SPOA

[mtx]

Hi all,

a mate of mine has a 40 series soft top.. He wants to lift it but is too much of a big girly Hmm to do a SPOA in case he gets pulled over by the cops in Brisbane.

Thoughts? Fines? anyone know the likelyhood they will worry?

[phippsy]

I'm pretty sure it's illegal in QLD, and it would stand out pretty easily being as high as it would be.

[Gwagensteve]

They stand out less when they are lying on their side.

[crokie83]

tell Ray to stop being such a soft rooster and do it

[grimbo]

so you guys will pay his fines etc when he gets caught with an illegal vehicle. What great mates looking after him like that

[Screwy]

Tell him to buy a stock cheap daily driver, and then SOA the 40

screwy

[-Mick-]

Don't do soa in QLD It's not the fines I would worry about so much as being taken off the road

[china]

what does the "A" mean in SOA

[Screwy]

what does the "A" mean in SOA

Not sure whether your being serious here....
BUT.

SOA

Spring Over Axle

[china]

was serious

[Fieldsy]

But has anyone been done for it themselvs, or know anyonw who was done for it? christ I am sure that if push came to shove most of the queenslanders here would have illegal trucks. I recon most cops wouldn't know a spoa cruiser from a sua cruiser. I have spoken to a bloke here in Townsville who has been running a spoa nissan for 3 years as his daily driver with no probs. I have also seen several soa trucks here on the street's and the only bloke I know who has been pulled over for his truck beeing too big was a mate in a GQ nissan. (coils). And aside from that a spoa does not have to be huge. infact if I was to do it I would use flat springs That way it is only about 4 inches higher. Geez I am a 40 series nut and I wouldn't know what a stock hight cruiser look's like coz every one you see is lifted or the springs are shaged and it's draging it's arse along the road

[NICK]

i done for it, a nice yellow sticker and told to call a tow truck. PIA.


NICK

[china]

is this just bad in QLD

[Screwy]

SOA Is engineerable in NSW and VIC.
lifted 4bes are commong enough here.

In QLD you cant engineer it, so they arnt common, if u are spotted with a lifted leaf sprung 4be, it isnt legal as it cant be made legal, so u will get booked.

In NSW etc. it could be legal, and most of the time is, so you usually get away with it.

screwy

[Fieldsy]

SOA Is engineerable in NSW and VIC.
lifted 4bes are commong enough here.

In QLD you cant engineer it, so they arnt common, if u are spotted with a lifted 4be, it isnt legal as it cant be made legal, so u will get booked.

In NSW etc. it could be legal, and most of the time is, so you usually get away with it.

screwy

It's not illegal to lift a 4b in qld it's just illegal to do a spoa.

[ISUZUROVER]

It's not illegal to lift a 4b in qld it's just illegal to do a spoa.

Yes but a SOA is completely illegal in QLD, the rule is something like "it is illegal to lift a leaf sprung vehicle by attaching the axle underneath the springs" - sure some people may get away with it but if you get caught it will be a big fine and it will be on a tow truck home. How many people want to take that risk???

[Fieldsy]

It's not illegal to lift a 4b in qld it's just illegal to do a spoa.

Yes but a SOA is completely illegal in QLD, the rule is something like "it is illegal to lift a leaf sprung vehicle by attaching the axle underneath the springs" - sure some people may get away with it but if you get caught it will be a big fine and it will be on a tow truck home. How many people want to take that risk???

Yep that is right about the rule. but just how big is the fine? I want to hear from someone who can say for sure. everyone is allways saying " It's illegal and if you get caught your going stright to hell" but who has auctley been done? If it is only a $300 fine then I for one would consider it. BTW I myself am more worried about not being able to compete in the ASCC because of a soa than I am of being hit with a fine.

[ISUZUROVER]

Fieldsy, although Nick's post was hard to comprehend he has been done for SOA. A serious breach (something like fitting a turbo or a non-engineerable mod) requires the vehicle to be towed home - and you aren't allowed to drive it again until the vehicle gets engineered. Last I heard the fine was about $1000 (and points) but Nick would be able to say more accurately???

i done for it, a nice yellow sticker and told to call a tow truck. PIA.


