Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Just wondering what people thought of the (4x4 Aust July 2005 edition)
patrol dual cab + chassis extension.

I might be keen on the dual cab - but the chassis extension would ensure carparks + tight scrub would be a challenge.


Anyone done anything similar elsewhere ??

where abouts are you from? i' see heaps of them gettin around brisbane alot of places do the mod now

I would love to cut my GU, but it would not be an extended chassis job tho.
I love the high country too much. With the extended chassis, it would make a great tourer but not for weekend play.

Yeah I think the 300mm chassis extension would suck, mine had a 300mm tail extentsion instead and sucked too, dragging it's arse offroad.
But it depends really on how much tray you need /want. My tray is hanges out nearly 300mm longer than the back of the chassis, used to be 600mm with a set of support rails under it that stuck out 300mm past the chassis but were un top of the original chassis so didn't stuff my departure angle badly, I still ripped my taillights off doing hard tracks so shortened it to the tool box length.

I can still carry a lounge/stove on the back, getting it up that high is now the problem.

Im in Vic.

Can anybody recommend a local to do the same job ??

BrettInUte wrote:Im in Vic.

Can anybody recommend a local to do the same job ??

I have heard a lot of good reports on the people in Dalby they have done a few 78s and patrols for people down in sydney for small directional drilling rigs etc.....mostly 6 wheel conversions etc. When I was looking a while ago I was considering a dual cab patrol and had a llok at one from these geys and was very impressed at the job

http://www.sixwheeler.com.au/why.html

I'm very happy with my GU dual cab conversion. It has all the good points of a dual cab and the toughness of the GU drive train. It's all a personal choice, but if you're interested, Ontrack 4x4 in Keilor Vic did the work for me....check out www.ontrack4x4.net.au

This GQ was extended by 600 mm

Sorry I meant to write GU

OnPatrol

how did you find the conversion ??
fit finish cab noise etc

Do you still have the std rear seats in the orig position ??

Are there things you would do different if you did it again ??

Im prob after a std style flat tray though !!

BrettInUte wrote:OnPatrol

how did you find the conversion ??
fit finish cab noise etc

Do you still have the std rear seats in the orig position ??

Are there things you would do different if you did it again ??

Im prob after a std style flat tray though !!

I can't fault the conversion. I still have the std rear seats in their original positions. I still have space between the rear seat head rest and the new rear window. There is also room behind the seats where I store the fold up chairs and a fold up table. The finish looks as if it came out of the factory.

I found that there's less cabin noise and the heater works a lot better. The air-con will probably work better in a smaller space, but my air-con caked in mud a long time ago so I can't give you an actual account. The stereo sounds better as well. Have you ever driven a wagon then jumped into a sedan.

You get better visibility through the rear window as well. Great for reversing and a better view of the traffic behind. The rear window is almost flat so we didn't bother fitting a rear wiper. The rear window is off a 80 series cruiser...the only toyota part we used in the conversion. The rear demister plugged straight in the std loom.

The Patrol lost a lot of weight at the rear. It originally had a Kaymar rear bar and marine ply drawers. With less weight it handles a lot better.

The only bad point is where to put the fridge, but that's mainly because of the tray design that I chose. The tray was designed for comps. My original plan was to build two trays. One for comps and one for touring, but the budget didn't stretch far enough to build the second tray.

cheers,
Alberto.

Hoppy11 wrote:This GQ was extended by 600 mm

thats a very very impressive duel cab conversion. extremely neat.
who was this done by?

screwy

OnPatrol
was your ute featured in a mag a little while ago. If i recall you have the 4500 petrol engine. I too was thinking of getting a petrol GU modified but was worried about fuel consumption. Did the convertion improve economy as you say its easier to drive now the rear is removed.

By the way I thought the tray looks awesome.

Cheers Matt

OnPatrol
was your ute featured in a mag a little while ago. If i recall you have the 4500 petrol engine. I too was thinking of getting a petrol GU modified but was worried about fuel consumption. Did the convertion improve economy as you say its easier to drive now the rear is removed.

By the way I thought the tray looks awesome.

Cheers Matt

I can't really say whether economy improved cause I didn't measure the fuel consumption. The Patrol lost a lot of weight, once the Kaymar bar, rear drawers, roof rack and rear end were removed. In theory it would have improved economy, but it wasn't long before we had the cam and heads upgraded by Crow Cams, so fuel consumption is at about 25lt/100km at the moment

The Patrol is in Andrew's shop at the moment being fitted with a turbo & intercooler, which will increase fuel consumption again.

The Patrol was featured in the Overlander Mag about a year ago.

I spotted one of these GUs with this dualcab conversion yesterday here in sydney.
It looked like a tidy job. Nice original look about it.

Just a bit to long for my liking.