Williams Woodshed Workshop

[Stroppymonkey]

But where do you draw the line when it's not so much a camper conversion but a custom built 4x4 sprinters from a coach works and costs as much a ex council terrace.
Then they all descend upon the local beauty spot and completely clog it up for all the locals

We have our fair share of tourist spots around here.
I don’t find the vans too annoying as most of them tend to keep to themselves, but I expect I’m biased as we do spend most of our leisure time based out of a camper van.
My personal pet hate is over tattooed pricks with turkey teeth in 4x4s/SUVs/Pickups with roof boxes. Usually have a Boxer or French Bulldog and accompanied by a suitably fake looking female. They can’t go backwards and always drive like tossers and can never get closer than 1m from the near side hedge. Usually scared of mud as well.

 

[V8Druid]

Think you’re confused with a caravan. I do not like caravans. We call them wobbly bottoms round here. Our local hill on the A30 usually gets one or two a year turn upside down and ruin everyone’s day.

I've 'hung back' once or twice on that one - waiting to see the end result
's a hell of a hill

 

[V8Druid]

Exactly. I'm not being confused ...I know what a crappy plastic fiat Ducato with the obligatory adventure before dementia stickers and the nicked from landrover "one life live it" logos..look like
Caravans are a scourge that needs purging one stone wall on a tight bend at a time

don't worry ... when everyone is driving round in leccy chariots, they won't be able to pull them

 

[Smiffy]

We have our fair share of tourist spots around here.
I don’t find the vans too annoying as most of them tend to keep to themselves, but I expect I’m biased as we do spend most of our leisure time based out of a camper van.
My personal pet hate is over tattooed pricks with turkey teeth in 4x4s/SUVs/Pickups with roof boxes. Usually have a Boxer or French Bulldog and accompanied by a suitably fake looking female. They can’t go backwards and always drive like tossers and can never get closer than 1m from the near side hedge. Usually scared of mud as well.

We get a very particular type round here being on the North downs so not far from London and hundreds of acres of free access woodland, it has become the mountain bikers paradise. Now I don't have anything much against mountain bikers or their over priced campers. The problem becomes the volume. On a sunny day you can't park anywhere to walk the dog. Everything is fine in moderation but they just become a nuisance

 

[Lancs Lad]

We get a very particular type round here being on the North downs so not far from London and hundreds of acres of free access woodland, it has become the mountain bikers paradise. Now I don't have anything much against mountain bikers or their over priced campers. The problem becomes the volume. On a sunny day you can't park anywhere to walk the dog. Everything is fine in moderation but they just become a nuisance

TBF you've hit nail on the head it's about the sheer volume, 1 or 2 campers taking the piss was manageable now it's every single spot...
Pre COVID it was bearable now it's just crazy.

 

[V8Druid]

A few early hours oxy bombs set off close to them all would deter a lot from remaining/returning -- a 2 ltr coke/pop bottle is seeeeeeeeeeriusly loud - especially in the wee hours when there's sod all else to hear

 

[Lancs Lad]

A few early hours oxy bombs set off close to them all would deter a lot from remaining/returning -- a 2 ltr coke/pop bottle is seeeeeeeeeeriusly loud - especially in the wee hours when there's sod all else to hear

Oh dont worry we do make sure we alert them to our presence if it's late at night ..dint want anyone getting run over as we pass the line of em parked up

 

[V8Druid]

Oh dont worry we do make sure we alert them to our presence if it's late at night ..dint want anyone getting run over as we pass the line of em parked up

aye - but a mysterious and very loud BANG is a proper arse nipper

 

[William127]

Bit of progress on the 90.
Jiggle the engine into roughly the right place, check it against a factory fitted td5 110 with 2 pairs of experienced eyes and a couple of check measurements. Tack the mounts to the chassis, lift the whole lot out, weld the mounts, galv spray and stick it back in, not much more than an hour but a good chunk of progress. Getting the engine mounted means the crane has moved out the way and I have a bit more room in front
Finished up the bulkhead removal bar too.
Next stages all involve spending chunks of money...

 

[William127]

Day off today, so a full tank in the freelander and headed up to Norfolk to Stradstet Steam Ralley. Great big show, loads to see, in and out of the arena. Cars, crawlers, tractors, lorries, stationary engines, all the usual stuff and lots of it.
Fly past from the Lancaster was amazing, stood watching it from the direction I expected it to come from, heard it, got a louder and louder and then it seemed just like that it was there from over the trees, literally straight over my head! Honestly think I was directly in line with the fuselage, couldn't have been in a better spot. Did 2 surprisingly low, steeply banked circuits of the show, fantastic sight and sound
Didn't spend a lot at all, just lunch and a chunky hook for a chain, only a fiver but I had to carry it all day
Headed home the long way, great drive in the sun, then popped up to the barn to load up the plough I got at auction last week. Just over doubled my money on that so happy enough to see it go

 

[V8Druid]