NICK

[daddylonglegs]

I dont see why a SOA would not be engineerable in any state as long as you dont exceed legal lift height limits. A Soa even without overall height increase has some advantages for offroad work. You greatly reduce the amount of snag points under the axles. If you have the springs decambered [flattened}the truck should have a greater range of wheel travel.
A proper SOA also generally gives the truck a roll centre that is closer to the centre of gravity which reduces body roll. The downside of SOA is that the steering trackrod and drag link are no longer partially protected by the leaf springs, the propshafts are also more vulnerable to damage in a high centre situation, and axle tramp is more pronounced.
Bill.

[ISUZUROVER]

I dont see why a SOA would not be engineerable in any state as long as you dont exceed legal lift height limits. A Soa even without overall height increase has some advantages for offroad work. You greatly reduce the amount of snag points under the axles. If you have the springs decambered [flattened}the truck should have a greater range of wheel travel.
A proper SOA also generally gives the truck a roll centre that is closer to the centre of gravity which reduces body roll. The downside of SOA is that the steering trackrod and drag link are no longer partially protected by the leaf springs, the propshafts are also more vulnerable to damage in a high centre situation, and axle tramp is more pronounced.
Bill.

Bill I completely agree that SOA conversions (if properly done) are safe, have many advantages, and should be engineerable. However the QLD regs have a specific clause stating that SOA conversions are not permitted "as a method of lifting a vehicle". I once discussed with my engineer about fitting a rangie axle to the front of my IIA to have discs (and doing an SOA to fit the steering links). He said it "May" be possible to engineer if the standard ride height was maintained, but wouldn't be the easiest thing to get through QLD transport.

[NICK]

when i got caught the fine was $385 and 3 points. Transport then un-rego your truck (with no refund) and the only way to get it re-registered is to have a full "transport" not a RWC inspection done on it. they charge a $35 booking fee and $45 dollars to inspect it. I failed 3 times, you cant drive the truck to the inspection so combined with the tow trucks and inspections alone cost 400 bucks. If you fail to front for an inspection the fine is $460. they got as petty as no water in the washer bottle and 3/4 fuild in the clutch res.

I would say isuzurover is on the money at about $1000 once all is said and done, and that doesnt include the time and money you spend going back to sua and roadworthy.


NICK

[Reddo]

I could be considered to be illegal because you need to make a Hi steer arm to clear the spring. This means that you are playing around with major steering components, and welding it can weaken the arm. The arm is the major link between you at the wheel and the tyres, and if this link is broken there is no way to control the 4wd.

I have a SOA 40, and when I originally did the SOA, it sat about 6.5" tall, but to get it to flex and steer better I removed a few leafs (+ did a shackle reversal), which knocked the lift down to 4,5". When the 4wd is on its own, it is hard to tell how high it is, but put it next to a car, or another 40, you soon see it

[ISUZUROVER]

when i got caught the fine was $385 and 3 points. Transport then un-rego your truck (with no refund) and the only way to get it re-registered is to have a full "transport" not a RWC inspection done on it. they charge a $35 booking fee and $45 dollars to inspect it. I failed 3 times, you cant drive the truck to the inspection so combined with the tow trucks and inspections alone cost 400 bucks. If you fail to front for an inspection the fine is $460. they got as petty as no water in the washer bottle and 3/4 fuild in the clutch res.
NICK

So looks like the mimimum cost would be:

385+35+45+150(towing - approx)+300 (assuming you lost half a year rego when pulled) = $915 plus 3 points, plus whatever it costs to reverse the SOA.

[Fieldsy]

That's the answer i was looking for 1st hand info, Thanks. but their is a way around it ( I think) see I got a plain. at the end of next year I am going to move to vic, spoa it engener it, regester it for a year in vic, move back to queensland. I can then change the rego back to qld no prob ( yes I have spoken to DOT about this and yes they said it was cool ).

I'd rather put it on coils but I don't see me haveing $6500 to blow on the cruiser any time soon

[Screwy]

That's the answer i was looking for 1st hand info, Thanks. but their is a way around it ( I think) see I got a plain. at the end of next year I am going to move to vic, spoa it engener it, regester it for a year in vic, move back to queensland. I can then change the rego back to qld no prob ( yes I have spoken to DOT about this and yes they said it was cool ).

