Thread: Finally Committed

Hi Rich,

You may want to consider just a spare wheel carrier like Frontrunner or OL. A lot lighter than the Kaymar.

Jools.

Congrats on the purchase, you'll love it!!
I can only comment on the tyres which I use. They are great as far as handling and offroad. I took them up the cape and they preformed to my expectations!! They will make your fuel economy worse off. The stock tyres are quiet but they lack any real grip offroad and I found the perellies wore very quickly. I use a snorkel bull bar and roof rack, could not justify the cost of kaymar!

Have fun

Originally Posted by wbowner

Finally Committed

You certainly should be.

Welcome to permagrin country.

Different people have different priorities but for me 12v power is top of the list on camping.

On the road there comes a time in the evening after long drives when one goes to the fridge to select a suitably boutique craft beer or a chilled crisp SBS, that's where the extra power comes in. I want to run the fridge and my camp light and not even think about about the state of the battery charge when I go to start the next morning. So that's a Traxide DBS with permanent power to the back.

If i was towing a van or a camper trailer I would not think twice, I'd have two batteries at least (possibly one more in the van/trailer), two fridges on long trips, one on freeze. Why wouldn't you? It makes life so much more pleasant.

I eventually got myself an ARB roo-bar too. I would not recommend doing it the way I did it, however. One morning on the road between Hyden and Norseman I chatted to a mate about roo-bars. Pros, cons, which type. I resolved that I would get one but not just now. Twelves hours later, outside Cocklebiddy dead on roo o'clock and just 15mins from the roadhouse, THUMP. Apparently the trick is to get the roo-bar, BEFORE, you hit the roo, not after.

Tyres, I have resolved too to obviously replace with as strong/tough as I can get but I just can't bring myself to do it until the Wranglers wear out.

Originally Posted by discojools

Hi Rich,

You may want to consider just a spare wheel carrier like Frontrunner or OL. A lot lighter than the Kaymar.

Jools.

Totally agree with Jools on this. Personally I would add a bull bar and a rear wheel carrier in preference to a rear Kaymar bar, as Kangaroo's tend to hop into the front rather than the back of your vehicle.

If you have not already then it might be an idea to work out first what any modifications weigh along with the ball weight of your van and your own and any passengers weight plus fuel before committing to what you actually decide to bolt onto it.

and congrats on the new D4. ...

Instead of putting a second battery in the car,, why not put it in the van? a couple of batteries and a couple of solar panels and you will "never" need to connect a charging cable to the van.

Many thanks to all for replies

My van already has a fridge run off batteries in the van
It also has solar panels

The dual battery would be to run second fridge in the car

I will look into wheel cariers mentioned
I like the idea of a larger tank when towing

I have a few monghs to think about it I think

Richard

If you intend travelling unsealed roads then your air filter will very quickly get clogged with dust from the front wheels even though the air intake is outside the guard so you may want to reconsider the priority of a snorkel or RAI.