D3 Available Accessories

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Originally Posted by Neil P

I think you'll find that's because they were 75% of D3 sales ;)

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Really?

I tend to check out most D3's I see on the road and most are diesels, then the petrol six and then a few V8's.

I must admit personally I liked the V8 much more than the diesel, but I brought this D3 for towing so diesel it was. Having said that if I wasn't towing a heavish off road caravan which hopefully we will get to do some long distance towing with I would have brought a V8, they are so nice to drive and way cheaper to buy than a diesel.

cheers,
Terry

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Originally Posted by unseenone

Advantages, I never liked snakes, crocks, etc. and Australian Gun Laws seem highly restrictive, I am to old to sleep with one eye open.

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Snakes can't enter a zipped tent, but they do flop around on the canvas in frustration if you lock them out.

Crocs can bite their way through a tent of course which is why you need to spray croc repellent on your tent, or just camp away enough from the water.

Yep Australia isn't all that keen on gun ownership, and leaving that debate aside there's no need to carry a gun for protection. About the only reason other than hunting would be to dispatch the odd roo you've not completed finished off with the car.

Rooftop tents are of more use in Africa where the larger animals do consider you a food source.

The most dangerous animal in Australian is a mob of greater-drunkan bhogans and rooftop tents are no protection against those.

Drop Bears are the worst of the lot though - savage animals that will rip your throat out with one savage bite.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...1/dropbear.jpg

Drop Bear - Australian Museum

Agreed Croc repellent does the trick fending off those big hungry lizards up in the far north but its pretty useless against those sneaky Queensland Tigers and those pesky Black Pathers, supposedly if your camping in SE Queensland you have to watch out for these killer felines according to Vlad who is an expert on the subject. ;)

cheers,
Terry

Hi Timdo1

I have the MY09 V6 SE petrol and it is a good vehicle, I would have preferred the TDV6 though. If a diesel is available get one as the accessories all seem to be available "off the shelf". Having said that the accessories research I have done and advice received from here for the V6 SE is as follows:
LR RAI can be sealed and is the only option as Safari snorkel does not fit
ARB Deluxe Winch Bar can fit with minor mods by the installers
Long range tank in spare wheel cavity, spare to Kaymar rear bar
Dual batteries - Traxide - for fridge etc
Winch if needed
All Terrain tyres - have just started running General Grabber AT2 255/60 18
Rhino do a new rack series they call Pioneer. Its low profile and sits only above the raised roof section. Accessories fit to provide tie down points etc for the tray version or there is the more traditional closed on all sides type - puzzling over this decision for mine at the moment

Hope this helps

Cheers

Dom

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Originally Posted by unseenone

7. Roof Rack
Advantages, frees up the boot for the dog, Fridge, Kids, etc. I prefer the new sleeker design now, such as the new slimline front runner type.
8. Roof Top Tent
Advantages, I never liked snakes, crocks, etc. and Australian Gun Laws seem highly restrictive, I am to old to sleep with one eye open.

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I think I would prefer camping in the Australian bush with snakes and Crocs, for a few reasons.

A) No bears here, but there are big ones in Nth America:eek:

B) Snakes don't eat humans, they run as soon as they hear or see us

C) As long as you don't camp right on a river in FN Qld your safe from crocs

D) Bears don't run away

E) A rooftop tent won't save you from a Bear:p

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Originally Posted by Redback

A) No bears here,

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You are silly - of course there are bears here - Koala Bears and Drop Bears :D

Depending on which area in the US you are there are all the hazards you mentioned. If you are in a "bonus" area there are extra critters. I have seen in the wild (woods not on the road) A bear and 2 cubs, mountain lions, etc. and you need to be ready to shoot if they attack. Also not dangerous Fishers, Otters, Mink, whitetail dear, coyotes, Bobcats, foxes, etc.

In the area where I am now (TX) some areas have Bears (Big Bend) along with all sorts of rattlesnakes and bonus snakes (cottonmouths) etc. and bonus creatures of Bobcats, Mountain Lions, Illegal Drug runners, etc. Most bigger parks have "bear proof" trash cans, etc.

In the east of here are the crocs (not the shoe) and additional bonus snakes, etc.

RTT will not protection you from most, but would keep you off of heated ground, out of sand, dirt, snakes, etc. Most of those creatures would prefer to avoid you, although every year, numerous deadly attacks occur, largely due to improper storage of food, and just general bad luck. Many bear attacks happen in Yellowstone. If you are attacked by a Grisly, versus a Black Bear, you can forget surviving, if you play dead, they just eat you.
Bear Attacks & Bear Attack Statistics

Snake Bytes, average about 7000 bites a year, 15 fatal. You can't let your dog run in the summer heat, the dog will be bitten by a rattler, etc. Last summer after having a good time in the neighbors backyard, at about 2am turned up a coral snake in the pool about 20". Luckily we figured out what it was before we got bitten after trying to scoop it out of the pool.

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Originally Posted by timdo1

Yes thats right. My wife has one and its a great car. I'm a builder and so i will knock it around a bit more. You know heavy loads being towed, off road use etc. I've usually gone the 8 and ignored the diesel. Today though the diesel has so much more grunt and reliability, its just the price staying so high that worries me. With the extra money i could buy a lot of fuel and a long range tank to solve the extra stops of long trips in the high country.

The other factor to be considered is the available accessories.

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timdo1,

I would have thought as a builder, planning to tow heavy loads etc the diesel would have been perfect for what you want. The diesel would appear to be the vehicle most accessories are specified for and for many there is not much between the 2.7 Lt TDV6 and the V8 really, this statement is probably more correct if you were to consider a D4 with the 3.0 Lt TDV6.

The diesel is an effortless cruiser and in all the reviews I have seen comparing towing capabilities the D3 and D4 has come out on top.

If you are planning to go offroad seriously I would consider adding the following to the list of potential accessories;

1. The Llams (Graeme on this site) height adjustment setup;

2. Some rock sliders and compressor and under body protection;

3. Some 18in or 17in rims and MTR tyres, only really a possibility on the 2.7 Diesel.

The upfront pricing will be offset a bit by the fact that the diesel will hold its value on resale a bit better, not going to justify the initial price gap but helps.

Or if I read it correctly just steal your wifes petrol D3 and get her a D4 !

Good luck in your deliberations.

George

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Originally Posted by Redback

I think I would prefer camping in the Australian bush with snakes and Crocs, for a few reasons.

A) No bears here, but there are big ones in Nth America:eek:

B) Snakes don't eat humans, they run as soon as they hear or see us

:p

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Running snakes ...:eek:

You must still have some of the pre Adam and Eve versions around where you live Baz ... ;)

cheers,
Terry