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07-16-08, 04:02 AM
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#1
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IH8MUD Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Posts: 54
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New Member
Hey all,
Thought that i'd just introduce myself.
My name is Navraj and i'm 23 years. Currently working in a family business after doin my BA.
Just got my rig about 7 months back, since then it has sucked all the funds that i had available and what will be available  .
It is a HDJ101 4.2L turbo diesel, yr 2000 and had about 80,000km on the clock.
Since then i have fitted it with a TJM Bull bar, PIAA driving lights, winch, roof rack (self built), and canvas seat covers.
Within the next couple of weeks it should also have been fitted with drawers a 120L long range tank and a 2nd spare wheel. 
Due to availability of aftermarket parts in Nairobi, i have had to import a suspension upgrade kit and hopefully should have it fitted within a couple of months.
In essence i want a rig that i can use for daily movement and can also be used for overlanding
I have attached a pic of my rig
Cheers
__________________
2000 HDJ100, 4.2TD
TJM T15, PIAA, T-Max Winch, Snorkel, Roofrack (self made), AHC, 2nd Spare Wheel
On the way : 120L Tank, Drawers (self made), Awning
Still to come : TJM Rear Bumper, Compressor, Lockers, Engel 60L
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07-16-08, 07:32 AM
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#2
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IH8MUD Junior
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 79
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Great looking rig. Welcome to the board. Keep us updated on your progress....
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07-16-08, 07:37 AM
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#3
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IH8MUD Lifer
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 1,152
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Sweet rig! Keep up the good work.
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2000 UZJ100, OME 865, OME T-bars, Slee Diff Drop, Slee SliderSteps, TJM T3, PowerStop Cross Drilled & Slotted Rotors, 295 Terra Grapplers
M101 Trailer - Sold
1993 Bontrager Race Lite MTB
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07-16-08, 08:00 AM
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#4
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IH8MUD Lifer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Reno
Posts: 5,218
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Nice! And welcome! As above I am interested in your build process...
__________________
Modded '99 for overlanding/exploring: 35's, 4.88's, AO drawers, Slee rr, TJM fr, ARB fr locker, ear candy, Waeco CF-50, PowerGate with 2nd battery, home brew sliders & t-case skid plate, 9.5XP/X-line, LF 170's, OEM 864's, Foxes x 4, 12mm BL, Carl's UCAs, ... KE7NCM
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07-16-08, 08:46 AM
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#5
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IH8MUD Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Posts: 54
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Cheers guys,
Will keep this thread posted as i go on with modifications.
__________________
2000 HDJ100, 4.2TD
TJM T15, PIAA, T-Max Winch, Snorkel, Roofrack (self made), AHC, 2nd Spare Wheel
On the way : 120L Tank, Drawers (self made), Awning
Still to come : TJM Rear Bumper, Compressor, Lockers, Engel 60L
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07-16-08, 08:54 AM
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#6
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IH8MUD Junior
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 77
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Looks great. Love the DIY roof rack. What sort of steps are those?
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2003 UZJ100
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07-16-08, 08:59 AM
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#7
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IH8MUD Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Posts: 54
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Hi Duke,
I'm a real newbie at this, regarding the roof rack, what exactly did u want to know?
Cheers
__________________
2000 HDJ100, 4.2TD
TJM T15, PIAA, T-Max Winch, Snorkel, Roofrack (self made), AHC, 2nd Spare Wheel
On the way : 120L Tank, Drawers (self made), Awning
Still to come : TJM Rear Bumper, Compressor, Lockers, Engel 60L
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07-16-08, 10:11 AM
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#8
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IH8MUD Lifer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Los Ángeles, CA.
Posts: 1,922
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Welcome!
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Looking for an FJ55.
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07-16-08, 11:23 AM
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#9
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You want to do what...?
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: PRK
Posts: 10,447
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Welcome!
good to have you!
Do tell us a bit about how it's like to build and maintain a truck in Kenya and especially where and how one can use it to its fullest potential, please!
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'97: 88K, 3xlock, Custom HD roo bar for sale, 285 MT/Rs on steelies, Hanna sliders, 851+1.5"/863/N73/N74E/SD24, ARB bull with M12, Kaymar with duals, Kaymar rack, Slee TC skid, 2m/440, more stuff, loose nut behind the wheel!)
