The <span class="highlight">corrugations</span> take their toll.................

Hi Ian

My latest trek into thew Western Deserts this year will be uploaded to the website tomorrow. Will advise via the Forum when it is there.

Good luck withyour Ute purchase. We are always striving to change things...lol

Regards

Looking forward to it.
Oh, not the bit where I have to get the map out to find places I don't know...yet :)))))

funny you say that happened with the brackets for the airbags - was taking photos of them for a client a few days ago, and was surprised at the quite light construction ... famous brand too!

Hi Phil

Actually the Datto has done quite well. I am a tad hard on vehicles. Radiator, door handle, back door rattles, stuffed stabiliser bar, broken roof rack and 12 punctures in the 6 months. Tyres look like spaghetti....lol Also inverter and battery charger( yeah all aftermarket stuff) dead. Have had inverter repaired again

The trailer has now done 20,000km in 12 months and not a problem. It just follows along wherever I go...lol

Regards

Willem just curious. You do have a sine wave inverter don't you ? Its not a modified sine wave one ? I had my modified one go bang and changed it to a *pure* sine wave one. No more problems.

Footy

It is a Pure Sine Wave inverter. I was given the wrong advice by the fella at Jaycar and only bought a 150watt. With the laptop surging and being hungry for power I have burnt out two capacitors.Then I have to run laptop on Kerio DC charger. Will use inverter now only to charge phones, small batteries etc.

Willem, good move. I bought a bigger sine wave one in Alice. Another 4wd mob were buying a new inverter at the same time...funny thing , that.
I use mine to charge phones and electric shaver and toothbrush etc . I don't have many comforts with me but I enjoy those. And no, I dont take an electric can opener to open the baked beans can ! LOL

Hi Phil

You mentioned the tyres above.
What tyres did the others have on and what did the guy replace his Coopers with.?

I’m needing new tyres soon on the Troopy. I see you have the silent armour.
John

Hi John,
The guy with the Coopers was going to go with MTRs but went with the Silent Armours instead. He has done Hay River and Madigan Line this year, without a puncture, and no chipping, and is happy so far. I had a look at his, and got myself a set.

If you want something aggressive, then I'd still go MTRs - if you want something less aggressive, then Silent Armour.

The four I've had since January and have done 10,000km, including two Simpson Desert trips. I managed to stake a sidewall on a brand new one, and the tyre was replaced under the Beaurepaires $16 puncture warranty. But apart from that they have been good on sand, haven't chipped and wear is almost zero so far. They are quieter than the MTRs, if thats an issue for you. And they balanced up with very little weights.

Cheers
Phil

Footy

Yes lucky but I check things regularly. I also break a lot of things...lol

What is the rest of cooling system? Fan..OK, Belts good. Ahhh you mean fan clutch OK yes good

Cheers

Willem, I'm no expert but experience tells me
thermostat
Clutch fan
water pump
belts
Of these, I've found that if the water pump goes then its a big job ...at least on mine. And big jobs are a no no once away from a garage :)) I replaced mine at the same time as the radiator, and expect it will last the same amount of time. If it goes then it goes big time.
I have also fitted a low water alarm . Most cooling systems tend to lose it overnight and then we get in and drive em and bang.

I replaced the waterpump and thermostat lats year at Margaret River. Twas a 1 hour job. But thats a Nissan for you...lol

Yeah also have Low Water Alarm. But bloody thing beeps forever until the water heats up and expands so I have fitted a mute switch.

Come to think of it I have replaced quite a fe things on the GQ. Still, it has cost me only $20,000(including purchase price) for 60,000km and that includes tyres and repairs. It is a good comfortable truck and I am keeping it for a while.

Willem, glad that you're still enjoying the truck. It sounds like you've had a good , relatively cheap run out out of it so far.
My alarm doesnt beep at me...but it's in a Toyota LOL
Have you changed the actual clutch ?

Yes ...two years exactly.

Have more plans but will be spacing travel over a range of time now. Higher fuel prices and dwindling pension all have a cause and effect.

I have filled most of my Australia map in tho'. Still Northeast Arnhemland, Tip of the Cape and Tassie to see and some parts of the High Country and the Great Dividing Range. Other than that...the map is full!!!

Then I might go and play bowls....LOLOL(No way!!!)

Willem, you could always slip down to the bowling green one night and dig a few holes in the greens and scatter a few rocks around and finish it off with a few little hills and then you could play bowls 4WD style. LOL

he's too old for bowls Des

I think your right Nudie and too grumpy although he must have been taking his medication lately.

yep, i think your right too Des ..grumpy ole buggas not welcome at bowls.....now we know why he doesnt play