Day off today, so a full tank in the freelander and headed up to Norfolk to Stradstet Steam Ralley. Great big show, loads to see, in and out of the arena. Cars, crawlers, tractors, lorries, stationary engines, all the usual stuff and lots of it.
Fly past from the Lancaster was amazing, stood watching it from the direction I expected it to come from, heard it, got a louder and louder and then it seemed just like that it was there from over the trees, literally straight over my head! Honestly think I was directly in line with the fuselage, couldn't have been in a better spot. Did 2 surprisingly low, steeply banked circuits of the show, fantastic sight and sound
Didn't spend a lot at all, just lunch and a chunky hook for a chain, only a fiver but I had to carry it all day
Headed home the long way, great drive in the sun, then popped up to the barn to load up the plough I got at auction last week. Just over doubled my money on that so happy enough to see it go

four Merlins on song - glorious sounds

That Ransome MG with the blade on must've been some bit nose heavy -- they are at the best of times

the Kuplex must be good for 10t

 

[William127]

Busy week this week, lot of miles and a fair bit of diesel
Monday up to Norfolk for Stradstet Steam Ralley, pictures above.
Tuesday put an enclosure back together just down the road, started at 7, away by 8.30 then did bits and pieces, loading up for Wednesday.
Wednesday was back down to Falmouth to build an enclosure around an air compressor next to the big one I took down in January. (First/last pics) Left the trailer and big pile of tools there and stayed in a travelodge.
Thursday did a little bit of sealing up, loaded up, home for a civilised 5pm
Friday I was doing a bit of snagging on a job in Marylebone, arrived at 7am, home by 9.30
Yesterday I went to a big auction up near Peterborough, bloody roasting! Luckily they had a few indoor seats, were selling cans of drink for a quid and I'd remembered my water bottle, but the sun still seems to have got to me, looking at what I bought .
The topper will live again and be an interesting project, there's nothing wrong with the bowser that can't be sorted easily but the Bolens is near scrap
Really like the Allen scythe though
Today I had 3 choices- sort out the auction haul, local steam fair where mates were exhibiting or pop to Dorset
No contest in this weather! Left home at 6.20, by 8.30 I'm in a different world, passing Corfe Castle. Bit of breakfast in Swanage, walk along the front, met up with mates, couple of hours at Durdle Door, bit of pottering about, home by 8.
Been a busy week but really good

 

[William127]

If anyone's wondering about the Liverpool Spec plant trailer in the background- at 11pm on Friday I had the brainwave that it was on the 13inch Savero tyres I wanted for the 14ft flatbed.
So first thing Saturday morning I was doing a steal, from my own trailer

 

[craig]

If anyone's wondering about the Liverpool Spec plant trailer in the background- at 11pm on Friday I had the brainwave that it was on the 13inch Savero tyres I wanted for the 14ft flatbed.
So first thing Saturday morning I was doing a steal, from my own trailer

Did you have the 195/50r13s on before? I keep meaning to try some on mine to see if they fit in the arches OK, looks like it could be a bit tight . All my others trailers have the 185/70r13 savero type tyres, so would be handy if all where the same for keeping spares.

 

[William127]

Did you have the 195/50r13s on before? I keep meaning to try some on mine to see if they fit in the arches OK, looks like it could be a bit tight . All my others trailers have the 185/70r13 savero type tyres, so would be handy if all where the same for keeping spares.

No it was on 12s, is a bit tight on the arches but theyre bent every which way so not really a fair test. I'd say straight ones would be fine, but don't take my word for it
What I will say is it tows an absolute treat on them
And as I've said before, an lm14 is about as good an all-rounder as it gets

 

[V8Druid]

Really like the Allen scythe though

not an Allen scythe as I know it - is it a much newer model, or your generic name for a finger bar mower?

 

[William127]

not an Allen scythe as I know it - is it a much newer model, or your generic name for a finger bar mower?
View attachment 72160

I'll get some pictures tomorrow, it's made by Allen but yeah Allen is definitely the 'hoover' of finger bar mowers

 

[William127]

the Kuplex must be good for 10t

Perfect for the task I had in mind, £5 well spent

 

[William127]

I'll get some pictures tomorrow, it's made by Allen but yeah Allen is definitely the 'hoover' of finger bar mowers

Genuine Allen, 3spd, 8hp Kohler, nice little thing
Quite impressed with the build quality of this Bolens, not as rotten as I thought- basically just the foot plate Tried quickly to get a lead to the starter motor, too much steel in the way, its very sturdy! Will have to stick it up in the air and look from underneath. Want to at least have it turn over before I try and move it on...

 

[William127]

Bit of a frustrating day all round really- no show from Facebook marketplace, another went completely silent after I sent them the measurements they asked for
First job today, oil and filter on the freelander, not awful but filter isn't in a great place. A flexible 27mm ratchet spanner would have made life easier, but haven't got one so just plodded on. Did the air and pollen filters, fuel can wait till next weekend. Reset the service milage following a great youtube video.
Done 10k in the freelander since I got it in October, mot booked for next Saturday
Started trying to mount the front linkage/snow plough on the massey industrial, obviously not as simple as expected... had to modify the rails and drill extra holes. Biggest drill bit I have is 22mm, but I've lent my pillar drill to a mate got that done and eyed up, ready for some welding and paint.
Mate decided to change his Industrials front tyres by hand got one done, only to find the 'new' tube has a split He Wisely decide to give up on that job, only to find that the multiple starts had left the forklift with a flat battery
I finished up by wire brushing and galv spraying the sills from the project 90. Unfortunately what I thought was corrosion/age holding a bit on was actually a line of spot welds so I made a bit of a mess of one sorted that out, coat of galv spray on.
The less friendly/more nervous cow was being a lot more approachable this afternoon so that's an improvement
Been less than ideal day but a bit of progress, couple of jobs