So...did I do good? New (2nd hand) car on its way!

Submitted: Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 18:51

ThreadID: 71827 Views:3472 Replies:9 FollowUps:7

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Jen2

Recently I posted about wanting a vehicle able to carry a slide on camper and pull a horse float. After much deliberation I have purchased a 2005 ST Patrol ute.

I know the ST's have a lower GCM than the DX leaf spring models which may ultimately be my downfall but I sooo wanted the fruit they come with (girly thing.)

As a bonus (well I hope anyway) this one has full air bag susension in the back (coils have been removed). I have been assured by a 4WD place that this is a GOOD thing. Is it a good thing? It would have cost a bomb to have been done so presumably they are a good thing, especially seeing as we will be carrying a load occasionally with the camper.

It has done 155K, a bit more kms than I would have liked but is a gov vehicle so comes with full service records etc, good steel tray, bull bar (which we may have to remove to reduce weight darn it), tow bar (and an electric brake controller already installed which is a bonus.)

Please tell me I did good? lol

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Reply By: Jen2 - Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 18:52

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 18:52

Should have added it's a 4.2 Patrol....

AnswerID: 380733

Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 19:05

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 19:05

How much $$

Then we may be able to tell you that you did good :-))

P.S. Sounds OK so far :-))

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AnswerID: 380737

Follow Up By: Jen2 - Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 19:07

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 19:07

$31,500.......

FollowupID: 648130

Reply By: On Patrol & TONI - Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 19:42

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 19:42

Sounds like a reasonable unit and the price seems about right, so Yeah you dun good Jen.
Happy motoring, Colin.

AnswerID: 380741

Follow Up By: Jen2 - Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 19:48

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 19:48

So is full air bag suspension in the rear a good thing? I am worried one might burst while I am floating the horses and then what?

FollowupID: 648137

Follow Up By: On Patrol & TONI - Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 20:27

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 20:27

Jen
I am not conversant with air bag suspension other than to say I don't remember hearing of the bags being a problem, and put into perspective springs can break too.

Trucks of all sizes use air bag springs with great success.
Cheers Colin.

FollowupID: 648147

Reply By:- Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 20:04

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 20:04

Hi Jen
The air bag should be a rolling sleeve type that the trucks /semi trailer use only not as large and i have not seen them fail or heard of them having problems with the bags and we see quite a few trucks.

Mattie

AnswerID: 380745

Follow Up By: Jen2 - Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 20:09

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 20:09

Thanks Mattie. Apparently they are the Firestone ones which are supposed to be very good, if not the best.

I guess I am concerned because I don't know what the vehicle was used for by the government but presumably it was for carrying loads if these air bags have been fitted.

But surely they are designed to last longer than 155,000kms!

FollowupID: 648141

Reply By: Robert HL (SEQ)(aka zuksctr) - Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 20:25

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 20:25

Hi Jen sounds like you did good.

But to pu a wee dampener on it & hope i am wrong,the Gov people usually get rid of their rigs 45-60 thousand ks.

Hope it serves you well.

The Firestones were are the original manufacturer of the air bags, they used way back before we were born.

Cheers,

Bob.

AnswerID: 380747

Follow Up By: Trevor R (QLD) - Friday, Aug 28, 2009 at 07:51

Friday, Aug 28, 2009 at 07:51

Not sure but I think the full air susp is supposed to reduce wheel travel when offroad???? not sure how true it is but a rumour I have heard more than once.

Will be awesome for loading up though. Can't have your cake and eat it too hey?

Jen, the car should be good for many years and km's to come.

Cheers, Trevor.

FollowupID: 648224

Reply By: Flywest - Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 20:26

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 20:26

Don't remove the bull bar to save weight.

Heck - drill a hole in it big enough to accept a tubeless tire valve stem and pump it full of helium gas if you have too - but don't remove it.

Cheers

AnswerID: 380748

Reply By: Jen2 - Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 20:31

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 20:31

Flywest, hmmm ok good point, will be interesting to see the log books. Of course I didn't mention I bought it sight unseen *ducking*....

eep....

Bob, haha are you serious? lol

Thanks Colin, I didn't think of that!

AnswerID: 380751

Follow Up By: Robert HL (SEQ)(aka zuksctr) - Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 21:35

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 21:35

Jen, yes about the gov. lots have been said on this forum about Klms of govt vehichles.

Yes about the air bags.

I still hope it all serves you well.

Cheers,

Bob.

FollowupID: 648162

Reply By: Member - Malcolm (Townsville) - Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 23:33

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 at 23:33

Jen

I investigated putting full air bag system on my 2005 Patrol - but now I'm trading it on the D-Max ;-)

Here is a link to some more info (click on air rite) airbag man

Malcolm

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AnswerID: 380778

Follow Up By: Jen2 - Friday, Aug 28, 2009 at 09:16

Friday, Aug 28, 2009 at 09:16

Thanks Malcolm, I actually checked out that site as soon as I heard it had full air bag suspension. I am fairly sure they are what it has as theirs are Firestone too.

So fingers crossed! I'm going to get a compressor installed under the bonnet so I can operate the air bags from inside the cab, which apart from its many advantages should make putting the slide on on and off much easier.

Have been quoted around $700 fully installed. Hope this sounds reasonable as we really only have one 4wd place in our nearest regional town that does it.

And when I win Lotto (notice I said WHEN as apposed to IF, lol) I will get 3" exhaust set up put on as well. Can't have too much power!

The new D-max looks awesome and I actually looked into it's specs before buying the second hand patrol, unfortunately it's just too small a motor what for I need the vehicle to do.

Good luck with it!

FollowupID: 648237

Reply By: Foxhound (WA) - Friday, Aug 28, 2009 at 10:31

Friday, Aug 28, 2009 at 10:31

I have fitted Firestone air bags to my 76 Series LandCruiser and am very happy with them. They give a much better ride off road especially corrugations and can be adjusted to the load carried. 155Km is not a lot for that engine, sounds like a good buy.

AnswerID: 380813