Local 4wd track

[ozsnow]

Well I got to take the Navara out for a bit of a run on a local 4wd track. This track runs from out behind Jindabyne and drop down to the Snowy River at a region called Paupong. Great trip on a dirt bike. Not so in a Navara. The combination of long wheelbase and standard suspension caused the main issues. The steep pitches feature a number of cross drains (which are great on the KTM) but I kept bellying out and hitting the chassis rails. Not wanting to damage a newish vehicle I ended up turning around and heading back out.


Traction was good even with the standard crappy (and 1/2 worn out) tyres and the gearing worked fine allowing me to crawl up, down and over as required.

Really need to get the suspension upgrade fitted or the vehicle will not be doing much more than the 'soft roader' trails in this region.

[navara-au]

Yeah mate when are ya ganna get the new springs???

You can remove the step bar if you want and TJM have crash plates to protect the expensive bits. You can get a steel rear bumper for better departure angle.

But to do more hardcore traxs you'd be better off with an old patrol.

Come on mate!

[ozsnow]

Agree with the old patrol comment - though for me I had an old disco that did tracks like this easy - you just weren't sure if you were going to break anything ......

Didn't get any photos - sorry - next time.

Surprisingly it didn't scrape the steps or even the tow bar, just bellied out all the time.

Should get to order the suspension this week.

[navara-au]

They will have there limitations even with the suspension lift and you wouldn't want break a $40k plus Ute.

Here I'll post a pic for ya......was it as bad as this??

[DIGGER]

Good to see you using that 4wd ozsnow for what it's made to do! Had my Navara up in the Vic High Country a couple of weekend's ago and would have to agree that they need that suspension lift. I also scraped the front belly plates but I also moved both side step's back about and inch, lucky I was in 2 gear low range or the step's would still be back on the track! But I would prefer to have the side steps on and just have to bend the brackets back into place than to pay some guy to fix up the bottom of my door's because of scraping. That's why I am getting some rock sliders made up by Cheezy racing for my Navara. The front belly plates from TJM also sound like a good idea. Now I did have some photos of my trip away with 2 of the 3 river crossing's we did on the camera, but to cut a story short the 3rd river crossing the camera didn't cross, it went more like in the river! THOSE CAMERAS JUST DON'T LIKE RIVER WATER!!!!!!!

[ozsnow]

Hey Digger was wondering how you got on.

car does need a bit of lift as I wouldn't describe this track as too hard core.

Found out today that Navara's don't like cold weather and summer diesel. Had mine at Perisher today and it really didn't want to run this afternoon. Was below zero most of the day and it was parked outside. Took ages to get it to start and then a while before it would settle down and have any power.

It was fine all last winter (with winter mix diesel) even when it was out at minus 10 to 15.

Something to be aware of.

FYI check out the photos I posted in the off road section.

[navara-au]

Hi guys I went Mount Mee state forest today. Took a couple of snaps of the Nav doing a bit of flexing.
Didn't bottom out at all...in fact it went really well.....freaked the missus and kids out a couple of times.
Low range in the auto was good, no wheel slip...... also a couple of pics of the local wild life.

[Aussie Frontier]

Looks good
I didnt think those Continental tires would do any good on anything but the tar.

[ozsnow]

I didnt think those Continental tires would do any good on anything but the tar.[/quote]

They are OK but wear out really fast, if you can do a deal with the dealer or you local tyre dealer get them changed to some Cooper or BFG from new.