Snorkels

Not planning anything too serious, but don't want to fill the engine with water crossing a creek.

Do you know of any exhaust places in Melb that have done them?

Thanks,

Jim.

Mark,

How far off road have you gone and what wiil it do? Your experience with the X-Trail would be interesting to know. Mine will be delivered shortly and I have ordered BFG All Terrain tyres (nothing else more aggressive available) and a dual battery system. I don't expect it to do what my GQ Patrol used to but then again I never really tested the GQ.

A bloke I was talking to told me his father in law has an X-Trail and it covered most ground that his GU TD covered but was let down by road tyres. Otherwise he thought it was far more capable than most gave it credit for.

Your thoughts would be appreciated. I am sick of hearing from from people who think it is a joke 4wd. Not all of us want to climb rocky trails at a 60 degree angle. Just getting away to some remote spots is what I am after. And crossing the odd creek.

Love to hear from someone who actually owns one, rather than someone who pontificates about them.

Regards,

Jim.

Mark,

Thanks for your feedback. Have heard of water intake problems (4x4 Australia, October,page 29). Have you had yours through water, and if so how deep?

The advice I was given about tyres is that a lot of the "A/T" tyres are not very agressive. I am advised that the BFG's are the best off road. Believe Yokohama also make one but it is not as good as the BFG. What have you heard?

Regards,

Jim.

Mark,

Yes I'm getting an auto. I figure given its lack of low range, the torque converter and no chance of stalling when doing a climb will be an advantage. Also, the good lady wife has an aversion to manuals and then I wouldn't have anyone to drive me home after social occassions when it is her turn to drive. What do you have? My last 4wd a few years ago (92-96) was a Nissan GQ Patrol 3 litre petrol manual. Whilst a very capable vehicle (and I never got anywhere its limits), it was a pain in the arse in slow going, having to slip the clutch even in low range and really struggled in sand due to its lack of power and huge weight. On road it was a dead set slug (100kw towing 1900 kg unloaded.)

When testing the X-Trail I asked the dealer to loan me a second hand one for an afternoon, which he did (I wanted to see what one was like with 50,00 Km's up). I took it for a good long drive (on-road only) and found its performance outstanding for a 4wd. I currently drive a VY Commodore "S" with the supercharged 6, which has a fair bit of hoot. The performance differential, whilst noticeable, was not extreme. I actually got the stopwatch on my phone operating and found that the X-Trail (auto) pulled 0-100 km/h in 9.6 seconds. This a respectable time, even by sedan standards. Also its accelleration at overtaking speeds (90 km/h+) was sparkling. Quite simply it would blow any of the "real" 4wd's into the weeds.

I, like you, have decided to buy it as it is an excellent compromise vehicle. It performs all of the duties of a family wagon, with the ability to do some moderate off-road work.

I have heard some suggestions that during prolonged sand use the auto may overheat (do you have an auto?) and put the vehicle into 2wd rendering it bogged. Any observations?

How far north are you heading? I lived in Townsville from 87-95 and did the Cairns to Cooktown trip via the Bloomfield track a couple of times. It is a great trip that the X-Trail would handle (assumiming the Bloomfield River is not too deep - only gets deep in the wet season).

Mate its great talking to you, someone who thinks like me and doesn't think 4wding means 33 inch tyres, locked diffs, warn winches and high lift jacks.

I live in Melb but will be visitting the Gold Coast next week for holidays. Maybe we could catch uop for a beer.

Regards,

Jim