2001 Ford Courier Modifications

[mudslug]

Hi there,

Recently got myself a 2001 Ford courier and looking into making it better offroad for hunting etc.

Has wound up torsion bars at the front already and some half worn buckshots on standard rims. Is it possibly to give these a small body lift with no problems?

Also a snorkel is on the high priorities and a winch bar if i can find one along with new tyres, is it worth getting steel 4wd rims for it at the same time?

Just asking these questions as iv searched on here but theres not very much info for how popular they seem to be?

Any other things im forgetting let me know aswell

Thanks

[derk]

to be fair mate there's not really a lot your going to be able to do to it to make a significant increase in its offroad ability, your stuck with poor approach, departure and ramp over angles, limited articulation ifs front and heavy leaf rear, inability to stick any decent sized tyres etc on it, it would be worth while throwing a little electric winch on the front and picking up an old tirfor hand winch and a bit of recovery gear so you can self recover when you cant drive stuff that'll give you a bit more confidence taking the thing out into the backblocks hunting on your own

[bounty2001]

Can get lockers for it. ARB do a rear air locker and there is a front auto lokka available as well. That helps with bad articulation and mean you don't have to go as fast saving the driveline. Do you have SRS airbags?

[bounty2001]

Are you running 16x6 rims (Mazda does) if so the biggest tyres are 235/85r16 which is about a 32inch (I think) for a 15 inch rim. You will probably get some tyre rub at lock on compression.

[mudslug]

Could look into lockers etc, has SRS airbags which i suppose isnt a good thing?

Has the 15x6.5 wheels on it aswell so not the 16" ones.

Maybe i should just get a more suitable truck!

[bounty2001]

Or put decent solid axles under it and be different.

[mudslug]

Not really interested in getting that serious! Maybe a bigger free flow exhaust to go with the snorkel? Just want it to be reliable and get me to tahr spots. I imagine it should be able to be as good as say a newer hilux or older surf off road?

Thanks

[bounty2001]

They hold their own in the mild stuff and have pretty good road manners. I went to serpentine church when I had one and it did all right. For the amount of onroad kms vs off-road kms I did it was a good compromise.

[bounty2001]

Diff breathers would be one thing to do at any rate. Don't know about the couriers but the bounty's had stupid valve caps that were rubbish, diffs always got water in them.

[mudslug]

Has any one put a snorkel onto one of these? Looking at a gibson airflow but apparently they arnt the best quality so looking at other options? Possibly making up a stainless steel one

[J_Dub]

Don't be put off by some comments, as all your after is a capable, comfortable hunting wagon.

31" mud tyres
Snorkel
Manual hubs
Front Locker
Winch

That will produce a very capable truck that will still be a nice daily

[Crash bandicoot]

You can get srs compatible bullbars for these but will have to pay a little more unless you can track down a second hand one.... they cant be too bad. The old man has had 5 of these utes in various specs over the years.

[Trundle]

We have some Genuine safari snorkels for $480 , Also do amada extreme shocks for $500 full set , Ball joint spacers for $220 , adda leaf for the rear for $235 and I think I have 1x mcc bumper left for $1175 but would have to check my container for that one ! Manual hubs are a must to make the cv boots last after lifted also ,
Cheers
Trundle

[KIWI_TERRANO]

Mate had a courier before getting ranger, 3inch tjm lift 1inch body tjm bar and 32 use to go places my mate swb locked and 35s safari would go.

We both now have rangers and same chassie as courier i run 32s factory height for now with arb bar, taken that places i never thought i would, you will be surprised how strong the ford running gear is and the places you can go

[hunter1084]

Mate had a courier before getting ranger, 3inch tjm lift 1inch body tjm bar and 32 use to go places my mate swb locked and 35s safari would go.

We both now have rangers and same chassie as courier i run 32s factory height for now with arb bar, taken that places i never thought i would, you will be surprised how strong the ford running gear is and the places you can go

Any common problems with the rangers? Am looking at replacing my Jimny with one so anything you can tell me to look for when i'm buying one would be appreciated

[KIWI_TERRANO]

Mate had a courier before getting ranger, 3inch tjm lift 1inch body tjm bar and 32 use to go places my mate swb locked and 35s safari would go.

We both now have rangers and same chassie as courier i run 32s factory height for now with arb bar, taken that places i never thought i would, you will be surprised how strong the ford running gear is and the places you can go

Any common problems with the rangers? Am looking at replacing my Jimny with one so anything you can tell me to look for when i'm buying one would be appreciated

Just rear drive shaft uj are popular at blowing if not getting enough grease, apart from that they dont suffer from alot of issues, me and mate are hard on ours and they standing up to it well

[mudslug]

We have some Genuine safari snorkels for $480 , Also do amada extreme shocks for $500 full set , Ball joint spacers for $220 , adda leaf for the rear for $235 and I think I have 1x mcc bumper left for $1175 but would have to check my container for that one ! Manual hubs are a must to make the cv boots last after lifted also ,
Cheers
Trundle

Thanks for that, will be in contact regarding the snorkel. How big are the ball joint spacers? Im assuming these give a suspension list at a smaller price than lift kit? Also where abouts are manual hubs available? Iv noticed some of the cab plus bountys have these so maybe swap some over?

Don't be put off by some comments, as all your after is a capable, comfortable hunting wagon.

31" mud tyres
Snorkel
Manual hubs
Front Locker
Winch

That will produce a very capable truck that will still be a nice daily

Yea not after a hard out 4x4, people seem to use new trucks with ifs etc so imagine with abit of work itd be as capable as a hilux or similar

Thanks for all the help