Setting Up Your 4x4 For Offroading, Part 1 Options

[Spudly]

Thought id do a write up on setting your 4x4 up for offroading and doing some trip's.

When I talk about offroading, I like to do trips, from simple touring along marked dirt roads, to fire trails (some of where 4x4 is not even required) right through to rock crawling and the serious stuff...

In Part 1 we will start with the basics, why you need them, and how to get the most from them.

Firstly, there are a few differant classes of 4wd's, and what I class as a 4wd (this point always starts a few pub arguments)

A 4WD should have:
Solid Axle's or at least a Solid Rear (Wheel Travel and load carrying)
A seperate Chassis from the Body (strength)
LOW RANGE 4x4 is a MUST!!
A Reasonable amount of Ground Clearance

Anything that does not have these I will describe as an All Wheel Drive (Subaru's, CRV's Etc)

Once you have selected the 4wd that suits you the best the time comes to modify it, and beleive me you can get seriosly carried away!
I beleive that there are some essentials and some would be nice's. So here we go with some mods and why they are important.

BULL BAR These are nessacary as we all know Australia's outback is full of all sorts of critters and having some up front protection for your car, radiator and engine components. It also provides a mounting point for some of our other additions later. I would reccomend a good steel Bullbar in most cases, such as that made By ARB.

Spotlights If Any of the critters we have the bullbar to protect us from are out there, Its best we see them as early as possable. Driving lights have come a long way recently. One of the new additions is the range of HID (High intensity Discharge) Lights which have an extremly high output for less power (similar to the Xenon lights seen in some expensive european cars)

UHF Radio The main reason for having a UHF is for car to car contact if there is more than 1 on the trip. However in some cases it may be your only option to call for help in an emergency if your mobile is out of range. Mount a good arial to your bullbar and buy a decent UHF such as ICOM, GME or uniden.

Tyres If your heading off the beaten track it can be wise to upgrade your tyres. Some H/T tyres are not suitable for travelling on alot of dirt. I would reccomend a A/T or a M/T tyre with a square edge as these are less prone to staking by rocks or sticks. (BFG, Mickey Thompson are two of my Fav's)

Dual Batteries If your spending some time in the bush, Dual batteries provide you with extra power for running fridges, accessories, Cd Players etc while your not running, and still ensuring you have power to start in the morning. Also a topic of argument is how to set them up, and from my experiance the best and simplest method os to run a Deep Cycle as your second battery, Have all accessories (lights, radios, Outlets etc etc etc) connected to this battery. That way when you leave the lights of the radio on with the fridge and you flatten the deep cycle, your main battery is diconnected from the system, so when you turn the key to start, the main battery has all the power to crank the engine.. The systems can be bought complete or as a solinoid that you do yourself. I beleive "red arc" make a great simple system. It works on a solinoid that when 13.4 volts is reached in the main battery the solinod will open and start charging your second battery.. Once the main battery drop below 13.4 volts the solonoid disconnects, saving you main battry for starting. The only Thing that I would connect to your main battery with the starter motor is a winch if you run one, as it is only used when the motor is running and requires as much power as possable. This is also a good time to run some accessory outlets around the car. I Have a Cigarette and a Hella Type output mounted inside the cab and on both side of the tray giving me access to power in all places for fridge's air compressors lights etc.. In a wagon i would have them in the front and on each side in the rear.

Diff Breather All cars have diff breathers as standard, however they are mounted down on the diffs where they will suck in water the first time you go into some water. Some Hose (forget its name but like a clear fuel hose) can extend the breather hight into the bonnet or rear of the car. Also extend your g'box and transfer case breathers.

Always Carry a First aid kit, Fire extinguisher and supply of fresh water

I Think as a start this will do. If you have any questions please ask, Or if you think I have missed anything then Please add it to the list for disscusion.

Next time We will go into more mods, Such as Suspension Upgrades and gear for getting into the rough stuff.

