New Puma, straight into action

[PSi]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=53046&stc=1&d=1352447189

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=53047&stc=1&d=1352447407

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=53048&stc=1&d=1352448082



Got my 2012 PUMA 110 HCPU registered on 10/10/12, into my hands on 12/10/12, frantic fabrication of front winch mount/bumper, sliders and rear bumper and self-installed Mantec snorkel, set off from Kuching, Sarawak (on Borneo island) to drive 900km to Brunei, picked up 4 pcs 33" Silverstone Extreme tyres, continued another 450km on to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, had 2" spring spacers fabricated and original shocks extended to fit 33" rubbers on steel rims borrowed from scrapped Range Rover, straight into Borneo Safari 2012, starting 28/10/12, driving 8 days around Mount Kinabalu, highest mountain in Malaysia.

No mechanical problems, although standard rims' poor offset limited steering somewhat, and Landy performed brilliantly through terrain that had modified 80-Series 'Yotas breaking all kinds of stuff. Thick gooey mud, slushy watery peat swamp, slippery damp clay, rocks, gravel, we had it all.
Where the others got through, Puma also chugged through. Where some others failed, Puma still chugged through. Where Puma needed winching, all needed winching.

Overall, very satisfied with the Defender's performance because it made many seasoned offroaders think I am a much better driver than I know I really am.

Link below to more pix on facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/'set=a.482515391793287.83752214.100001044901325&type=1&l=3777f6fd94

[LowRanger]

Thanks for the pics.Looks like you guys had a lot of fun:D

How did you find the Silverstone Extremes compared to the Simex that I see most of the other vehicles were running?

[Witchdoctor]

PSi,
Thanks for sharing, great little read.

Cheers
David

[PSi]

Thanks for the pics.Looks like you guys had a lot of fun:D

How did you find the Silverstone Extremes compared to the Simex that I see most of the other vehicles were running?

The Simex are the ones with the reputation while the Silverstones are newer.
I chose the latter because they have 33" whereas Simex comes in 32" or 35" only.
I haven't had them long enough to share experience on durability but word among users is Simexes last much longer because they're a harder compound.
My experience with Silverstones was only off-road since I took them off as soon as I got beck to civilisation and did the 1,400km commute home on the original Maxxis MTs. (Good thing about the HCPU is I could carry 5 tyres in the cargo bed, plus assorted stuff for a 2-week trip.)
Off-road, the Silverstones are very good, easily as good if not better than the Simexes. Too many variables to say for sure it they are indeed superior. Suffice to say my Defender went everywhere the Simex-shod (mostly 35" and 36") vehicles went, with ease and confidence.

Look out for the Komodo Extremes coming soon from GT Radial of Indonesia. They look very promising since the sponsore team drove nearly 2,000km just to get to the starting point, through the rough stuff, and then 2,000km back, and the treads still looked healthy.

[chook73]

Great read thank you, looks like a top drive.