Seeing other peoples build posts, I have decided to do mine too. It will be ongoing project, as time and money becomes available (especially the $$$ bit).
First bit of a history
I have always liked travelling around, and since I was a kid, I have been immersed in maps and atlases. My “first” big trip came when we emigrated from Europe to Australia. Shortly after that I have started nurturing a plan of travelling around Australia, especially to the little accessible places like, Strzelecki Track, Canning stock route and the Cape (back in the 80’s it was still big adventure). I was an avid follower of Jack Absalom and his Chrysler Sigma and the Bush Tacker Man (Les Hiddins). I bought plenty of books, guides and maps back then (I still have those).
I have been dreaming of 4x4 drive since about 1986, however it was pretty clear that as a student, I would never have one back in those days. So I had Mazda 929, with which I was planning to do all the driving (Surely that was a better car than Jack’s Sigma ) . My preparation went as far as getting quotes for limited slip diff (something I thought could be handy ). Then my life took another direction, and I moved to South America, where I stayed for over a decade. My dream of having 4x4 did not materialize there either (I came very close to buying Lada Niva, and 74 Range Rover, I even test driven them). Unfortunately there were always other things more important to spend money on, then an old 4x4 (could not afford a new one). So I kept modifying my old 1980 VW Brasilia (basically a beetle with different body), and did lots of trips (or rather expeditions, one might say) with that car (followed the route of Top Gear Bolivian special, long time before Top Gear even heard of Bolivia – from jungles to the Andes and the deserts) to places where only 4x4 could go (if that). I did hire 4x4 couple of times, but only followed the same routes I had done with VW.
I did few modifications on this car (lifted it as high as possible, put in different seats (and seatbelts), and few other bits and pieces.
For those interested, here are some pictures of my VW in action
In the Andes
Up in 5000 meters
At the top
Around Lake Titicaca
On the Inca Trail
Across the Lake Titicaca
In the Lowlands
Landslides here and there
No Bridge
Oriental Bolivia
Lost a wheel (including the drum)
After a river crossing
Pitstop in a local workshop
Bit of maintenance in your friendly workshop
Good as new, ready for another 1000 km back home
The jungle
Crossing a river in Amazonia
Deep in the Jungle - Neol Kempff Mercado NP
Stuck on a sand bank
Stuck after river crossing
Into the jungle I go..
Then due to my wife's work commitments, we moved to Caribbean (Dominican Republic) for couple of years, and there I finally got my hands on a real 4x4, 2001 Mitsubishi Challenger (except there it was called Montero Sport). It took 6 months of searching and test drives to get that car. I have tested couple of Challengers, one 80 series cruiser, one Lexus 470, Mitsubishi Pajero iO and Suzuki Vitara. There was always something not quite right with each car, until I found the white Challenger. The car was US import, with 100 000 miles on the clock, and I had to take a good care of it as it would need to be resold at the end of the stay with a minimal loss. So there were no mods, and no extreme trips. Mind you there were plenty of places to go on that island, I have regrets of not exploring it bit more, but we did explore a good part of that great island.
Here are few pictures from Dominican Republic and of my first 4x4
On a dodgy road near Haiti border
On one of the coconut lined beaches
On the most beautiful beach in DR, in Bahia de la Aquila
The following two pictures are from Caribbean, believe it or not, DR is a home to the highest mountain in Caribbean, which is over 3000m high, so there are some mountain trails, besides the beaches .
Up in the hills
Through the pine forest
And the last sad picture, when I was selling it
For Sale
It was a good 4x4, bit uncomfortable, especially for the rear passengers, but it was way better than my VW .
Here comes Prado
At the end of the stay in DR, due to the political instability in Bolivia, we decided to return to Australia. So once back in Australia, I kept looking at 4x4s, but still could never really afford one. We did several trips with my Falcon, and during each trip I was in pain every time I got to a point where Falcon could pass no further (like the road past Cahill’s crossing – I did the crossing – but no further, Gosses Bluff crater, Palm Valley, or Tassie’s west coast, or the road above Cape Tribulation). Eventually I thought, I am getting old, and time is not waiting for anybody, this better happens. So I started looking for an old 80 series Cruiser. Found one in Brisbane, and actually flew to buy it, but when I inspected it, I decided it was too old, and perhaps petrol cruiser was not the ideal choice, and disappointed I flew back home, only to find a Prado for sale on my street.
It was being sold by a grey nomad, who had it from new, it has done some serious travelling around Australia with a trailer, but it seemed to be looked after OK. The car was 2x the price of what I intended to pay, so I renegotiated my loan, on got the 2007 Prado GLX with D4D engine with 120 000 km on the clock.
It had TJM snorkel, ARB non-winch bulbar, back air locker, double battery setup, radio and brake controller. The suspension was bit saggy, the paint job was bit dull, the inside trimming was bit scratched and dull, but it was running OK, but there were early signs that it might want new injectors.
As soon I bought it, we took it for a three day trip to the Little Desert, and back down along the border track. So the first unofficial add on was Thule crossbars (the crossbars I bought in Czech Republic and used in Bolivia, then used them in DR on the Challenger, after I bought Thule roof rail clamps in USA) and a Thule roof box (I took that away from my Falcon).
Here it is just before the trip
So that is the end of the introduction (rather long). And my next post will be with the add ons that I have done so far. I hope to continue sometimes this week .
