Waka's GU8 build up

After a very patient wait, my new GU8 Patrol has been delivered to the local dealer. Unfortunately though, not all is going to plan! There is a delay of a few months for the ARB bulbar and alloy roof basket which means the winch and driving lights can’t be fitted either…No point putting it into ARB just for the snorkel so that will have to wait too. I requested Nissan fit a set of Mickey Thompson Baja Radial ATZ 4-Rib LT285/70R17 and yep you guessed it, they won’t fit them because they are too big and would not pass rego! I still don’t get how so many other 4x4 in Sydney run 33s and get away with it??? Also ARB tell me there’s a long wait on dual battery kits as well. Once Nissan fit the two bar, cargo barrier and a few other odd bods I’ll take delivery next week without all the ARB extras.



I keep you posted on my progress

Cool looking rig mate let us no how you go with all the other gear

Have you considered the TJM alternative?

Are you not allowed to run a tyre 50mm larger than standard? Here in Victoria we can and that is what i plan on doing! Without getting engineers involved we can lift a car a total of 75mm (thats including suspension and tyres).

Pretty sure max for us is 2" lift and 33" tyres mate.

Great looking Patrol mate, keep us informed of the build!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NissPat

Have you considered the TJM alternative?

---

i should and i'm sure it's as good but i just like the ARB gear.

[QUOTE=AB;212243]Pretty sure max for us is 2" lift and 33" tyres mate.

yeah, i have done some research and you are spot on. thanks.

Technically the vehicle needs to be delivered with the original tyres, it can then be driven straight back into the workshop and have them changed.
It's one of those funny regulations that a lot of dealerships ignore. Same story with exhausts etc, even though they are a legal modification the vehicle needs to be delivered to the customer as standard.

Waka, I ordered my ARB bar about two weeks ago, was told it would be two months for delivery, turned up on Friday!

Got told some story about a mining company somewhere bought over two hundred ARB bars. Apparently thats the reason for the back log. But that was meant to have happened late last year or early January.

Anyway, the wait might not be as long as initially quoted! Looks good so far!

I hope you are right Teno

Picked up my new GU8 today! going shopping at the 4wd and caravan show tomorrow. a few more accessories to come. I will post photos as the build-up happens.

Well I must have got caught up in the excitement of the 4wd show and ended up spending a small fortune however I did get a good price on a full suspension upgrade and a dual battery plus some more recovery gear.

The list of accessories is now as follows;

Nissan Extras fitted prior to delivery
Towbar
Rear protection Tray
Cargo Barrier
Rear Park Assist
Weathershields - L & R

ARB extras purchased but still waiting on supply
Safari Snorkel
ARB Deluxe Bullbar
Fog Light kit
IPF Driving Light
ARB Alloy Full Length Roof Rack
Dual Battery kit
Warn winch
OME 2” lift

Tyres once the lift is done
5 x Mickey Thompson Baja Radial ATZ 4-Rib LT285/70R17 (33s)

I also bought some more ARB recovery gear for the winch. Tree trunk protector snatch block etc.

I'm loving the new bus already....It drives very nice and the changes from the GU7 are only minor but are all positive.

Hopefully some of the gear I’m waiting on will come next week.

Waka

here's some pics after it's maiden voyage plus one of the few trout caught over the weekend. so far the only mods are the dual battery and window tint. Suspension lift and snorkel are booked in for the 2nd week of May.

Good looking trout. Oh and the rig looks good to. Will look good when all fitted out

I just ordered the Mickey Ts...whoa! $440 each x 5 I'd...rather not do the math.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waka

I just ordered the Mickey Ts...whoa! $440 each x 5 I'd...rather not do the math.

---

What size did you go for? 33's?

yep 33s ATZ 4-Rib LT285/70R17

hi all,

just an update. the snorkel and 2" OME suspension lift was installed yesterday. I'm really happy with the ride and handling so far but wife's not too happy with the height though. I don't dare tell her there's another inch to go in tyres tomorrow...

I'll post up some pics tomorrow

My OME lift went in yesterday as well but still havnt seen it but should get it back today. What kg springs did you get in the rear?

Waka, mate my missus wasn't too happy either when I did it to the old patrol, with her comment being that looks terrible.....then I went and got mtz's on black steel rims...and then her comment was thats f$%#ing ugly then stormed inside.....but now she knows what it can do and where it has taken us and she has changed her mind and I would go so far to say that if I did it any other way with this new one I would be getting served my own cajones on a dinner plate hahahaha

Greg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by offroadmafia

My OME lift went in yesterday as well but still havnt seen it but should get it back today. What kg springs did you get in the rear?

---

Good to hear. you will love it. i was thinking that question myself...I have no idea what Kg they are. i just told them what extras i have/will have on it and what sort of driving i'll be doing. they're not too stiff however don't have the body roll that the OE suspension had. I'll look on the reciept and see. i can't wait for the tyres to go on tomorrow! mate I saw your photos last night, it looks unreal.

