Thread: Hey Mate

John, a PS:
Do you know if the second and or the third row of seats could be temporarily removed ? Are the seat belts, for instance hooked to the computor and have to be done up before it moves etc.
Does anyone Know what diagnostic equiptment is available for the D3
TDV6, Nanacom or something ?
Useless asking a dealer any of these questions !!
Some could suggest I buy a Defender. Good suggestion but I want the
comfort of the D3 as a daily driver also.
By the way, I wont be selling me D1.

Sorry for the delay in responding, Robert.

I've had no trouble airing down the 275.65.18s - they're not really low profile these days - and on a recent Simpson trip I went only went down to 20 psi (cold) but have used 15 psi on other trips to advantage. They seem to bag well at that pressure without problem.
Reportedly the standard 255.60.18 also bag well, but I've no first hand experience of that.
The standard "off road height", with my larger tyres, seems to be enough for most things. It has more clearance than a 2" lifted Prado, but not as much as a 2" lifted D2. However with standard tyres it may not be enough. IF you bottom out in off road height it will lift itself higher to clear an obstacle, but you cannot initiate that yourself - only the car can do it. The real problem though is that above 40 kph it will lower itself to normal height. This is more a nuisance than anything else. On the last Simpson crossing (Madigan's line) it didn't matter because we almost never got above 40 (sustained) anyway! There is an expensive german made gadget that will allow manual control, but people are simply fitting longer control rods to fool the computer, and run at the standard off road height without spacers.
The second row of seats is easily removed (Torx bits) and saves 70 kg and gives lots of extra space. The third row is not quite so easy, and gives less space or weight saving, and you loose the flat floor, so I haven't done that.
Not up to sped on diagnostic equip yet Robert, so I better let others answer that.
John