Offroad-Express

Hi Guys i have just purchased my first 4wd and loving it. After owning a BMW (WHAT A WANKER I USED TO BE) To now owning a real car. I am after some ideas of which i may need to upgrade (if i need to?) to suit the trucks needs. I am a fisherman hr (salmon and trout) and have just bought a jet boat hence the reason for buying the truck. I need the truck to tow the boat 5mtr jet boat
(Hamilton 53) and i want to be able to tow the boat up the river Waimakariri and Rakaia and launch camp out where and when ever. I know these rivers have a lot of soft shingle and you need a lot of river crossings. Some times i will have the boat on and others just me and the dog camping out in the back. What upgrades are essential for these purposes and what should i get the mechanic to check out in my new truck? It has the front, centre and rear diffs. I am fitting it with 265/75/16 KL71 if any one has any ideas suggestions and also who in Christchurch should i take this truck too get the mods done. Thanks guys

for what your doing you want to be looking at doing some or all of the following.
Extend all breathers
Check diff seals esp front ball seals.
Small suspension lift
Snorkel(must have)
winch(for when you bogged in the soft gravel)
some sort of anchor(to winch off when theres no trees around).
and most importantly lots of seat time. This will be the best way for you to know what you need and in what order you need it.
Personally i'd be looking at a bigger size tyre aswell. dad runs 305/70 or 75/16s and it makes his 80 float across some real soft ground

As for were to get it done contact tomsoffroad on here. He does some real nice work.

Hey thanks for the solid advice much appreciated. I have heard different views of bigger/ vs / smaller tyres for the soft stuff on the braided rivers we have here in Christchurch. Some say the bigger tyres get stuck easier in the soft stuff.?

sweet as

don't get much braided stuff down here. mostly soft swamp. some of the other guys that do a bit of that stuff should be able to help on that.

crazyclark31 wrote:for what your doing you want to be looking at doing some or all of the following.
Extend all breathers
Check diff seals esp front ball seals.
Small suspension lift
Snorkel(must have)
winch(for when you bogged in the soft gravel)
some sort of anchor(to winch off when theres no trees around).
and most importantly lots of seat time. This will be the best way for you to know what you need and in what order you need it.
Personally i'd be looking at a bigger size tyre aswell. dad runs 305/70 or 75/16s and it makes his 80 float across some real soft ground

As for were to get it done contact tomsoffroad on here. He does some real nice work.

x2
also Rick
4WD Accessories Limited
Contact: 03-365 1909
34 Watts Rd Sockburn Christchurch 8042

thanks ive heard good things about rick. will pay him a visit

waka wrote:Hey thanks for the solid advice much appreciated. I have heard different views of bigger/ vs / smaller tyres for the soft stuff on the braided rivers we have here in Christchurch. Some say the bigger tyres get stuck easier in the soft stuff.?

Its not really the size of the tires, its primarily the tread pattern that gets you stuck. A/T's are best for canterbury's braided rivers.

You shouldn't really need a lift either, I'd be looking at doing things in this order:

Extend all breathers
Check diff seals esp front ball seals.
Snorkel(must have)
winch(for when you bogged in the soft gravel)
some sort of anchor(to winch off when theres no trees around)(quite common).

Rick @ 4wd accessories can get a screw in anchor that's perfect for riverbeds

Was nice to meet you at Ricks today, I thought his advice was pretty much right on for your needs, and looks like a good vehicle you have for the money.
you can PM me through here with the details of having my bonnet painted
cheers
Tim

Any suggestions on tyres for the braided rivers here in canterbury? currently i have 265/75/16 A/T on at moment but need changing what size and tyre brand would be best for the waimak river and a bit of off rd plus on road?

Hi,
Another thing to think about if you have the 12 valve 1HD-T is, do you know the history of your Big End Bearings and whether they have been changed.
Cheers
Tim

it is a 12v jap import. Not sure if they have been changed but i am getting some one to check this out.

Update on the landcruiser, I have put on some 275/75/16 KL71 we went up to the Rakaia gorge on sat and towed the jet boat there. Found the gears not changing properly sometimes staying in 2nd or 3rd longer or until I either gave it heaps or took the foot of the gas and straight back on. This was not to big a issue as only doing sometimes. Also when in fourth gear really slow to pick up
Speed from 60 to 90 was slow. The boat is a 5 mtr Hamilton 52 and is a bit heavy. Does this seem right what truck was doing as under a bit of pressure towing or is there something wrong with gears or motor. Suggestions would be appreciated thank you.

i had a simaler problem with my 80 several years ago and went to several auto trans specialists to have it looked at and all I got was a lot of head scratching and massive quotes to overhaul the auto. in the end after lots of research i discovered there were two solonides in the base of the trans, and one had an intermentint fault. i changed it and had no more problem for 2 years when a similer problem started. i changed the other solonide and HAVEN'T had another problem since. Easy to find, take the pan off the bottom of the trans and they are looking at you. 1 screw to remove them, install a new one and replace the filter and pan and you are done.

thanks i will get some one to have a look at this for me sounds a simple solution to a problem thanks

and put a fresh filter and fluids in the auto while its apart

Found the gears not changing properly sometimes staying in 2nd or 3rd longer or until I either gave it heaps or took the foot of the gas and straight back on.

I would first try a filter and fluid change first, have had the same issues and filter and fuild fixed it.

Cheers
Tim

I think I may have found part of the problem. The fuel filter had rusted at the bottom had collected some water ( may be bottom of the fuel tank at petrol station) and rusted. I was towing the boat back from Rakaia gorge on sat when the truck kept conking out when I slowed down. Got home just ( amazing) saw fuel filter leaking took it off and three big rust holes and inside of filter filled with chunks of rust. Replaced and going a bit better still be interesting to see how it goes towing boat and if works better.