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List your "cheap tricks" - cheap workarounds and m

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 5:12 pm
by Ezookiel
I have a friend who has just bought a nicely modded Suzuki Sierra.
He asked me if I could put together a list for him of all the cheap tricks I've learned.
Things like:
* Bunnings Pond Lights with higher wattage globes, make waterproof reversing spotties.
* Bunnings Flares for wheel arches - I believe just garden edging or the like
* $30 Hand held, One million candle power spotlights, hard wired and rigged up with mounting brackets, make pretty impressive looking driving lights about the size of the 240 blitz ones, that do a pretty impressive job, and if they break - Bunyip had his for ages and never broke one - at $30 who cares?
* Fire Extinquisher's as airtanks for compressors.
* Etc etc etc. Please fill in as many as you know. I'm pretty sure this could end up a pretty useful thread by the end.

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 8:58 pm
by bluemq
$10 to list it for sale in the trading post after you have modified it with all the above

:p

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 9:10 pm
by Ezookiel
I don't mean just for a Sierra, I mean any and all tips and tricks for any 4by.

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 9:13 pm
by familybus
2 x trailer jocky wheel clamps make a great roof rack shovel holder! ;)

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 10:31 pm
by Aerenandmel
5 bucks worth of welding sticks = 2 lockers :D :armsup: :D

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 11:03 pm
by smileysmoke
30cal ammo box should fit between seats of a WT sierra (or any larger fourby)
use as a lockable centre console with a ubolt and padlock.

50cal is good for under the bonnet for tool storage and spare parts. also i mounted my airhorns off my 50cal.. plus it looks tuff :D

(BTW - love the jockey wheel holder idea! nice one)

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 11:11 pm
by jet-6
Where do you get 6kg fire extinguisers(empty with no fittings) from, i need 2

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 11:24 pm
by RockyF75
junk yards. There's one out at londonderry that has a few. Still has fittings tho but u just snatch em out :D

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 8:23 am
by bru21
use other peoples business cards when taking new ladies out. you get a hardcore degree for free, and free child support too ;)

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:12 am
by Gwagensteve
I agree this could be a pretty useful thread, but I feel it might need a disclaimer of some sort.

As examples - Bunnings wheelarch flares- the garden edging stuff is OK, but the flashing material is not adequate- there are rules for how strong flares must be.

fire extinguishers as air tanks - If you ask an air guy, he will tell you these are too thin to do the job (that's water extinguishers, not CO2) and C02 extinguishers are way heavy.

I have a couple of empty 9kg extinguishers at home and they are scary thin. I haven't ruled out trying one, but I'm not sure I'd recommend one without a disclaimer.

Like I said, I support the thread and all, but people need to be careful - just because someone writes it here doesn't mean it is safe or legal.

Steve.

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:29 am
by sierrajim
bru21 wrote:use other peoples business cards when taking new ladies out. you get a hardcore degree for free, and free child support too ;)
:armsup:

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:31 am
by sierrajim
Preventative maintainence

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 10:27 am
by danos
familybus wrote:2 x trailer jocky wheel clamps make a great roof rack shovel holder! ;)
Excelllent Idea!

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 2:27 pm
by Vineboy
1.5 inch or so black poly pipe cut lengthways makes great tray top protectors for the top of the sides.. Also makes it easy to slide stuff over the top and into the tray.

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:05 pm
by r0ck_m0nkey
Gwagensteve wrote:fire extinguishers as air tanks - If you ask an air guy, he will tell you these are too thin to do the job (that's water extinguishers, not CO2) and C02 extinguishers are way heavy.

I have a couple of empty 9kg extinguishers at home and they are scary thin. I haven't ruled out trying one, but I'm not sure I'd recommend one without a disclaimer.
They are typically pressure tested to around 362psi and a working pressure of around 210psi. The only "issue" is they are more susceptible to dents from rocks if you were to mount them underbody with no protection.

The test pressure and working pressure should be marked on the label, working pressure can easily be worked out by simply looking at the guage.

So like any poressure cylinder, aslong as you stay within it's specified pressure rating and the cylinder is in good working condition, then it's more then acceptable to use.

