Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hi im thinking of makeing a comp ruck and everyone seems to have a nissan!!! whats the go? why not a hilux or 80 series? as im thinking of makeing and 80 series or 75-79 series comp truck? what the pros and cons? of both? and how hard and coztly is it to cut an 80 into a ute?

Not everyone is running a Nissan, some are running other brands of trucks - but one day they'll work it out!

I don't compete, and generally don't get to go to many events, but from the ones i've been to (and my aus released dvd's) i've seen basically all "common" 4x4's used as comp rigs.

- Rangies
- Sierras & Vitaras
- MQ/MK/GQ/GU Patrols
- 80/100 series Cruisers (Big White Fridge ) as well as 70/75 and older "bone crunchers"
- Hilux d/cab, extra-cab, single cab, Surfs
- F-Trucks, International Scouts, Mogs

There's also a massive range/combination of powerplants and drivelines that have/can be used in the above vehicles, so you can almost be assured that help isn't too far away when the time comes to make a decision.

You didn't mention what sort of comps either.

I don't think there's too many bases left in the scene that haven't been covered, however i'm all for new ideas and thinking outside the box!!

I have been thinking the same thing lately. Another variable is weight, is a lighter rig more capable than a heavier one. Ive got a hilux im thinking about comping but dont know if im wasting my time.

probaly winch comps alway fun!!! cheers

Id rather drive something than winch it. You could bolt winch to a brick and winch it.

anyone got pics of 80 utes or comp trucks?

tuff4runner wrote:anyone got pics of 80 utes or comp trucks?

^^ This is the Internet isn't it??

I think the overload of Patrols in comps is due to the fact that they are just much tuffer in general. Tuffer drive trains. Simple.

I own a Cruiser by the way.

Personally, if i was going to do something "different" i'd go for a 70 Series ute with coil rear conversion. They're a nice looking ute, with plenty of engine options:

EDIT: This one isn't exactly my type of style, i'd go 4" lift, 35's, custom bar & side bars, maybe exo cage, bob-tail, shortened tube tray. Something "tame", not extreme looking - but more than capable.

SIMMO84 wrote:Id rather drive something than winch it. You could bolt winch to a brick and winch it.

I'm with you on that one.

But the funny/strange thing is, in this country the winch challenge events are the most popular, both in terms of competitor numbers and events held.

I've been to watch and I just don't get the appeal of it, but I am biased towards rock crawling based events...of which there are none...except Tuff Truck.

I have been to a few comps and watched mostly gq patrol ute running round. from what i can see, the patrols just have a bullet proof drivetrain and have the most easily upgradeable suspension to give most flex and traction. They are all coil sprung to give travel and have seen the turbo diesels eun neck and neck with 5L v8's. these are only in general winch comps and hill climbs. I own a hilux and wish i had a gq patrol.

omlet wrote:I have been to a few comps and watched mostly gq patrol ute running round. from what i can see, the patrols just have a bullet proof drivetrain and have the most easily upgradeable suspension to give most flex and traction. They are all coil sprung to give travel and have seen the turbo diesels eun neck and neck with 5L v8's. these are only in general winch comps and hill climbs. I own a hilux and wish i had a gq patrol.

HAHA baahhhh sheep. haha

Not everything is as easy as throwing some lifted springs in and bolting on some big sick wheels and driving the sh!t outa everything haha.

A hilux and gq are non compareable, in saying that a hilux can perform up there with the rest.

I wouldnt call tufftruck so much "rock crawling".

From what ive spectated, Unless its a compulsory winch stage, the idea is to drive it...... not to winch your brick up the hill .

so all the guys driving in these comps don't know what they're doing hey?
pfft

omlet wrote:so all the guys driving in these comps don't know what they're doing hey?
pfft

Did you not see my comment, the 2 are not compareable, coil/leaf spring, big turbo diesel/small turbo diesel/ wide/narrow stronger drivetrain/weaker shall i go on?

Its common sense to use a superior starting platform, but any truck can perform just as good as any with some mods.


Besides, all the questions being asked in here, come naturally with a little knowledge and common sense.

Lately everyone wants a comp truck haha, imo to own/build one you should know what the advantages/disadvantages of various truccks, components, drivelines etc etc etc, and what comp the truck will be built for.

berad wrote:From what ive spectated, Unless its a compulsory winch stage, the idea is to drive it...... not to winch your brick up the hill .

I was going to comment on this too. It seems that people are of the opinion that the whole idea of "winch competitions" are to winch here, winch there etc etc, when in reality (as berad said), you drive your vehicle as far as its capable, then you winch it.

