4x4 Action Group

Vehicle modifications need a philosophy

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dawidloubser
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#16

Post by dawidloubser »

Mad Manny wrote:
Wed Apr 04, 2018 10:04 pm
Dawid, it's easy for a UniMog owner to talk about doing the bare minimum.
The vehicle rolls off the production line modded to hell...
:D :lol: :shock:
Shhhh!!! I'm new here!
1984 Unimog 416.163 Doka

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grips
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#17

Post by grips »

Following this with interest. :D
You will never find me without Stroh or a 4x4 :D

Ricof4e
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#18

Post by Ricof4e »

grips wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:11 am
Following this with interest. :D
I don't think you will be confronted with Dawie's tuning escapades here :lol:
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#19

Post by Oppies3800 »

Ricoffy wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 6:53 am
grips wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:11 am
Following this with interest. :D
I don't think you will be confronted with Dawie's tuning escapades here :lol:
Maybe we need a Dawie here...
Could this be sarcasm?

Ricof4e
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#20

Post by Ricof4e »

Oppies3800 wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:00 am
Ricoffy wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 6:53 am
grips wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:11 am
Following this with interest. :D
I don't think you will be confronted with Dawie's tuning escapades here :lol:
Maybe we need a Dawie here...
I have seen pics of your Toyota. You are our resident Dawie it seems :D
Ranger Mildtrak
Scorpio Curry Cruiser
A tos-lookin', lunchbox, lipstick and powder puff carryin' home-built trailer

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#21

Post by Oppies3800 »

Ricoffy wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:18 am
Oppies3800 wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:00 am
Ricoffy wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 6:53 am


I don't think you will be confronted with Dawie's tuning escapades here :lol:
Maybe we need a Dawie here...
I have seen pics of your Toyota. You are our resident Dawie it seems :D
I cannot be Dawie... No snorkel, no power mods. I am stuck with the 50kw it seems :lol:
Could this be sarcasm?

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#22

Post by Saxj »

XJ Junkie wrote:
Tue Apr 03, 2018 11:32 pm
But there are less than 5 vehicles on the market that can cope with their TC switched off.

The rest need it. The world has changed
A really good example of this is the Suzuki Grand Vitara. It's available in 2 models - Summit with TC (and the inexplicable 18" wheels) and the Dune without TC. The Summit is great off-road, the Dune is absolutely useless.

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#23

Post by Saxj »

In terms of modifications, mine has been an evolutionary process.

With my Jimny's...
First Jimny - low budget, I needed new tyres, but felt that the standard size was way too small. I test fitted 215/80r15's, which appeared to fit OK, so I bought them. I didn't realise how much it would affect the performance, and with no lift, The wheel arch linings rubbed through.
Also the only protection I fitted was rock sliders, the underside of that car was a total mess.

Second Jimny - more budget available.
1. I bought it with the spacer lift, underbody protection (and moved the rock sliders from the old one) and 215/70R15 tyres.
2. A lockright locker was going cheap
3. shocks packed in after 30k km of lots of dirt road driving - Upgrade time.
4. Anti-roll bar mount broke - removed the ant-roll bar (I was happy with the on-road handling, so left it off)
5. Did a 180 in the rain (thanks lockright!), lost 2 tyres and rims, replaced them with trusty 215/80r15's on steelies.
6. Wizerd said "try these springs". They gave 90mm lift in the back and 70mm in front.
7. Stock bumper was stuffed from off-roading, so got Wizerd to build me a pipe bumper.
8. Nearly drowned the motor in the mud at de Wildt (because the new bumper didn't give any protection to the intake), so fitted a snorkel
9. Solo trip to Bots, so fitted a winch
10. The dunking at de Wildt did more damage than I initially thought. Replaced the motor with a 1500.

The result... After RFAD this year, Manny nicknamed my Jimny the cheatmobile

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dawidloubser
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#24

Post by dawidloubser »

I really think that blanket safety regulations have destroyed the diversity in the off-road vehicle market.
That, and sissies who want their hard-core 4x4 to drive soft like a Jaguar on-road.

It would have been great if the lovely examples of technological progress we see on our roads augmented, instead of replaced, the simple, robust, solid-front-axle 4x4 offerings that have all but gone extinct.

I guess the market has spoken... but it has spoken in a strange voice. Leaving much more desire and opportunity to modify existing and/or older vehicles.
1984 Unimog 416.163 Doka

Saxj
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#25

Post by Saxj »

Which vehicles are still available with SFA?

Jeep Wrangler
Toyota Land Cruiser
Nissan Patrol
Mercedes Gelandewagen
Suzuki Jimny

Any others?

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grips
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#26

Post by grips »

Ricoffy wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:18 am
Oppies3800 wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:00 am
Ricoffy wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 6:53 am


I don't think you will be confronted with Dawie's tuning escapades here :lol:
Maybe we need a Dawie here...
I have seen pics of your Toyota. You are our resident Dawie it seems :D
You need lots of mods on Land Cruisers, I mean it is a Toyota to get a Toyota capable takes lots of sweat. :D :D
You will never find me without Stroh or a 4x4 :D

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XJ Junkie
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#27

Post by XJ Junkie »

Saxj wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 11:07 am

A really good example of this is the Suzuki Grand Vitara. It's available in 2 models - Summit with TC (and the inexplicable 18" wheels) and the Dune without TC. The Summit is great off-road, the Dune is absolutely useless.
Don't you mean ESP? I suspect that they both have TC
Disclaimer: Uninformed, no research, just very strong opinions

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#28

Post by Ricof4e »

XJ Junkie wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 12:20 pm
Saxj wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 11:07 am

A really good example of this is the Suzuki Grand Vitara. It's available in 2 models - Summit with TC (and the inexplicable 18" wheels) and the Dune without TC. The Summit is great off-road, the Dune is absolutely useless.
Don't you mean ESP? I suspect that they both have TC
I don't think so. As far as I know the Dune does not come out with TC
Ranger Mildtrak
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XJ Junkie
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#29

Post by XJ Junkie »

Ricoffy wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 12:28 pm

I don't think so. As far as I know the Dune does not come out with TC
I bet you mean ESP? :D. Without TC a softie won't be going very far.
Disclaimer: Uninformed, no research, just very strong opinions

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#30

Post by Saxj »

XJ Junkie wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 12:31 pm
Ricoffy wrote:
Thu Apr 05, 2018 12:28 pm

I don't think so. As far as I know the Dune does not come out with TC
I bet you mean ESP? :D. Without TC a softie won't be going very far.
No ESP or TC. As I said, it's useless off-road. Full independent suspension and the flex of a surfboard, it stops on the slightest cross axle.

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