Thread: Capable - Definition of YOUR vehicle!

Originally Posted by Tombie

Via which track?

Word is that the Cape Leveque Road is the toughest track on vehicles in Australia, Ive yet to find out. My 80 Series broke 40klm in & hadnt got to the rough part yet. , & that was " No Electrics , Solid Axles "

Lets hope the TD5 fares better than Tojo next trip round.


For me the Defentition "Capable" may or may not be realised after our upcoming 12 month round oz trip dragging a Trakmaster Gibson is completed.

gotta have bullet proof dependability, gotta be cheap to run, needs to have long legs and needs to be fault tolerant. If it breaks it needs to be quick and easy to fix, even if that means swapping the sub assembly, no sub assembly should take more than 1/2 a day to swap out if working at pace with 2 mechanics.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Great post

What I am more trying to ascertain is along these lines...

A Falcodore is a "capable" sealed road average family (2+2) vehicle.
Suited to:
- Taking Dad to work
- Taking Mum to the shops
- Pick up and dropping off the Kiddies
- Traveling interstate with reasonable economy, range and comfort

So is it "more capable" "less capable" or "Just as capable" as a....
4wd? Motorcycle? Semi Trailer? Push bike?

Everyone goes on about "Solid Axles, No electrics etc" but really... Are these needed for 98% of use?

Can we justify trade-offs for that other 2% of the time?

The bit about solid axles/no electrics gets me.The people that go on about it live in cities or populated area's yet I live in remote outback Australia and have had two electric operated vehicles,one with independent suspension,another no no and have never had an issue.In three weeks I'll be doing my 7th and 8th crossing of Oz through the great central in my puma were's the ''old school boys'' in thier isuzu's will be driving to the shops. Pat

Originally Posted by Tombie

Via which track?

The good 'ol luddite 8 track

Capable to me means "gets me to and from where I want to go, carrying everything I want to carry or tow, without getting bogged, stuck or requiring outside assistance."

I have several personally desirable characteristics which help achieve this, but also different vehicles set up around different uses. Each one is just as capable as the others, just with different paramates and priorities.

My Subaru is just as capable at getting me to a bush walk in Leather bound comfort, as my FFR as a display vehicle, as my 130 at extended off road touring, as my Stage 1 Isuzu is in making me deaf.

CC

Originally Posted by LWB123

Genghis Khan is famously quoted as saying of the Great Wall of China that "the strenghth of a wall is only as great as the fortitude of its defenders" - he simply bribed the gatekeepers....

I guess in many ways that the capability of a vehicle is as great as the fortitude of its driver. Throw in a bit of skill and determination as well perhaps.

In the 60's my uncles and cousins (plus the odd aunty) were taking Holden and Zephyr utes, A40s, VW beetles etc around paddocks and through creeks that are now deemed "4WD only". Really came down to need and how badly you wanted to get there.

Cheers,

I once took a 1.6 lt Ford Escort to the Cherry Venture on Double Island Point.

Originally Posted by BigJon

Another relevant question: Can we justify spending large amounts of money on a vehicle that isn't used to its full potential 98% of the time?

Lots of people will tell you you do need a tonne of crap hanging off your vehicle to take the kids to school,and compensate for for thier little dicks. Pat

Capability = fit for purpose?

Another thought: Capability doesn't necessarily equate with practicality

Evan Green and Gelignite Jack Murray drove an Austin 1800 and a Morris Mini Minor on a figure 8 loop through the centre of Australia, across deserts etc over 40 yrs ago... in the late 60s my venerable Morris 1100 with heavy winter treads and pumped up suspension went many places deep in winter in the Snowys (couldn't afford a Land Rover ).

Given that the Mini survived the desert crossings AND could park in the city where a full size 4WD could not fit...does that make the Mini more capable?

Traditional 4WDs are like Microsoft Office products... you pay a damned lot of money for capability which is rarely...indeed if ever, used ...

I also think it fair to say that this AULRO forum displays virtually none of the HT syndrome (= hoodlum testosterone) prevalent in other places...long may it continue

Originally Posted by LWB123

Genghis Khan is famously quoted as saying of the Great Wall of China that "the strenghth of a wall is only as great as the fortitude of its defenders" - he simply bribed the gatekeepers....

I guess in many ways that the capability of a vehicle is as great as the fortitude of its driver. Throw in a bit of skill and determination as well perhaps.

In the 60's my uncles and cousins (plus the odd aunty) were taking Holden and Zephyr utes, A40s, VW beetles etc around paddocks and through creeks that are now deemed "4WD only". Really came down to need and how badly you wanted to get there.

Cheers,

I like this post, a I note few Commodores and Falcons has traversed the Canning and most other "famous" routes.

I suppose that makes them more capable than the 4wd's that didnt/ couldnt make it?

For me a "capable" 4wd will comfortably traverse the majority of tracks available to the public without bottoming out, damaging approach and departure bodywork/mechanicals. Have a range of at least 1000km on road and a load/ weight capacity of a bit more than what I would normally carry. Be built of materials or processes resistant to corrosion and of a standard that will handle continued exposure to the conditions and terrain expected.

cheers