PDA

View Full Version : Boinzo's GU Project



Boinzo
1st March 2017, 02:48 PM
Hi All.

So - I've been a member here for over a year now! And I thought it was time I posted up some pix of my truck and some stories on the modifications and things I've completed over that time.

I bought my GU as a new demo car in December 2015. I decided on a Patrol after a lot of research and many failed attempts at buying used V8 Land Cruisers! :tongue:

When I got it there was just on 2400km on the clock. It was a standard ST 7 seater. Nissan had offered me a free alloy bull-bar as a sweetener on what was a pretty good deal anyway. I managed to convince them to install a genuine snorkel instead. He it is a couple of days after I got it. Waiting to have its windows tinted.

71091

I then immediately removed the 3 row seats. And set about planning a bunch of mods.

Here's a full list of what I have added to it. Not in any particular order.


EFS 2” Lift with 300KG Constant Comfort Springs - Heavy Duty Damper and Adjustable Panhard
5 x Pro Comp 16”x8” Alloys with MT ATZP3s
2.75” Beaudesert Exhaust
Rhino Rack Platform with Roller, Maxtrax brackets and Shovel Brackets
Custom Aluminium Toolbox / Deflector mounted on Rhino bar
120W Solar Panel fixed to lid of roof toolbox (additional 80w portable travels in the box)
Darche 2m x 2.4m Awning
Access Ladder on Rear
TJM Outback Steel Bullbar
TJM 12000LB Winch
65L Custom Water Tank and Pump behind rear seats - plumbed to rear door
Autosafe Cargo Barrier (Half-Height )
Home made Custom Drawers with internal illumination (v 2.0)
Redarc BCDC40 DC-DC Charger and Battery Management
Redarc Battery Gauge
Opta Yellow Top 66AH Aux Battery Under Bonnet and KickAss 120AH Aux Battery in Rear
ARB Air Compressor hardwired in Rear
22” Lightbar on Bullbar and 32” Lightbar on rack
Alpine Stereo and Nav system
GME TX 3550 UHF and Aerial
RFI 4GX Aerial and Telstra WiFi Router (hardwired in)
iPod mini and mount
150w Pure Sine Inverter
Dual Fuse Boxes (one front and one rear)
Solar Anderson to Roofrack
Pillar Pod mounted EGT and Boost Gauges
Waeco CFX 35 Fridge
Provent 200 Catchcan
Roo Systems Re-Mapped ECU
Full Recovery Kit with Winch Strap/ 2 x Snatch Straps/2 x Snatch Blocks and Shackles
Rated Recovery Points - Front and Rear (Thanks to Threedogs)
Brown Davis 90L Long Range Sub Tank


I also

Installed interior lights
Added a flow gauge so I can see water tank level
Built a Kitchen Chuck Box to go in the back (nearly finished)
Moved the Sub Tank Switch (how shit is the factory position!)
Installed the Light Bars myself (this was a *big* deal for me!)
Installed my old CTEK 240V charger so the truck can be plugged up to 240v
Added Sail Track to the back of the Rack and sourced a suitable tarp to make a rear cover


But the bulk of the big stuff was done in one job by TJM here in Brisbane. They were very helpful and gave me a fat discount for both the scale of work and because I name-dropped Threedogs.

The intention for my GU was to build a solid platform for log distance outback touring and camping for my wife an me. I feel like I've got there now. Now I just need her to quit work....

I learn't so much from so many people on here. I think I read every post in the first few months. The forum gave me the courage to try stuff - like my own 12v setup - that I would never have attempted before joining here. I now feel like I know (mostly) what I am doing.

My plan is to expand on this thread with a post about each of the key steps in getting the vehicle to this point. The traps I fell into. And the problems I think I solved. I'd hope that some of that material will be useful to others attempting something similar.

I feel like I have a well set-up truck now. Certainly it performed flawlessly in a 16000km shake down over the Simpson and up and over the Gulf and back home to Brisbane. But also learnt plenty on that trip and refined things accordingly.

Anyway.... time to shut up. Here's some recent pictures.... (ignore the laptop bag - it's because Club4x4 want that for proof the pix are recent!)

71094

71095

71096

71097

71098

threedogs
1st March 2017, 03:26 PM
Glad I could help out, certainly looks like the bee's knee's now.
Well thought out IMO loving that rear ladder as well.
Don't scare yourself but have you had a chance to weigh it yet.
Hows the condition of the intercooler Oily yet???
again great job mate never be too scared to tackle any job
plenty of knowledge here for you..

Boinzo
1st March 2017, 03:58 PM
I certainly appreciate your help mate!

Yeah weight. I know!

I did run over the weigh bridge at the dump before I went over the simmo. I saw 2860kg on the read out.
But - the new drawers are lighter than the old. And I've added a third battery so got that weight back and then some!
I reckon I run slightly over GVM when the water tank is full....
But yes, it's certainly heavy. The fuel economy tells me so.

(edit) Oh - an the Intercooler is clean. But I'm keeping an eye on it!


Glad I could help out, certainly looks like the bee's knee's now.
Well thought out IMO loving that rear ladder as well.
Don't scare yourself but have you had a chance to weigh it yet.
Hows the condition of the intercooler Oily yet???
again great job mate never be too scared to tackle any job
plenty of knowledge here for you..

4bye4
1st March 2017, 04:56 PM
Like the threedogs recovery point on the rear and the ladder.
Here's mine from the rear.http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2017/03/5.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

threedogs
6th March 2017, 05:59 PM
what do you think of slightly longer coils for the rear, it looks to me to sit slightly uphill,
and you're not fully loaded yet. Just an observation.....lol

Boinzo
9th March 2017, 08:54 AM
Not a bad idea. But I've spent soooo much money already!
There is stuff in the back in these pix. Water etc.


what do you think of slightly longer coils for the rear, it looks to me to sit slightly uphill,
and you're not fully loaded yet. Just an observation.....lol

threedogs
9th March 2017, 12:34 PM
Cool,,,, these are great if you want to lift you front lightbar up higher.
Ive found those SS ones too springy,, but hey that me,, just a thought,,,lol

neilehh
27th April 2017, 03:07 PM
certainly a nice looking build. May you get out of it what you put in