Dumb Newbie to 4WD

brimhunter · Veteran Member

Dumb Newbie to 4WD

Desert Dweller · Guru

Are you doing the Gibb River road just in case you meet other people that have done the Gibb River road & you'd feel inferior to them? They probably did it for the same reason.

Why not stay on the bitumen, then you can do it without worrying about breaking your toys so much.

There are some great features along the way, we're doing it for 3 weeks in a small SUV next September.

The standard suspension on a Triton would be pretty much the same as a Pajero Sport.

Kakadu is mostly bitumen with short unmade roads to attractions like Jim Jim Falls & Gunlom.

We've had 3 weeks each time there in 2016 & 2017 using a hire car like a Mitsubishi ASX.

https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t63972484/top-end-trip-september-2017/

-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Monday 19th of November 2018 05:12:31 AM

Mike Harding · Guru

Do a rough calculation on the weight of all the accessories you mention then add fuel, luggage and your weight and compare that to the maximum allowed weight for the vehicle. Providing the load is less than (say) 75% of the maximum permitted all should be good. If it's more than 75% you are taking far too much stuff.

The GRR (I understand, I haven't driven it but have done similar) is not a difficult 4WD at all but simply a rough and corrugated road so drive at a speed appropriate to the conditions and stop occasionally for a few minutes to allow the shock absorbers to cool.

Kakadu is generally very easy 4WDing (although I did manage to bog my vehicle in a croc. river!) and should not pose any issues. If an obstacle looks like it may be hard or cause a problem then don't tackle it - you don't have the experience or recovery gear.

Talking of recovery gear: if you don't have any then, at the least, buy a 10m winch extension strap (*NOT* a "Snatch Strap") and two appropriate shackles. If you get stuck then you have the means to ask some kind soul to pull you out. You may consider some of those MaxTrax thingies too although they are large to carry and expensive to buy.

Personally I wouldn't bother with the bull-bar - and don't drive at dusk/night.

Enjoy :)

Possum3 · Guru

Brimhunter, Strongly suggest you seek out a local 4WD club near to your self, even before you buy a truck yourself. You will find that there are a lot of members willing to share their often hard gleaned information with you.
Also do some tag along trips when you get your truck to ascertain your real needs (as opposed to your feel good want's).
If you are going to do Gibb River Rd, Canning stock Route, type of trips - DON'T do them solo - ensure your vehicle is sound, carry a remote first aid kit and remote survival guide, fit a good UHF or HF radio - buy a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) even consider renting a SatPhone. Water in several small containers, consider getting a (Filter) drinking straw. Compass, paper maps, whistle all god items to have in your Öh Sh!t" kit
There are no roads that are not do-able - it depends on your speed of travel.

JackoFJR · Senior Member

G'day BH , yes you will probably have to upgrade the suspension on either the Triton or the Pajero , I haven't seen a 4WD yet that comes off the showroom floor that can carry the weight , a mate is on his second Triton and has upgraded the suspension on doth .
The best thing to do would buy the vehicle you want , take some measurements, centre of hub to guard both front and back

Add the accessories and then load it to traveling mode but before fitting stuff like bars , canopies, drawers ect shop around and ask the weight of all the accessories.

Then take it to a reputable spring works and give them a look , don't just go to the big 4x4 shops and they will just most likely sell you a off the shelf package.

-- Edited by JackoFJR on Monday 19th of November 2018 10:33:01 AM

vince56 · Senior Member

Hi Brimhunter,
I have owned two Triton GLX dual cab 4x4's, both good around town in standard form, however they were found wanting in the rough stuff as the rear is pretty stiff over corrugations. That stiffness also doesn't help get up and over sand dunes either. I would look at suspension upgrade or different car.
Cheers Vince
PS
So DD I pose a question: "Are you doing the Gibb River road just in case you meet other people that have done the Gibb River road & you'd feel inferior to them?"

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

In my view, these type of vehicles are simply not suitable for long distance self contained touring because they will always be overloaded.
That overloading WILL cause breakages and personal risk.
Cheers,
Peter

iana · Guru

I think it depends on the type of Ute purchased. A single cab Ute enables the load to be placed better equi shared between front and rear axles. The Extra cab moves the load back a bit further, but the dual cab has the load back over or past the rear wheels, Its the Dual cab that would have all the nasty stresses on the chassis and suspension.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Desert Dweller wrote:
Are you doing the Gibb River road just in case you meet other people that have done the Gibb River road & you'd feel inferior to them? They probably did it for the same reason.

Why not stay on the bitumen, then you can do it without worrying about breaking your toys so much.
There are some great features along the way, we're doing it for 3 weeks in a small SUV next September.

The standard suspension on a Triton would be pretty much the same as a Pajero Sport.

Kakadu is mostly bitumen with short unmade roads to attractions like Jim Jim Falls & Gunlom.

