Has anyone fitted the tru tracker to their 70 series cruiser to fix the narrow rear end, if so has it made any difference towing?
Rob Driver said
08:32 AM Mar 10, 2022
I have never owned a 70 series T ute but I do know friends with them.
The reports of instability on uneven surfaces are very true as I have followed one mate on tracks and sand and the effect of the narrow track on the rear is quite obvious. He also claims that when towing it can be frightening when the vehicle attempts to *tramline* in existing wheel ruts.
My other mate complained about the same traits with his ute but rather than put up with it he fitted the Dana Kit which restored the rear track to the same dimension as the front. He claimed that the improvement to the feel and safety of the vehicle was well worth it. I should add that he did not tow a caravan but he did tow a large Plant Trailer with a small excavator on it and the modification cured the instability problem that he had prior to the mod.
This mod was done some time ago and there are many more brands of modification kits available now to turn these utes into something that can be reasonably safe.
The first friend above has said openly, *no way will he spend the money to fix something that is a design fault and should be addressed by T themselves* The cost of the modification to restore the width of the rear track is not what you call cheap particularly when my mate above had his done and it is something to be considered when adding this cost to the huge price of a new vehicle if that is the way you are going.
I do know another bloke who has the same ute and it was used for roo and pig shooting and the constant wear on the standard diff caused it to fail just recently, while he was towing a trailer. This might be something to consider if spending the money modifying an older unit which may have some miles on it.
I hope this helps as I dont think that there will be many on this forum who have performed the Mod you are asking about.
For the information of other forum members here is the info for Tru Tracker
-- Edited by Rob Driver on Thursday 10th of March 2022 08:38:08 AM
PeterD said
08:39 AM Mar 10, 2022
If a "tru tracker" is a device that packs out the wheels from the standard axle, they are not an approved device. Just because something is marketed, it does not mean it is approved for use on a motor vehicle.
Rob Driver said
08:41 AM Mar 10, 2022
PeterD wrote:
If a "tru tracker" is a device that packs out the wheels from the standard axle, they are not an approved device. Just because something is marketed, it does not mean it is approved for use on a motor vehicle.
Hi Peter,
Yes I thought the same thing but I added a link to the modification, probably at the same time you were typing.
The Tru Tracker kit needs to be signed off by an engineer I believe.
Wheel spacers most definitely do not comply in Australia.
-- Edited by Rob Driver on Thursday 10th of March 2022 08:43:02 AM
bratboy said
09:02 AM Mar 10, 2022
Makes you wonder if these vehicles are fit for purpose , spend 10s of thousands on a vehicle then spend another $3,500 plus engineering to make it do what it's supposed to .
Rob Driver said
09:32 AM Mar 10, 2022
bratboy wrote:
Makes you wonder if these vehicles are fit for purpose , spend 10s of thousands on a vehicle then spend another $3,500 plus engineering to make it do what it's supposed to .
Yes, and along with the price and misgivings with axle widths my thoughts are that they are the most uncomfortable vehicle to drive and ride in.
bratboy said
05:18 PM Mar 10, 2022
Yes the term agricultural comes to mind .
-- Edited by bratboy on Thursday 10th of March 2022 05:19:15 PM
rgren2 said
05:29 PM Mar 10, 2022
bratboy wrote:
Yes the term agricultural comes to mind .
-- Edited by bratboy on Thursday 10th of March 2022 05:19:15 PM
And thats why they are so popular. It feels like a tractor, must be good. Expensive, you get what you pay for. :(
bratboy said
06:13 PM Mar 10, 2022
Each to there own , personally if I'm paying that kind of money I want it to work out of the box and I'd kinda like to be able to walk after driving it .
yobarr said
09:25 PM Mar 10, 2022
bratboy wrote:
Makes you wonder if these vehicles are fit for purpose , spend 10s of thousands on a vehicle then spend another $3,500 plus engineering to make it do what it's supposed to .
When I get a few minutes spare, I will enlighten you. Cheers
-- Edited by yobarr on Thursday 10th of March 2022 09:30:05 PM
Rob Driver said
09:36 PM Mar 10, 2022
yobarr wrote:
bratboy wrote:
Makes you wonder if these vehicles are fit for purpose , spend 10s of thousands on a vehicle then spend another $3,500 plus engineering to make it do what it's supposed to .
When I get a few minutes spare, I will enlighten you. Cheers
-- Edited by yobarr on Thursday 10th of March 2022 09:30:05 PM
With respect to the forum admin request I deleted my post.
-- Edited by Rob Driver on Thursday 10th of March 2022 09:46:50 PM
-- Edited by Rob Driver on Thursday 10th of March 2022 09:53:15 PM
bratboy said
10:46 PM Mar 10, 2022
I can assure you I do not need enlightening by you .thanks anyway .
-- Edited by bratboy on Friday 11th of March 2022 10:25:59 AM
oldbloke said
11:32 PM Mar 10, 2022
bratboy wrote:
Makes you wonder if these vehicles are fit for purpose , spend 10s of thousands on a vehicle then spend another $3,500 plus engineering to make it do what it's supposed to .
Yep, this is a perfect example of poor design.
It also emphasises what I have said in the past on this forum. Every vehicle out there has its pros a cons. And these people who follow brands, always maintaining A or B is the best, like following a football team are just advertising how naive they are.
