep enough for a bottle of wine to stand up! well about 70 or so bottles!
With the middle row of seat taken out there is plenty of storage space and room for the fridge. There is also an extension to the box for a mattress over the middle row supported behind the front seats
Tidying up the new split charge system, added some lights to the tailgate for some proper illumination
29th Sep 2015 8:08 pm
Ben-89
Member Since: 06 Sep 2015
Location: Kent
Posts: 48
Thats cool, have you done a thread for it i think a lot of people would be interested. What have you done to made the drawers slide?
I have been thinking about how to get some better light too thanks for that!Current Vw Amarok
Current Discovery 5
Ex 2005 Hse
Ex 2000 D2 Es
Ex 2011 D4 Hse Siberian Silver
Ex 2001 D2 ES Oslo Blue 208k
Ex 1996 D1 3Dr Silver (Gone To Africa)
29th Sep 2015 9:01 pm
PJHUM
Member Since: 09 Sep 2015
Location: East lancs
Posts: 12
Looks like a great trip; I did your first (circular) route- give or take- in 2005 on the motorbike (but not midwinter!) Back then we could sail Newcastle-Bergen and return from Gothenburg. I did hear there was a freight ferry that would take vehicles from Aberdeen- I think to Stavanger but I never found it (a Local told me about using it to tour Scotland in summer)
I believe most of the E6 is tarmac now- there was still gravel north of Narvik in places back then.
I would definitely go up the Norwegian coast if you've not been there before- it is exceptional scenery, very friendly folk and an amazing experience. the Baltic coast of Sweden is pretty, but not on the same scale. Once you get up into the far North it is desolate everywhere...
Only plus for me in Sweden was (slightly) cheaper food & beer...
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