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:34 pm
by bastard
I like to carry a cd with the noise of air lockers being disingauged on it,this makes you look reel cool when out the bush,also have a sweet turbo spooling up sound as well,wanted to put a pop of valve noise on there but didnt want to look like a wanker.This cd has saved me around 6000 dollars. :D

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:37 pm
by g60boy
12v down lights are good for interior lights and i also use 50w one on the front of my thumpster :D.

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:54 pm
by Rabbit
I have been using a friends 4X4. There is no cheaper trick then that! :) :)

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:57 pm
by Ezookiel
Rabbit wrote:I have been using a friends 4X4. There is no cheaper trick then that! :) :)
That's ok Rabbit, with the way mine now overheats, and your new purchase, I'll soon be using that trick myself. So glad to have at least one working vehicle between us.

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 10:54 pm
by Sic Lux
Skate board wheels for body lift blocks :armsup: don't do it i've seen it done and over time they crush and cab comes loose :rofl:

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 12:10 am
by nicbeer
cable ties
duct tape
hammer

nothing else needed.

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 12:16 am
by foolsp33d
* diff breathers(rubber hose)
* 12v. pond lights as rock lights, clearance lights, etc.
* Clark Rubber flares are ALOT beter than the bunning substatute..
* Carby Cleaner-(Must have for a sierra owner)
* QUALITY Zip ties (also a must have!)
* Gaffa tape/Elec tape.
* Spare assortment of nuts/bolts self tappers etc.
* puncture repair kits always come in handy
* $2. 'touch' lights(super cheap) work well for under bonnet lighting

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 7:30 am
by bucketofbolts
when doing a big lift on a nissan and needing longer brake lines,
put the rear line on the front and get a longer rear line,
saves $40+

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 8:21 am
by KiwiBacon
nicbeer wrote:cable ties
duct tape
hammer

nothing else needed.
You forgot the CRC. :D

If it moves when it's not supposed to, use the zipties and duck tape.
If it doesn't move when it should, use the CRC and hammer. :armsup:

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 9:10 am
by Aerenandmel
bastard wrote:I like to carry a cd with the noise of air lockers being disingauged on it,this makes you look reel cool when out the bush,also have a sweet turbo spooling up sound as well,wanted to put a pop of valve noise on there but didnt want to look like a wanker.This cd has saved me around 6000 dollars. :D
Why didnt I think of this before :bad-words:

nicbeer wrote:cable ties
duct tape
hammer

nothing else needed.
Plus a grinder at home $20 cheapie to stay with the threads subject
:armsup: :armsup: :armsup:

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 2:13 pm
by Emo
Two Osram Dot lights, attached to the rear pillars in the cargo area give heaps of light for about $24.

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 5:02 pm
by NCpaj
a grease gun goes in hand with the preventitive mataince

also for all you carby fellas out there

i wacked a bit of canvas over the air cleaner with a bit of metal under it, to stop water pooling on the top of the air cleaner when playing in mud.

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 6:39 pm
by Rabbit
Great idea on the touch lights, I'm going to buy some tomorrow for under the bonnet and in the back of the zook for passenger lights.

Revolve at the local tip is another good money saver, I grabbed a set of seats for the back of the zook for $20. and they're not zook ones, so they're a nice cloth type. A few minutes making a bracket with the welder, and "Robert's your parent's sibling"

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 8:18 pm
by suzuki boy
The old PVC pipe snorkel!

Cost about $10 and if you break it juat replace the bit thats brocken! :cool:

Just did it to a mates car and turned out pretty nice after a coat of paint!

Mines exhaust pipe and you can see the little dints in it! :twisted:

The extended shackles! About $20 and a few welding rods! :cool:

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 8:54 pm
by built4thrashing
$4 small esky makes great center console for most 4bys. keeps ya cans cold and safe.


$12 On/Off/On toggle switch with led indicator for spotlights and thermo fans to let you know when they are working.


$2 to buy 18 washers for use as spacers to lift transfer case in a zook by 15mm.


$10 to buy some elecrtical silicone to waterproof electrical conections. buy from Jaycar. doesnt set and is oil and water resistant. Great for thermos and lights and ignition conections under the bonnet