The WET is here.

Submitted: Tuesday, Nov 04, 2003 at 19:08
ThreadID: 8311 Views:1915 Replies:3 FollowUps:3
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Bold statement... It rained last night here in Darwin at about 12pm and it's raining now at 5:30pm. I hope for the sake of all of us up here that it's here for good, every bugger is sick of the build up at the moment. Enjoy the cooler weather down there folks it'[s the place too be at the moment. Time to get out the M/T's and see what the old Chev Suburban thinks of the mud. Don't tell the missus.
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Reply By: Rob from Cairns Offroad Training & Tours - Tuesday, Nov 04, 2003 at 19:37

Tuesday, Nov 04, 2003 at 19:37
How is the Suburban? Have you had it very long? How many klms?
In theory they would mke great tour vehicles, a roomy 4wd wagon. A tour operator here bought 2 of them a couple of years ago for the Cape Tribulation run and they litterally fell apart. Our local Holden dealer bought one for his wife and daughter to tow thier horse float same scenario. He sold it in disgust and doesn't even sell them any more. Any good stories about well used Suburbans out there? Cheers RobCairns Offroad Training & Tours
AnswerID: 36218

Follow Up By: JohnH - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 09:50

Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 09:50
Rob I have managed to take it all the places I have wanted to get so far. I am happy with the vehicle for what it is. I can understand the shaking to pieces, they are a pretty hard sprung vehicle. I make sure my tyre pressures are right for the job, mainly the corrogations. Admittedly I haven't yet done the sort of trips that you tour guys are doing, but I would think that problems would develop with continuous trips. There is a bloke in the top of WA who is running one and I know from the look of it, it must get a fair bit of bush work and the roads over there can be pretty average. I seriously think that suspension and tyre pressures will remove and of those self desructive tendencies. My vehicle is the 6.5 TD which had done 128K when I got it. It now has 135K on the clock. Most of it's life has been an assortment of hiway and bush. I wouldn't say it has done the hard 4wding that some vehicles get though. My treatment for it is fairly well if I want to get some where then I take it, the wheelbase is the only drawback, weight and width have not been a considration yet. It will pull my big tandem trailer up the beach (tyre pressure down to 28, 55-60 is the normal psi) without any problems, that's through the soft stuff, no sand dunes up here. I think for a tour vehicle with the correct modifications you can't go wrong, although some obviously did, lots of room, good aircon, power to tow the heavy trailers etc. Anyway I m obviously bias, it fits my five kids in no worries with all of our gear and it hasn'e let me down. Average fuel economy around town is 20lt per 100km for what it's worth. I did manage to break of one of the front sway bars. Articalation might have been a bit restricted.....

Hope this helps.

Cheers
JohnH
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FollowupID: 26158

Reply By: Slammin - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 01:37

Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 01:37
As for the Chev my sister liked it so much she's had 2 and loved them........mind you they are only used for shopping trolleys! Most people I have spoken to like their size and power.
The build up has certainly started in Alice - seems every 2nd day is overcast or threatening - no rain yet buuuut. It does make it someone difficult one da seems like 37' next 27'.
AnswerID: 36248

Follow Up By: Slammin - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 01:42

Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 01:42
As I was typing that, the wind gusts were really picking up so thought I'd go out and have a suss, got a faceful of sand and dust. You gotta love the desert - midnight dust storms!
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FollowupID: 26141

Reply By: Willem - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 07:24

Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 07:24
Hope you have a winch and a long cable and plenty of Woolibutts in sight. Have fun.
Cheers,Willem

Always going somewhere
AnswerID: 36253

Follow Up By: JohnH - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 09:55

Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 09:55
Willem it's amazing what can be achieved by momentum. Now don't go into a list of things that can be broken by momentum, I don't want to think about that. :-)

JohnH
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FollowupID: 26159

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