Getting dirty

[durbster]

Getting out to do some off-roading is a lot trickier here than it is in Australian. There is a huge amount of opposition to recreational 4x4 use (and even more to non-recreational), so the whole scene is extremely sensitive and tricky to get into.

However, after months of searching, I finally found a nice bunch of people and a local venue where for £20, I could spend the day larking about in an old quarry. Unfortunately, due to the missus not wanting to get out of the warm car we didn't get many shots of the Fourtrak, but I thought you might like to see what off-roading is like for those of us without a billion square miles of free space

The vehicle (which is even more manly when it's muddy by the way )


The venue was an old quarry:



The only time we got stuck was when we got beached on a small hump, leaving all four wheels spinning. Apart from that the Fourtrak was utterly brilliant - much better than I expected



This huge Chevrolet thing went everywhere, and helped drag this stricken Land Rover 101:


I like this photo, as it looks like the Earth giving birth to a Land Rover

[wobblysauce]

Sound like you had a great time, in a good safe environment to hone your skills.

[DexterPunk]

Awesome Durbs! Looks like fun. I've always had awesome fun on 4x4 days. Went to one recently with guys from pradopoint.com. Mate of mine has a Prado and goes along to their shindigs and invited me along. Was great fun.

[GT VIRUS]

It looks like a hairdressers 4x4 as well :P

[bengatta]

yes, very manly... preparing the snatch strap for a 3" deep puddle looks the goods...

[DexterPunk]

lol you guys are cruel.

[w00dsy]

yes, very manly... preparing the snatch strap for a 3" deep puddle looks the goods...

hey man, it's wet up to the bottom of the rims. That's at least 4" minimum.

[norbs]

lol you guys are cruel.

Rubbish. Not one comment about the lack of tread on Durbs's....... head.

[durbster]

yes, very manly... preparing the snatch strap for a 3" deep puddle looks the goods...

I knew I should have pointed out that was taken after being rescued

lol you guys are cruel.

Rubbish. Not one comment about the lack of tread on Durbs's....... head.

Yep, I must admit that surprised me too

[norbs]

yes, very manly... preparing the snatch strap for a 3" deep puddle looks the goods...

I knew I should have pointed out that was taken after being rescued

lol you guys are cruel.

Rubbish. Not one comment about the lack of tread on Durbs's....... head.

Yep, I must admit that surprised me too

How long til....






Fuck me, it looks like Durbs and Rod had a love child!

[AstrO]

Then it's only one step away from this...

[youtube] [/youtube]

[Rots]

Awesome mate, good to see someone getting their offroad car dirty!

The best way to increase clearance to stop getting beached underneath is bigger wheels - taller profile. Suspension lift kits will raise the body/chassis higher, but have no effect on your rear diff height since it's a live axle.

I'm fairly sure you can adjust the front suspension height of those cars without aftermarket gear. I know with my Dad's early 90's Pajero's with that same style torsion bar front suspension he could increase the front ride height by adjusting the torsion bars after jacking the car up. Followed by a wheel alignment!

This gave his vehicle more front ground clearance around the front diff area and bash plates as we called them

[kwijibo]

Cool photos - love a bit of 4wding

The only time I took mine to a 4wd park, I broke a CV joint and it cost me about $800 to fix.. so I stick to the beaches for my 4wding nowadays

[durbster]

The best way to increase clearance to stop getting beached underneath is bigger wheels - taller profile. Suspension lift kits will raise the body/chassis higher, but have no effect on your rear diff height since it's a live axle.

I'm fairly sure you can adjust the front suspension height of those cars without aftermarket gear. I know with my Dad's early 90's Pajero's with that same style torsion bar front suspension he could increase the front ride height by adjusting the torsion bars after jacking the car up. Followed by a wheel alignment!

Thanks mate. Somebody at the event also mentioned adjusting the torsion bars to lift the front. He said it'll go three inches higher, but I'd need spacers to do the same at the back. For the sake of £30 that's not such a bad mod

Another Fourtrak owner who has lifted theirs showed me a photo of his stranded on a small hump, so I guess you can never lift it high enough with the front suspension being independent.

I've got a tricky decision to make though, the MOT is due in April and the car will fail because of rust. So I can't decide whether to fix it up or get rid. It cost me nothing (ebay bargain ) and mechanically is solid, but if the welding required looks like a huge job I might have to cut my losses.

Having said that, the organiser of the event said his son did welding...

[wobblysauce]

weld'r up.

[Rots]

The best way to increase clearance to stop getting beached underneath is bigger wheels - taller profile. Suspension lift kits will raise the body/chassis higher, but have no effect on your rear diff height since it's a live axle.

I'm fairly sure you can adjust the front suspension height of those cars without aftermarket gear. I know with my Dad's early 90's Pajero's with that same style torsion bar front suspension he could increase the front ride height by adjusting the torsion bars after jacking the car up. Followed by a wheel alignment!

Thanks mate. Somebody at the event also mentioned adjusting the torsion bars to lift the front. He said it'll go three inches higher, but I'd need spacers to do the same at the back. For the sake of £30 that's not such a bad mod

Another Fourtrak owner who has lifted theirs showed me a photo of his stranded on a small hump, so I guess you can never lift it high enough with the front suspension being independent.

I've got a tricky decision to make though, the MOT is due in April and the car will fail because of rust. So I can't decide whether to fix it up or get rid. It cost me nothing (ebay bargain ) and mechanically is solid, but if the welding required looks like a huge job I might have to cut my losses.

Having said that, the organiser of the event said his son did welding...

That's a bargin for a mod! Spaces though won't lift the base of the rear diff height though. Only taller profile tyres does that on a live axle.

If it cost you next to nothing, then weld her up!

[durbster]

I made a video:
[youtube] [/youtube]

[wobblysauce]

love the end.

[w00dsy]

lol, nice

[norbs]

Some tobbacco filters and faux vignetting and it would be a Top Gear film Durbs.

And at the end. It looks like that's the first time you've got those hands dirty in your life. All dressed up for 4WD day. If that was Australia you'd have a pair of footy shorts and a blue singlet on.

[durbster]

And at the end. It looks like that's the first time you've got those hands dirty in your life. All dressed up for 4WD day. If that was Australia you'd have a pair of footy shorts and a blue singlet on.

You seem to have forgotten that I singlehandedly kept Australia's farming industry running during 2006 and 2007.

And I was hardly dressed for the occasion - I was wearing trainers

Glad you enjoyed the vid though

[Vilante]

Great vid mate, loved the end hehe