Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I have just got back into the sport of 4 wheel driving and now I live in Queensland where the modification rules appear quite inflexible. I have seen a lot of 4wd's driving around with 35" tyres, high suspension lifts, spring over conversions which all appear to be illegal according to Queensland transport. These modification where legal in NSW a few years ago with an engineers certificate.
I have an FJ40 which I would like to modify, I would appreciate if someone could advise if the above modifications can be done legally in Queensland and if so anybody you know who can engineer them (provide the suitable plates or certifcates)
If the above is not legal do all you other guys with modification outside the Queensland rules just risk it with the vehicle inspectors or police and if so how many problems do you have with them.
Cheers
Trav

Hey BigTrav...welcome to Sunny Queensland

Most of the guys I know just do what they want done and take the risk with the Transport Dept.

I have a 4" lift and 37" tyres and the only fine I have had was for the tyres sticking out too far...and that was when I was pulled over for a RBT.

It seems that as long as your truck looks in proportion and you aren't being a dickhead, they pretty much leave you alone.

...Touch wood.

Micka

yeah welcome to QLD

Most people just risk it unfortunately. I decided to sell my modified suzuki in favour of a nice standard 4runner because of the rules I don't give a toss about fines etc but the mods being illegal under our special rules void your insurance

I wasn't going to drive without insurance

You CAN still do a number of things though just not easily. Go talk to an engineer about what you want to do and see what they think

Engineering is not worth the paper its on, its all at the discression of the guys at the DOT.

Risk it! Why not.

you'll find DOT have to approve any modifications outside of the attached

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/qt/LTAS ... an05v2.pdf


other little bits and pieces can be found on the website www.transport.qld.gov.au - just search 'modifications' and read through.

Hows this... i transfered rego from NSW to QLD and it had to have an inspection by a mechanic. passed no worries and off i trot up to queensland transport to get my plates.... theres some confusion over the engine number and the bloke grabs a torch to go out to see if the numbers tally.. he get 5 feet from the back of the troopy and sez "tyres hanging out either side an inch with no gaurds to cover it! come back when thats sorted and you can have your plates" so i got a set of fibreglass flares from the wrecker screwed em on and got my plates
and when i went back no one said a word about the engine numbers not
tallying up.. (they do bye the way) you wonder if they get a kickout of heaping crap on you... mate, do your mods.. dont go overboard and you should be ok... the spring over might work if your no where near a city,
but city cops could be another story.

i am runing 35's with no problem so far, been through rbt's etc no dramas, like micka siad though keep tyres kinda inside ya flares, i have 35's and everything declared on my insurance - they have no dramas with it, but if if i had a big crash i still think i'd need a good lawyer?

SOA is completely illegal in QLD (if you read the rules it says "as a method of lifting a vehicle"). I once spoke to an engineer about doing an SOA without lifting the vehicle, and he said it MAY be possible to approve - but he said it would take a lot of arguing with transport over if it was legal or not. I didn't pursue it.

With most 4x4's you are stuck with the +15mm rule for increased tyres. For a 4x4 that came with 7.50's this means you should be able to run 33's. For some vehices like land rovers which came out with larger diameter tyres (34-36"), there have been instances where people have had them legally approved.

Anyone had fights and won over transport of how high you can really lift a vehicle with them having a go at ya for the lift?

Your biggest worry would be your insurance not covering you if your in an accident. As for the cops, I have quiet a few mates in the force, and believe me, probably 95% of QLD cops wouldn't even know what size tyres are on their cop cars let alone what size is legal on the all the different makes of 4WDs in QLD. They have far too many other legal issues to worry about to try and remember what mods are legal on the 100's of road cars in AUS. When doing mods on my car my cop mates all said the same thing, as long as your 4WD doesn't look like a run down bucket-o-shit, and your not doing anything to attract attention to yourself you'll be right. The DOT may be another story, but I have never been pulled over by them, and I pretty much pass their office most days! I think they concern themselved with far bigger fish... ie the truckies

DoT can be a pain... but most the time they just don't really know themselves.

Get it engineered, covers you for insurance and gives you a lotta argument with DoT if its got the blue Armour Plate under the bonnet.

Having said that one mate of mine got pinged by an inspector for tyre size on a Patrol in the carpark of his work!

Spock

bit of a Question regards mods and Engenering(spell) in Qld is it possible to get say a 4" lift stamped? or just nothing over approx 2".?

I did call DOT he said he was not really sure but i could call back and speak to another fella on monday...

Cheers
Stewie.

stewie81 wrote:bit of a Question regards mods and Engenering(spell) in Qld is it possible to get say a 4" lift stamped? or just nothing over approx 2".?

I did call DOT he said he was not really sure but i could call back and speak to another fella on monday...

Cheers
Stewie.

on monday... just ask for the contact of a local engineer that can certify suspension changes.

then ask him.... DoT rarely do their own plating anymore.

Spock

Thanks for that Pinball (spock)...

So I am assuming it can be done and passed just need to find out particulars(spelling).....

Thanks Dude Have a good weekend

Stewie

there is only one way to get a spring over leagal in QLD if you move up here and your truck is in your name with NSW adress.they will not make you change it back that is what i was told by transport i'll wait until its leagal up here which will happen with the new national road standards they want all cars to under the same rules