Any Non-Jeepers Out There (4x4s)? :P

[derekmac]

Pinzgauer

[thebullfrog]

New life plan: Buy one of those and live in it.

[Cupboard]

That sounds like an awesome idea 

I'm sorry, I've completely hijacked this thread, please go and talk about trucks and things 

Oh, incidentally, leaves or coils for your suspension? Leaves are tougher, coils typically give you better articulation.

[Mr. Whippy]

I thought this was gonna be a photo thread.

#1



#2


Now:  Less and more

[Grant Lamontagne]

I love that old Rover Nate!

Def

[PTRSAK]

[Mr. Whippy]

There you go! 

[Mr. Whippy]

I love that old Rover Nate!

Def

It is an awesome truck.  Sadly, it isn't very practical as a daily driver.  It has 4 wheel drum brakes and a whopping 67 HP.  The way people drive now, the cut in front, not leaving enough stopping space for 1960's brake systems.  I wish video camera recordings could be used in court. 

[stealth007s]

I haven't got it off road, yet, but we got a Subaru Outback last week. Nice rides so far on here The boys at Top Gear put that Hilux through the ringer a few years back IIRC. Tough piece of machinery!¡!

[dmanuel]

In Philippines I drive a 1996 Samurai LWB, sitting on 35's





And in US the wife drives a built Taco. No pictures of it though

Edit:

IFS will never be as stout as a solid axle, but they can be built. This little Zuk Sidekick is a prime example. This thing has been wheeled all over North America, Level 3+ trails. Anybody who has ever watched Baja or Dakar knows that IFS built correctly (far from cheap!) can definitely do an admirable job.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I suppose that's the point, isn't it?  IFS can be built strong enough, but the cost in both dollars and weight aren't worth it for most manufacturers to do it on production vehicles, most of which will rarely see more than a dirt road.

A note about most of the Dakar racers- significant amounts of weight have been cut out of those to increase speed and efficiency.  Also, they aren't built with longevity in mind.  Yes, they are expensive and take a pounding during the race, but they aren't subjected to the same long term stresses that a production vehicle is subjected to, and they have significantly more maintenance time than most production vehicles too.  A full service mechanic available 24/7 isn't in most people's budgets.

Nate- any thoughts on upgrading that old Rover underneath?  New (modern) brakes, maybe a small block Chev under the hood?  That could give that classy old girl some serious punch.

Def

[derekmac]

Love that Zuk!!!    Some other sweet looking rigs in here guys!

[Mr. Whippy]

I suppose that's the point, isn't it?  IFS can be built strong enough, but the cost in both dollars and weight aren't worth it for most manufacturers to do it on production vehicles, most of which will rarely see more than a dirt road.

A note about most of the Dakar racers- significant amounts of weight have been cut out of those to increase speed and efficiency.  Also, they aren't built with longevity in mind.  Yes, they are expensive and take a pounding during the race, but they aren't subjected to the same long term stresses that a production vehicle is subjected to, and they have significantly more maintenance time than most production vehicles too.  A full service mechanic available 24/7 isn't in most people's budgets.

Nate- any thoughts on upgrading that old Rover underneath?  New (modern) brakes, maybe a small block Chev under the hood?  That could give that classy old girl some serious punch.

Def

People do a lot of those things, but really, if you want a "Modern" Series Rover, the thing to do, IN THEORY

Is go to the UK, buy a used Defender, disassemble it, ship over the pieces in time separated crates, get the pieces back to the US and then reassemble you Series Rover with updated Defender pieces. The frames are almost identical so not much fitment problems.

In the 90's, a popular conversion was the Chevy "Iron Duke" 4 cyl.  There was a guy in Virginia who made adaptors for it.  Sadly, they weren't highly reliable. (Lots of broken axles)

[Mr. Whippy]

In Philippines I drive a 1996 Samurai LWB, sitting on 35's

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

And in US the wife drives a built Taco. No pictures of it though

That's a great rig!

[dmanuel]

I suppose that's the point, isn't it?  IFS can be built strong enough, but the cost in both dollars and weight aren't worth it for most manufacturers to do it on production vehicles, most of which will rarely see more than a dirt road.

A note about most of the Dakar racers- significant amounts of weight have been cut out of those to increase speed and efficiency.  Also, they aren't built with longevity in mind.  Yes, they are expensive and take a pounding during the race, but they aren't subjected to the same long term stresses that a production vehicle is subjected to, and they have significantly more maintenance time than most production vehicles too.  A full service mechanic available 24/7 isn't in most people's budgets.