This post has been edited by Rum Dust N Ruckus: Nov 18 2007, 07:25 PM

[Jumpus GooDarus]

Look @ wot ??????

Only got the car back this morn from panel beaters haven't fitted or finished anything new yet

[kkw]

Weeping at Weipa this week. Busted a shocky on the corrugations. $500 for a pair of rear old man emus units. Most expensive Woolworths store in Aus. Petrol is $2.54 ltr. My tanks hold 212 lts, so it is an expensive fill. First mobile/internet service for several weeks now. Dual batteries, isolator, fridge etc all working perfectly. Accessory batt goes flat in a day and a half, running the fridge but main battery is full as a boot. Marvels of modern technology - no manual isolator switch required. Queenfish, barra, turrum, squiddlies (I have learnt to pick them up without getting bitten), cast nets etc. All good fun. A 12lb outfit can't hold enough line to stop a decent GT, as i found out.

[Spudly]

Comon KKW... i think your trip deserves its own thread and some pics!!!

[kkw]

It will come when I get time and a stable connection.

[poly]

Only got the car back this morn from panel beaters

why was it in the panel beaters

Paul

[Fed]

why was it in the panel beaters

Have you ever seen him drive?

[Jumpus GooDarus]

why was it in the panel beaters

Paul

Fed was showing me how to reverse into his driveway & 4got to tell me about this tree

[Fed]

If you don't have a picture then it didn't happen.

[Jumpus GooDarus]

Did take a picture but didn't come out cause of this big shinny blurr

[Jumpus GooDarus]

Cant believe how lazy i've been of late
Did pull my finger out last week for a few days & started making thingy's for back of Navara
Started fittings them up today in a very 1/2 hearted way i'm blaming the cold bloody cold today

Should have it all in 2morro as long as it's not cold again then i'll sheet checker plate floor which is allready bent up then it's just the side panels left to do

[Fed]

Looking good mate where's the dog box going?

[kkw]

Just returned from 2 months travelling up to the top of Aus. Got bigger tyres than standard, dual batteries, a set of drawers for the rear of the wagon and roof racks. Had a great time and travelled the Old Telegraph Track. No wonder it took 3 weeks to get there in the old days. Creek crossings, one lane track and corrugations. The track was actually smoother to drive on than the 'new' development road. Busted a read Bilstein shock on the way up. No mechanics or spares to fix it in Seisia or Bamaga. Did the OTT with one rear shock. Lucky I also had air bags on the back. It did dance across the road on curves, thanks to the deep and constant corrugations. A few pics.













This post has been edited by kkw: Sep 15 2011, 12:53 AM

[kkw]

And some more. Big pigs up there.

[Fed]

Sand, mud, heat & 2 fish... I'd rather stick a needle in my eye.

[Jumpus GooDarus]

kk did ewe have a big big breakfast day 5th last pic was taken ?

An awefull lot of leanon drivers side of car

[kkw]

Yeah, but not me driving and not my car. Always pays to walk the creek yourself instead of listening to others advice. The water was muddied from a previous car and they told Mark the best track was to keep one wheel on the hard rock. I went through after this pic and just kept in the water. Was only up to the top of the bumper and flat. I actually lost weight on the trip. Almost as slim as you now. Almost, I said......

[poly]

kk did you take a bang stick along to help catch some of that pork ??????????????????


Paul

[Jumpus GooDarus]

What you on about poly ???

That was kk wearing a black jumper

[Jumpus GooDarus]

Finally pulled my finger out & finished it off
Now have an extra 75 litres of fuel tank bigger than what comes standard with car

Thought i'd get the roll bar thingy painted added brackets for up top spotty's & a pair of directional LED's

[Fed]

Finally pulled my finger out & finished it off
Now have an extra 75 litres of fuel tank bigger than what comes standard with car

Now you'll have to empty your water separator twice a week instead of once a week you goose.