Author Topic: New Member (Read 6462 times)

ROCKNROAD4X4 · « **on:** March 16, 2013, 03:08:02 pm »

Hi everyone,
I am a new member, but I do not own a Mog.

I was first introduced to the mighty move when a friend (Westfield 4x4) invited me to a Mog Fest several years ago in Cheshire.
I was already a 4x4 owner with a 200tdi Disco which served me well up to last November when some one wrote it off.
I then became the proud owner of a Land Cruiser 80 courtesy of another friend who owns West Coast Off Road Centre who happened to have one in for sale.

It's still no Mog, but its a step in the right direction.

It's bigger size means its going to be a better vehicle than the Disco for our annual Euro Road Trips.

Speaking of which, I will be returning to the Abentreuer Allrad (sp) show in Bad Kissingen, Germany if anyone else is heading over. It really is an eyeopener on a scale unlike any British event!
The campsite and show ground are covered with all nature of Unimogs of various body styles. One of the highlights from a previous trip was a Uni-Cat Unimog full blown professional 4x4 camper - mind blowing!

Well, I hope to meet up with some of you on various trips or shows in the coming months & years.

Best regards,

Brad.

njc110381 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2013, 04:53:29 pm »

Hi Brad,

Welcome to the forum. You're not the only one here without a mog. I'm looking to get a U900, but when is another question. Every time I get a few quid in the bank something always needs doing and it's gone again - that's life I guess!

The show sounds great. I've always fancied going to something like that but not being able to speak any other language than my own makes me wonder how much fun I would have at a place like that? I guess the answer would be to learn German? How hard can it be?!

How do you get on there? Do you speak the language or get by without?

casto · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2013, 06:01:16 pm »

Hi Brad, welcome along

I hope you find this an interesting and useful site as you looking for a mog. Any questions just stick them up as someone can usually help you out.

Hopefully i'll get over to Germany and go to a show or two

Casto

Villager · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2013, 07:41:23 pm »

Hello Brad, welcome to UcUK.

Land cruisers are a good machine, especially for touring as theirs plenty of them

We are aiming for bad kissingen but we have to get a truck finished before we do, and we havent really got the time at the mo, so it might not happen

What Mog would you be looking for?

Cheers, Brian

ROCKNROAD4X4 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2013, 01:30:11 am »

Hey guys, thanks for the warm welcomes.

My love of Mogs is really in the overland expedition side although it would e nice to have a flat back for off roading too, but I am really getting ahead of myself there!

As I have started a 4x4 business in the past 18months or so all money I make gets piled straight back in so I won't have one this year unless things really take off.

Re the German show Mog Boss, I'm embarrassed to say my German language is limited to asking for 4 beers!!
Fortunately, everyone one at the campsite and at the show speaks English so there are no language barriers.
In fact one trader on a very small stand didn't, but we managed to muddle through laughing at each other.
I have been trying to teach myself basic phrases but I forget them as soon as I learn a new one!

Everyone at the show and campsite are real friendly and appreciate you making the effort to travel there.
Around the campsite everyone mingled wondering around looking at each others drives and its surprising how often a beer is given to you once you stop and talk to someone.
We made contact with quite a few people from Germany and Holland and it wi be good to crack a few more beers this year.

Right next to the campsite are two supermarkets so supplies are on hand plus there is a pizza & beer van on site.
At the show ground there is a large covered eating picnic area with loads of huge long tables and benches to stop at for lunch.

The variety in vehicles makes the whole show really interesting too.

The show is totally mind blowing.

The main camp site which is huge is approximately 5+ miles away from the showground, but all day long there are free shuttle buses running back and forth and I don't mean mini buses, they are luxury coaches running there and back every 20minutes or
Facilities at both the campsite and show ground are superb and very clean.
Entry for all 4days was cheap unlike rip off British shows.
In terms of layout, organisation, cleanliness and cost, we can learn a lot from our German cousins.

I was hoping to have a trade stand there this year, but that will have to wait til next year I think.

I will be heading across on the Hull ferry if anyone fancies going.
At the moment it is me & my other half in our cruiser, and hopefully one of the guys from West Coast Off Road Centre in his cruiser.

