Also sway bar links may struggle to reach but you will find that out pretty quickly anyway

Put shocks and springs in and take it for cert and they will tell you what else needs doing. I got away without needing panhards done with a 4' lift on my LWB GU - despite everything I read saying I would have to replace them. Brake lines are definitely a good idea however especially if you plan on ...

Does it have a Safari or a Patrol badge on it? All diesel Safaris will be 24V, whereas Patrols can be 12V. When I picked up a old rusty safari for parts years ago that had been sitting for 6 years it started with 2 new batteries and a squirt of engine start no problems. Check that the fuel cutoff ...

When i did a Soa conversion on my old truck i put softer springs in and got them reset flat so it was about 4inches higher than factory. Gained alot of clearance under the axles especially in ruts.

Can buy leds that will fit - fully sealed so mud can't get in and stuff reflectors, very robust, light is better and you will never need to replace the bulbs on them. I had a set on my old truck that i got from TWL, they weren't cheap but were good.

Remove flares do a series of vertical cuts around the guard and beat around with a rubber hammer and reattach flares afterwards.

Toyota utes have good resale values - but reliability and off road ability all much the same for Japanese utes these days

Went down the same road with a simular truck - a Lsd from a d21 Navarra will fit. For very little more outlay you can fit an auto locker - which I eventually did as Lsd didn't give as much extra traction as hoped until I tweaked it then steering was rubbish.

Check all hoses and wires on the actuator (will be on the pumpkin of the rear diff) as these can get knocked off. Best to be stationary in 4wd low before engaging diff lock as well, then dash light will flash a couple of times then glow constantly when the diff has locked in.

Can get a factory option of a rear diff lock - but this is operated by a switch and will not engage automatically. You will experience binding on dry pavement in 4wd as because these have a part time 4wd system and there is no centre diff (unlike say most land cruisers, Subarus, range rovers etc ...

Will be thirsty but the money saved on buying a turbo diesel will keep you in fuel for a couple of years. I went through the same dilemma buying a Gu Patrol and saved a good 10 grand by going petrol rather than turbo diesel - have a motor that while thirsty is reliable, powerful, cheaper to service ...

Have seen on Aussie forums both duramax and 6bt Cummins conversions and apart from the cost it seems they are easy enough to do. Don't seem to overly stress the rest of the drive train either.

Mechanicals will normally last longer than the body an there are plenty of turbocharged ones out there without any reliability issues
They are heavy so bigger tyres are needed
Get one with a pto winch if you can

If they are the size you wanted and you live near dunedin would probably swap for beer

Unfortunately even the winch competition boys don't tend to wear out diffs before the rest of the vehicle is stuffed - so supply of 2nd hand diffs normally exceeds demand, especially for higher ratio diffs. Wouldn't bank on getting to much more than $400 for the whole lot...

Springs from 2005 lwb patrol dimensions as follows:

Rear = 455mm high 175mm wide 18mm coil
Front = 420mm high 155mm wide (one end is tapered to 120mm) 16mm coil

All dimensions measured externally with no weight on springs. Vehicle had done 190,000kms with very little towing when they were removed

Have some patrol springs in my shed if you want any measurement s taken - if they fit, I would suggest that they would lift the rear of a Surf as even if they aren't longer they are designed to take more weight, so would compress very little with just a Surf sitting on them.

Was an MK patrol and agree the 2 extra spider gears is an added bonus of the LSD. I originally went down LSD route as it was slightly cheaper and seemed like it would be easier on the drive train - but it did annoy me watching only one wheel spin when stuck after I had gone to the trouble of ...

Sometimes I am to lazy to take my hubs out if I am only driving a couple of kms on the seal then heading back off road again okay- point was you can either have a LSD that doesn't really do anything or one that gives you good traction but a big turning circle whenever the front diff is engaged ...

Also the Lsd out of a D21 shape 4cyl Navara should fit. I went down the LSD front diff route on a truck and wouldn't again as by the time you get them biting well enough to aid traction in mud your steering has almost gone (even 2wd on the road with hubs in you will sledge wide wen turning).

Price with and without wheels? Would suggest you can mount your 35's on your current wheels as offset sounds right for any beam axle Toyota/Nissan with 35x12.5x15 tyres

Unscrew flares bend guards up then re attach flares

My MK Nissan Safari with lots of mods - currently for sale as have bought a GU Patrol

For a Gq patrol you will need a LSD centre from a V6 Pathfinder/Terrano. Four cylinder Navara/pathfinder/Terrano models usually only have a smaller C200 diff with 29 splines (these will however fit into the front diff of older MK patrols). Can add extra shims or clutch plates to get a Nissan LSD ...

Put some Goodrides on my wifes Santa Fe and they were better than expected (were a road pattern as it spends most of it time on the road). If you want to drive in mud get mud tyres - All terrains may be fine on grass/gravel/rocks and have more puncture resistance than road tyres but will clog up in ...

Just disconnect your batteries and they should last a couple of weeks no problem. Can then individually charge them with a normal 12v charger to.

I have a set of swampers and they perform well in boggy swampy conditions and over rocks but a Simex/Silverstone will outperform them on greasy clay or steep grassy hills. Wouldn't recommend them as your only set of tyres (get a set of normal mud terrains and some chains if you hate changing wheels ...

They don't tend to break so little demand for them

I have one in my old parts truck - has done 330kms and been sitting for most of the last 7 years but started and ran smooth last time I drove it. I am in Dunedin.

Mine does the same thing will only free spool when hub is out and you try and winch - the solution is just to drive it in and out (no slower than free spooling it out anyway).