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Chris_a_Nichol Gate Opener
Joined: 03 Mar 2018 Odometer: 3 Location: Northampton
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:03 pm Post subject: I float between Northampton and Winslow....
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Hi guys, new to the forum and new to the world of "Proper" off-roading.
The Missus has given me the go-ahead to buy an off-road toy (but usable - I'll get to that later) after borrowing the old mans L200 for the snow and previously borrowing it to save my ar$£.
Where am I best to ask the relevant questions on suitability? Understanding it has a lot to do with personal preference.
Thanks in advance
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lambert Articulating
Joined: 21 Nov 2009 Odometer: 751 Location: the crown subsistancy of yorkshire
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2018 4:42 am Post subject:
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Welcome. Yes it is personal preference but give us a clue about the intended use and proposed budget and let's see what might suit.
__________________________________ Oh, really? That is a pity. |
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Chris_a_Nichol Gate Opener
Joined: 03 Mar 2018 Odometer: 3 Location: Northampton
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2018 11:44 am Post subject:
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Thanks Lambert
Practicality - I’m going to still have a car for the commute so it’s won’t be my every day drive. However, I’d like to be able to use it for snowy conditions or if we go somewhere that we know will prefer to have its capabilities. When in those conditions I’d need at least 1 rear seat for little’un.
Planned use – I want to do UK trials and off road courses, I plan, in time to be at a level where I’d be doing runs challenging enough to require winches and wading, plus all the other crazy, but obviously not to the extreme of removing doors etc.
We have also spoken, and a big appeal to the missus and myself is to do overland explorations, maybe one per year, sacking off conventional holidays to help fund it. Obviously this will mean that it’s got to have load space and a certain comfort factor with creature comforts like maybe having Bluetooth radio (obviously this can be added with any head unit)
I have plans to upgrade whatever I buy, to the necessary level, in my mind that will be all the diff/sump guards, external cage, winch, recovery points, not forgetting things like brakes etc I would do a body lift too but I know that I can’t do too extreme if I plan to do expeditions or it will heavily hinder that. (This is why I’m stuck with that to get)
I know that basic off roading will be possible with just the tyres on a drivetrain, so it can be gradual.
Experience – about 12 years ago I drove a 90 military spec on an off road course with the military in Cyprus, that was great for capabilities but just too raw for my personal liking.
Disco 3 when it was first released at the old LR experience centre near newton longville – was great fun but not sure in comparison to real world fun and seem to think they would cost a fair bit to replace parts if I screwed up on a run.
L200 barbarian, standard other than running Cooper Discoverer AT3 tyres, used before in the snow and again this time round. Was comfortable and took it off roading in woods, easily keeping up with 2 x disco 2s that had the basics on them. Plus I pulled 18 cars/vans up various hills in the snow and helped the police clear the main road near me, all without a problem. I’m considering one of these as they would probably be great for over land but I’ve noticed the entry/departure angle seems a bit low, that combined with the length I think it would struggle once in dedicated 4x4 environments.
Initial budget for the vehicle would max at £8k I think. Obviously if I could get the right thing for less then I would love that and put the remaining on to mods.
I know I’m probably asking a lot from one vehicle, so I’m hoping there’s enough experience to point me in the direction of something that fits the bill and doesn’t need a rebuild every time and can travel without a truck load of spares/team of mechanics following behind.
Sorry for all the waffle….
Thanks Chris
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lambert Articulating
Joined: 21 Nov 2009 Odometer: 751 Location: the crown subsistancy of yorkshire
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Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 6:07 am Post subject:
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Sounds like a Jimny to me. With suitably qualified tyres a Jimny will seriously damage the ego of virtually every other 4x4 available. I have in the past hired a micro caravan and had some epic adventures, admittedly in the UK but that's not the car's fault. I know it is not the biggest car but it is very comfortable especially in the newer sz4 trim. Also hand in hand with the smallness is modest running costs and if it's not your daily then it also takes up less space in the garage. Get one on a 24h test drive and be impressed.
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Chris_a_Nichol Gate Opener
Joined: 03 Mar 2018 Odometer: 3 Location: Northampton
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Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 10:32 am Post subject:
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lambert wrote: | Sounds like a Jimny to me. With suitably qualified tyres a Jimny will seriously damage the ego of virtually every other 4x4 available. I have in the past hired a micro caravan and had some epic adventures, admittedly in the UK but that's not the car's fault. I know it is not the biggest car but it is very comfortable especially in the newer sz4 trim. Also hand in hand with the smallness is modest running costs and if it's not your daily then it also takes up less space in the garage. Get one on a 24h test drive and be impressed. |
Thanks for that, I’ve been a passenger in one before and it’s just too cramped for me personally. Also just not enough space in the back area
I should mention that I do want to be able to tie, that was a great appeal with the l200, the jimmy only has 350/1300.
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gregor59 Gate Opener
Joined: 02 Mar 2018 Odometer: 8
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 5:43 am Post subject:
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Welcome from another new member. Have fun with your project.
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cynic-al Mud Obsessed
Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Odometer: 6062 Location: scunthorpe
1989 Suzuki SJ
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 12:02 pm Post subject:
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I think your asking too much for one vehicle.
The daily drive / expedition / gentle play day is possible in one vehicle but not winch challenges etc.
In a winch challenge you'll wreck the bodywork, interior, drive train and any comfort / camping modifications you make. The tyres and body modifications won't be suitable for road use and the suspension would likely be dangerous if you load it with roof tents or camping gear on roof racks. Keeping it reliable for long trips would be a full time job cleaning rads, replacing joints that have become packed with silt etc. Also as you've pointed out the dimensions of an expedition vehicle generally need to be quite large to carry all your stuff but a winch challenge vehicle needs to be smaller so you don't get hung up on everything.
I would recommend one vehicle for the daily drive / long trip and one for the fun.
For the daily / long trip the popular ones are land cruiser, patrol, shogun, discovery, or pickup depending what suits you. Also consider where you want to take it and see what they have a lot of, that way it'll be easier to get parts on your travels.
For the toy I would start by going down to a local trials club, you'll see the people that win are often in battered suzukis worth a few hundred quid. I'd start there and get some experience then you'll know which way you want to go with the hobby. The advantage of the Suzuki is they are light to tow, the parts like axles, transfer boxes etc can be fitted on your own, and they're not that expensive to run. Plus if you buy one that's already setup for it you'll be able to run it for a few years and probably not lose any money on it.
Have fun
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Xpajun Mud Obsessed
Joined: 22 Sep 2008 Odometer: 3245
1988 Mitsubishi Shogun
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 1:25 pm Post subject:
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I agree with cynic-al, you can't do it all in one - for daily drive and expedition I would suggest the Shogun Sport rather than the L200 - you need dry internal storage space rather than a leaky tub.
I have a Mk1 Shogun that I use for play and competitions modified for that use but where I get bogged down Suzukis just skip over - so yes Suzukis are the ones to go for in competition
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jorgtram Gate Opener
Joined: 13 Mar 2018 Odometer: 12
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 6:24 am Post subject:
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Well, that was interesting to read. That was a nice insight.
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