PROJECT SNOWY building an 80 in another country [Aus owner-vehicle U.S]

[Delancy]

What is this link configuration called?



Out of curiosity, I swear.

Don't think I've ever seen anything like it.

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

Its common name is an a frame rear.

Rangies had them from day 1.

It was worked on as a bolt in version, and on this light rear ended no rear bar, no rear wheel carrier vehicle it worked, but on an 80, rear steer became an issue.

You will be able to go to this sort of set up for more flex, when you change our shocks to coil overs, half way down the arms


Have been wanting to try this type of set up at some point too, but travel may be more limited than a frame.

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

Back on track now,

Nitro 4.88 diff gears installed with Nitro bearing and seal kits, in, checked the actuators, factory lockers on this one, all new bearings, pinion seals, etc, while doing all the wheel bearings, Nitro cro mo cv's, and Nitro swivel hub kits etc.

We also put some new tape on here, while we were going all out

Not really, we fitted a new one, minus cracks, and tape.

And replaced the P.O installed occy strap, with factory bracket on a die hard battery

Mini me got parked beside the others, while SNOWY got some attention, too.

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

So once we had all the hard work done for this trip, with Slee Offroads help, while we screwed the comms radio, and some camp lights on to SNOWY as well as some stuff to meet tech inspection for cruise moab, when arrive, I found these new 25w LED camp lights [one sinlge 25w] a great camp light.

We then headed through the mountains, to Boulder for lunch, and a test drive, before working our way 4wding to Moab.

Something we don't have to worry about here in Aus!

Then, it was time to head to Cruise Moab 2013, first night camping out of SNOWY on the Kokopelli Trail.

 

[Delancy]

Something we don't have to worry about here in Aus!

That's the least to worry about.

There's squatches in them woods, too.

 

[Tapage]

can you share more pics of your camp light post / pole ..?

 

[matt 105]

Nice tent.
Just pushing this back to page 1.
Any more details, Daz?

 

[Delancy]

Camp lights and stoves, eh?

How about a release date and coil specs on the Icon Long Travel 80 Coils?

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

can you share more pics of your camp light post / pole ..?

The joys of our end of financial year, meeting targets, and getting the paperwork straight, got the day off, so will add some more details.

The lights I bought with me from here, and we quickly fabbed up a bracket when we hit Slee Offroad, so we had some camp light out the back. These are a single alloy housing, waterproof, dustproof, with a single 25w LED in each one, and the bracket is just a right angle with the lights on top with a bit of flat bar welded on.

We ran the wiring up the rear wheel carrier, and mounted the switch on the carrier frame to turn them on and off. I have circled where we mounted it in this pic below, some homeless dude with his hat on backwards almost got in the way though

The tents also came from Slee Offroad, great little pop up tents, I use the same thing here in Aus, throw the swag in, keeps the wind, rain, and moist night air off the swag, easy to pack up and set up.

The packed up size

Front runner have some great fold up chairs as well we got from Slee Offroad.


As for the cooking gear, some may have seen the expedition mounted stove thread, we use a very compact system we make here in Aus, which fits all the firesticks into a 2" pipe with a screw on cap, so no dirty bits, and the pot [camp oven bottom] , pan [camp oven top], griller[fits in same bag], camp oven [pot and lid combined] all fits into a little canvas bag.

Makes cooking on the fire pretty safe, no ash in your food, height adjustable for heat, no bending over the fire, smoke in your eyes, to get it cooked. I will have to get my table on the wheel carrier for the next trip too!

Suspension details soon Mr D!

Just need to sort the rear storage out a bit more, but the lights, tents set up worked very well, just like caming out of the car here, when we are on extended touring trips.

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

So once we hit the Kokopelli trail, into Moab, to go to Cruise Moab 2013, we set up camp in Slickrock camp ground, and got down to bolting on the shocks that arrived.

Taking in the view while waiting to hit tech inspection,

Hitting town for some decent coffee

Then once we fixed the brake lights, passed tech inspection, and had our clothing, our first day out was the Elephant Hill trail.

This was a very scenic trail, with lots to see, and do, walks, and an area I could spend years exploring, as Im sure there are plenty of signs of life for thousands of years hidden in many areas of those canyons.


Long day, making it back to Slickrock just in time for Vendor Night, free beers, and hot dogs!.

Was very happy with the cars first run, long day, great group, and trip, as part of Cruise Moab 13, and a very enjoyable night back at camp, and thanks to those who put me in charge of putting the wood on the fire

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

After our run around from Slee Offroad, to Moab, Arizona, camping in the Grand Canyon, to Vegas, and back to Slee, we managed to lose a part of the head gasket, which was obviously fairly important at the time, because it was stopping the water getting into the cylinders while it was there.

Once it was gone, we were managing to convert about 5 litres of water per 5 miles into steam, which was leaking out the exhaust pipe, while we limped into Ritchfield, and found a Uhaul dealer, who had a truck, and trailer.

So the last leg of this particular trip ended up with SNOWY being trailered the last 500 odd miles, on the last day, as we had a plane to catch from Slee to L.A, to meet our flight home to Australia.

The funny part was, the Uhaul climbed over some of the mountain passes along the way including Loveland pass towing SNOWY, faster than SNOWY would of gone over on its own.

Maybe a V10 conversion will fix the head gasket issue

 

[thetoyotaman]

Whatever happened to this truck?

 

[sleeoffroad]

It was repaired and we store it for Darren. He comes over once a year and use it. I believe he is coming to Cruise Moab again this year

 

[thetoyotaman]

Thanks for the update and nice build! I've enjoyed reading about it. Darren has been very helpful with my questions in the past. Now that I have my first 80, I'm looking for ideas. Thanks for posting this one up.

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

Needs some repairs before I come back next time though.

Top of the world and back quickly has allowed the oil to leak from the housing around the front diff centre, from flexing.

Have some more update pics I should add to this thread one day too.

Always happy to answer questions

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

So Snowy got a workout after Slee Offroad looked after her, and kept her fit for purpose while I was away, and I bought a freind of mine to Cruise Moab 2015, which seemed to get us nicknamed "crazy Aussies" while we were there.


We did love the hire car trip out to Slee though from L.A, best hwy system.

Snuck past ICON to say hello on the way through, and picked up an awesome coffee from just round the corner as well, we always visit to get a coffee like home, when in the area of Riverside.

And once we got to Slee Offroad, they had some big jobs on the hoist, in prep for Cruise Moab 2015 !

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

Got to stay in the "singlemans quarters" at Slickrock as well.

And fit in some favorite chilli fries, while getting a reflection shot.

My friends introduction to Moab, a night drive on Hells Revenge.

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

Had a good day with some old bangers at Canyonlands while we were there too, after missing the meet point time by an hour and 10 minutes, we managed to use over half a tank of fuel to make it to the car park while the group was airing down, so it was economy mode for the rest of the day, and a jerry can borrowed for the home trip, filled and returned to the owner in camp!

Through the gap, was a great day.

 

[cruiserdan]

I still want to know how your buddy "figured me out".

He was watching me (in my BJ74) on SOB and he strolled over and said "You drive an 80, don't ya."

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

Perhaps it was the grimace on your face while on leaf springs, he could tell you came from a coil model