Grumpydfart's bush ute build - palya!

[GrumpyOldFart]

Got this 2004 4.2 TDi DX ute from a remote indigenous community. 120,000km but its had a hard rough life!


Found a 2004 ST wreck that I could get some bits off to fix up the interior. We now have centre console, bucket seats & carpet. Soon to fit power windows and central locking. Found out that the 2004 DX utes don't have any spare bits in the wiring loom, so cut out the dash loom from the wagon.


There was a bit of the bush under the mats.

[GrumpyOldFart]

Next was the suspension. I was a bit over hitting the bump stops over most bumps!
She was a bit low



Some new 2" coils in the front and some 2" parabolic leaves in the rear soon cured that



She sits a bit higher now

[93patrol]

very nice what sort of plans have you got for it? other than a pod on the back

[happygu]

Starting to clean up well.

If that is your workshop, you're Lucky Bugger, not GrumpyOldFart......

I haven't had leaf springs for a while, but the new ones look lighter duty to me, and I hope that they will hold the weight OK for you when you load it up. You can always add another leaf easy enough if you need it though.

Mic

[GrumpyOldFart]

93patrol
We are setting it up for remote area travel. We work part time in remote communities and also go exploring. It will tow our caravan on good roads but we leave the van when we hit the rough.
Where we usually go we leave the van at The Rock.
Here are a couple of photos of where we work!

[GrumpyOldFart]

Happygtu

Mic
The parabolic leaves I have are rated for full GVM, probably equal to a traditional 9 leaf pack but a lot better ride and flex. Transit vans and a lot of trucks have had parabolics for years!
My stuffed spring pack


The workshop is a leftover from when I used to run a fleet of country taxis. Was better to do my own servicing...at least I knew it was done!

[happygu]

Great looking country

[Yendor]

The ute is looking good mate.

Luv your office.

[TPC]

What do you do for work that takes you into those area's?

[GrumpyOldFart]

TPC
We were managing Papulankutja (Blackstone) remote community store for a few years, but now do relieving for Store Managers and Community Advisors.
If you can't find Blackstone in WA it is about 95km west of Surveyor Generals Corner (SA, WA, NT border intersection)

If you saw Outback Truckers, I was the bearded bloke complaining about the ice cream!

Dru