My new, factory Toyota cable lockers!

[Chamba]

I just picked up my five new BF Goodrich 33x10.50x15 A/T tires from the shipper! After all the import fees (they can no longer charge 'duty' because of the Free Trade Agreement, but they can charge 'fees' instead), I wound up spending nearly what I would have to buy them here, but at least they are made in the US, not China, and I did not support any of the tire dealers here.

After several days of arguing with the Customs folks, and sending them a series of letters and pieces of their own legislation, I was able to convince them that they cannot charge me GST (Sales tax which is 10% on EVERYTHING- goods, services and labor) because the total value was under au$1,000. So, a small victory; which was short-lived. Customs then charged me a $79 'perusal fee' to read the legislation I sent to them so that they might be able to do their job as Parliament intended them to do it.

At any rate, I am getting them mounted now, and I can't wait. My old tires were not pretty. I'm just happy I did not get a defect notice while I was wating for my new BFGs.

This weekend I will route/mount the cable to actuate the locker. Once I buy a star I will post all of the photos from the process.

I have been driving my 40 in front wheel drive because all of the drive line shops are closed until Jan 11th for Christmas. I am surprised at how well it drives like this. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I can't see how it can hurt anything.

I can't tell if there is any change to the way the rig drives with a wider rear axle and standard front axle, but so far it seems just fine. I think I will likely wait to put the 60 series axle in until I get home so I don't have to worry about flares on the front fenders. This may change, though, as I am not a very patient person.

Josh

 

[dingbatt]

After several days of arguing with the Customs folks, and sending them a series of letters and pieces of their own legislation, I was able to convince them that they cannot charge me GST (Sales tax which is 10% on EVERYTHING- goods, services and labor) because the total value was under au$1,000. So, a small victory; which was short-lived. Customs then charged me a $79 'perusal fee' to read the legislation I sent to them so that they might be able to do their job as Parliament intended them to do it.

Aaaahhhh...... Good old f*%#!ing Aussie customs, hey?... Bless em. "Perusal fee" is their way of saying "nice effort trying to avoid taxes, we'll just make some other BS fee that we can charge you for instead!"

I just imported a guitar amp from the US and luckily managed to avoid taxes

Oh.... and apparently they're reducing the AU$1000 import tax free threshhold to AU$900 - I think we just avoided that one.

Anyway, very nice work with the axle, Josh, especially working on a 42 degree day! If it were me - I'd be in a pool drinking beer!

You going to post some photos of the rig with its new wide rear?


Cheers,

Matt

 

[Chamba]

Aaaahhhh...... Good old f*%#!ing Aussie customs, hey?... Bless em. "Perusal fee" is their way of saying "nice effort trying to avoid taxes, we'll just make some other BS fee that we can charge you for instead!"

I just imported a guitar amp from the US and luckily managed to avoid taxes

Oh.... and apparently they're reducing the AU$1000 import tax free threshhold to AU$900 - I think we just avoided that one.

Anyway, very nice work with the axle, Josh, especially working on a 42 degree day! If it were me - I'd be in a pool drinking beer!

You going to post some photos of the rig with its new wide rear?


Cheers,

Matt

G'day Matt,

I will post pics of the wide rear and the new sneakers soon; I need to get a star first, as I am out of posting space.:whoops:

Yes, the Customs folks really have you here. But then, they have a monopoly on import, don't they? It's not like I can take my bat and ball and go to another government to import my stuff, so I have to deal with them. They know that too, so they just make up the rules as they go along.

It can be similar in the US, but since it is not an island, there are always other options. I only wish we could bring stuff in here through Thailand or Indonesia.

Any new toys on your troopy? May I recommend a 60 series axle swap?

Cheers,

Josh

 

[swamprunner]

Hey Josh,

Good on ya for finding a set of axles you always wanted.

Still not sure whether I'm headed over or not. The way the dollar has tanked and tickets spiking has made me re think my trip.

Never contacted your wrecker buddy Rob. I figured if I did he would have way to many goodies and I would be forced to come over.

I'm still working on my cummins swap project...haven't made much progress but I have all the drive line sitting in my shop now. I'm scored some 5 spd cruiser transissions and tcases out of the mines in Billing MT. I also picked up a couple sets of elocker axles from cash for clunker vehicles. Almost as good as your cable axles but not quite.
I still thinking of using a hilux body and frame but now that I have the a bunch of crusier parts I'd really love to find a 47 or 75 to swap the drivetrain into.