OB :)
Cheers.
P.S. Tritons are great.
Clarky 1 said
09:53 AM Mar 13, 2022
I worked for a fellow who had a driver decide to quit and left a truck and trailer in Cunnamulla because he had a disagreement with the boss.
The boss had a 79 series and he had modified the rear track with a kit that cost him a big dollar.
He put me in the ute to drive to Cunnamulla and retrieve the truck.
I had never driven the ute more that a few kilometres before this so it was quite a trip from Melbourne to C.
I didnt find any instability with the ute travelling on varying road surfaces. No tramlining or anything like that
I felt it would travel better if it was carrying a load rather than empty except for trade boxes and some tools etc.
Well that trip was one of the most uncomfortable trip I had ever done in a vehicle.
If you consider the cost
They need quality seats, softer suspension, an auto transmission, decent interior trim, more leg room, a better radio and entertainment kit and the list could go on.
I was glad to load the ute onto the semi and drive the truck home.
Now to the OP, my boss decided that he would sell the ute and before he did he sold the widened diff assembly to another owner as a swap over deal.
This might be an option for you to get a modified diff to replace the standard narrow one at a cheaper price than lashing out for a new one.
I have never owned a 70 series T ute but I do know friends with them.
The reports of instability on uneven surfaces are very true as I have followed one mate on tracks and sand and the effect of the narrow track on the rear is quite obvious. He also claims that when towing it can be frightening when the vehicle attempts to *tramline* in existing wheel ruts.
My other mate complained about the same traits with his ute but rather than put up with it he fitted the Dana Kit which restored the rear track to the same dimension as the front.
He claimed that the improvement to the feel and safety of the vehicle was well worth it.
I should add that he did not tow a caravan but he did tow a large Plant Trailer with a small excavator on it and the modification cured the instability problem that he had prior to the mod.
This mod was done some time ago and there are many more brands of modification kits available now to turn these utes into something that can be reasonably safe.
The first friend above has said openly, *no way will he spend the money to fix something that is a design fault and should be addressed by T themselves*
The cost of the modification to restore the width of the rear track is not what you call cheap particularly when my mate above had his done and it is something to be considered when adding this cost to the huge price of a new vehicle if that is the way you are going.
I do know another bloke who has the same ute and it was used for roo and pig shooting and the constant wear on the standard diff caused it to fail just recently, while he was towing a trailer. This might be something to consider if spending the money modifying an older unit which may have some miles on it.
I hope this helps as I dont think that there will be many on this forum who have performed the Mod you are asking about.
For the information of other forum members here is the info for Tru Tracker
https://outbacktravelaustralia.com.au/4wd-mods-powertrain/tru-tracker-wide-track-kit-for-landcruiser-70s/
-- Edited by Rob Driver on Thursday 10th of March 2022 08:38:08 AM
Hi Peter,
Yes I thought the same thing but I added a link to the modification, probably at the same time you were typing.
The Tru Tracker kit needs to be signed off by an engineer I believe.
Wheel spacers most definitely do not comply in Australia.
-- Edited by Rob Driver on Thursday 10th of March 2022 08:43:02 AM
Yes, and along with the price and misgivings with axle widths my thoughts are that they are the most uncomfortable vehicle to drive and ride in.
Yes the term agricultural comes to mind .
-- Edited by bratboy on Thursday 10th of March 2022 05:19:15 PM
And thats why they are so popular. It feels like a tractor, must be good. Expensive, you get what you pay for. :(
When I get a few minutes spare, I will enlighten you. Cheers
-- Edited by yobarr on Thursday 10th of March 2022 09:30:05 PM
With respect to the forum admin request I deleted my post.
-- Edited by Rob Driver on Thursday 10th of March 2022 09:46:50 PM
-- Edited by Rob Driver on Thursday 10th of March 2022 09:53:15 PM
I can assure you I do not need enlightening by you .thanks anyway .
-- Edited by bratboy on Friday 11th of March 2022 10:25:59 AM
Yep, this is a perfect example of poor design.
It also emphasises what I have said in the past on this forum. Every vehicle out there has its pros a cons. And these people who follow brands, always maintaining A or B is the best, like following a football team are just advertising how naive they are.
OB :)
Cheers.
P.S. Tritons are great.
The boss had a 79 series and he had modified the rear track with a kit that cost him a big dollar.
He put me in the ute to drive to Cunnamulla and retrieve the truck.
I had never driven the ute more that a few kilometres before this so it was quite a trip from Melbourne to C.
I didnt find any instability with the ute travelling on varying road surfaces. No tramlining or anything like that
I felt it would travel better if it was carrying a load rather than empty except for trade boxes and some tools etc.
Well that trip was one of the most uncomfortable trip I had ever done in a vehicle.
If you consider the cost
They need quality seats, softer suspension, an auto transmission, decent interior trim, more leg room, a better radio and entertainment kit and the list could go on.
I was glad to load the ute onto the semi and drive the truck home.
Now to the OP, my boss decided that he would sell the ute and before he did he sold the widened diff assembly to another owner as a swap over deal.
This might be an option for you to get a modified diff to replace the standard narrow one at a cheaper price than lashing out for a new one.