Anyone else going?

We saw something like 30+ mogs around the campsite plus Loads on the various stands at the show.
Some stands were privates showing their Mogs off, some were owners selling them at the show, and others were either companies doing accessories or conversions.

There are also loads of bigger trucks right down to adventure motorcycles.

In the centre of the show there is a test track where you can drive anything from Land Rivers, H1 Humvees and 8

wheel MAN trucks for just a few euros.

The biggest shocker is how much gear there for sale is not found in the UK so its a real good chance to discover new cool products.

Despite being in the job, I'm like a big kid and can't wait to go back.

njc110381 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2013, 09:14:55 am »

I think in some ways we are very lucky to speak the international language. Pretty much every country in the world can speak English! It can be a little embarrassing though because at times I feel very lazy. Everyone else makes the effort to understand us but generally the British way is to turn up and expect to be understood.

Since I've started taking a big interest in mogs I've thought that I should learn German. It's where all the mog stuff happens and it would be nice to be able to get by talking to the more agricultural sellers who wouldn't understand me.

I may well try to make it to this show. It sounds amazing! What's the temperature usually like over there?

Villager · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2013, 09:22:00 am »

Quote from: ROCKNROAD4X4 on March 17, 2013, 01:30:11 am

its surprising how often a beer is given to you once you stop and talk to someone.

plus there is a pizza & beer van on site.

Im there!

My german isnt exactly sterling, i can say a few things, and im good with numbers which is great when your talking prices. seeing as we sell german equipment i want to learn german

its the same all over with equipment we find, we really are quite far behind in that line of technology, hopefully people like yourself will bring us up to date.

And at that time f the year, the temperature is usually HOT

ROCKNROAD4X4 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2013, 12:53:36 pm »

I must admit I always feel lousy not being able to speak the native language of any country I'm in.
My French has improved over the years but not enough to have a conversation, but more to ask for food or supplies on our travels.

I once walked into a shop in France and in my best French I gave the lady behind the counter my best "Bonjour" to which she replied in English, "Agh, you are English"!!!

I also went into a Bakery and asked for ... well I'm not sure what I asked for as a father and son burst out laughing and the shop workers looked shocked/embarrassed!!!

Basically, all countries do seem to appreciate your efforts for trying, and literally everyone speaks English. No matter how poor their English is, it is generally 100 times better than my languages and you end up muddling through. Most like to have had your company for a brief spell in their regular French or which ever country you are in.
We always keep from the main tourist bits and head into the more remote small village with one or two shop locations.
Over the years we have been to all the Western European countries except Portugal (which I would love to do) and never had any issues with language, local customs, locals or anything. I actually think there is more chance of something untoward happening whilst here in England!!!

We love our European road trips. We never book campsites, just the ferry dates there and back and we go where we want in between. No planning just winging it. We have slept in service areas putting our tent up on the roof in different countries (French have showers to freshen up in the morning),
used B&Bs, small local hotels, country lanes, oh yeah and campsites!
Its just one big adventure, and it begins the moment the wheels turn on the driveway!

As for the weather at the Show, we were in shorts and T shirts and loading up on sun tan lotion!

If you are at the show Villager, or anyone else, it will be cool to meet up at the show or campsite over a beer or two!
One of the perks to the shuttle bus is being able to have a beer or two at night and not worrying about being over the limit the next day. I'm no beer monster, but the German beers don't half go down well.

njc110381 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2013, 08:05:18 am »

Seeing as the show is in May I'm unlikely to make it this year. It's a bit too soon to be planned into the diary (and budget).

I've decided as I spend so much time on the German ebay looking at mog stuff that I'm going to try to learn to speak German. Any pointers on a good way to start? I never took any of it in at school, but then I didn't want to. If I put my mind to it I'll probably pick it up ok.

ROCKNROAD4X4 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2013, 09:15:27 am »

I struggled at school to do French, and as I was supposedly gifted at drawing, I was allowed to do art instead. Big big mistake now.

I found the Rosetta stone system very good in deed, but it is also ridiculously expensive.