Anyhow looking forward to seeing some pictures of your project. Will send you an email soon.

Matt

 

[Chamba]

Last night while I was parked in a parking garage in the city, my Cruiser was broken into. He smashed the driver's side vent window- but he missed with the brick a few times (I guess that is why Aussies are kickers in the NFL and not quarterbacks), so he also managed to beat up the metal around my vent window: the front door pillar and the windshield post. They stole my new Garmin GPS, my digital camera (thus the reason there are no photos attached), my water bottle (?), my ash tray full of change (which really sucks, as that was a nice ash tray and Toyota no longer makes them) and some Craftsman tools. I don't know what else, as he was going through my glove box when I arrived. I interrupted the little Aussie fu**er in the act, and he did not get some of the stuff he had left on the seat (my Ipod, Maglight, winch control module, stereo face). It looked like he was trying to get the stereo out when I interrupted him. I saw him from the other side of the garage, yelled and went after him. He grabbed his backpack and split. This is the first time I've ever had a car broken into. Good thing it never happened at home - he might have gotten my handgun...unless I got to it first.

Josh

 

[crustyBJ60]

dude that sucks...

i have had my cruiser broken into as well, not in oz but back home.

i was however, not lucky enough to see the thief that made off with cd's, tools, recovery gear and defiled my cruiser with a screw driver and a bit of time (looked like he was trying to start the truck).

you still have your truck, and you are not awaiting trial for... you know, protecting your own property. things are different here.

maybe get yourself a good dog, or two.

cheers
crusty

 

[dingbatt]

Damn, Josh, that really sucks. Sorry to hear about that. It really saddens me to think some people have such little respect for others and what they hold dear and work towards getting, that they can just smash and run without a hint of guilt. If only you'd have tackled the spineless f@&ker to the ground. Not that I'm one to promote violence....

Don't suppose you got a good ID on 'em, so that you could take the matter to the cops ... you never know, you may get your stuff back.
Also, I'd keep my eyes peeled at your local Cash Converter's and other pawn shops, 'coz your stuff may turn up there.

And as Crusty said, you still got your Cruiser, man .... and we all know that's the most important part, right?

Cheers,

Matt

 

[Chamba]

All true Crusty and Dingbatt.

You gotta be very careful here in Australia when defending your property or yourself. I have a number of clients who did just that and are now on trial: this ain't America...

Self defence here is very hard to prove, and defending your property is simply NOT an excuse. Australian law comes directly from the English common law, and the English have always been scared of the masses defending themselves. Fortunately, the Founding Fathers saw that as a weakness in the English system and they drafted the US Constitution accordingly.

I did report it to the cops, as I was afraid he stole a 4" pocket knife that I keep in my rig (which is highly illegal here, I might add). I did not report it as being stolen (for obvious reasons), but in case the little prick used it and it turned up with my prints on it, I wanted to be able to demonstrate how that came to pass. Fortunately, the knife had fallen out with all the other stuff from my glove box and Mr Intelligence did not see it while he was filling his backpack.

I hope he ODs on the smack he buys with the money he will get selling my GPS to Cash Converters.

Oh well. Done now. Wish I had insurance to cover it, but what can you do? I refuse to pay the full coverage costs here and that is what I get.

I did buy a 'new' vent window from the wreckers yesterday ($35)and had it tinted today ($20). I will put that in on Sunday. Then, I will touch up the dents in the sheet metal and look for another ash tray, LX door panel and interior door handle...

Thanks for the sympathy, lads.

Josh

 

[Chamba]

Here are a couple of shots of my LX with the HJ60 rear axle and new BFG 33X10.50X15 tires I brought over from home. These are from before the break-in, as I no longer have a camera

I really like the wider rear axle, and it tracks absolutely beautifully now. it never, ever wanders in ruts, even when stopping at lights with badly rutted roads. I think this may be because the track width of the front and the rear is different. I am really tempted to put the front locker in the 40 series axle and not do a 60 series up front.

Also is a photo of my locker actuators...

Josh

 

[Bear]

...."a photo of my locker actuators"

Either that, or you can park safely on a 90 degree slope !