'03: 99K, the better half's...
DD Accord
souped up DR650
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07-16-08, 11:37 AM
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#10
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IH8MUD Lifer
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 1,640
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It's nice to see a 'modern' Land Cruiser in Africa. You always hear about the older models, but until now I hadn't seen anyone with an 80 or 100 series over there. Of course, it's not like we have the local African news on TV either. For all I know you could have hundreds of those vehicles over there
Welcome to mud madness.
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2004 Land Cruiser UZJ100 "El Rinoceronte"
100 Owners Guild-
Expedition wheelers at their finest - wheeling with style...
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07-16-08, 12:10 PM
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#11
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IH8MUD Regular
Join Date: May 2006
Location: N. Illinois
Posts: 297
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nsingh85
In essence i want a rig that i can use for daily movement and can also be used for overlanding
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Looks like you're almost there buddy! Welcome and great pics!
__________________
'01 UZJ100 Black
'02 Camaro Z28, Black, 25K miles, *FOR SALE*
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07-16-08, 12:15 PM
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#12
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IH8MUD Lifer
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 3,138
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TJM snorkel? Nice truck, welcome to Mud.
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07-16-08, 01:03 PM
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#13
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.........................
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,411
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Nice. Is that the TJM T-15 in steel? Powdercoated silver?
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07-16-08, 03:43 PM
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#14
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Mall Cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: New York
Posts: 3,695
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interesting, your truck has the extra body cladding that the lx470 has here.
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2000 Lexus LX470 - K&N/SLP/HIDs/Clear Corners/LEDs/Nav/Sirius/iPod/Black LC 16"s/BFG AT 285s/Unity Spotlight/Black'd Trim/Hella 4000 Euro+Pencil Beams/IPF Fogs/ARB Combo Bar/Slee TubeSliders/Slee Front Skidplate/Slee Diff-Drop/12mm Bodylift/RhinoLined Rockers&Grille/Matte 1C2 Paint
2005 Specialized FSR XC - CF HBar/XC Stem/Alias 143 Seat/Sidewinder Grips
Oo==L==oO
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07-16-08, 04:05 PM
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#15
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IH8MUD Rookie
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 30
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Welcome! Nice rig and cool looking snorkel. Keep us posted on your build...
Cheers
__________________
2003 UZJ100
1978 FJ55 (sold)
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07-16-08, 04:36 PM
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#16
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IH8MUD Addict
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Posts: 810
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2000 LX 470
Great looking rig. Welcome to the board. Keep us updated on your progress....
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Sweet avatar. Reminds me of something... 
__________________
"It was a blend from italy, not cheap, and absolutely superb!" - Judge Smails.
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07-16-08, 05:05 PM
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#17
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IH8MUD Lifer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Los Ángeles, CA.
Posts: 1,922
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Atticus
Sweet avatar. Reminds me of something... |
..of the "old" Atticus?
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Looking for an FJ55.
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07-16-08, 05:32 PM
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#18
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IH8MUD Addict
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Posts: 810
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hks3sgte
..of the "old" Atticus?
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Could be, rabbit.
Could be.
__________________
"It was a blend from italy, not cheap, and absolutely superb!" - Judge Smails.
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07-16-08, 08:40 PM
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#19
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IH8MUD Junior
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 79
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Atticus
Could be, rabbit.
Could be.
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Sweet....
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07-17-08, 12:14 AM
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#20
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IH8MUD Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Posts: 54
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Yeah it a TJM Bull Bar, the T15 steel. I had it powder coated to match the body colours.
The snorkel is a TJM Airtec, i think it is designed specifically for the 100 series. The only downside about it is that the head can not be rotated, although i personally think it looks better than the safari snorkels.
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07-17-08, 12:26 AM
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#21
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IH8MUD Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Posts: 54
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There are many modern cruisers here, but they are considered more of a luxuary on road vehicle, and to expensive to take offroad.
In total, i know of only about 7 or 8 people who have modified the 100 series for overlanding.
