Thread: New D4 - now the expensive bit begins.

Originally Posted by ATH

It's great to hear that something is still made here and it's a pity more isn't, but I still cannot personally see the value in it.
I think the same result can be got by an adjustable hitch installed into the LR receiver and then set to the same height as the Mitch, for much less cost.
Their hitch does look nice though......
AlanH.

If your not planning on towing off road then theres probably very little value in one. It certainly gets rid of the main plough like feature of the original

I have a Mitch hitch fitted towing my Drifta DOT6 trailer and would not go back to the original hitch. My trailer would never ride level and even with a raised hitch it was still a pain trying to get the jockey wheel down without going into off road suspension height. The Mitch hitch just works so well in comparison and access to the spare wheel is a bonus. Even when not off road it came in useful 2 days ago trying to get into a small town service station with a big kerb and steep down. Would have certainly dragged the original hitch if I hadn't had the Mitch hitch.

If I were to buy a D4 which is my likely next upgrade I would go for.
- Mitch hitch
- electric brake controller
- roof rack platform or like I have now roof box and cage for the Oztent.
- carry extra fuel on the trailer so no long range tank or add gravity fed in cargo area for long trips if required.
- no kamar bar or wheel on the back
- probably no bull bar although would consider it
- discreet winch if no bull bar
- llams I have found useful but I would consider GOE rods as an alternative.
- Drifta Drawer system and drop down fridge slide with socket extension for access to spare wheel winch. Would consider a water tank in the back of the drawers if I didn't have the trailer
- secondary battery. I currently have one in the cargo area but uses up valuable space.
- compressor protection plate
- I currently have rock sliders and they have come in useful a couple of times but would think seriously about what I was doing before adding this extra weight on. Not needed for most things. Does make a handy step up for sorting out stuff in the roof box though.
- decent AT LT tyres
- half size cargo barrier
- have a compressor under the bonnet BT would probably add into the drawer system or even just have a decent portable one with an Anderson Connector on etc.

The D4's isn't the plough that the D3's was and doesn't have the weakness either. However it's still attached by the same method so make sure the safety chains are though the tow hook rather than the little eyes if towing anything heavy.

Okay, so after much thought, and advice on here, these are the 'must-have' additions, followed by the 'maybe later' ones:

1) Safari snorkel
2) Outback Accessories single rear wheel carrier
3) Outback Accessories 92 litre gravity fed LR tank
4) Brake controller (already have one)
5) 6 X Maxxis LT tyres
6) diagnostic tool
7) fitting of UHF (already have one), aerial mounted one side of the bonnet.
8) front mud flaps (don't know if the car already has them, haven't seen it yet.)
9) compressor plate

Maybe laters:

1) Mitch hitch, unless I can find a suitable high rise hitch that fits into the standard LR one
2) bull bar
3) drawers
4) roof rack

On the right track? If possible I want to avoid making body-off repairs a PITA.

Almost all accessories don't impact "body off"
What does slow the process is wiring paths etc...

Originally Posted by Trngia

I have a Mitch hitch fitted towing my Drifta DOT6 trailer and would not go back to the original hitch. My trailer would never ride level and even with a raised hitch it was still a pain trying to get the jockey wheel down without going into off road suspension height. The Mitch hitch just works so well in comparison and access to the spare wheel is a bonus. Even when not off road it came in useful 2 days ago trying to get into a small town service station with a big kerb and steep down. Would have certainly dragged the original hitch if I hadn't had the Mitch hitch.

If I were to buy a D4 which is my likely next upgrade I would go for.
- Mitch hitch
- electric brake controller
- roof rack platform or like I have now roof box and cage for the Oztent.
- carry extra fuel on the trailer so no long range tank or add gravity fed in cargo area for long trips if required.
- no kamar bar or wheel on the back
- probably no bull bar although would consider it
- discreet winch if no bull bar
- llams I have found useful but I would consider GOE rods as an alternative.
- Drifta Drawer system and drop down fridge slide with socket extension for access to spare wheel winch. Would consider a water tank in the back of the drawers if I didn't have the trailer
- secondary battery. I currently have one in the cargo area but uses up valuable space.
- compressor protection plate
- I currently have rock sliders and they have come in useful a couple of times but would think seriously about what I was doing before adding this extra weight on. Not needed for most things. Does make a handy step up for sorting out stuff in the roof box though.
- decent AT LT tyres
- half size cargo barrier
- have a compressor under the bonnet BT would probably add into the drawer system or even just have a decent portable one with an Anderson Connector on etc.

Not a water tank where seat 6 and 7 go Rich?

Bull bar is one of those things, you don't want it until it's too late and your cars written off, like my D3 was after owning it for 2 weeks...

If that were to happen now after the hundreds of hours work and $10k I've chucked at it I'd be gutted.

So glad i moved by spare wheel out from underneath before i destroyed the tyre. It used to get smashed hard while off road. So badly I left it flat and half expected it to bubble in the sidewall when i inflated it after how many hits it copped. Not to mention that useless wheel winder.

Much more clearance in the rear now too. Even with the extra 92l tank

Originally Posted by Shakey

Not a water tank where seat 6 and 7 go Rich?

Yup a water tank or if without trailer a poly fuel tank. Would likely remove the 3rd row seats anyway.

Lots of food for thought and so many options :-)