 

[Chamba]

...."a photo of my locker actuators"

Either that, or you can park safely on a 90 degree slope !

Bear,

Park?! Nope, I want to drive up a 90 degree slope - that's what the lockers are for

I had to get clever, as I did not get the factory actuators with my cable locker axles. The hand brake levers work really well though. Only problem is that it makes the floor look a bit...busy.

Josh

 

[TLC Norway]

Hi there, looking good on the install!
I also got a cable locking rear axle, soon ready to be swapped.
I would love to see where you route the cables, and everything you can tell me about hooking them up.
I have no cables, and no handles, just the axle.

Cheers from Norway.

 

[Chamba]

Hi there, looking good on the install!
I also got a cable locking rear axle, soon ready to be swapped.
I would love to see where you route the cables, and everything you can tell me about hooking them up.
I have no cables, and no handles, just the axle.

Cheers from Norway.

The handbrakes seem to work alright, but since you have a 60 series, it may be easier to get the factory handles to actuate the lockers. Problem for the 40 series is that they nevr made the lockers in a 40 series, so there are no factory options.

I will try to get some more photos up soon. Where did you get your axle from?

Regards,

Josh

 

[TLC Norway]

thanks for your reply, Josh!
Do you use one cable for engaging and another for unlocking the acuator?
I am thinking two pulling ebrake cables, from cars i have around the garage, if i can make it work.
Going wheeling in a week, and need to get it working by then. How much force do you have to pull on the cable to get it in and out? Less than ebrake, i hope.
My axle is from denmark, but very rare to get over here to, my wallet bled... 3x the price of a aussie...
Hoping for pix or link.

 

[Chamba]

thanks for your reply, Josh!
Do you use one cable for engaging and another for unlocking the acuator?
I am thinking two pulling ebrake cables, from cars i have around the garage, if i can make it work.
Going wheeling in a week, and need to get it working by then. How much force do you have to pull on the cable to get it in and out? Less than ebrake, i hope.
My axle is from denmark, but very rare to get over here to, my wallet bled... 3x the price of a aussie...
Hoping for pix or link.

I have a push/pull cable, so it engages and disengages with the one cable. I don't see why your idea would not work though. There is not that much force required to engage - less-than 10 lbs I'd say; far less than the handbrake. I found a cable company here in Australia which makes push/pull cables for industrial applications. They have a selection of ends which you can choose, and you can have it made in any length.

My rear one was abut 6' and the front was about 8'. They are not too expensive, and surely you can get one made there.

Regards,

Josh

 

[TLC Norway]

Thanks for the inspiration, i did find a industrial cable (a bit too long) and did the same as your setup.
Pix are in my thread! Gotta love that old school acuator, engages real nice and smooth, and pops easy out!

 

[Chamba]

Thanks for the inspiration, i did find a industrial cable (a bit too long) and did the same as your setup.
Pix are in my thread! Gotta love that old school acuator, engages real nice and smooth, and pops easy out!

How great is Mud?! I love that an American guy in Australia can inspire a guy in Norway with an idea to modify a Cruiser. Now I want to come to Norway and go wheeling!

Josh

 

[TLC Norway]

Jup, it's amazing... and it's all just a lot of http's and 0100001110101010100010100101100111 and cruiser love that connects everything. Not as easy as a cable and an handle, dough!

You are very welcome to come wheel! I'm dreaming of going to Australia, hopefully i'm soon gonna be able to. Here's a guy in the club visiting, i'm pretty jealous! (google translated) Google Oversetter

 

[Chamba]

Jup, it's amazing... and it's all just a lot of http's and 0100001110101010100010100101100111 and cruiser love that connects everything. Not as easy as a cable and an handle, dough!

You are very welcome to come wheel! I'm dreaming of going to Australia, hopefully i'm soon gonna be able to. Here's a guy in the club visiting, i'm pretty jealous! (google translated) Google Oversetter

Let me know if you make it - i'd love to catch up. Those Brits camper Cruisers are great. Before we moved here, I drove one of those all over Australia.

Josh

 

[TLC Norway]

Yeah, i will! But there are so many places to visit, and i cant see me beeing there for too long. Where should i go, if i come for two or four weeks? I'm thinking i'll stack a container of parts, especially a h55. How are they to come by down under?