Modding up at 03-04 GU Cab Chassis (No COMP truck)

[V6XtraHilux]

Hey Guys,

As Im going to trade up from my Hilux to a 2003-2004 GU 4.2TD Cab chassis, Id like some advice from all you guys who have been there and done that with this truck, as I want to mod it in the rigth direction first time!

Usage: Touring, beach trips, forest tracks and probably fire trails with usual ruts etc, no COMP work. Perhaps the one long trip a year or two. Current hilux has front and rear lockers due to IFS, lack of rear wheel travel and soft (AKA breakable) front diff.

Plans so far:

1. Front ARB Air locker and compressor (Read LSD is too good?, or should I go Air Locker as well?)
2. ARB or similar bullbar with brush bars and side steps
3. Dual battery setup (ripping out of Hilux)
4. Front and rear Ring and pinion change to 4.3 cos of 33s in shed (for weekend fire trail trips etc)
5. Mandatory UHF (ripping out of Hilux)
6. Spotties (ripping off Hilux)
7. 50 or 100mm suspension lift
8. Rock crawler gears (bad low range gearing im told?)
9. Snorkel (if it anit already got one...shame I cant rip off the Hilux!!!)

And not in the above order, will get it financed so can all be done relatively at once, hence why Id like to know what other mods I should do, so I can get included in the financing.

Thanks.
Karl

[waxhead..]

LSD is good, no need to lock it. Gearing in low range on a 4.2td is very good, no one puts crawler gears in. No need to change the diff gears for 33's.

[bogged]

Why dont you buy it and then drive it before spending yillions on it, specially for the light work you have listed you wanna do? Then find out what YOU think needs doing..

All the kiddies here will tell u to buy everything cause the comp dudes use it and it makes them feel closer..

1) Drive it first, and make your own mind up.
2) up to yourself.
3) agree.
4) wait and see.
5) agree
6) agree
7) 50 is good - I think Roldit has 36 pedes on his with 2inch
8) nothing wrong with standard Low. But drive it first, and make your own mind up.
9) agree.

[Nelso]

For the driving you are descibing and only going to 33s myopinion is that a 2 inch lift with a front locker will be plenty. You won't need transfer gears for 33s and the turbo diesel will turn the 33s fine with the 4.1 diff ratios.

The only reason I would go to a 4inch lift would be if you wanted the clearence to drive harder stuff like rock hopping etc and wanted 35 inch tyres or bigger. You will be impressed with how far a GU with a 2 inch lift, 33s and a front locker will go offroad.

[sootygu]

I have the same vehicle and for your style of touring would recommend a set up very similar. Mine does everything from easy touring to the harder tracks around Vic.

1. Front ARB Air locker and compressor (Read LSD is too good?, or should I go Air Locker as well?)

Is well worth the money. Havent worried about a rear for the LSD is very good.

2. ARB or similar bullbar with brush bars and side steps

Front bar is good although I modded mine to suit a high mount. Rails have cost me more than they are worth. Both sills are damaged from movement where they are mounted to the chassis. After correspondence with ARB they finally conceded they front chassis mounts are not sufficient. They added a few extra bolts to secure them better.

4. Front and rear Ring and pinion change to 4.3 cos of 33s in shed (for weekend fire trail trips etc)

I am certain they already have 4.3's.

7. 50 or 100mm suspension lift

I run 3" dobinson and Koni shocks, this is a good compromise. To got a properly set up 4" you would be looking around an extra $1000.

8. Rock crawler gears (bad low range gearing im told?)

Gearing is not to bad. I installed 85% reduction gears and it was money well spent. Depends on how often you use it though.

As for the rest they are all well worth it.

Cheers

[V6XtraHilux]

SootyGU,
Have you got any pics of your rig with ur setup?

If you dont mind me asking, how much did ya pay for the Dobinson coils and Koni shocks, and where'd you get em from?

Ta

[sootygu]

Best price I have seen for Dobinsons is this guy, email him for prices. 4WD Stuff [fwdstuff@bigpond.com]. He also has Dobinson shocks which are well priced and good quality. A few guys in our club run them and havent had any problems.

Konis are form Top Perfomace Products in Melb, they are the distributors. They recommended the 88 series.