I'd rather put it on coils but I don't see me haveing $6500 to blow on the cruiser any time soon

Dont you have to get it a new road worthy to be able transfer to QLD Registration?
You would be better off keeping the rego in VIC, and getting a mate to send it up in the mail when renewal is due.

screwy

[Rainbow Warrior]

when i got caught the fine was $385 and 3 points. Transport then un-rego your truck (with no refund) and the only way to get it re-registered is to have a full "transport" not a RWC inspection done on it. they charge a $35 booking fee and $45 dollars to inspect it. I failed 3 times, you cant drive the truck to the inspection so combined with the tow trucks and inspections alone cost 400 bucks. If you fail to front for an inspection the fine is $460. they got as petty as no water in the washer bottle and 3/4 fuild in the clutch res.

I would say isuzurover is on the money at about $1000 once all is said and done, and that doesnt include the time and money you spend going back to sua and roadworthy.


NICK

So if you got done & just handed the plates in, swapped the axle back, then attempted to normally re-register it 3 weeks later would it be flagged by chassis# or engine#? Would you be fined for not fronting for an inspection still?

[Rainbow Warrior]

That's the answer i was looking for 1st hand info, Thanks. but their is a way around it ( I think) see I got a plain. at the end of next year I am going to move to vic, spoa it engener it, regester it for a year in vic, move back to queensland. I can then change the rego back to qld no prob ( yes I have spoken to DOT about this and yes they said it was cool ).

I'd rather put it on coils but I don't see me haveing $6500 to blow on the cruiser any time soon

I met a guy with a self converted WB Holden ute 4x4, that looked solid, it had been done, approved & registered in VIC for years but apparently Queensland Transport had told him there was no way to approve it without major mods.

I heard a guy with a 34 Ford on a Suzuki chassis had a nightmare on whether it was registered as a Suzuki or Ford.

I had heard that insurance was a non-event for the XC Falcon sedan/Landcruiser in the Logan club.

Funny enough I apparently have the first Patrol dual cab conversion actually registered as a dual cab in QLD. I took me 2 hours at RTA to get it swapped into my name with the change. Everyone else has theirs as wagons still I guess, possibly with mod notes.

[Fieldsy]

That's the answer i was looking for 1st hand info, Thanks. but their is a way around it ( I think) see I got a plain. at the end of next year I am going to move to vic, spoa it engener it, regester it for a year in vic, move back to queensland. I can then change the rego back to qld no prob ( yes I have spoken to DOT about this and yes they said it was cool ).

I'd rather put it on coils but I don't see me haveing $6500 to blow on the cruiser any time soon

Dont you have to get it a new road worthy to be able transfer to QLD Registration?
You would be better off keeping the rego in VIC, and getting a mate to send it up in the mail when renewal is due.

screwy

Qld DOT will give the ok to a mod that has been enginerd and regesterd for 12 months in another state. But I only got that over the phone .... A coil conversion is lookin better all the time

[NICK]

when i got caught the fine was $385 and 3 points. Transport then un-rego your truck (with no refund) and the only way to get it re-registered is to have a full "transport" not a RWC inspection done on it. they charge a $35 booking fee and $45 dollars to inspect it. I failed 3 times, you cant drive the truck to the inspection so combined with the tow trucks and inspections alone cost 400 bucks. If you fail to front for an inspection the fine is $460. they got as petty as no water in the washer bottle and 3/4 fuild in the clutch res.

I would say isuzurover is on the money at about $1000 once all is said and done, and that doesnt include the time and money you spend going back to sua and roadworthy.


NICK

So if you got done & just handed the plates in, swapped the axle back, then attempted to normally re-register it 3 weeks later would it be flagged by chassis# or engine#? Would you be fined for not fronting for an inspection still?

i believe it is 3 months.

i did this with my 4runner, unregistered it and then went a week later and re-rego'd it in the hope of dodging an inspection notice. didnt work and i got another letter of inspection in the mail.


NICK

[bj56]

spoa stands out just done it to my 40 and it is huge 35s look tiny on it