Thread: New D4 - now the expensive bit begins.

I am not in a rush to go 18" wheels. I know Andy has had issues with his 19s, but I was recently on the beaches down south and sailed up Callcup Hill at 15psi, backing off the throttle half way up. I also whacked a stump in the track which hit the rim but the tyre was undamaged (so the Hankook tyres are not that fragile).

Originally Posted by GregMilner

I get that Andrew. I'm extremely nervous about it. But, given that we do little beach driving, I'll wear the risk. Everything is a compromise. And an LT tyre in 19s is a compromise. Spending $5K plus on 18s and tyres isn't something I want to do, on top of all the other additions. I'm already up for $8K plus with what I've committed to for our upcoming trips. In the end, having 5 X LT tyres/rims and a spare carcass is a reasonable compromise for what we do. (I hope:-)

Agreed with your selections as long as you stick with rules, speed and Tyre pressure. I had my 1st sidewall damaged near exit of border track where I had been watching the speed until the end. I supposed it was difficult when you have a large convoy more than 8 vehicles, most of them have LTtyre, then poor my 20" Rim with Cooper AT Tyre had one big hole on the side wall. Last Christmas, I had another two more destroyed at some rocky conditions. I realized I need to have the 18" Rim and a good set of Tyres. It is all depends on what you do. Touring and no much offroad, you will survive, Good luck while I still planning my trip to Kimberly. It is hard to go along with Toyo mats since they all recon LR air suspension and electronics are difficult to survive the long hauls outback, annoying!

Toyo fanboys just don't realize their 4x4s have just as much reliance on electronics as LRs in order to be driven safely.
Sure a LR will make you pull over and do the 20minute task of replacing a wheel speed sensor for example, but that's so you don't crash into a tree.... Think I'd rather replace the sensor.

Stage 1 - the electrical stuff - done.

Stage 2 - the heavy stuff begins.

Got the car back today after Opposite Lock fitted the new long range tank (Outback Accessories, gravity fed 92 litres) and OA single rear wheel carrier.
Nice job. (Although not too sure about the conduit fed through what looks like an un-grommeted hole in the corner of the rear body. Will have to get them to fix that.) The car definitely does drive a bit different, with all that extra weight behind the rear axle. A total of 156kg extra including 92 litres of extra fuel.
Which means that with another 200kg on the tow ball from the camper trailer, I guess we're going to be travelling pretty light, luggage wise inside the car.

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Looks great.
Should it not have a replacement light on it to compensate for the obscuring of the factory right tail light?

Personally I'm not in a great rush to go with 18' wheels/tyres as the options for ATs in 19' are getting better. A fellow LROCWA member had a problem with his bog standard road tyres on Hartog Island and cut them up on the limestone tracks there and had to get a set of General Grabber ATs shipped to Carnarvon to replace them. But I've heard good reports from others who have no problems with the OME tyres so I'll keep them for a while.
I think the Grabbers may well be what I go for eventually as I've had them before on Defenders and they are a good tyre. There are other options like Pirelli or Maxxiss.
At the mo I'm waiting for Rijidiji to come up with their RWC for the D4 as their Defender model is a very well made piece of equipment but I may have to go to OA if it's not forthcoming fairly soon.
Isn't it great spending all this money......
AlanH.

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

Looks great.
Should it not have a replacement light on it to compensate for the obscuring of the factory right tail light?

All good Jeff, there is one.

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Watch out for those cables. I swapped out the conduit for something that can move more freely through that hole.