Thread: AYI 077 (The Leyland Brothers S11a 109)

Originally Posted by wagoo

Re the photo at your camp John. Was that where they had to do extensive rewelding and reinforcing to the series 1 SWs rear crossmember, tow coupling etc? They asked the manager of the camp about spare diffs, but it was an all Toyota outfit?
Wagoo.

Yes on all counts. I can't at this time remember who was left in the camp, but it would only have been two or three acting as caretakers - the whole camp was on a field break, as in those days we did not run a continuous operation, probably because there was more a shortage of key skills than of equipment. So the person in charge would not have been an actual manager. I have a vague memory that one of those who was there was the mechanic, staying in camp because of a tendency to drink unwisely in town, the others would have remained to save money.

The crew had been newly equipped for this job. Initially our light vehicles consisted of a fleet of two wheel drive IH AB120 utes, an FJ40 for the surveyor, and an FJ45V for myself as party chief. By this time however, all the Inters had been replaced by Landcruisers, mostly FJ45 traybacks, but one FJ40. The original surveyor's vehicle was destroyed in a fire (petrol leaked from the under seat tank, which on Landcruisers of that time was inside the body, plus smoking). As far as I know, the remains are almost certainly still there, if my memory is correct, at the campsite where that photo was taken.

John

Thanks John. From my vague recollection of the story from thw ''Wheels Across The Wilderness'' book that I read around 30years ago, there may have only been one person left at camp who from the answer to the query about diffs stated, "we only have Toyotas, will they fit"? was probably not a mechanic either.
Wagoo.

Hi All,

The little mule was driven into the crater purely for " the camera" . They wanted to make the episode more exciting for the viewers, the whole reason for taking it along was to provide entertainment for prospective TV viewers.

They were well known for overloading their vehicles: Ever heard the one about their overloaded 4X4 tipping over just after they set off on a trip ! They just got around the corner from their house and it went on its side. I always got the impression that they weren't the most practical people in terms of vehicle " common sense "

Mike

Originally Posted by series1buff

Hi All,

The little mule was driven into the crater purely for " the camera" . They wanted to make the episode more exciting for the viewers, the whole reason for taking it along was to provide entertainment for prospective TV viewers.

They were well known for overloading their vehicles: Ever heard the one about their overloaded 4X4 tipping over just after they set off on a trip ! They just got around the corner from their house and it went on its side. I always got the impression that they weren't the most practical people in terms of vehicle " common sense "

Mike

I recall they were members of the LROC of New Castle, as I read an account in a club newsletter before the WATW expedition of their tyre testing trials with aircraft tyres on the SWB. During the period they were using landRovers surely there would have been a few more experienced overlanders in the club that offered a bit of guidance as to vehicle "common sense".If I had been the mechanic they took on the WATW expedition I would have insisted on them fitting an ENV diff to the rear at least on the series 1 wagon before agreeing to go with them.
Poor bugger! They half worked him to death trying to keep that old bucket of bolts going.
Wagoo.

Originally Posted by wagoo

I recall they were members of the LROC of New Castle, as I read an account in a club newsletter before the WATW expedition of their tyre testing trials with aircraft tyres on the SWB. During the period they were using landRovers surely there would have been a few more experienced overlanders in the club that offered a bit of guidance as to vehicle "common sense".If I had been the mechanic they took on the WATW expedition I would have insisted on them fitting an ENV diff to the rear at least on the series 1 wagon before agreeing to go with them.
Poor bugger! They half worked him to death trying to keep that old bucket of bolts going.
Wagoo.

I think in some ways you are being a bit harsh on them. In 1966, unless I am mistaken, the ENV diff had not been fitted to any Landrovers (first was the 2b FC 110, which would not have appeared in Australia by the time of the expedition). Their Series 1 wagon was fitted with a Rover six, which, given heavy axle loading, and sand driving, was almost certain to bust the diff (in a Series 2 it would have broken an axle).

Remember that at this time, Landrovers were the only four wheel drive available in any numbers. Toyotas were starting to come into use, but for most users they were an unknown quantity, and Patrols had only just appeared. Jeeps had been around for a while, and in fact I think, were actually being assembled in Brisbane at the time - but had few supporters. Scouts existed, but were unproven. There was the IH AB120 4x4, but they had a distressing tendency to break just about everything.

That they were using a Series 1 suggests that they were not exactly flush with funds anyway, but given the realities of the time, it is difficult to see what they should have used. Certainly, given all the junk they were carrying, they were bound to have breakages. But it is all too easy to see the problems in hindsight.

Interesting to note that when we started work in the Desert, we also used aircraft tyres or other very wide tyres on our vehicles. By the time of their expedition though, we had found that better results came from using normal or larger diameter sized tyres, but radial ply - which at the time were very expensive and hard to get.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I think in some ways you are being a bit harsh on them. In 1966, unless I am mistaken, the ENV diff had not been fitted to any Landrovers (first was the 2b FC 110, which would not have appeared in Australia by the time of the expedition). Their Series 1 wagon was fitted with a Rover six, which, given heavy axle loading, and sand driving, was almost certain to bust the diff (in a Series 2 it would have broken an axle).

John

Perhaps I am being a little harsh. But ever since shattering the diff on my first LandRover in 1970, only 3 weeks after purchasing the vehicle I've been anal about them, and for what was intended to be a pioneering and potentially dangerous expedition into remote unchartered territory with peoples wellbeing at stake, if a stronger option were available, which it was, as the ENV became standard on series 2a FC circa 1965 and available as an option for normal control control 109s.I would have spent the money and fitted one to the series 1 wagon.
Yes, it is easy to be critical with the benefit of hindsight.But even at 16 years of age, having read about the exloits and ordeals of many other LandRoverlanders both here and overseas, I would have taken advantage of their hindsight when determining how to prepare my vehicle.
Anyway, I apologise for straying well off topic. AYI 077 had nothing to do with the east/west crossing.

Originally Posted by wagoo

I apologise for straying well off topic. AYI 077 had nothing to do with the east/west crossing.

And AYI 077 is a pleasure to drive...though the brakes need attention

Mrs hh

Alright,

We dont mind the general discussion of the Leylands, their period and others that made some form of contact as very interesting + relevant....

If we insist on discussion on the weak points and Leylands choice of vehicles at the given time we may need to start a new thread, then merge the relevant topics.


I can see the original cause here getting snowed in at this rate.


On this dear old 109, please keep in mind we're trying to save what may have been scrapped.

She does have authentic charm and some Australian history attached.

Oh, the brakes seem to work fine atm




Will post a wish list of much needed fresh spares soon


Tony