Thread: Advice wanted - D3 mods for trip around Aus

Originally Posted by oldsalt

And here's an alternative Italian version of Llams... just for interest...
ANITAS SUSPENSION UNIT | MUDTECH 4×4
being Italian it may make your D3 go faster...
cheers

They stole Graeme's invention, DO NOT Support the Italian pirated version of an Australian invention.
Buy Australian!

I made the mistake during Llams' development of revealing too much information on this and the disco3 forums, thinking I was giving interested people reasons to have confidence in what I was developing rather than call it a magic box. Couple that with a circuit board that could have its tracks traced and components identified, I left myself open to a deliberate attempt to copy it. I have a copy of text and a damning picture of the people boasting that they had succeeded but haven't yet been moved to lodge a complaint with the Italian IP authorities for suspected breach of their IP laws by having analysed the physical components and workings of my product in order to make a similar product. However DFAT have provided some useful information should I decide to lodge a complaint with the Italian authorities.

Graeme - I didn't know that ... sorry if I have stepped on your toes (so to speak) - good luck with your legal battles if they ensue.
cheers

Not a problem! I'm moving onwards with a Jeep and Dodge ram version which I'm expecting to have available before June. I haven't published any technical details about that one though, having learnt my lesson.

Carry or fit an air compressor.

If it hasn't been done already and you are over 70,000k, fit a steel pan to the transmission and get it flushed and a new filter installed. Kits are available for $170 on fleabay

Go the remap of the motor either BAS or Davis or Autologic, BAS can be supplied via email after you have the hardware and you install it yourself, See Tombie, he's an agent for BAS remaps.

Carry a spare coolant outlet (prone to splitting and coolant loss) approx $30.

Forget the high-lift its heavy with storage problems and limited use on our vehicles, an exhaust jack can be used in sand or mud etc, the plug for the other exhaust pipe is called a test plug. The Sprinter jack sounds good.

Go the Bridgestone's D697LT, I had Coopers and Goodyear on my 18" rims but have Bridg's on my 17" rims.

GME or Uniden are much the same but get one with all the controls on the hand-piece so you have more options on where to mount it. Get a ground plane independent antenna, I've used "RFI" antenna's and had no problems, I think the military also use RFI.

Consider an electronic fault code reset device, there are now a few on the market, I bought an MSV2 when there was nothing else available but its quite expensive.

Plan to be flexible on your trip, stay longer at what you like and move on from what isn't to your taste.

Have Fun,

Ryall

If you are looking for mud flaps, especially for the rear, I use LR Series ones. They are real large, easy to trim to shape and used Tex screw to mount. They are nice a wide so give good protection for what's being towed.

If you are looking to take the caravan on the beach, suggest 2 pairs of maxtrax or mats, one set for car and other for van. This will really assist in minimizing the rolling resistance to get going.

When we did the lap definitely needed the second spare and carried an extra 40 litre of fuel in jerry cans. Twice had small towns whose servos where down due to pump failures. Enabled us to get to next town.

Also up around Port Headland had really strong cross wind and fuel consumption got up to 19l per 100ks towing 2t van.

As for the caravan carried a set of wheel bearings pre packed with grease in the tool box just to make a possible roadside fix easier and quicker. Also carry extra suspension nuts and bolts for the van and the corrugations can shake them loose. Check every day, glad we did....

Enjoy the trip, its a cracker... If interested here's our blog PJAT Journeys

Thanks for all the tips, will digest and comeback to you with any questions. Cheers, Chris

Leecewah,

All good suggestions below, I have a couple of other thoughts and comments.

3rd Row Seats : One good suggestion that sticks in my mind from a previous thread, but has not been mentioned is to remove the third row seats (assuming you will not be using them). This saves a lot of weight, something like 150kg from memory and allows you to use the space created by removing them for say a water storage, spares or other such items.

Tyres : I am running the Bridgestone D697 LT and have been very happy with them, done some Vic High Country travel and various off road driving and there is little to no signs of cutting or wear so would happily recommend them.

Suspension : Whilst Llams (rather than the Italian rip off) is a great product and used by many on this forum there are also suspension rods from GOE (another forum member) which provide for additional lift and changes in the suspension heights when required. Most people doing desert travel complain about only being able to do 50khm in off road height before the car lowers, these bits of kit allow you to travel at higher speeds at off road height amongst other things. Do a search as there is a lot of discussion on the pros and cons of both, personally I use the GOE rods.

Mud Flaps : I purchased 2 sets of 4wd mud flaps form SupaCheap auto and shaped and fitted them myself for the grand cost of about $45. These are dead easy to do and will take about 1 hr of your time. One of the forum members, Disco4se (Craig from WA) kindly put up a detailed post about these sometime ago if you do a search you should find it.

Hope this helps and enjoy the lap.