Well it has been 12 months since I pick up the Troopie and 3 days latter took it across the
Simpson Desert.
63000km at an average of 1200km per week, and has not let me down.
The Troopie has been to every State and Territory in mainland Australia and has crossed the
Simpson Desert, Strzelecki Desert,
Great Victoria Desert,
Little Sandy Desert,
Gibson Desert,
Great Sandy Desert and the
Tanami Desert.
It has also been to Blue Rag at over 1500mt to Lake Eyre South at -12mt.
The Troopie was just about set up when I picked it up so the only thing that I have done is to make a rear storage system, and a rear bar and twin wheel carrier. I made up a ladder to bolt to the rear door where the spare tyre was. This has been great as I always have the roof rack on and use it a lot to carry the gas bottles and wood for the fire.
The "U" bolts have been changed as
well as the shackle bushes, the second battery replaced, uni's on the rear tail shaft changed and that is about all the maintenance except for the 5000km oil changes.
So what do I think of the Troopie?
It is a lot different to the 80 Series which I had for 12 years and is the only other 4WD I can compare it to. The Troopie is basic but very comfortable to drive with the 13" steering wheel and the Paratus seats. It is slow to take off at the lights, needs a bit to stop and does not corner all that
well but it is not a sports car and I drive it as a top heavy, diesel,4WD.
It gets 15l/100klm which gives me a range of 1860km and at
Sydney's fuel prices today it would cost me $375 to fill both tanks (280lt).
It has a hydraulic winch which I have used twice. Once to get a vehicle that had rolled onto it's side, back onto it's
wheels again, and at work a couple of weeks ago to move some steel beams. The rear diff lock has been engaged a couple of times in the
Vic High Country and both diff locks once to climb a
hill and a couple of times as a demo. Having said that I would not have a vehicle with out a winch or diff locks.
So what will I replace the Troopie with when the time comes?
If it was today it would be another Troopie, from the Government auctions and another
Ambulance, but this time with a 3rd door. What vehicles that might be around in the future I don't know but at this time a Troopie is the go.
Wayne