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Post by adrian on Nov 29, 2005 4:49:09 GMT 11
Guys,
i have eventually fitted my snorkel (it only took 9 months!)
but my friends and i now have a mission, deep water waiding,
my problem is now raised breathers for the axles, gearboxes and fuel tank.
are there any others that i need to do?
my friends have land rovers (they are popular here in the UK for some reason, and i will argue with anyone who says they are the best 4x4xfar!)
on land rovers they have a wading plug that fits into the timing belt cover to stop water getting in there.
is there anything like this on the trooper??
i've heard the best place to put the ones for the rear axle and fuel tank is into the car.
i've got a .mpg film that a friend gave me of the
promotional video for safari, and they seam quite mad!
with the car completely floating at one stage.
we plan to start with a depth of 4 feet, and then
go deeper from there.
if anyone can tell me how to post a .mpeg here, i will put it on.
help me guys, my trooper cannot be out done by a landrover (mind trooper probably wont rust before it comes out the water the other side!!!)
adrian
ps. it has the 3.1 turbo diesel fitted with an auto box
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Post by geeves on Nov 29, 2005 6:19:34 GMT 11
Bringing the breathers into the car is best if you need that much depth but you do get smells like diff oil in the car while hot. Most people run them into the engine bay then fit a fuel filter on the end with the outlet pointing down which works well. 4 feet is a lot of water any deeper and water will come though the heater onto your lap
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Post by James W on Nov 29, 2005 7:05:34 GMT 11
By axles I assume you mean diff's? I've had troubles with front wheel bearings taking on water and my current project (chrismas is comming) is to get compressed air in there, but you have mostly covered it. By the way check the air filter box, it has a rubber diaphram or drain in the bottom that will compromise your snorkle water tightness. Take the filter out and look inside you will see where.
There is an article somewhere for a breather DIY install, I thought it was on planetisuzu.com but can't find it. Anyway, it's straight forward, all I can add is add a loop or u shape to the top end of the breather hose, if water does get that high it will act like an S bend under your sink, that and keep dust out.
On the deep crossings you will float, loose traction and come to a halt mid river, untill you take on some water in the cabin and sit back on the bottom of the river and get traction again. Watch for flowing rivers, a 1 mile an hour river 4 feet deep against the large surface area of a vehicle WILL push you around, you may not be able to choose the direction you travel.... As Geeves says remember to set the heater up to internal air not fresh, but it will remind you automaticly if you forget :-)
For mpg's I think you will need to host it somewhere else... how big is it? I have limited space, someone here surely can help.
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Post by nikolaiv on Dec 15, 2005 10:24:37 GMT 11
Ill rise to the bait as an owner of both Landrovers and Isuzu`s and say that as a stock vehicle, a series landy/defender, 78 series cruiser or jeep wrangler are right up there in terms of off road ability. My Irmscher has good bfg mud tyres (the same size as on my landy), limited slip diff (landy is open both ends) and after market shocks and springs,(as well as twice teh power and torque) and teh standard 1970 Landrover will still get further than the isuzu. Everything is a compromise and teh land rovers (and cruisers and jeeps - i`m not a bigoted LR owner) are less compromised thats all.
Offroading in comfort in a lifted modern turbo diesel 4wd is a totally different experience than in an older style one. not better or worse just different.
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Post by mudgrip4 on Dec 15, 2005 20:53:20 GMT 11
Just a thought - was away on a landrover club trip not long ago doing serious rockhopping at the head of the Clyde/Lawrence rivers on Erewhon station. Two Defenders on trip - one a v8 and the other a new shorty 2.5Tdi - and watched with much interest as both of them succumbed to the rocks and buckled front steering or suspension parts. My isuzu shorty had no trouble at all with the boulders - a far tougher vehicle in this terrain.
I like the old landrovers - tons of character - but while useful offroad they have that massive shortcoming with their mechanical unreliability. Landrover club members don't actually like them on trips because they break down and have to be towed so much! True! Club actually has special days when they bring out their old rovers - not too far from home and with tons of tools.
Have to comment too on the 70 series cruisers as have 4 friends who have them in the club I belong to. This truck has a reputation it doesn't quite deserve in some areas. Good offroader - though I've never seen one of same specs outperform my swb isuzu - but they cost an arm and a leg to maintain once the ks get up a bit. All four mates have spent a fortune - up to $5000 each this year - diffs, several collapsed wheel bearings with all their complications, (cruiser bearings seem to be too light for 33s) complete frontal rebuilds, transfer cases, suspension breakages etc. Breakdown and wear-out rate has been terrible and one truck has only done 138ks. There are some very quiet Toyota owners round chch at the moment....
As I watch them over the years- not just a passing comment - I'm coming to the the conclusion their drivetrain ( axles, motor, gearbox, t/fer case, diffs etc) simply is not as strong as the isuzu set up which is based on truck parts. Isuzus in the club doing exactly the same mileage and tracks are proving far more rugged and less breakable over time - and this is the reputation of the isuzu road trucks.
As for jeeps - I see they can adapt quite well, but again the chronic problem of fragility, mechanical breakages. The standing joke with Canterbury jeep club is that jeep stands for 'just explode every part' - and this is from the enthusiasts!! Nice looking trucks but their reputation is becoming known - and this has caused their value to drop so much - plus fuel cost. Believe the brand new models have great motors.
You may be wise to stick to and develop your isuzu - save a few dollars over the years.
Mike
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Post by geeves on Dec 16, 2005 13:45:40 GMT 11
The new jeeps do have nice motors but dont ever drive one on a wet road till youve fitted a snorkle. The wading depth is quoted as 430mm at 16kph The intake faces forward in the grill.
We had a 2004 v8 in Wn follow an unsnorkled Mu and Vitara though a small water hole and injest $15000 worth of water.
With the old landys I wonder how good our wagons will be once they are 30 years old. Things may not break as often on out wagons but when they do they tend to break big
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Post by mudgrip4 on Dec 16, 2005 18:26:29 GMT 11
Yes, they're great old buggies, and I wouldn't mind having one. A cobber had two of them, and sold one recently for $300!!! You have to be a bit of an enthusiast to keep them operational-with a very large car shed, and a patient wife!
Maybe the latest jeeps are just not set up for off-roading-$15000 is a heck of a lot for a hydraulic repair. However, I've seen the Wranglers modified quite well.
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Post by mulover on Dec 16, 2005 19:09:13 GMT 11
After spending a good wack of money on my truck and doing alot of trialing i am more than happy with my little mu, i go most, if not all the places every other club truck goes and considering they are ifs they go very well, the only problem is with the front c.v's when you start lifting the front more than a bit!!!
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Post by geeves on Dec 17, 2005 5:47:43 GMT 11
That jeep had 3 bent rods after getting wet but because of the way the power steer and brakes work the motor had to be running for the whole hour trip out to real roads. Luckily insurance paid. The handbook that came with the car didnt have the wading depth mentioned although later manuals for the same car do. An intewrnet search finds lots of similarly expensive occurances to late model jeeps
We digrees from the original subject a little far I think
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