New Telstra Ute Advice

[rafa]

Have you seen these from ironman. Bought one $99. Worth a shot.

ImageUploadedByMotorculture1400319203.508437.jpg

[Cuppa]

. Worth a shot.

Hmmmm, unless it lets you down far from anywhere!
Have just been reading comments about them on other forums. Mixed reviews. The bits which caught my attention were ‘harsher ride’ & ’snapped u bolts’. I’ll be interested in how you find them.

What are the suspension problems you’ve experienced?

[rafa]

Hmmmm, unless it lets you down far from anywhere!
Have just been reading comments about them on other forums. Mixed reviews. The bits which caught my attention were ‘harsher ride’ & ’snapped u bolts’. I’ll be interested in how you find them.

What are the suspension problems you’ve experienced?

I haven't really had any. Just said it assists in rough conditions with load distribution so thought worth a shot. Am pricing up replacing all suspension.

Rear leaves look flat when loaded

[the evil twin]

I am always somewhat perplexed about many points or solutions in discussions around mods and after market fixes to suspensions on heavily loaded vehicles of any description.

Pretty much the entire vehicle is engineered around the designed loads and then specified accordingly by the manuf. The braking system, transmission from clutch to wheel studs and every bit in between and of course the suspension.

The manuf then comes up with some figures such as GVM but is also very specific about loads on the particular axle groups.
Now, of course the engineers have put in a design factor (same concept but not the same magnitude as a rated shackle for example) BUT remember strength increases weight, is expensive, reduces performance and affects fuel and emmissiosn so you can be assured they don't build in all that much overhead.

So these numbers become an equivalent to the SWL and everyone here knows what the response would be to someone who suggested we fudge SWL on Snatch Blocks, Shackles or whatever.

If a Ute is dragging it's arse like a dog with worms then something is wrong. OK, it may just be worn out springs so get them reset or go after market or whatever.

If you need to exceed the max manuf specified inflation pressure of tyres then something is wrong. OK, you may just need to change the tyre size or load rating BUT if those tyres are spec'd by the vehicle manuf then something is absolutely wrong (not saying thats what you did Cuppa just using an example)

If you carry a load that exceeds the weight allowed for the axle group then something is wrong. OK, thats easy to point the finger at the cause , its the operator.

My first point is that you can easily be under GVM but overload a Tray and therefore the rear axle especially if you have load levelling devices.
Sure they make the vehicle steer a lot better and maybe even brake better but probably not by much and certainly not for long under repeated brake applications BUT the forces generated by the load still have to go somewhere and where they go is the spring hangers/towers, chassis rails, brake effort, increased torque loads in the diffs, axles etc, increased shear on the wheel studs etc just to rattle a few off.

In the last year I have had to deal with a Navara with a bent chassis (6 degrees) that never went anywhere near GVM loads but DID have very uneven loading practiced by the operators. I am still embroiled in a bitter dispute with another operator who cannot understand why you can't carry 11 people in a Troopy and an extra fuel tank and a steel winch bar and winch and 3 batteries and 200 KG on the roof and 150 KG under the troop seats and tow a trailer.

So... my second point. GVM upgrades are available. Some of the very modest ones require minimal engineering but still need attention regarding axle groups.
Others require very intensive engineering and modifications to chassis, braking systems, transmission components etc.
I believe that, for example, one figure is a minimum of 0.5 G braking at the new GVM
That may entail new tyres, rims, brakes, rotors, booster etc etc

Bottom line is IMHO, rafa, you may need to consider that the Patrol is possibly not the right vehicle and an LR/MR or F Truck or whatever is more appropriate.
I am a big fan of the Iveco Daily 4x4 Cab Chassis for example. I have been assisting in evaluation of these for Gov't here in WA and jeez, they are a very very capable bit of kit.
Chasing extra GVM out of a Patrol can be a very expensive exercise on a $ per KG ratio.

