Have a look at this!!!!

See thread 67213

I thought that these regs have been around for years

I don't see the problem?

You query 265/75/16 tyres being allowed as an example.
If you read these regs, off road vehicles can be 50mm larger and 26mm smaller, larger has the option to be certified.

Where is the issue?

All these requirements can be bypassed if certified.

I went from 29" to 32" OD tyres, and got the change certified without any problems.

Maximum lift is 150mm without certification.

So what is the problem?

NSW&ACT 4WD have a meeting with the Ministers advisors and reps shortly to put in the 4WD argument.

Any (ANY) modification(s), unless approved to ADR standards (engineer/certificate etc), that change/alter/modify any aspect of your vehicle from the ADR standards/requirements that existed at the time of manufacture of your vehicle are ILLEGAL.

Rules, Regulations, Rules, Regulations.Rules, Rules, Rules.
Too bloody many Rules & Regulations = more stress.
Better off ignoring most of them = less stress.

Scrubby.

QUOTE "I suggest that the principal reason there is this anti 4x4 group in our community is because they see a percentage of these vehicles that have been raised and fitted with oversize tyres that are causing damage to tracks around this country and the environment.

It's got to the stage at some localities that some sand tracks have been dug out so deep that standard height 4x4's cannot negotiate some tight tracks eg through narrow cuttings."


And you know who is doing all this??
All the young idiots with their beaten up hiluxs with majorly ridiculous lifts and oversized tyres and a hole or two in the muffler to make is sound 'better'...

You do my job and see what I see and try to tell me otherwise!

Looks fine to me...

I dont see any issue stopping people from raising vehicles more than 50mm (Settled lift) from doing so without it being properly checked. I have driven a modified Patrol with a significant lift and the handling was terrible! Downright dangerous if you ask me.

These rules have been around for a while but not really policed. The manufacturers of lifts and those that supply them have an obligation, even if it is only a duty of care, to make sure what they supply is legal and doesnt make the vehicle dangerous.

Imagine the problem if someone went and fitted a supercharger to their vehicle without adjusting braking capacity.

I have no issue in seeing mods policed if they are outside of what most of us consider reasonable. There is nothing in here that I read that would suggest anything is over the top.

I saw a Hyundai Excel the other day that had been lowered. He hit a join in the tar road and bounced all the way to the set of lights. Obviously he just cut the springs. Anyone care to think how that contraption now handles? Probably as good as a Patrol with a 10cm lift.... :)

A vehicle designed and registered for the road must be safe and handle safely. Vehicle manufacturers go to a lot of trouble to make sure the vehicles they supply meet a range of standards. Remember the Moose Test in the US that the Mercedes A Class failed? Some people just dont think ...if you want a tractor...go buy one...but dont mod your vehicle to the point where it is arguably no longer within the vehicles design parameters unless it is properly checked and stamped accordingly, and expect to drive it on the road with the rest of us.

A work colleague years ago had some moron in a Hilux that he had lifted, stuck a V8 in etc go up the gutter as it couldnt navigate the bend due to the recent suspension upgrades and kill their 3 year old daughter who was playing with them whilst they did their gardens. It was well publicised...but nothing much has changed so I dont think to get those sorts of things off the road.

Craig

PS: I like Patrols...a lot...but some people mod vehicles for appearance without considering the effects on handling.

Vintage or veteran cars have their own number plates .... so should the 4" lift / 37" tyre brigade.

Neither vehicle type would be much more dangerous on the road, than the other.

Offroad competition vehicles ( as most of them try to look like ) registered for on road use could have speed limits / area restrictions imposed .. e.g.

Puple number plate 4x4 doing over 80kph ... gets a ticket.
or
Purple number plates get banned from NP / other areas unless under escort.

Additionally .... Given our over the top taxes and vehicle operational costs ... free inspections and approval (or not) of modifications should be available at inspection stations ... that way people who have no idea could learn that their planned idea is not suitable for general use ... rather than just doing it and hoping its OK coz it looked like that in a magazine or 4x4 forum.

Its all so easy really ......... Hint Hint DIO.

Personally I find it quite pathetic that this country ... with its once proud tradition af innovation and adapatability ... is now in the situation where govt rules are squashing that tradition.

Since its the ANZAC day weekend .... Just imagine if the digger that came up with rifle mount for WW1 trench use or the one that made a telephone exchange using bullet casings for connectors ... got told that the gear couldnt be used because of OH&S rules about hammers or soldering irons ........ or because someone using them might get a splinter ........... and only approved, supplied military eqpt could be used.

Or perhaps the Browns trying to start a viable aftermarket accessory manufacturing business in todays environment.