We're just back from a weekend at Landcruiser Mountain Park with the Mitsubishi Club - first trip with the new (to me) tyres. It was supposed to be the "President's New Members Weekend" but our illustrious president got called in to assist on the club's DAP, so another member stepped in to fill the void.
With quite a mix of vehicles present Saturday was more of a leisurely cruise with the occasional hard track option. The other vehicles included the trip leader's 100 Series diesel (live front, stock apart from front and rear bars and BFG muds), another 100 Series live front diesel with front locker and average ATs, an NL Exceed with front Detroit and BFGs, a Triton twin cab, a Gen 1 stocker, a Surf and an old Landy.
The two Cruisers and the Exceed drove the red section at the top of Camp Road, and made it look pretty easy, so I gave it a go and made it without much trouble. I was very happy with my first attempt at an "extreme" track.
After lunch the Gen 1 and the Surf stayed behind. We did Lower Davidsons, and again I made it up the red bit without trouble, but I took one of the easier tracks - the Landy had to be snatched after he started sliding sideways off the side of the track. The Exceed made it up the gnarliest track without trouble, then the Cruiser with the diff lock got stuck on the same track - broke out the winch twice, then we joined three straps and the Exceed pulled him up the rest. That's where my girlfriend lost our map, so I don't know where we went after that, but nobody had any more problems.
Sunday started with ice over everything (anybody know the freezing point of olive oil?) and some new arrivals - father and son team from Kilcoy with Gen 1 Pajeros with front Detroits, the son's being a shorty with a rear detroit and supercharger on his 2.6 - awesome toy!
We set out on a tour of the northwest corner of the park; the two 'Cruisers, the three locked Pajeros and mine (unlocked 
) I donned my skirt and opted out of some of the steeper bits that the unlocked 'Cruiser couldn't climb, but ended up having a go at a few tracks I would never have contemplated before. I was snatched once, through some talc powder like loose stuff on the Club Rally Circuit, and had a few problems later in the day on similar stuff. In hindsight, I think I was too hard on the throttle, and the MTRs just dug holes at every opportunity, so I'll have to try very gently next time.
In all I'm very happy with the way the Paj performed - mine was definitely the least capable vehicle on the Sunday (well, with me behind the wheel anyway
) but it wasn't far off the pace. A couple of times I cruised over obstacles that locked vehicles had trouble with, probably as much luck as anything else. I reckon it was fairly close to both 'Cruisers in capability, although the Cruiser with the locker was hindered by it's tyres - I'm glad I did the lift/tyres thing before the locker, or I might not have learned some lessons.
I had the front end pulling some significant air a couple of times, and we got on some nasty seeming side slopes - they probably weren't that bad (25-30 degrees on the bouncing golf ball) but neither my passenger nor I were comfortable - how far can a lifted Paj on 33s tilt before it goes "too far?" I have this vague recollection that 35 degrees is still pretty comfortable for the car, but don't know where it came from.
Now I've just gotta get that exchange TC with the 2.85s in, and have another go. When are those front lockers available now?
Thanks go to the trip leader, and the other club members for helping to make the weekend fun.
Cheers,
Scott
