what would you do? / 2017 cape challenge

[morro85 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close morro85]

Hi guys,

First time poster, long time reader, so please forgive me if I screw this up.

so this is the story so far,

Some mates and I want to go to the cape in june 2017 for 4 weeks and I want to take my prado. We have all agreed to have our rigs ready by mid april 2017 to allow the remaining time to be used for minor maintainence, food prep etc etc.

My rig is a 03 1kz auto with 310k on the clock. It is my DAILY DRIVE and ONLY car.

it has the following mods already on it from the previous owner,

•*sovereign bulbar (needs the mounts changed)

*snorkel

*3x rhino roof racks

*OME suspension lift (20mm front, 40mm rear)

*towbar

*crappy no name spotlights

*dual battery set up (with a stuffed battery and isolater wired wrong)

*and a ridge ryder awning.




I have the following parts/ had work done

•Auto was serviced and valve bodies upgraded by wholesale autos
•provent catch can (yet to be fitted).
•uhf radio gmetx3100
• basic recovery equipment (but id like to add to my collection)
• 4wd super center compressor


otherwise my rig is pretty stock.


This is where I would like some advice from the wealth of knowledge that is the PP community.

*if this was your trip and your blank canvas, where would you spend your money?

* what would you do differently if this was your 2nd time around??

*what mods would be absolute must haves e.g. secondry fuel filter, egt/water/oil guages??

*why that particular brand/model e.g powerful4x4 vs arb vs OL etc??

*What would you go with out e.g. lockers??

if you could give a little info on pro/cons, costs etc that would be awesome.


There are some things I definitely want and its more of a case of which one do I buy e.g. reverse cam, recovery points, fridge, diff/ trans breathers, winch, 2nd battery, secondry fuel filter etc

Im not going to be a complete tightarse and buy the cheapest out there but I don't have millions to spend either. I believe " buy cheap buy twice" but i also want to stretch my budget as far as i can ie buy 2nd hand, find bargins at shows, do stuff myself etc .

im fairly hands on and like to do stuff myself if possible (tho im recovering from right shoulder surgey atm). i have mechanic mates that can help, but im also aware of the value of paying a professional.

ITS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING 16 MONTHS.


My apologies for the essay and i hope ive made sense.

Thank you in advance.
Ben

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

From what I understand the Cape can be a real mixed bag. Some find it amazingly tough, others a complete breeze and anywhere inbetween.

First thing I would be doing is concentrating on making sure what you have got is 100% operational and correctly and safely fitted. Then go around and make sure every nut and bolt is tight.

Next I would look at some decent tyres, they really can make or break any trip. Once you've had the tyres done climb under and check all the nuts and bolts you can.

Then double check your suspension, a trip to the Cape will really give it a work out. When replacing any shocks, springs, etc. check any nuts and bolt you can get too.

Then look at all your camping equipment, make sure whatever you are taking is up to scratch. A good chair is a must, and something comfy to sleep in.

A good recovery strap is a must, as well as recovery points. Anything else is a bonus. A winch is nice, but not a necessity. Diff locks are in the same boat.

The biggest concern is maintenance, make sure everything is tight, then get a mate to make sure while you check his, the corrugations will rattle everything they can loose.

Otherwise, make sure you have enough beer, and a good reliable way of keeping it cold. Oh, and I decent camera too I guess

[morro85 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close morro85]

my theory with the cape is that some people travel as many easy fire trails as they can, others will take the hardest most extreme lines/trails they can find as if to prove "mines bigger than yours" and then there is me. I want something inbetween. I would like a challenge but im not willing to risk my rig for the sake of it.

I figured a quality set of tyres would be needed, will get them just before I go. making sure everything is tight is something I did have in mind, would lock tighting everthing be a bit extreme??

im undecided as to weather to change my suspension. on one hand, I don't know the age or how hard its been treated. on the other hand, it performs fine there are no squeaks or anything like that.

my camping equipment is good (tested it over a 3 week trip to the gulf with work mates in 2013), but will be reviewed over time before I go.

im planning on taking atleast 2 or more recovery straps just incase and of course the recovery points are a given. what makes you say anything else is a bonus andy??? diff locks I can understand being a bonus but I would have thought a winch would have been a necessity. especially given its less strain on a rig compared to a snatch, allows self recovery especially if you are 1st to tackle a tricky bit and get stuck or a slow and controlled decent on something like gunshot.