We've had 3 weeks each time there in 2016 & 2017 using a hire car like a Mitsubishi ASX.
https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t63972484/top-end-trip-september-2017/

-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Monday 19th of November 2018 05:12:31 AM

The Pajero Sport and the Triton have different rear suspensions. The Triton is leaf sprung and the Sport has multi link with stabiliser bar. When I had my Sport I had air bags fitted by Pedders to stiffen the rear end a little but I only ever lightly inflated them when I had the van on.

BB

Whenarewethere · Guru

We did 2/3 of the Gibb River Road in both direction this year. Came in from the east and we destroyed a tyre after crossing the Durack River. At the time I did not know it was a screw in the tyre. We decided to return as we had only one more spare, & go back down past Purnululu NP which we had already done. Bug_er!

We then did GRR from the other end but decided to give Mitchell Falls a miss which we had intended to do.

If we had TPMS at the time we would have saved the tyre. We bought TPMS in Broome. It saved us from a few more punctures. All screws, & easily repairable!

The GRR is not that bad. The east end is rough corrugated sharp stone & speeding drivers. It's the speeding drivers you have to keep be careful of.

Just be very careful of what you add to the car. It adds up extremely quickly & we don't have any draw systems, heavy boxes etc! 9 out of 10 nights we chuck everything in the front & sleep in the back. When driving there is nothing behind the front seats that is higher than the window sills, the 28 litre fridge is the highest item. One would think we are going for a picnic!

Items added to our car!

145.000 People (one has to reduce a bit!) x2

12.000 Roof rack rails & 1 pair cross bars x1
_3.600 Second pair cross bars x1
_4.000 Solar panel & tyre bracket x1
30.000 Wheel second spare x1
_4.600 Fuel rack aluminium x1
36.000 Fuel tanks 10 litres x4
_3.000 Fuel rack aluminium small x1
_9.000 Fuel tanks 5 litres x2
_0.080 Fuel tank nozzle x2
15.200 Solar panels x1
12.000 Sand tracks x4
12.000 Awning x1

20.972 Water container 10 litre 0.486 x2
42.656 Water container 5 litre 0.332 x8
_3.414 Water container 1 litre 0.138 x3
_1.000 Thermos flask x1

_3.700 Fire extinguishers 1kg x2
_0.300 Hi vis vests x2
16.000 Compressor 4.5kg x3
_1.350 Air tank 4 litres x1
_0.636 Air dryer x1
_0.388 Pressure gauge x1
_0.084 Pressure gauge electronic x2
_0.132 Fitting x1
_0.556 Air hose 6 metre ARB orange x1
_0.426 Air hose 2 blue metre x1
_0.362 Air hose 1.5 blue metre x1
_0.264 Air hose 0.8 blue metre x1
_0.106 Air duster cleaner x1

_2.100 Jumper leads 175 anderson to clamp x1
_3.900 Jumper leads 300 amp continuous x1
29.000 Battery 26ah 8.35kg + brackets x3
_1.000 MPPT x1
_1.490 6awg 4m 50ah anderson x1
_0.954 8awg 4m 50ah anderson x1
_0.254 12awg 2.2m anderson x1
_0.342 12awg 2m 50/35 ah anderson x1
_0.282 12awg 35ah fridge lead 1
_0.112 Fridge power lead x1
_0.210 Fridge 240 volt lead x1
15.000 Fridge x1
_0.100 12 volt lead 1m x3
_0.700 White towel to cover fridge x1

0.216 Window sun shade front x1
0.366 Window sun shade rest of windows x1
6.500 Mosquito enclosure x1
1.000 Ground sheet heavy x1
0.626 Ground sheet tent cover light x1
1.088 Tent poles telescopic 0.544 x2
1.900 Tent poles and pegs x2
1.600 Tent ropes & pegs (10 & 10)
0.684 Tent peg hammer x1
1.050 Sand flag x1
0.300 Window sun nets for mosquitoes x4

3.100 Helinox chairs x2
1.210 Stools x2
0.054 Blue & grey seat mats x2
1.054 Table top x1
1.178 Table legs x1
1.010 Metho stove & lighters etc
1.850 Metho 1 litre x2
0.700 Bucket with lid x1

0.806 Sleeping mat blue Thermarest x1
1.110 Sleeping mat brown Thermarest x1
0.400 Sleeping mat 3/4 x1
0.278 Sleeping mat grey foam x1
0.286 Sleeping mat blue x1
3.000 Sleeping bags x2

0.500 First aid x1
0.256 Tick freeze spray x1
0.300 Braun tooth brush 2xAA x2
2.000 Personal items
1.500 Toilet paper 10 rolls + 3 emergency

0.256 Camera Canon G9X + 2 add batteries x1
0.700 Paper maps Hema / Gregorys x10
3.000 Atlas x2
0.370 GPS + cable + bracket x1
0.200 Mobile x1
0.800 portable radio

