Thread: Help Need Dimensions

It seems that the Transport Engineer want's to up the GVM of my vehicle, thus allowing the modifications. All that I want is a big green tick in the box. The method of getting there is of less relevance to me. I am not trying to make a high performance vehicle and this vehicle when completed will be a dinosaur, as most want a common rail eco friendly diesel these days and by the time I am finished with it the fuel prices will ensure its demise.

Regards,
PeterW

This little black duck certainly does not want an electronic common rail engine. Electronic failures are the reason I now have a County-Isuzu. No electronics whatsoever and can be push started and driven without an alternator or battery. I firmly believe that elctronically controlled vehicles are not suitable for outback and remote area use, and inevitably, an electronic failure will cause a tragedy in the outback.

I had a Td5 Defender stop on a dune near the border south of the Hay River in 2006. No tracks etc in the area and the going was rough as the grass mounds were like mogules. Initially when I was called on the radio I thought "of all places". The car sat idling. Turns out that a connector wasn't. Pushed it in and off we went. This could have been serious for the vehicle. The two in the car could have been placed in another but it was a bit difficult to tow from there. On another trip when on the inside track a D2 stoped in a creek crossing. He hit it so hard that water entered the snorkel and alerted a sensor in the airbox, thus the motor stopped. Whilst sitting there he aluded to the fact that there were sensors under the seat which were underwater by now. A good time for a break and replace his air filter and the D2 was drivable again.

I just don't know enough about the electronics to be happy with them.

Regards,
PeterW

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

This little black duck certainly does not want an electronic common rail engine. Electronic failures are the reason I now have a County-Isuzu. No electronics whatsoever and can be push started and driven without an alternator or battery. I firmly believe that elctronically controlled vehicles are not suitable for outback and remote area use, and inevitably, an electronic failure will cause a tragedy in the outback.

Brian

Have to agree with you absolutely on this one - but just try to find someone who makes something like that these days.

Will the Indian Tata's see this philosophy or will they follow the Europeans like sheep or make something for their own backyard and ours?

Diana

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Brian

Will the Indian Tata's see this philosophy or will they follow the Europeans like sheep or make something for their own backyard and ours?

Diana

I suppose that will depend on whether they will want to sell any here, under the coming emission standards.


Martyn

Originally Posted by TwoUp

I had a Td5 Defender stop on a dune near the border south of the Hay River in 2006. No tracks etc in the area and the going was rough as the grass mounds were like mogules. Initially when I was called on the radio I thought "of all places". The car sat idling. Turns out that a connector wasn't. Pushed it in and off we went. This could have been serious for the vehicle. The two in the car could have been placed in another but it was a bit difficult to tow from there. On another trip when on the inside track a D2 stoped in a creek crossing. He hit it so hard that water entered the snorkel and alerted a sensor in the airbox, thus the motor stopped. Whilst sitting there he aluded to the fact that there were sensors under the seat which were underwater by now. A good time for a break and replace his air filter and the D2 was drivable again.

I just don't know enough about the electronics to be happy with them.

Regards,
PeterW

Just a quick hijack Brian and peterW,

The main reason for us buying an HF radio was for the inevitability of accident or illness in remote areas, either ours or someone elses. The number of people venturing out to remote areas without sensible precautions like comms equipment and EPIRBS etc astounds me. They should treat the outback like the ocean, mandatory requirement is radio, EPIRB/Beacon and GPS in addition to adequate water and food for every person. This should be enforced.

Hijack and rant over now. Return to normal programming...



JC

Justinc,
I agree totally. I will not have anyone come along with me without being prepared. That includes me knowing some about their ability to drive the vehicel. Unfortunately I have had to exclude some from coming for that reason. They are told frankly and if the reason is preparedness then they had been told/ advised well in advance.
Regards,
PeterW

Originally Posted by justinc

Just a quick hijack Brian and peterW,

The main reason for us buying an HF radio was for the inevitability of accident or illness in remote areas, either ours or someone elses. The number of people venturing out to remote areas without sensible precautions like comms equipment and EPIRBS etc astounds me. They should treat the outback like the ocean, mandatory requirement is radio, EPIRB/Beacon and GPS in addition to adequate water and food for every person. This should be enforced.

Hijack and rant over now. Return to normal programming...



JC

Well, Nat Buchanan, Matt Savage, Harry Redford, Steve Wall, the Duracks didn't have any of these, but then they didn't have vehicles either. My experience of living there was that the locals tend to take off with whatever is in their vehicle, usually a Uhf radio these days, with maybe some food and water. Perhaps they know where they are going and are bush wise. None of which is much use when the ute poops its engine management system 200 or more k's from help. Sit, wait, and hope then applies.