I will be taking ZERO BEER to the cape :idea: HOWEVER, if the JD is less than icey cold there will be hell to pay

I already have the camera (7D mkii) and fishing gear sorted. might look into getting my gun licence so I can hunt some dropbears :lol:

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

Well, the anything else is a bonus comes from the angle that I took almost every conceivable piece of recovery equipment and didn't use any of it even once. A winch isn't a must, there are heaps of people up there in June and July. One in your group would be fine if it makes you feel better. The only way a winch could be used for a decent would be to reverse down (no way) or the bloke behind you lowers you down. The same could be achieved with a strap and him in low 1st.

Be careful with how much alcohol you take with the restrictions above the Jardeine, and some other communties are dry. Also, depending where you go up there some firearm restrictions apply.

Sounds like you will be fine, I wouldn't be locktiteing everything, as it can make some things a pain to remove when needed. Just make sure everything is tight, nylock nuts or spring washers are used.

[peter_mcc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peter_mcc]

From what I understand the Cape can be a real mixed bag. Some find it amazingly tough, others a complete breeze and anywhere inbetween.

You could drive from Cairns to the Cape in an old Commodore - going up the main road isn't particularly difficult apart from the horrendous corrugations if it hasn't been graded for a while. You can pick & choose the side trips you want to do - none of them are essential to get to the top so if something looks too hard you can always turn around and go back up the main road.

I drove from Cairns to Coen mid last year in a rental Patrol with a roof tent and 250,000km's on it - with the stock suspension. It made it ok - it isn't something I'd choose to do again in a hurry but there were no major problems. Your suspension will cop a hiding on the Peninsular Development Road - there isn't much you can do about that.

As for recovery gear - you probably don't need any if you're prepared to be cautious. We did it solo 12+ years ago with no recovery gear and didn't have a problem. Of course, we also made sure we didn't go anywhere sketchy - that's the trade off you have to make!

[wes Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wes]

Replace hoses and belts and keep old ones for spares especially if age is unknown.
Carry spare fuel filter
Extend diff and box breathers if planning on doing river crossings.
If towing maybe a auto trans cooler and torque lockup relay?

My vehicle is an 06 1kz-te manual and we did the OTL.Didn't try anything too silly but wanted some challenges.
Factory side steps did get a bashing from some of the rock climbing.

[crog Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close crog]

Take a compressor for your tyres to adjust pressures and deflators.

I would take at least a turfer for recovery and a high lift as well as some max tracks for soft bits

but again this is what I take anywhere

sounds fun would like to join my current project sounds a lot like yours

[morro85 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close morro85]

sorry for the slack reply, ive been out enjoying my prado as well as post shoulder surgery appointments etc.

WES, given how cheap (in relative terms) filters, hoses and belts are, I will put new ones on the car before I go, the old ones will come as spares, and I will probably take a 2nd spare of them just in case.

ive ordered some sliders/steps from jack sommers. All reports say he does good work, and being a fellow PP member, its kinda hard not to help a brother out, they should be arriving at my place early/mid feb :-)

Diff and box/trans breathers were done last week, I extended the original rubber hoses with 1/4 in pneumatic line and fittings from masters (I wish Bunnings had this stuff too).

while I was doing the box/trans breather I thing I discovered why my 4wd light doesn't come on. There was 2 wires flapping in the breeze and an empty plug, looked like they had been ripped out, im in the process of trying to sort it out. I have a water proof plug from jaycar and im thinking it might be easier to cut the original off (whats left of it) and go from there.

CROG, what project are you doing at the moment??

ive got a 4wd super center compressor and deflater that have served me well for the last 2 years (had a pathfinder for a while, before I saw the light :-P ), will see how they hold up but so far so good :-)

turfer, high lift and max trax are all good ideas, will look at that at some point. its just trying to balance out needs vs wants vs budget and GVM.

speaking of needs, I need to go fit my recovery points for my Lithgow trip next week.

cheers guys

P.S andy, peter you info has been useful and I look forward to more of it, thank you :-)

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

my theory with the cape is that some people travel as many easy fire trails as they can, others will take the hardest most extreme lines/trails they can find as if to prove "mines bigger than yours" and then there is me. I want something inbetween. I would like a challenge but im not willing to risk my rig for the sake of it.

I. might look into getting my gun licence so I can hunt some dropbears

Mine is bigger! I contemplated a gun license too, the responsible adult thing on my left shoulder and the voice in the passenger sat say no......