Waka

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gregs

Waka, mate my missus wasn't too happy either when I did it to the old patrol, with her comment being that looks terrible.....then I went and got mtz's on black steel rims...and then her comment was thats f$%#ing ugly then stormed inside.....but now she knows what it can do and where it has taken us and she has changed her mind and I would go so far to say that if I did it any other way with this new one I would be getting served my own cajones on a dinner plate hahahaha

Greg

---

thanks Greg. glad to hear i'm not alone there...her biggest issue is she won't be able to reach the fridge. So it sounds like i'll be doing all the pouring of her wine and the cooking??? i might have to look at a fridge slide but i can't justify the $300+ for it.

Waka

Waka

Waka, mate a fridge slide is worth its weight in gold. Try opening the lid when it is tied into the back on top of a set of drawers!! We have a waeco fridge slide that I have built a timber box around so I can pack the back of the patrol and still have access to the fridge. Yeah they are worth a few bob but well worth it in my opinion. I want to get a platinum drop down slide for the back of the new patrol as it is hard for me to access the fridge (wheelchair and artificial legs) and both the missus and I and our daughter have to climb up on the back step to get into it. I just have to convince the better half to fund it as these things aren't cheap.

Greg

thanks Greg. We're planing a Simpson crossing next year so i might invest in a set of black widow draws and a slide before that trip. so i can wait till then, maybe. spent too much money already...

finally took some pics to post.

Waka, how do find the atz's on and offroad manners?

cheers

Greg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gregs

Waka, how do find the atz's on and offroad manners?

cheers

Greg

---

X2

Looking good

Geez boys, only got them on Saturday and yesterday was mum's day so I'm yet to use them off road. they do feel great on road though. a tad bit loud but not too bad. I'm heading down to Renmark in SA this weekend so I'll see what they are like over the long drive. I won't have a chance to take them off road for a few weeks yet. hopefully i'll have my bar and winch etc before i do. I've now been waiting over a month! C'mon ARB, I want my Bar, winch, spotties and roof rack!

Waka

I forgot to mention. I needed a spacer to fit the spare ($55 fitted ARB) and had to take the front mud flaps off as they were rubbing at full lock!

Cheers mate, I have a second set of tyres from the old patrol (mtzs on steel rims) that will need replacing in the not too distant future and the right front tyre scrubs on the mudflap on full lock and its only a LT265/75 R16. I'm thinking it was because of the 2" susp lift and when the muddies were on you could see that the wheels were pushed over. Maybe it needed a panhard rod to bring it back over!


Greg

I've been working in Renmark this week and staying in a cabin at the local caravan park (much better than a motel room for mine) and the crew from "What's Up Downunder" are staying in the cabins near me. they spotted my Patrol as i drove in tonight and they asked if they can interview me on camera tomorrow morning! The show is sponsored by Nissan of course. I agreed and now i'm packing it...never been on tele before.

Good luck, post up when it will air on the box, I'm sure a lot of us would like to watch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waka

I've been working in Renmark this week and staying in a cabin at the local caravan park (much better than a motel room for mine) and the crew from "What's Up Downunder" are staying in the cabins near me. they spotted my Patrol as i drove in tonight and they asked if they can interview me on camera tomorrow morning! The show is sponsored by Nissan of course. I agreed and now i'm packing it...never been on tele before.

---

Yeah! another celebrity on the forum...hahah
Good luck with it all and hope all goes well...

all done..but I was awful. but at least the boss will be happy because I got to plug our brand. They are sending me a DVD prior to airing so if it's too bad I'm not telling anyone about it. otherwise I'll let you all know when it's on.

Waka

Gave the new GU8 its first real test off road today. Hit the power lines track up behind the Zig Zag railway, which is chopped up serverly at the moment. With the lift, 33s and factory locker it walked up pretty easy despite the massive holes and mud. i was extremely impressed with the locker, wow, what a differnce it makes. Sorry no pics...the missus won't get out to take photos of the car...

Waka

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waka

Gave the new GU8 its first real test off road today. Hit the power lines track up behind the Zig Zag railway, which is chopped up serverly at the moment. With the lift, 33s and factory locker it walked up pretty easy despite the massive holes and mud. i was extremely impressed with the locker, wow, what a differnce it makes. Sorry no pics...the missus won't get out to take photos of the car...

Waka

---

Sounds like you had a great day out but maaaaaaaate, find another missus who will take pics of the Patrol in its finest form.......sorry mate, couldn't resist..hahahahah

Good to hear its getting used as its sposed to be.

a couple of pics. not too much action.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...00744615_n.jpg


https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...34645724_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...70349830_n.jpg

Next time tell the missus that you need the pics for proof otherwise some may think all you do is park on the lawn LMAO

she got out at the top of the power lines track where it relatively lame and took the above pics. But the first section of this track is pretty full on with deep ruts and a few exposed rocks. My mate in his GU went up first then we followed in mine. Unfortunatley my mate in his Prado only made it a quarter of the way and had to reverse back down and take the chicken track. On our way out we went to go back this way but the track was blocked by a brokendown ute. It was getting dark and there was no one around. It appears the ute owner had gone for help. so we had to tack the chicken track.
We saw a dingo on the road on the way home. A bit of a treat to see one especially running along the Bells Line of Road.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...54073037_n.jpg