There is also a general sort of feeling here that the land rovers are better suited to off roading than cruisers and they cost much less.
__________________
2000 HDJ100, 4.2TD
TJM T15, PIAA, T-Max Winch, Snorkel, Roofrack (self made), AHC, 2nd Spare Wheel
On the way : 120L Tank, Drawers (self made), Awning
Still to come : TJM Rear Bumper, Compressor, Lockers, Engel 60L
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07-17-08, 01:26 AM
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#22
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IH8MUD Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Posts: 54
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Building a truck in Kenya in many ways is alot harder than elsewhere, but at the same time can also work out cheaper as long as you are a DIY sort of a guy.
Firstly let me say that most of the private cruisers here are IFS and not the live axle. There is a balance between the diesel 4.2L and the 4.7L V8 petrols.
My first decision was what rig to buy and with what engine.
The choice was between an 80 and 100 series. In the end i chose the 100 as it is a newer truck and thus has lower milage that the 80's (not saying that the 80 can't handle all that milage).
The next decision was should i go for the V8 or the 4.2 diesel. In the end i had to ace the facts and decided on the diesel. This was because although it would be nice to have the speed of the V8 it would not be practicle as petrol is readily available in the big cities here, but as you go more into the smaller towns, diesel is probably what you will find, if you are lucky.
(I have attached a picture of what you will regularly see at the remote petrol stations  )
The other thing about the diesel is the better milage, and that it can take you further on the same quantity of fuel, not to mention that diesel here is cheaper than petrol.
So considering this, it was a no brainer.
After i bought the rig, and as i am workin in a family business decisions are made jointly, and i was told that thats it, and no more money is being put into the car.
This lasted about 2 weeks  .
Right onto the modifications.
There is one problem in kenya, parts are available, but i think the local supplier has put the price up about 3 times the actual.
For example, i was considering fitting the rear bar along with the bull bar, but once i heard the price i decided against it.
I was looking at fitting the TJM rear bar, and did some research online. It was costing about $1,000. When i went to the local agent, he gave me a price of $2,300 for the same part.
The TJM roof rack was for $1,500  (thus the DIY rack, which cost about $100)
I now do most of the modifications myself, and help is available readily at a reasonable price, about $20 per day (Next is the drawers).
When it comes to maintainence, this is where the problems is, and so i have decided to do most of the maintainence myself. There is a huge problem of fake parts being fitted, being charged for new parts and 2nd hand ones are fitted. There was even a case where a car after service, the center forgot to put oil into the engine.
Best solution,  Invest in the service manual and get a set of good tools. I guess i also have an advantage because our buisiness is based on mechanical engineering. If it is mechanical i can fix it. 
I can cofidently say that the whole of Kenya, even the city is a test for your vehicle.
We do not have the best of roads, and potholes as big as craters are a constant problem. You must have an excelent suspension system.
I will post some pictures
The landscape of Kenya is varied, if you go up north-west, there is desert, as you come lower, still on the west there is semi desert, the whole of this area there is wild life. The threat of leopards is constant to the heardsmen that live in that area.
If you go about 300km north-west from Nairobi, there is forest with excelent trails. However, it is constantly wet and full of black cotton soil, you will get muddy and stuck. Recovery equipment is a must have in this area.
South west is the Massai Mara, famous for the migration. This area is savanah grasslands. Grass covering the landscape atleast a meter tall. This area is trechorus if you do not stick to tracks as there is no way to know what is under your step. Constant problem is grass getting caught in the prop shaft.
East of Nairobi, there are rainforests. (never been to that part though)
Going south east, there is a game reserve called Tsavo. This area is very dry and dusty, and there are many rocky trails here.
I will post as many pics as i can so you can get a better idea of the landscape.
Cheers
__________________
2000 HDJ100, 4.2TD
TJM T15, PIAA, T-Max Winch, Snorkel, Roofrack (self made), AHC, 2nd Spare Wheel
On the way : 120L Tank, Drawers (self made), Awning
Still to come : TJM Rear Bumper, Compressor, Lockers, Engel 60L
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07-17-08, 01:37 AM
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#23
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IH8MUD Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Posts: 54
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Pics!!!