How many winch stages have you seen where a heap of vehicles struggle through winching, only to be shown up by a better driver skill/better vehicle setup that can manage to drive the whole section? Plenty.

omlet wrote:so all the guys driving in these comps don't know what they're doing hey?
pfft

nope. if they had a clue they'd be driving Jeeps and Rovers. Not POS nissans and toyotas.

I think the overload of Patrols in comps is due to the fact that they are just much tuffer in general. Tuffer drive trains. Simple.

I own a Cruiser by the way.

GQ's are alot cheaper to start of with than all the rest too There's gotta be a reason for that! Well compared to the equivalent 80 series anyways.

patrols are super strong, but there are a few bits to consider:

hilux lighter
patrol heavier

so the hilux has certain advantages there

coils - patrol ready to go just mod it whilst a hilux has to be converted which is alot of work but means for instance you can put the patrol tough diffs etc under it.

anything can be made into a comp truck (within reason) but you need to look at initial cost as well as part along the way as cruiser parts will cost the most etc.

and whilst a lux is cheap to buy, it will need more mods than a patrol.

but you do see leaf hiluxs pulling their weight too with a good driver and decent set up.

berad wrote:

omlet wrote:I have been to a few comps and watched mostly gq patrol ute running round. from what i can see, the patrols just have a bullet proof drivetrain and have the most easily upgradeable suspension to give most flex and traction. They are all coil sprung to give travel and have seen the turbo diesels eun neck and neck with 5L v8's. these are only in general winch comps and hill climbs. I own a hilux and wish i had a gq patrol.

HAHA baahhhh sheep. haha

Not everything is as easy as throwing some lifted springs in and bolting on some big sick wheels and driving the sh!t outa everything haha.

A hilux and gq are non compareable, in saying that a hilux can perform up there with the rest.

I wouldnt call tufftruck so much "rock crawling".

From what ive spectated, Unless its a compulsory winch stage, the idea is to drive it...... not to winch your brick up the hill .

flame suit on .... hiluxes have a fairly weak driveline opposed to a patrol.

im building a hilux atm for winch challenge

i would of left it pretty stock becasue i reckon they go alright and i used to keep up with everyone else in my old lux.

the only thing i wanted was a bit more power for the longer hills

so my new lux has a v8, and seeing that puts me in challenge class. ive just gone all out for the rest of it and now has patrol diffs, coilovers etc etc

so im doing it the expensive way, but least its different and hiluxs look better than patrols

dirtyGQ wrote: flame suit on .... hiluxes have a fairly weak driveline opposed to a patrol.

But we are swapping the Nissan chromo cv's for Toyota Chromo cv's as they are stronger!
and Twisting 3 H260 37 spline axles in 3 comps is really giving me the $hits!!!

1MadEngineer wrote:

dirtyGQ wrote: flame suit on .... hiluxes have a fairly weak driveline opposed to a patrol.

But we are swapping the Nissan chromo cv's for Toyota Chromo cv's as they are stronger!
and Twisting 3 H260 37 spline axles in 3 comps is really giving me the $hits!!!

better than repacing diffs,gearboxes,tailshafts etc. Yes cv's are a downside to gq's but still believe are stronger than toyota factory cv's .

1MadEngineer wrote:

dirtyGQ wrote: flame suit on .... hiluxes have a fairly weak driveline opposed to a patrol.

But we are swapping the Nissan chromo cv's for Toyota Chromo cv's as they are stronger!
and Twisting 3 H260 37 spline axles in 3 comps is really giving me the $hits!!!

thats got me wanting the fabricated rear with 40 spline 300m axles. 7k is starting to seem like less, with every comment.

http://www.blitzkriegoffroad.com/produc ... usings_all
http://www.blitzkriegoffroad.com/produc ... _5_floater

bru21 wrote:

1MadEngineer wrote:

dirtyGQ wrote: flame suit on .... hiluxes have a fairly weak driveline opposed to a patrol.

But we are swapping the Nissan chromo cv's for Toyota Chromo cv's as they are stronger!
and Twisting 3 H260 37 spline axles in 3 comps is really giving me the $hits!!!

thats got me wanting the fabricated rear with 40 spline 300m axles. 7k is starting to seem like less, with every comment.

http://www.blitzkriegoffroad.com/produc ... usings_all
http://www.blitzkriegoffroad.com/produc ... _5_floater

mate a diamond 9" is the go. A lot of the offroad racers run then and they find that they barely need bracing. I have heard of them available in 3.5-4" chromoly tubes. Then at least 35spline 300m axles will suffice.