Silly looking suspension

[juro]

One of the times l was driving out to Cairns last dry season, l live in Weipa. I passed a GQ Patrol Wagon just north of Hahn River Roadhouse which is notorious for corrigations and dust holes, that must of had about six inches of lift under it at least. As I was Patroling past I noticed the front drivers side tire looked like it was about to wobble and fall off. It was loping, wobbling and skipping at all different angles, they must have been doing around 90 Kph, and on closer inpection the other steer tire was doing the same. It just didn't look right. My questions are, Is there a point where you can get to much lift? Is it comfortable? Was it a rock crawler in the wrong environment? What is the tire bill? Surely it must stress all the front end componants out? I drive out to Cairns a few times a year and go camping around the Cape and I know what works for me and my car but that GQ looked ridiculous. Just a curious Nissan fella wanting to know more thats all.

[Heathx4]

Lift *shouldn't* affect your steering. If it does, it's wrong. Bigger tyres do, and that's why bigger tyres should be accomodated for in the steering design.

[juro]

Sorry Heathx4, I should have pointed out that this particular GQ had 33"s on, perhaps even bigger. To me this vehicle would be at home doing the slower rock crawling courses near bigger towns and cities. This vehicle was doing it tough, and is going to fatigue very quickly doing long stretches at higher speeds on rough roads in remote locations as this one was. What I want to know, is there an ideal setup for high speed driving on corrigated roads in comparison to slower, extreme 4WDing which seems to dominate this forum?

[bogged]

One of the times l was driving out to Cairns last dry season, l live in Weipa. I passed a GQ Patrol Wagon just north of Hahn River Roadhouse which is notorious for corrigations and dust holes, that must of had about six inches of lift under it at least. As I was Patroling past I noticed the front drivers side tire looked like it was about to wobble and fall off. It was loping, wobbling and skipping at all different angles, they must have been doing around 90 Kph, and on closer inpection the other steer tire was doing the same. It just didn't look right. My questions are, Is there a point where you can get to much lift? Is it comfortable? Was it a rock crawler in the wrong environment? What is the tire bill? Surely it must stress all the front end componants out? I drive out to Cairns a few times a year and go camping around the Cape and I know what works for me and my car but that GQ looked ridiculous. Just a curious Nissan fella wanting to know more thats all.

it would be soft suspension. have a look at some OBchallenge clips, adn you see that happening regularly.

[juro]

Thanks Bogged,

This isnt going put undue wear and tear on the vehicle? it did look strange.
But if it's comfortable and going to last half a dozen trips to Cairn's a season, usually driving at night. And camping and hunting trips around the Cape I will enquire about lifting everything up. Funny thing is though no one who works and lives up here has got anything like it.

[Hoonz]

traveling on corro roads sucks a big one ...
but having the big suspension makes it that much more bareable

having matched coils and shocks is the big one obviously the more money u spend the better the ride is gonna be ... options are endless

[juro]

Hello Hoonz,

What do you suggest. I use my Nissan as an everyday vehicle. It takes me to work, goes down south to buy bulk meat and essential items they rip you off with up here and goes camping. It has to be reliable, no point only able to get there, you must come back as well.

[fnqcairns]

Thats not silly, these are silly! just dont go this far

http://128.83.80.200/taco/scarysteering9.html

MMmmm.... that link no longer works, this one does, not as silly though!


http://www.jtruck.net/misc/4x4cars/


I dont have much experience in the areas you travel but the higher you go the faster it will flog out, it will probably make a 500km trip feel more like 800km at the end to!


cheers fnq

[juro]

Sent you a pm Fnqcairns

[John H]

My old bus has 6" coil lift, 3" body and runs 35's.
It is no sports car but drives fine in all situations. The only fault is the bump steer which can be felt as a jolt through the steering wheel. There are no 'death wobbles' or any other dodgy steering traits.
It has been driven by my wife and myself on a number of desert trips as well as a Cape York trip and plenty of rock crawling.
In short, if you lift a Patrol propperly and spend time ironing out all of the bugs (and there will be plenty), there is no reason why a lifted truck can't be used as a do it all tourer.
I would say the troll that you saw probably had a nasty castor slap, probably amplified by worn panhard bushes.

[Hoonz]

Hello Hoonz,

What do you suggest. I use my Nissan as an everyday vehicle. It takes me to work, goes down south to buy bulk meat and essential items they rip you off with up here and goes camping. It has to be reliable, no point only able to get there, you must come back as well.

for your use i would go 3 or 4 coils and 33" tyres + castor adjustment
drop boxes are cheap and good

if you got the dosh to spend koni or toughdog adjustable shocks

also get upgraded panhards, tie rod and draglink