I love driving this truck despite it not being the ‘ideal’ around town car, for some reason I get an immense feeling of joy and satisfaction whenever I get behind the wheel whether to drive to work, take the family out for a drive in the country or head bush. Even all the additional weight from the mods doesn’t seem to affect its performance going through hills or on the highway much and not at all once offroad and in low range. Those of you that have installed a 3in exhaust and chip must just about fly around the place.
I had some minor issues with the water tank install. It took two return visits to ARB to get it sorted. The problem was not with the function of the tank but it was making a loud creaking/grinding sound at different speeds, mainly at very low speeds. After some investigation they found that rerouting the hoses fixed the issue. Just to make sure I took the truck out for some good chassis flexing action in the Brindabella’s one weekend with tank empty and the next weekend with it full and there hasn’t been any reoccurrence of the issue so am considering it sorted! To make the tanks nozzle a bit more user friendly I have used the hose and tap set-up of a boab tank, added another hose clamp and connect it if I am staying anywhere overnight. From completely empty it takes just under ten minutes to fill the 48 litre tank which is better than I expected.
Yesterday I had the stock Toyota snorkel swapped out for the safari version by the guys at Pride Auto in Phillip. It has always irked me that Toyota would go to the effort of including a ‘snorkel’ as stock but not sealing it making it nothing more than a raised air intake which does provide benefits but they could have gone one tiny step further by sealing it!
I had bought a set of Piranha offroad extended diff breathers with the full intention of installing them myself. As usually happens with projects I’ve planned; time, life and other priorities get in the way so while it was in getting prepared for some water action I asked the guys if they could install the diff breathers as well and as usual did a great job. So with those two mods now done, water crossings become one less worry J
Build so far
- Factory front and rear electronic diff locks
- Factory Dual battery system with redarc isolator (isolator and switch from Pride Auto – Phillip) and two 12v outlets in the rear.
- Toyota steel bulbar (winch compatible) and side rails
- Water Watch – a second fuel filter to protect engine from water (http://www.responsiveengineering.com.au/8263/Water_Watch_System/What_is_Water_Watch?/)
- Old Man Emu heavy duty 2 in lift and Steering dampener (ARB - Fyshwick)
- 166 litre Longranger replacement fuel tank (ARB - Fyshwick)
- TW12SS 48 Litre Longranger water tank (ARB - Fyshwick)
- Kaymar Rear Step tow bar with dual wheel carrier, telescopic camp light (upgraded to Narva , 72449 L.E.D Work Lamp (Flood Beam) 850 Lumen output with Current draw: 0.8A at 9-50V ) high-lift jack and HF antenna attachments (ARB - Fyshwick)
- 6th wheel – Stock Toyota 76 series GXL 16’’ alloy (Toyota)
- BFG 265/75/16 KM/2s all around
- ARB Deluxe steel roof rack with mesh floor, wind deflector, Kaymar shovel and high-lift jack holder, dual jerry can holder and foxwing attachments. (ARB - Fyshwick)
- ARB compressor (under the bonnet) with pump points in front and rear bumper (ARB - Fyshwick)
- IPS XS Driving lights (ARB - Fyshwick)
- Radiator insect screen (ARB - Fyshwick)
- 4WD Interiors Outback Twin drawers with fridge slide on RHS, Cargo barrier, top shelf and centre divider, 2 x side storage boxes and baby seat anchor points (Pride Auto – Phillip)
- ARB 47lt fridge
- Outback Front tow/recovery points (Pride Auto – Phillip)
- 4WD Interiors Roof Console with GME TX3220 UHF Radio (Pride Auto – Phillip)
- Dept of the Interiors replacement centre console with additional cup holder and tray
- Reversing Camera (Pride Auto – Phillip)
- 3 additional 12v outlets in the cabin, one always-on and the others on-ignition (Pride Auto – Phillip)
- Blackduck front and rear seat covers (Loving Wife)
- TJM front underbody guard (Pride Auto – Phillip)
- tidy up of the accessories wiring and consolidation to single connection to the second battery terminals (Pride Auto – Phillip)
- Safari Snokel Pride Auto – Phillip)
- Piranha offroad extended diff breathers (Pride Auto – Phillip)
Still to go:
- Warn 9.5xp winch
- Autron Cruise control
- DPChip (DP-31)
- Beaudesert 3 Inch Exhaust System
- Front Seat Upgrade
- 16x8" Allied Savvanas, machined black rims and 285/75/R16 KM/2s
- LED driving lights
- Stereo (digital radio)
- HF Radio