Here are a few pics.

[Ossie]

Hey Guys,
Plans so far:

1. Front ARB Air locker and compressor - don't worry about rear locker LSD will be fine,
2. ARB or similar bullbar - factory nissan bar has more room for a winch than ARB. would not run side bars but better chassis mounted steps are good
3. good idea - arb tray is strongest if you need to buy one,
4. It should have 4.1:1 standard if it is an ST 4.1's are fine with 285's (33's) (about 2,100 rpm @ 110km's)
5. Whack it in
6. put them on - watch out how you do the Hi beam pick up (factory driving light harness is easyand neat but is about $160?). Drivers side headlight plugs melt, replace with hd plug (about $10) before it happens,
7. 50 - 75 mm lifft is perfect for your application, don't bother with more than 75mm,
8. Rock crawler gears - wait and see (I ran 3.9:1 diffs with 35's and had not problem, 4.1:1's were better),
9. Snorkel - had safari & Nissan/TJM - would go a Nissan agin next time

my 2c's

Jason

[V6XtraHilux]

Thanks Ossie, confirmed a few things for me.

SootyGU, great looking rig, am closer to convincing myself to go the gold colour, rather than white. My gold hilux shows up all the scratches and dings, same with urs?

You got any details on that canopy? inside pics, layout? Is it permanent mount or can it be removed easily?

As im used to my Extra cab on the lux, Im going to miss it, but im think of getting/making a metal cab-height/width painted enclosure, with up opening gull doors, keep it on the truck permanently, so i can still use the tray. Put the fridge on slide on one side, with stuff on an upper shelf, other side takes day to day/groceries etc. Still playing with ideas.

Ta.

Anybody else got touring rig pics, no hardcore stuff, cos Id start drooling and short out my PC!!

[sootygu]

Although the silver/gold color looks good it does show the scratches more than the white. Scratches are unavoidable and something I dont tend to worry about though.

The canopy is fixed with to the tray with 4 bolts and is easily removed. I plan to do a MKII version when I get the time.

Left side has fridge and draws for food and cooking bits.


Right side has draws for recovery equip, tools and other bits.

[[gubeaut]]

as far as suspension call john at 4wd suspension components. he is pretty cheap in brisbane as he dosen't have big overheads.I ran 35 claws on a trip to coffs harbour and allover the area (same trip as a4wdm) and the truck pushes them easily .One sugestion i would make is talk to QDAD about the turbo and upping it a bit with a 3 inch exaust.Doesn't cost much about 700 to 900 but the difference is HUGE

[V6XtraHilux]

Thats a good setup SootyGU, kind of along the lines of what I want to do, so apologies in advance if I steal some of ya ideas!

GUBeaut, that info about the exhaust and upping the turbo is the kind of stuff this thread was meant for. Thanks for that info.

I'll certainly be changing my wish list to some other things now, different shocks, dobinsons coils, new exhaust, etc.

Keep the info coming guys, I much appreciate it.

[+dj_hansen+]

SootyGU.. who built your tray dude? Awesome

[sootygu]

SootyGU.. who built your tray dude? Awesome

Thanks

Desgined and built by me.

I didnt want a full width tray so made it to cover the tyre width only. It was also designed to house the next canopy which will have 2 section. Front bit permanent to keep fridge ect and rear section to be removable.

[V6XtraHilux]

[ It was also designed to house the next canopy which will have 2 section. Front bit permanent to keep fridge ect and rear section to be removable.

Hey SootyGU, your now stealing MY idea!!!

Would be good to see the build up of this documented, so we can follow in your footsteps!!!

[[gubeaut]]

just thought i would let you know that i have just put lckers in both front and rear with 4.6 gears .went out on sat night to test them out and i must say "WOW" .I have previously owned a GQ wagon that had a front locker and kept the rear with the factory L.S.D. I too was of the opinion that the L.S.D. was as good as a locker and YES they are one of the best L.S.D's around but now that my ute has locked front and rear i can see the huge difference .My old wagon fish tailed up hills as the L.S.D did it's stuff.the lockers keep it straight .BUT that is in the TUFF stuff not touring . in the end it comes down to where you are taking it. MY 2cents