0.256 Torch large USB 26650 x1
.0102 Torch medium USB 18650 x1
0.150 Torch head USB 16340 x2
0.032 Torch AAA x2
0.244 AA AAA battery charger
0.384 Clamp meter x1
1.086 Tool box tyre repair x1
0.366 Multi grips x1
0.192 Long nose pliers
0.268 Ratchet 10mm x1
0.320 Wheel leveller x1
1.830 Jack plate x1
0.650 Tie down ratchet heavey duty x1
0.372 Tie down straps 2 metres x2
0.324 Tie down straps 1 metres x2
8.000 Tow ropes + shackles x2
1.368 3/4 tee handle x1
0.622 3/4 21mm socket + extension x1
0.260 Builders glovers 2 sets x2
1.000 Boot carpet x1
3.000 Front rubber mats x2
0.238 Fuses box of 150 x150

0.300 12 volt dual outlet + extension x1
1.036 Spanners 6mm to 19mm (set)
0.578 Sockets 13mm - 21mm + extension (set)
0.434 Sockets small (set)
0.216 Screw driver set (set)
0.366 Air filter
0.300 Oil filter

15.000 Clothes for 2 people
_3.000 Shoes & sandals 2 people
15.000 Food - cans, dry & cold
15.000 Beer (reduce weight of first item!) (not enough beer!)

548 kg

-11.300 Rear seat bases & 3 head rests removed

Possum3 · Guru

Point to note "Whenarewethere" Headrests are mandatory in all vehicles so fitted - They are not there as a comfort item. Any Police Officer in any State that notices them missing; the vehicle will be immediately defected.
Additionally they are designed to be taken off and points used to break windows if car is submerged in water

Whenarewethere · Guru

We have turned the car into two seats. After holiday we return it to five seats.

Mike Harding · Guru

Possum3 wrote:
Additionally they [headrests] are designed to be taken off and points used to break windows if car is submerged in water

I didn't know that! And I suspect a lot of others don't also.

However your comment did spur me to buy one of these for the 4WD:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/resqme-Genuine-Rescue-Emergency-Tool-Free-Postage/283244742099?hash=item41f2b3c5d3:m:mcaFdn8NtgaWmXGKN0bXiGg:rk:4:pf:0

I have one in the town car but not in the 4WD. Trawling e-bay
produces lots of cheaper Chinese copies but I strongly suggest
staying with the original design and American manufacture "Resqme".

Edit: it's not just a submerged car which is an issue; a friend
rolled his car which twisted the chassis and prevented the doors
opening also the electric windows would not work. He was trapped
until emergency services could free him - lucky there was no fire!

-- Edited by Mike Harding on Tuesday 20th of November 2018 12:54:21 PM

Whenarewethere · Guru

I have original equipment Land Rover seat covers. You can't remove the head rests unless you get your hand up under the seat cover to press the release button. Best to climb over into the back of the car to do this step!

One could always use the steel tongue of the belt buckle. You have probably taken it off anyway to get out of the car, when swing it at the window in one go. Thus there would be one less action required in removing a head rest!

Plain Truth · Guru

brimhunter wrote:
Hi
A dumb question more than likely
i have posted a few threads lately trying to ponder if to purchase a 2018 Triton
i have sort of decided but i have another question if someone can hel please
On the new Triton i will be putting Bull Bar,Dual Batt system, Canopy and roof top tent
also drawers in rear with dual Zone fridge freezer not decided on Make as Yet
The question is as im doing all this so i can do Gibb River Road in 2019 also Darwin and Kakadu
do i have to upgrade suspension from out of the showroom or will the stock as it comes supension be okay
i dont intend to be doing any radical off roading but just to go to the normal attractions off GRR.
Can anyone advise please
If i go Pajero Sport does this mean the same suspension has to be upgrded
i realise a lot to ask and its prob a dumb question but please help
Brimhunter

Brimhunter, do the GRR.just do it you won't be sorry.

Don't be put off by people who wished they had done it,and didn't,and now have a complex.

Don't be put of because your alone,it gets crowded up there now,and you will meet up with others along the way.

You don't need a heavy rooftop tent,we had a 9x9 Southern Cross tent,just one pole,and a good rollup foam mattress.

Two spares and a good puncture outfit and compressor,which thankfully we didn't use.

Dual battery's and a fridge,we have 60 Lt.combo.

Just lower the tyres and take it easy,you will have a ball and be glad you did it

-- Edited by Plain Truth on Tuesday 20th of November 2018 03:41:42 PM

Greg 1 · Guru

The Triton will do it no problem. Just don't overload it. Keep within the manufacturer's spec. You can do the GRR in a 2wd in the dry season. Know a few people who have done it in a 2wd.