Thread: Standard puma suspension for cape trip. Up to the job?

Drive with half a brain engaged and you will be fine.

Originally Posted by gregc

Hi everyone

I'm planning a Cape York trip later this year. I've got a 2013 110 wagon, which I love and so far has been unstoppable. The truck is still fairly stock though (bull bar, snorkel so far and a few more minor things to come in the near future). Have people made the trip on stock suspension and survived? I'm a bit worried about all the corrugations and have heard of "lesser" 4wds having sometimes crippling suspension troubles.

I'm not towing or anything and only 2 of us going so not too overloaded.

TIA
Greg

PS. I live in FNQ anyway so not far to go before I hit the dirt (provided it's all still there after cyclone Ita has had her way this weekend)

I'd be happy with standard suspension under the circumstances you are describing - if you had a stack of weight in board or your standard suspension had high mileage I'd suggest a change.

Keep us posted - I'll be up there in September myself!

Overweight vehicles (as with overweight people) are the ones most susceptible to problems.

Keep what you carry down to essentials, have a thorough preparatory service done by someone who knows what they're doing, and you should be right.

The corrugations can be severe, so take it easy and enjoy yourself.

My first long trip was to Cape York in 2011 in our 2010 110SW. It was completely as from the showroom. I didn't even contemplate any mods. I bought the vehicle because it was capable as a stock vehicle and that was exactly the way it turned out. Of the five vehicles in our group, it was only us and a play do the had no problems; a Hilux, patrol and a land cruiser all had longer holidays as they waited in various places for parts to be shipped in and repairs to be made.
Our experience would suggest you will be fine.

Hi gregc

I done the cape last year in my 90 with standard suspension, with the addition of air bags in the rear to help with towing and had no drams at all. I would expect the same from a standard 110. Drive as always to road conditions

Ps. Do the Laura to Maytown road AKA the old coach road, it was the best day of the whole 4 weeks.

Garry

Pay close attention to your tyre pressures and drive according to the road conditions. Tyre pressure has a big affect on how hard your suspension will have to work.


Obviously every vehicle will vary according to load, tyres, suspension etc etc, but here's a rough example of how conditions can vary when we did Cape York in a fairly heavy loaded 110 Isuzu County on 255/85/16s, H/D King Springs, Koni Shocks. We didn't break anything, but the bushes took a beating with some needing to be replaced (not new at start of trip)

Development road.....some sections of minor corrugations (when we were there), but mainly coarse gravel 32psi / 80kph

Minor dirt tracks........in good condition, some medium corrugations 25psi / 40kph

Minor dirt tracks.........very severe corrugations (Frenchman's Track was extremely corrugated when we were there) 20psi / 20-30kph

Minor dirt tracks..........rutted, river crossings, some medium corrugations (Telegraph Track) 20psi / 0-30kph

Very soft beach sand........ 15psi

Nolans Brook...........the deepest water crossing on the Telegraph Track. The sandy bottom was very boggy and churned up from traffic. Drop to 12psi and re inflate immediately after crossing. See the video here Nolans Brook
And this is what can happen if you have too much pressure in the tyres. Sorry if this is a forum member, and I don't know what pressures you were running, just using it as an example Nolans Brook Fail

Cheers, Murray

Thanks for the replies everyone. Very helpful and it's certainly increased my confidence. I knew the 'fender would be up to the job!

I'll keep you all posted as we get closer to the trip.

Any other recommended mods or must haves for the trip?

Greg

we did it on standard suspension and we towed a hard floor camper..yes we did put airbags in the back springs to help and our shocks were upgraded only because they were worn...

the biggest thing I would say is make sure your Snorkle is well sealed!!! that in my opinion is the biggest thing you need to worry about if you intend on doing Nolands and the other crossings that put you well over your minimum wading depth...
if you can afford to do it and your going on your own put a winch on that would be my second thing we had to use our winch twice one to pull ours selves out of the other side of palm creek but that was only because it was raining and several cars had been up before us and left heaps of wet wood in the rutts to help them get out which gave us zero traction. the second was to pull out a friend that got him self in a hell of a predicament with his D4 only because someone sent him the wrong way up a track on to some greasy clay hills and his trailer was becoming a problem when he had wheels in the air so it was safer to winch him out.

otherwise you will be right.....I dont believe you even have to change your tyres we went on the factory general grabbers and they are more than capable for the job.