Im having some trouble uploading the pics, i keep getting an error.
Any idea as to how to sort this out??
__________________
2000 HDJ100, 4.2TD
TJM T15, PIAA, T-Max Winch, Snorkel, Roofrack (self made), AHC, 2nd Spare Wheel
On the way : 120L Tank, Drawers (self made), Awning
Still to come : TJM Rear Bumper, Compressor, Lockers, Engel 60L
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07-17-08, 04:32 AM
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#24
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IH8MUD Regular
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Madrid, Spain
Posts: 438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nsingh85
Pics!!!
Im having some trouble uploading the pics, i keep getting an error.
Any idea as to how to sort this out??
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Hi, and welcome! That's a nice car you have there. Being able to solve any mechanical issue by yourself is a great advantage. As for people preferring Land Rovers, it's more a matter of British heritage in that part of the world (and subsequent availability of know-how and parts), than a real Kenya is one of those place I dont' want to die without having visited it. as for wildlife, I guess there's where the "Rhino Rack" really shows if it can keep up to its name
BTW, it's funny how people talk about "Land Cruisers in Africa" as if it was a single uniform country 
Re. the pictures, try uploading them to "www.imageshack.us". once they are uploaded, copy the "direct link to image" and paste it into your message using the "insert image" button.
I'd also like to read details about your self-made rack.
__________________
Regards,
Dandon - Madrid, Spain
'99 UZJ100 Euro Spec. - BFG AT 285/75/16 -CB-170.000 Km (106 kmi) - Scratches galore
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07-17-08, 05:12 AM
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#25
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IH8MUD Regular
Join Date: May 2006
Location: N. Illinois
Posts: 297
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Navraj, your description of Kenya sounds like a beautiful place, and where Cruisers would be right at home.
Glad you chose the 100 rather than that "general feeling" everyone else there had about Land Rovers being better.
p.s. I sure hope you figure out the pic posting problem. Can't wait to see em!
__________________
'01 UZJ100 Black
'02 Camaro Z28, Black, 25K miles, *FOR SALE*
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07-17-08, 05:49 AM
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#26
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IH8MUD Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Posts: 54
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I will post the pics as Dandon advised and put up the link here
__________________
2000 HDJ100, 4.2TD
TJM T15, PIAA, T-Max Winch, Snorkel, Roofrack (self made), AHC, 2nd Spare Wheel
On the way : 120L Tank, Drawers (self made), Awning
Still to come : TJM Rear Bumper, Compressor, Lockers, Engel 60L
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07-17-08, 06:30 AM
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#27
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IH8MUD Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Posts: 54
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__________________
2000 HDJ100, 4.2TD
TJM T15, PIAA, T-Max Winch, Snorkel, Roofrack (self made), AHC, 2nd Spare Wheel
On the way : 120L Tank, Drawers (self made), Awning
Still to come : TJM Rear Bumper, Compressor, Lockers, Engel 60L
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07-17-08, 07:06 AM
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#28
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IH8MUD Regular
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Madrid, Spain
Posts: 438
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You almost got it  You have to use the IMG tag, instead of the URL tag.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nsingh85
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__________________
Regards,
Dandon - Madrid, Spain
'99 UZJ100 Euro Spec. - BFG AT 285/75/16 -CB-170.000 Km (106 kmi) - Scratches galore
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07-17-08, 11:11 AM
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#29
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You want to do what...?
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: PRK
Posts: 10,447
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Been to S. Africa but not yet to Kenya, keen to go...
Is it like there are only parts in Nairobi and outside of that you're on your own, or it's relatively easy to find garages and parts everywhere?
Clubs and plenty of folks to go out exploring with? Safe everywhere? I imagine your truck must be noticed just about everywhere, no?
__________________
'97: 88K, 3xlock, Custom HD roo bar for sale, 285 MT/Rs on steelies, Hanna sliders, 851+1.5"/863/N73/N74E/SD24, ARB bull with M12, Kaymar with duals, Kaymar rack, Slee TC skid, 2m/440, more stuff, loose nut behind the wheel!)
'03: 99K, the better half's...
DD Accord
souped up DR650
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pint
e9999
