OKA 4WD
Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 12:50
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Rowena
In reply to Sandys question in regard to OKA 4WD Camper. I am an OKA Owner and member of the OKA Owners Group. If you require any help or questions in regard to our group or OKAs in general we would be very pleased to help you.
I have just read a number of the comments on the
forum. I have never had any trouble with Caravan or National Parks not excepting my OKA.
My personal experience is I know that OKAs are an awesome vehicle, they are certaintly not hideous to drive - very confortable actually. I have owned my for several years and find it easy to maintain. I have also not had a problem in finding parts, only downfall is they sometimes can be expensive.
OKAs are made up of very good components: Perkins motor, spicer gear box, dana diffs - all top quality parts - nothing to do with Caterpillar????
I don't believe OKAs are at all hideous in anyway. They have a unique rugged look, this is due to the ROPS (Roll over protection) built in. They are very safe, with the ROPS being tested many years ago on a
mine. A large mining truck ran over an OKA, with the driver & passenger walking away.
Our OKA Owners Group is made up of great people. We nearly a
membership of 100 OKAs. We regularly hold weekend rallies &
tag along tours. Our National Rally this year will be held in
Innamincka. There is always help available for members if we ever need technical/mechanical advice within the OKA Owners Group.
Please contact me if you would like to know more about OKAs. You are more than welcome to read some of our newsletters or even attend a rally. Then you can talk to the owners and get an honest idea on what OKAs are all about.
I was told by a tour operator many years ago (who was running both Canter & OKA) that the Canter is also a great truck, but not as comfortable off road.
Hope this information helps you.
Kind Regards
Rowena
Reply By: Leroy - Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 13:29
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 13:29
I even saw one come though
Gunshot Creek up the cape last year! They look very large though.
Leroy
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Follow Up By: Graham - Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 20:43
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 20:43
We also came accross an OKA at Gunshot last year. He was holding up traffic while he excavated the sides out of the decent with a shovel, so he had enough track width so as not to tip over the edge.
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Reply By: Baz (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 13:52
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 13:52
Rowena are you staying at Homestay at Innaminka, Jeff has a OKA I think thats his name his wife and kid's are loverly people they were good to us when we stayed on our way to NT 2 years ago.
Baz.
Say hi, if you are just say the family that helped with their computer, his wife will remember.
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Follow Up By: Rowena - Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 08:03
Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 08:03
Thanks for your reply Baz. Jeff from
Innamincka isn't a member of our group as yet, maybe we might catch up with him when we are up that way. I will say hi for you if I catch up with them.
Regards
Rowena
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314692
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 14:48
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 14:48
I've driven them in the RFS, they are like driving a big marshmallow! our unit was fully loaded, and also only single shocks on teh corners. Very capable in our area around Kurnell, we were also the only Oka in the NSW RFS (stn 24 sutho shire).
"A large mining truck ran over an OKA, with the driver & passenger walking away."
Sorry dont believe that. Nobody would be stupid enough to sit in a car while a mining truck drove over it. Maybe one drove over it, and the compartment was in good shape after that, yes, as for humans being in it when it happened... Umm...
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Follow Up By: Boeing - Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 16:10
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 16:10
Truckster, Got to agree with you about the
test. Haven't seen an ad in the paper for
test dummies. I have this picture in my mind of two people walking out like the puppets out of "thunderbirds" and then calling international rescue LOL
Regards
Mark
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Follow Up By: ross - Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 22:29
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 22:29
One
test that did happen was in Malaysia several years ago in front of the Malaysian military.The OKA was dropped 10 metres (from a crane I think).A driver then jumped in and drove away,albeit with some broken
suspension components.
Its a specialist vehicle designed to compete against unimogs,hummers and pingauzers.These vehicles all require their own parts list whereas the OKA can pull into any Caterpillar dealer for parts and maintenance anywhere inthe world.
Another plus is the range of motors that can be fitted at the factory including 4, 6 and 8 cyl
Probably not my kind of vehicle but a weekend with one would be different.
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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 23:39
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 23:39
Okas have 0 to do with Caterpillar.... would be like pulling into Rolls Royce dealer with a 1960 VW Beetle
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Follow Up By: Rowena - Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 08:09
Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 08:09
Att: Truckster - please contact Brehenys Truckin Stuff of Morwell, Vic if you would like proof that an OKA was run over by a Mining Truck. They have the photos to prove it!!! They were the people who told me the story and showed me the photos.
Rowena
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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Monday, Apr 05, 2004 at 21:05
Monday, Apr 05, 2004 at 21:05
no doubting it was run over, I got pics of 100 series, and GUs and Jackaroos had the same treatment, but nobody would be dumb enough to sit inside some sheet metal with 100 tons driving over the top of it..
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Reply By: joshinthecity - Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 17:29
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 17:29
Rowena,
Does your OKA organisation have a web-site?
I have found it difficult to find any worthwhile info on the net.
Josh.
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Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic) - Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 22:49
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 22:49
There are quite a few sites with OKAs including OKAs' own if you are looking to see the best way to get the LC across a river....... and if you wanted a bit more
http://www.australianoutdoors.com/OKA.htm
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Follow Up By: Rowena - Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 08:06
Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 08:06
HI Josh,
We do have a website, unfortunately it has security as it's set up for members only. If you would like more information I maybe able to email you some of our newsletters, that's no problem.
The OKA factory does have their own website, you can try www.oka.com.au
Regards
Rowena
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