Servicing

How you can be involved with 4wd-ing for 30 years and know nothing about the mechanical side of your hobby is beyond me.

Please be aware that 17" tyres are not common in the outback so carry an extra spare wheel or casing and take some tyre plugs too

The Gunbarrel is corrugated to hell so careful driving will be the order of the day and lowering you tyre pressures will help as well

You drive a robust vehicle so if it is well maintained by your mechanic youi should be OK

Try your local Tafe for a beginners course in mechanics

The local TAFE colleges run adult education course involving vehicle mechanics. I don't know if any are 4x4 specific. Another good source of info would be local 4x4 clubs many of which run just those types of courses. One of the local 4x4 places in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne run regular workshops as well so try 4x4 outlets.

I'm not overly mechanically minded myself but my theory on fixing problems in the outback is to sit down in the shade near the vehicle, crack the top of the first beer and think about it. You can gaurentee that someone who knows a lot more than you do will arrive over the sandhill before you've had time to crack the top off the second Ha Ha.

Cheers Mick

I don't know much about the mechanics of my vehicle because I have had several over the years, It was a damn side easier when everything wasn't electronic, give me the old chuggers any day, at least I could get them going again. "THAT'S WHY"

Get a grease gun and grease your vehicle EVERY day.
That does 2 things....
1. It stops things getting sand and water in and they don't wear out.
2. It forces you to have a good look around.
3. Watch out for changes.
Most problems are small if you catch them early.
Look for things that are moving that shouldn't.
Look for cracks.
Just LOOK closely at EVERY thing!

Why oh why do people who USE 4x4s CHOOSE to fit low profile tyres? It beats me!

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

Hi Scrawny,

A word of warning a qualified mechanic may be well and good but is he clued on on what to check on and service for remote desert travel?

That could be your undoing. Make sure he knows what to look at in this regard or I strongly suggest you find one that has such experience.

Sadly any list on what should be checked is almost too big to list here but here are a few critical items - I would have the
battery/s load tested,
radiator pressure tested,
two complete spare wheels,
a comprehensive tyre plug / repair kit,
have alternator, water pump and starter motor checked,
what’s the condition of belts and hoses,
check the brackets, bolts and fittings related to the radiator, batteries, compressors (you have one don't you?),
etc etc etc

Phil

scrawny

If you intend working on any kind of cars in future then get used to electronics. They are not going to go away. They are also surprisingly easy if you take the time to look through a book and see how they work. All you need then is something to carry out a few tests and a few second hand replacement sensors etc and you should be ok.

Your comment on the "reliable" old cluggers reminds me of a 4b convoy that I was in out in the middle of nowhere back in the 1970s. A Land Rover stopped and we traced the problem to a faulty ignition coil. Have you ever tried to dismantle and repair one of those in the bush or even in a well equipped workshop? They are a repair by replacement job and the owner did not have one.

Any vehicle of any age can leave you stranded. You have to make sure you know what you are doing and be well repaired. A little bit of research into your vehicle can help considerably.

As an example I recently spoke to a mechanic I worked with many years ago. He is still working for the same Toyota dealer that he started his apprenticeship with in 1980. I asked him about the reliability of the electronic components on my 03 diesel Hilux with a view to buying a few spares. He said the only parts they have any problems with are the electronic accelerator pedals but only after they have been submerged in water. That still won't stop me from stocking up on a few parts that could stop the engine permanently but it is good to know.

The only thing I can add to what the others have said so far is first your tyres. If that size is hard to find out there then make sure you have enough of the right type of puncture repair equipment, and the knowledge to use it, to patch up an unrepairable tyre just to keep you going. You may find you will have to travel a long way on it. Plugs and little kits are not the answer in cases like that. There is a lot more available.

The other point is buy a workshop manual. The factory ones are by far the best but there will probably a be about 10 that cover the whole car and the cost will be enormous. The non genuine ones are good enough in most cases. You can learn a hell of a lot just by reading them with car in front of you.

They can also be a big help to anyone who stops to help you in the bush. You will find plenty of mechanically minded people on the tracks but nobody knows all the fine details of every make so a book can be priceless.

Brian

Find a copy of the ABC "Bush Mechanics" DVD and watch that.

It will probably not give you any really useful information but is a lot of fun and gives an idea of wheat is out there :-)