About 10 years after leaving school, an opportunity to buy equipment from France came up.
It was buying from scrap vehicle merchants, basically breakers yards. Most of these guys probably spike poor French and not a word of English.
In this instance, in a position where I really wanted to learn the language myself and two businesses partners paid a retired teacher for hour long lessons every week.
guy was a saint! He prepared three different levels of class work,and homework, as well as in class lessons for just the 3 of us where we all learnt the language at our varying levels.
When we stop trading, one of my mates went on to take his O & A levels and passing with flying colours.
From those lessons, the only thing I could remember was to ask for the boss, introduce myself and ask for 10;000 starter motors!!!!

Over the past 3 or 4 years, I have been using my "Translate" app on my iPhone, and now HTC.
These allow you to pick a language to start in and one to translate to. There are something like 30 languages in there to pick from, plus it doesn't just translate it in written form but it actually says it out loud! This is great as the way it is written is often different way it is pronounced.

Also you can absolutely Taylor the lines you use for what you need. Eg. Camper, 4x4, motorcycle relayed stuff.

I really do spend many evenings chilling out creating lines I may need.
The other really good thing is, you can save all your phrases to refer back to or keep them so you can read/gear it over a couple of times before you actually need to use it for real.

One slightly crazy but funny yet effective way to get by is from a mobile phone advert several years ago...
A young guy travels to I think Japan/Tokyo, and has pre loaded loads of photos of things he may need such as toilet, taxi, airport, restaurant etc, and simply scrolls to the picture of what ever he needed and showing it to passers by.

The difference between having to learn at school and wanting to learn for yourself is (for me, massive)

Hindsight.... they ain't kidding!!!

njc110381 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2013, 04:40:27 pm »

I'm lucky in that if I'm interested in something I will pick it up very fast. Trouble comes when I'm not and it then takes ages! That was proven in my French and German classes at school. I used to sit next to a very "friendly" girl and lets just say my mind was far from what the teacher was saying!

casto · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2013, 04:50:47 pm »

Ok so if i'm struggling I ask my mum

Villager · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2013, 05:32:56 pm »

Quote from: njc110381 on March 19, 2013, 04:40:27 pm

I used to sit next to a very "friendly" girl and lets just say my mind was far from what the teacher was saying!

would be quite distracting

i tend to pick most things up fairly quick, but it might help that i have a wide range of interests, i love unimogs (obviously

) , engineering, reading, computers, science, camping, nature, traveling etc. so maybe i just pick things up im interested in quick

njc110381 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2013, 05:53:08 pm »

I think I can go along with most of those interests. Certainly science (the only subject I passed and was one of the best in my school) and nature related stuff. Engineering as well to a point - one of the last expensive toys I bought for myself was a Boxford AUD lathe which I must learn to master when the shed warms up. It's too cold to be messing about out there at the moment!

Villager · « **Reply #14 on:** March 19, 2013, 06:15:47 pm »

science wasnt my best subject, that was resistant materials (wood/metal/plastic work to most people

) which i got a B in, i nearly got an A but didnt have enough time :/ plus i screwed up on a really easy question on plastic injection molding in my theory, which was worth 9 marks $:-\$
Science i got a C in, i was doing triple science, but decided it was over my head, mainly on the chemistry side, physics and biology i find fascinating

so i went a level down ( i actually asked rather than being kicked out

)
i know everyone says this, but if i could go back and resit my tests i would, i have to admit i did hardly any revision, i had more interesting things to do and study

and when youre at school exams seem far less important

And yes, its far to cold at the moment for working outside, once summer comes more work will be getting done to the mogs

Unimog Club UK

Author Topic: New Member (Read 6462 times)

ROCKNROAD4X4

New Member

njc110381

Re: New Member

casto

Re: New Member

Villager

Re: New Member

ROCKNROAD4X4

Re: New Member

njc110381

Re: New Member

Villager

Re: New Member

ROCKNROAD4X4

Re: New Member

njc110381

Re: New Member

ROCKNROAD4X4

Re: New Member

njc110381

Re: New Member

casto

Re: New Member

Villager

Re: New Member

njc110381

Re: New Member

Villager

Re: New Member