Thanks for the comments ...
Linhsy:
Grew up in Eastern Canada in a snow bank and ever since the late 70's I've been yearning to do this stuff, but never got around to it.
Moved out here in the early 80's and a co-worker in the early 90's had a 'done-up' T4R and I feel in love with it. It was smaller than most rigs, but it could take 'em all on. I got the bug for a T4R, but never got around to it.
Last fall, I bit the bullet and went for this rig with the intention of using for what it was built to do. It's my daily ride, but it's also my new sport.
The mud was a surprise. The red truck, as you can see, has a super life and big mud tires. He flew through it. I asked if he thought I could make it, and was told there shouldn't be any problem.
You can see I had a bit of weight on the roof (4-55l dry bags with clothes and sleeping bags, foamy pads, tent, chairs, tarps, and a jerry can of gas) and inside (2 adults, 2 children, rubbermaid containers, coolers, Coleman camping gear, and gobs of other stuff). The rig was weighted down a bit more than the red fellow. When I got 3/4 way through, it just sunk like keys in a pool. Through it in reverse and it backed up about 10 feet but dug in further. I was literally floating on the top of the soup.
We hooked a tow strap up to the Warn tow hitch (on rear) and to the front hook on the blue T4R, and pulled slowly. He was slipping all over the place and we were both worried about pulling the rear hitch off.
In the meantime, the red truck kept on up the road to determine what the rest of the trail was like. Forget it! Worse up ahead.
We then turned to the red truck that had to take 3 attempts at 'jerking' or 'snapping' the tow rope forward. I finally popped out. But now I'm on the other side. We both turned around and put the tow rope on his rear bumper. As he drove through I was taught on his tail. No problem. We weren't scared as it's part of the sport. Next time, I'll have a faster approach and try to float across.
If you're going to do this, at a minimum get some recovery gear: Tow rope, shackles, tree saver, loopers, and a shovel. A radio is always nice to have as you can chat with the group on the way. I'm going to pick up a ham radio and get it modified as that seems to be more popular and useful these days over a CB. On this trip I borrowed one and it was night and day for Tx/Rx and distance.
Find some local folks that go out on Beginner Stock Runs (BSR) and listen to the leader or guide for tips on crossing washouts, streams, etc.
Take you time. Don't panic and, if you're not sure what to do before you get into something, ask. But most of all just have fun. Know that you're probably going to get scratches if you go in the forest. And, as I discovered, going to scratch your nice wheels if stuck in mud
lildevil23:
Most of my friends think I?m nuts, but I didn?t buy this to take my kids to soccer games. I know some are secretly wishing they can do this too.
Sure there are loads of folks around here with their token 4x4 that never take it off the black top to see the country side, but life?s too short to pass up on the scenery in these parts.
Mark:
I love this stock rig and can?t wait to get some funds together to beef it up.
whitney8:
ARB did fashion a Prado Bullbar (in Seattle) to fit and sent the specs to Aussie Land for final work and production. I?ve been told (a couple of weeks ago) to look for something by this summer. The bumper and winch
combo weighs around 200lbs so this X-REAS system might be a problem. Have to wait and see.
About the xenon lights ? do you mean the blue ones you see on the front? I picked them up off ebay for a cheap price. They are MUCH brighter than the OEM bulbs. I?ll eventually get a good set of PIAA or something else for the new bumper in time.
EDIT: Don't ya just love spell checkers ... that's LOPPERS not LOOPERS! LOL!
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