Def

All very true and great points. I just hate to see IFS constantly run down because people have next to no experience with a properly built system. Plenty of Toyotas, Suzukis, and other 4x4's on the trail that have survived with IFS. Of course there is a reason that every hardcore offroad rig is running larger axles and beefier suspensions. 90%+ of the stock suspensions/axles can't handle serious abuse (Fordyce, Moab, Rubicon, etc) for very long. Heck, I've seen D60's snap under 2 Door Wranglers.

Love that Zuk!!!    Some other sweet looking rigs in here guys!

That's a great rig!

Thanks guys. Can't wait to get this thing shipped to the US to start restoring the interior. Just not looking forward to the bill that comes with either one of those!

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm not running down IFS for the sake of running it down, not am I saying that an axle is the be all end all.  Just for me, and the work I do, I need something tougher than average, whether I go off road on weekends or not.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[Mr. Whippy]

I'm not running down IFS for the sake of running it down, not am I saying that an axle is the be all end all.  Just for me, and the work I do, I need something tougher than average, whether I go off road on weekends or not.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

Sometimes the axle case is the best tow point, just sayin'....

[dmanuel]

I'm not running down IFS for the sake of running it down, not am I saying that an axle is the be all end all.  Just for me, and the work I do, I need something tougher than average, whether I go off road on weekends or not.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

  Couldn't ask for a better reason to own and praise a system than that right there!

[Cupboard]

I'm not running down IFS for the sake of running it down, not am I saying that an axle is the be all end all.  Just for me, and the work I do, I need something tougher than average, whether I go off road on weekends or not.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

Sometimes the axle case is the best tow point, just sayin'....

Yup, tow starting something often the easiest way it to lob a chain round the axle. Couldn't do that with IFS.

My boss has just got back from a jaunt to look at a second hand Unimog. He wants a new toy 
I'm quite looking forward to it     

Edit: I hadn't realised the Humvee had IFS too.

[Pignut71]

Here's my 1987 Suzuki SJ410. Two owners from new, I've had it since 2005. Love it! (It's my fifth SJ).

[J-sews]

Is this thread for people who actual take their 4x4's off road, or can those who simply own 4x4's to compensate for their shortcomings elsewhere join in?

If it's the latter, then here's mine:

[thebullfrog]

I hate Ford, but I love those things.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Nice Raptor Bob! How come you didn't get the orange one? 

Def

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[RimfireNZ]

Is this thread for people who actual take their 4x4's off road, or can those who simply own 4x4's to compensate for their shortcomings elsewhere join in?

If it's the latter, then here's mine:

That's a real looker! I've not seen one of those over here before. Are they some version of the F series of trucks or is it different?

[thebullfrog]

Yep, it's built off the F-150. And they are undeniably bad-ass. Basically think "desert Pre-runner from the factory you can get at any Ford dealership."

[Mr. Whippy]

Is this thread for people who actual take their 4x4's off road, or can those who simply own 4x4's to compensate for their shortcomings elsewhere join in?

If it's the latter, then here's mine:



(Image removed from quote.)

Sure, sure, but what kind of gas mileage does it get?


nice truck

[jerseydevil]

Sure, sure, but what kind of gas mileage does it get?

Probably still better than my '82 Caprice ever got.  That's a car I took through fields and dirt roads on occasion.  I even got it completely airborne once..... 

[J-sews]

Thanks! Gas mileage isn't too bad, as long as I do my part and don't get heavy-footed.

Nice Raptor Bob! How come you didn't get the orange one? 

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

'Cause I'm not a 15-year old.   (good lord are those orange ones ever gaudy)

[Mr. Whippy]

Sure, sure, but what kind of gas mileage does it get?

Probably still better than my '82 Caprice ever got.  That's a car I took through fields and dirt roads on occasion.  I even got it completely airborne once..... 

1968 Pontiac Catalina.  4 door, 3 speed on the column, no power nuthin'.  No radio*; No air conditioning.

Just 375 HP 428 cu in 4bbl carb strapped to a frame.

My Dad bought it new and I drove it through college and the first year of med school.  Had to find a smaller car; there were no parking spaces big enough for it. 

It was known as "The Blue Tuna Boat"





*In 1981, my little brother and I installed a cassette radio and rear speakers in that beast.


It looked like this one, but without the fancy rims.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I had an '81 Catalina in 2000. I drive halfway across Canada in it. What a great traveling car- I never felt a bump all the way across the country!

Def

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