[threedogs]

Have you seen these from ironman. Bought one $99. Worth a shot.

ImageUploadedByMotorculture1400319203.508437.jpg

These are in the states but adjustable they were to stop body roll and flex
I personally think you need decent air bags or if leaf spring get add a coil fitted to the rear to level out your Patrol

OOI how many leaf springs are on your ute Rafa

[Cuppa]

I totally agree with everything you said ET. Good post.

I consider my uprated GVM modest in comparison to the loads I know some Patrols like mine carry, but nevertheless still think it prudent to avoid subjecting my vehicle to any more 'stress' than necessary. It is a tourer, & I know that if I used it as an off road toy, seeking obstacles as challenges rather than taking the 'easier' way round whenever possible that it's life would be far more limited. On long distance rough roads I am happy to drive slowly. 80kph may well be easy to maintain across the corrugations, but I am happy to stick at half that or less. It is the difference between being on a schedule or not. I can well imagine many here may be unable to comprehend driving 100’s of kms at such slow speeds, but I've done it & had a ball. You see so much more & the trip becomes far more than just 'getting there'...... and importantly it places far less stress on the vehicle.

The difference between the impact of a one off outback trip @ 80kph + & regular similar trips in a heavy Patrol is likely significant. In my case, wanting the vehicle to last me another 10 years plus of outback touring, or in Rafa's case - regular Arnhemland travel, has the potential to take a heavy toll on a heavy Patrol. This leads me to the same conclusion as yourself ..... that it is possible that unless Rafa has the 'luxury' of taking longer to get to places (unlikely I guess) that he either needs a far more expensive vehicle suitable for the purpose, or has to accept more regular repairs & replacements than others whose Patrols are not subjected to the same weight & regular harsh conditions. If his choice is the Patrol a serious Jenny Craig approach would probably be a wise move.

Regarding the tyre sizes fitted by Telstra, these were I believe used in order to utilise the split rims, & were narrower than those specified by Nissan. The pressure needed in them was indeed high, but within the tyres specification. Seems like an curious choice to me, but the only reason I can think of is that Telstra valued the virtues of the split rims over the reduced longevity of a vehicle, caused by the harsher ride in vehicles they had no intention of keeping long term. I imagine the use of these rims & tyres did not result in increased puncture rates though, or presumably they wouldn't have persisted with them.

Cuppa

ps. TD - they are 10 leaf spring packs. If sitting flat when loaded they are either knackered, or the vehicle is seriously overloaded, or both. Either way I'm guessing it is only a matter of time before a spring pack breaks, regardless of those helper springs. In the sort of places Rafa is driving the consequences of this could be more than an inconvenience. Airbags also wont fix knackered springs.

[threedogs]

If you think the Telstra utes break have a look at one of those CAT service utes.
10 leaf pack would be Mine spec wouldn't they ?
Next time youre in town Rafa drive over a weigh bridge and see what you get,
that will be a good starting point,
@ Cuppa as for driving slow up FNQ it took 8hrs to travel 30 odd Ks, that was back in '83
and we still talk about that road to this day.
Every dirt road has its happy spot be it 30k on the Gibb river rd before the grader or 60k going out to the dig tree.
Drive to conditions what and where ever they are

[Cuppa]

Drive to conditions what and where ever they are

The point I was trying to make is that the cumulative impact of rough roads driven regularly on a heavy Patrol could be mitigated to an extent by driving at a lower speed than 'to the conditions, if the driver has the 'luxury' of time.

[MudRunnerTD]

Regardless of this being a Nissan Patrol Forum i think ET may have the best call mate. unfortunately!

Something like this OKA

SESWA_OKA_4WD.jpg

Or for the win an Ex Army UNIMOG

1280.jpg

[MudRunnerTD]

This would make the start of a Sik Build Rafa! sort out a decent Camper / service body on the back and your set mate!

http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0002-...-truck-11-1986