Off-road Trip!

[TeamShiftPoint]

Nice pics, any more coming??

Hope your truck is getting fixed soon.

both passenger doors have been replaced. still waiting on a gray fender to come up at the junk yards.

the windshield is out, going to pull out the a-pillar in acouple days. and then replace the the glass with some new PPG.

stud welder came in today, so I'm gonna start pulling out the dents on the rear quarter panel.

after that the truck should be back to normal.

 

[horsey]

Nice pictures....but poor 4runner laying on its side...I bet all you guys had a blast

 

[TeamShiftPoint]

video file
http://members.aol.com/mikevun18/rollover.zip

its about 30 megs.

 

[TexGX]

All I know is I am so glad that the one person had a fire extingisher. He must have been your hero.

TexGX

 

[Thai]

I am back!! Internet is up and running at my house!

Here is the link to some off-roading pics:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1219423&posts=6

 

[bulldog-yota]

Cool.

Why did the Toy PU have a hard time on that climb?? Was it completely open diffs? Everytime I go wheeling with those old Toy PUs they normally spank almost all the obstacles.

 

[TexGX]

Ok Thai,

Way to twist the information. In the picture of the GX on the ramp, you failed to mention that I did not have a spotter and my bumper had caved in so I stoped and looked at the damage. If I had a spotter like you did, I would have spanked you like a step child. And you hit your bumper on the ramp also. In the Truck Trend or Four Wheeler Magazine, the GX was only beaten by the Jeep Rubicon on the ramp test. It beat the G55. Now I expect a full write up next time you want to impress you MB friends. :

Now I will say that the G500 was alsome. For pure off-road, it would spank the GX with no problem. The approach and departure angles are impressive. Having factory front, rear, and center diffs does not suck. The BF ATs worked great. I will be looking to put some on as soon as I can. I will say that a Hummer driver told us that no one could make it up this one spot and the G500 had no problem. Hummers suck. He told us that he had broke a tire rod last time out.

By the way, I have not recieved any love for saving the 4R that rolled. If not for my quick work with the fire extingisher, it might have been alot worse. I always carry one with me.

TexGX

 

[Thai]

TexGX,

When you went up the RTI ramp, your driver's side rear wheel was spinning (no traction)...therefore, in technicality, you have reached the limit of your suspension travel. And yes, your front bumper was touching the ramp. My bumper touched briefly on my way down because i went off course. As can be seen in the pics, my front bumper had enough clearance.

I must say though, my GF was very impress with the GX470's interior...it made my interior look old and primitive! Damn useless COMMAND crap! I am just glad that she did not get to ride in it...she may have jumped ship over to the cushy Lexus.

FYI, MB G55 AMG has stiffer springs. G55 has a horrible ride off-road due to their lack of compliance. This is well-known. That is why in 2005 with the G55K AMG, MB toned down the springs (similar to G500).

Does TruckTrend measure RTI?? I did not know that. I don't think FourWheeler compared the G55 AMG...did it???

As you can see from the pics, my travel up the RTI ramp was comparable to you. My rear driver's wheel spun at about the same spot as your GX470 KDSS. With lockers ON, it was a different matter.

Pictures are worth a million words.
Thai.

 

[Thai]

By the way, I have not recieved any love for saving the 4R that rolled. If not for my quick work with the fire extingisher, it might have been alot worse. I always carry one with me.

TexGX

You're right...you're the real hero that day! I am looking to get one also.

I can't believe that we actually had to use the fire extinguisher.:awais:

 

[TexGX]

Thai,

I just looked the RTI test up. It was in the Nov/Dec 2004 Truck Trend. In the test the Rubicon scored close to 600 and the GX scored about 470 and the G55 scored about a 460. That would explain that we should be very similar on the ramp. The G55 app/dep angle is listed at 25/33. The GX is listed at 29/29. It does say that I can go in one more inch of water than you. :awais:

Now we just need to plan a trip to Katemcy Rocks.

If you would like, we could trailer the G500 and all ride in the lap of luxury called Lexus.:

TexGX

 

[Thai]

Thanks for the info...but, like all MotorTrend publications, these people can never write an article without making errors. The G500 approach/departure angles = 36/27. I do not think there is much difference with the G55 AMG...the AMG model may have slightly less suspension travel due to stiffer springs. Thus, i am not a fan of G55 AMG...i don't see the point in the concept.

Water fording depth is rated conservatively by MB. My breather tubes (axles, tranny) are routed to the top of the engine bay...i will take a picture of it tomorrow. In addition, my air intake is to the sides at the very top of the hood (away from the water front). I can go very deep without ingestion of water.

The conservative rating also explains why MB lists the G500 axle travel at 8". This clearly applies only to the front axle (has a thick anti-roll bar)...the rear axle flexes very freely due to lack of antiroll bar. Thus, my RTI score is comparable to your KDSS system.

As for trailering the G500, i may take you up on that offer. My GF will surely appreciate that! I can then trailer your cushy Lexus through the trails!!

My brother is coming back to Austin...so, we will have a Rubicon with us from now on (in addition to whatever Mark brings next time).
Thai.

 

[Thai]

Here are pics of my 4 breather tubes at the top of engine bay, near firewall: (notice the bend in the breather tube as further protection along with filter and cap)

 

[TexGX]

I would have guessed that th G500 could go through deaper water. I know, lets find about 3 feet of water and test it out. You first! It may help clean that dirty engine.

 

[Thai]

I would have guessed that th G500 could go through deaper water. I know, lets find about 3 feet of water and test it out. You first! It may help clean that dirty engine.

I may be crazy sometimes...but not stupid! TexGX, do you want to do the rear breather mod on your GX?? We can do it sometime when you're off...i have a shop near my workplace that did my 4runner in '03. Basically, you pay them a small fee to use their lift.

 

[TexGX]

I would like to do the breather tube mod. Let me know when you have some free time, and maybe I can head down. I have not been I your neck of the woods in a long time. One of my favorite resturants is in El Campo.

TexGX

 

[Thai]

Get all the equipment. And then, not this coming week, but the following week, i am free in the afternoon. You can head down to my work town and we can get it done.

I will give you a call later today.

 

[MayankSangdod]

hey guys, i am kinna new to this forum deal, can anyone tell me when exactly its goin down, i mean i know its july 9th but i wanna know if its 05 or 06 haha. bc i havent done any offroadin with mine yet so i lookin forward to it.
05 v8 4x4 limited

 

[Thai]

hey guys, i am kinna new to this forum deal, can anyone tell me when exactly its goin down, i mean i know its july 9th but i wanna know if its 05 or 06 haha. bc i havent done any offroadin with mine yet so i lookin forward to it.
05 v8 4x4 limited

Old trip. If you are interested, then i can give you a call next time we go out.

You are in the Houston area?? What year 4runner do you have?? Any mods??

 

[MayankSangdod]

my home town is Port Arthur, 90miles east of Houston. I go to school at Baylor University in Waco, tx. I drive a 05 v8 4x4 limited. no mods.

 

[Thai]

my home town is Port Arthur, 90miles east of Houston. I go to school at Baylor University in Waco, tx. I drive a 05 v8 4x4 limited. no mods.

If you're interested, then we may have a small meeting on 5/13/06 in AUSTIN. I am trying to get it together...hopefully, we will have Hummer h3 and FJ cruiser present. It will just be a few hours of fun...it is on a Hummer test track. It's nothing hard. But, it will gives us all a chance to meet, have lunch, and check each other vehicles over.