First bit of a history
I have always liked travelling around, and since I was a kid, I have been immersed in maps and atlases. My “first” big trip came when we emigrated from Europe to Australia. Shortly after that I have started nurturing a plan of travelling around Australia, especially to the little accessible places like, Strzelecki Track, Canning stock route and the Cape (back in the 80’s it was still big adventure). I was an avid follower of Jack Absalom and his Chrysler Sigma and the Bush Tacker Man (Les Hiddins). I bought plenty of books, guides and maps back then (I still have those).
I have been dreaming of 4x4 drive since about 1986, however it was pretty clear that as a student, I would never have one back in those days. So I had Mazda 929, with which I was planning to do all the driving (Surely that was a better car than Jack’s Sigma ) . My preparation went as far as getting quotes for limited slip diff (something I thought could be handy ). Then my life took another direction, and I moved to South America, where I stayed for over a decade. My dream of having 4x4 did not materialize there either (I came very close to buying Lada Niva, and 74 Range Rover, I even test driven them). Unfortunately there were always other things more important to spend money on, then an old 4x4 (could not afford a new one). So I kept modifying my old 1980 VW Brasilia (basically a beetle with different body), and did lots of trips (or rather expeditions, one might say) with that car (followed the route of Top Gear Bolivian special, long time before Top Gear even heard of Bolivia – from jungles to the Andes and the deserts) to places where only 4x4 could go (if that). I did hire 4x4 couple of times, but only followed the same routes I had done with VW.
I did few modifications on this car (lifted it as high as possible, put in different seats (and seatbelts), and few other bits and pieces.
For those interested, here are some pictures of my VW in action
In the Andes
Up in 5000 meters
At the top
Around Lake Titicaca
On the Inca Trail
Across the Lake Titicaca
In the Lowlands
Landslides here and there
No Bridge
Oriental Bolivia
Lost a wheel (including the drum)
After a river crossing
Pitstop in a local workshop
Bit of maintenance in your friendly workshop
Good as new, ready for another 1000 km back home
The jungle
Crossing a river in Amazonia
Deep in the Jungle - Neol Kempff Mercado NP
Stuck on a sand bank
Stuck after river crossing
Into the jungle I go..
Then due to my wife's work commitments, we moved to Caribbean (Dominican Republic) for couple of years, and there I finally got my hands on a real 4x4, 2001 Mitsubishi Challenger (except there it was called Montero Sport). It took 6 months of searching and test drives to get that car. I have tested couple of Challengers, one 80 series cruiser, one Lexus 470, Mitsubishi Pajero iO and Suzuki Vitara. There was always something not quite right with each car, until I found the white Challenger. The car was US import, with 100 000 miles on the clock, and I had to take a good care of it as it would need to be resold at the end of the stay with a minimal loss. So there were no mods, and no extreme trips. Mind you there were plenty of places to go on that island, I have regrets of not exploring it bit more, but we did explore a good part of that great island.
Here are few pictures from Dominican Republic and of my first 4x4
On a dodgy road near Haiti border
On one of the coconut lined beaches
On the most beautiful beach in DR, in Bahia de la Aquila
The following two pictures are from Caribbean, believe it or not, DR is a home to the highest mountain in Caribbean, which is over 3000m high, so there are some mountain trails, besides the beaches .
Up in the hills
Through the pine forest
And the last sad picture, when I was selling it
For Sale
It was a good 4x4, bit uncomfortable, especially for the rear passengers, but it was way better than my VW .
Here comes Prado
At the end of the stay in DR, due to the political instability in Bolivia, we decided to return to Australia. So once back in Australia, I kept looking at 4x4s, but still could never really afford one. We did several trips with my Falcon, and during each trip I was in pain every time I got to a point where Falcon could pass no further (like the road past Cahill’s crossing – I did the crossing – but no further, Gosses Bluff crater, Palm Valley, or Tassie’s west coast, or the road above Cape Tribulation). Eventually I thought, I am getting old, and time is not waiting for anybody, this better happens. So I started looking for an old 80 series Cruiser. Found one in Brisbane, and actually flew to buy it, but when I inspected it, I decided it was too old, and perhaps petrol cruiser was not the ideal choice, and disappointed I flew back home, only to find a Prado for sale on my street.
It was being sold by a grey nomad, who had it from new, it has done some serious travelling around Australia with a trailer, but it seemed to be looked after OK. The car was 2x the price of what I intended to pay, so I renegotiated my loan, on got the 2007 Prado GLX with D4D engine with 120 000 km on the clock.
It had TJM snorkel, ARB non-winch bulbar, back air locker, double battery setup, radio and brake controller. The suspension was bit saggy, the paint job was bit dull, the inside trimming was bit scratched and dull, but it was running OK, but there were early signs that it might want new injectors.
As soon I bought it, we took it for a three day trip to the Little Desert, and back down along the border track. So the first unofficial add on was Thule crossbars (the crossbars I bought in Czech Republic and used in Bolivia, then used them in DR on the Challenger, after I bought Thule roof rail clamps in USA) and a Thule roof box (I took that away from my Falcon).
Here it is just before the trip
So that is the end of the introduction (rather long). And my next post will be with the add ons that I have done so far. I hope to continue sometimes this week .
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