billybunters - from a bmw z4 to a mx5 se

joshuam · Postby **joshuam** » Fri Jun 19, 2015 3:52 pm

I've spent a lot of time being dragged around caravan and camping stores and I'm still amazed at half the stuff you're finding

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Fri Jun 19, 2015 6:57 pm

now who would think I can fit all this crap in the boot :lol:

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 4:56 pm

today I decided to pack the sleeping bags and some other stuff behind the rear parcel shelf. all went in fine so happy with that I decided to drop the roof....got caught up so no go!
unloaded the goods and dropped the soft top. best I could sit it the space securely was the 2 sleeping bags. as for the other stuff I have only days left to hunt up a hair :lol:

dressers net to secure the goods in transit

rascal · Postby **rascal** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 5:01 pm

billybunter wrote:now who would think I can fit all this crap in the boot

I want to see you getting the couches in....

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 7:05 pm

I'd have a better chance parting the red sea! :lol:

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Sun Jun 21, 2015 3:40 pm

today took a pre-run in the car to trial the boot bag under driving conditions. happy with that and it sits very stable on the boot. I think it might eat a bit more gas looking at the boost gauge off boost and cruising due maybe to a bit of wind drag but that extra room for luggage will out weight that.
unfortunately I do have a bit of drama. due to the boss frog arms the car is much tighter in the front end section and although it is indeed a great improvement on factory specs - there's always a but :lol:

the steering is much more heavier :roll:

there is no way I can drive the distance involve in this trip with that heavy steering so the frog arms will be removed from the car. that means more work and not much time to do it either.
bit of a pity too as I've had these shoulder pains now for around the past 10 years after cutting wood 20 years previous to that. so time caught up with me.if I was 20 or 30 years old :lol:

....well thats a big IF!
anyway it wasn't all bad the car looks good to the eye and takes a mean photo. i am still very happy i did the colour change 3 years ago and painted it artic white...........it should look good with a coating of the red centre dust

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Sun Jun 21, 2015 5:32 pm

billybunter wrote:i am still very happy i did the colour change 3 years ago and painted it artic white.....

Looks awesome in white!

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Sun Jun 21, 2015 5:33 pm

quick on and off trip for these boss frog arms....20 miles... :lol:

lucky I only painted them in plasti-dip

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Sun Jun 21, 2015 7:49 pm

I'm surprised the frog arms made a difference to steering effort. But i really wouldn't know. Have you dríven again with the same load since removing them?

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Sun Jun 21, 2015 8:08 pm

not yet. but I felt the difference in the steering immediately on the very first drive. at that stage with no boot bag on the car.
today was the first run with bag and frog arm combo. probably wouldn't worry others but i'm pretty sure I can't do the long haul so best do the change back now. just started the process of removing them so should have them both off and everything back together again tomorrow.

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Mon Jun 22, 2015 8:40 am

For sure. When tackling a drive like you've got lined up, you want to make things as easy as possible because you will fatigue!

I'm quite jealous of your trip.

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:02 pm

ManiacLachy

well I have to do the trip first!..lol

KevGoat

considering for years I really hated white cars then i actually painted one :lol:

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Mon Jun 22, 2015 7:32 pm

while I was in the process of removing the boss frog arms I decided I might as well take the front bar completely off and hit all the panel with the white plasti-dip.
it has been a bit on the cold side today and at 8 degrees not ideal temp for spraying car panels......20C would be much better. best idea to combat the low temp was to sit the spray cans in hot water for 10 minutes to thin out the paint and the mx5 panels in the sun.
i think it will be interesting to see how it handle the rocks and small gravel/stones etc.

looking at this shot I just noticed I still have the fogs masked up

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:22 pm

loaded up! can't wait :lol:

the wife packed milk sugar cornflakes and rice :roll:

plus a heap of other stuff.

well i am as ready as i will ever be. backpacker has had all essential work done so we will head out on Saturday morning. the odometer just ticked over 62,000klm