Mazda Ute Off road

James G1

I had a B2500 4x4 for quite a while and only sold it in January.

It has been right across the country towing a 1.8t trailer. It has been on such roads, with the trailer, as Plenty Highway, Bloomfield Track, Cape York by the Development Road, Gibb River Road, into the Bungle Bungle NP., another steep road from Scone via Ellerston to Nundle etc.

I had it lifted 50 mm with heavy duty ARB springs and OME shocks.

Never once did it even look like stopping through lack of power even with the trailer on. There is always low range when the going gets very steep.

One thing I would check is the state of the radiator as they are known to get hot under heavy and hot conditions.

Otherwise it is a great vehicle.

Cheers
DW

hi james g1
you wont have a problem mine is a 1997 bravo
and its done heaps of towing of a high profile viscount 16ft van and sand driving including calcup hill on wa's southcoast before i put the after market safari turbo on it with 5 people and our camping gear onboard
and then up the west coastal sand dunes and beach driving and the csr after i turbo'ed it
i would highly recomend fitting a 2.5inch exhaust incorporating a truck type muffler this gave mine a very noticeble gain in performance and a very exceptable exhaust burble tone
i also extended the sides and top of the snorkle head by 30mls so it scoops in more air
it rams more air down its throat so to speak while driving it
this has made the turbo more responsive from a lower engine rev band which i noted on the turbo boost pressure guage as soon as this modification was done

(i have no doubt that this mod would improve a lot of other vehicle performances as well)

keep the cooling system in good condition and the air cleaner clean
they are a better vehicle than a lot of people /non- owners rate the bravo
cheers barry