Thread: Capable - Definition of YOUR vehicle!

I love my Td5 Defender for what I bought it for.

A "reasonably comfortable, long distance off road touring vehicle" with the occasional soiree into the wilds for weekends. I have towed loaded car trailers with it on numerous occasions, but dont particularly like to and I am happy with doing 500k per day in it although I have done over 800 on occasions.

It is not fitted with any fancy mods or engine enhancements apart from bullbar, towbar and long range fuel tank. It still has it's original suspension, including shocks and has now completed 145000 k's. I still run the Grabber tyres (yes 2 are original albeit with 120000 on them).

It is as capable as my previous Stage 1 V8 was in 20 years of ownership and I would love to have a 130 of similar vintage.

FWIW.......I reckon your dreaming Brian to build an old truck up cheaply.

Originally Posted by numpty

I love my Td5 Defender for what I bought it for.

A "reasonably comfortable, long distance off road touring vehicle" with the occasional soiree into the wilds for weekends. I have towed loaded car trailers with it on numerous occasions, but dont particularly like to and I am happy with doing 500k per day in it although I have done over 800 on occasions.

It is not fitted with any fancy mods or engine enhancements apart from bullbar, towbar and long range fuel tank. It still has it's original suspension, including shocks and has now completed 145000 k's. I still run the Grabber tyres (yes 2 are original albeit with 120000 on them).

It is as capable as my previous Stage 1 V8 was in 20 years of ownership and I would love to have a 130 of similar vintage.

FWIW.......I reckon your dreaming Brian to build an old truck up cheaply.

So your definition of capable is:
- Reasonable comfort
- Decent range
- Adequate frontal protection
- Occasional towing of heavy items
- Suited to touring with 500+ km per day requirements
- occasional 'weekend getaway'

Capeable is going anywhere you want it to for your purpose.

For me it was about being able to go absolutely anywere and no concern for comfort.

Now its about being able to do long highway drives in comfort, towing my car and probably some very soft offroading.

My definition (I have 5 minutes)

- Long distance tourer
- Good ground clearance
- Decent range
- Offroad capable for most types of terrain (not pure rock hopping) so pretty much a bit of 'everything'
- Good HEVAC
- Good music
- Towing capacity suited to other hobbies eg. 2300kg Shark Cat
- Good frontal & Sill protection
- Excellent forward lighting
- Comfortable ride : I want to get out after 10 hours feeling like I just got in.
- Able to do the 'icons' - Cape York, Simpson, CSR with confidence.

Both my vehicles meet this... One is Rigid Axles, the other isnt...

Originally Posted by Tombie

So, another thread has prompted me to pose this question!

Based on this quote (snipped):


So I pose this question...

Define what makes a 4wd (your 4wd) capable, and your definition there of.
(Competition trucks / pure weekend rock crawlers need not apply)
Examples: Comfort, Towing, Mile munching etc etc...

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,

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,

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?

Versatility, comfortably able to travel 1,000 km a day regularly with the ability to tow heavy loads and venture into generally inaccessable areas occasionally. Mechanically solid and simple with minimal electronic gizmos and no airbags. My car is 'personalized' but basically unmodified.

I would define "Capable" as , "will get me to the Cape and Back"

CC