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So this past weekend I finally got to try out the van off road while I was away on a MTB trip at Bright in VIC.
It was nothing serious, just a single half hour out and back drive up and down a rocky-ish hill.
We drove to the hang glider launch to have a look at the start point for the next days MTB riding.
The view from the top looking back down on Bright.
Now I didn't get any photos of the ascent as I was just too excited to see how it would all go.
I was running about 40psi all round for regular day to day driving and once onto the dirt logging roads to the top of the hill it was clearly evident that I had to lose some air pronto.
Out came the Quicky Tyre Deflater and in a few minutes we were down too 30psi all round and feeling way more comfortable.
Here is a photo of the hill after we'd driven up and come back down. Basically I kept going till I got to a point where it got quite steep and there was a water bar ahead that I would have for sure, got beached on, and turned around and made my way back down.
You can't really see how steep it is and I honestly have nothing to compare it too to explain. The video below of the descent back down might show it somewhat. Ignore the goof off that is my passenger haha
All in all I was pretty impressed with how it all went. Now definitely want to get underbody protection and some recovery gear before I head off on a longer drive, most likely with other vehicles as well.
Nice photos and video , the track reminds me of the one up here in SE Qld from the top of the Lamington Plateau down to Rathdowney , Ducks Creek Rd . Pretty radical drive when we did it back around 28 years ago pretty flat for the first few kms just like in part of your video and then it was all down hill on the side of the mountain with steep drop offs on one side and huge ruts on the inner side of the track .I stupidly did the decent in a lowered Ford XE ute with wife and baby son in baby seat between us , got some pretty amazed looks from 4wd guys along part of the lower section . One guy stopped us just before the decent started and asked incredulously was I going to do it in that meaning the ute !! we made it white knuckles and faded brakes as well . The set up of yours looks good , as a matter of interest I just purchased one of the Ryobi Inflator Deflator units as I can use it for our Moto Cross bikes , it takes the 18Volt rechargeable batteries for cordless drills etc .
Done a few more mods to the van of late so I thought I’d update this a little more.
Recently added a tow bar, Rhino Rack Pioneer platform rack with roller and awning plus awning extension.
Electrical has take a huge leap forward as well with a 1500W inverter under the drivers seat running off two 75aH deep cycle batteries under the middle seat. Connected through a Ctek D250s DC/DC charger.
I have run a 10mm2 twin cable from the under bonnet battery compartment through the floor and into the Ctek for solar input feed. So now I can plug the 200W solar blanket, via 8m Anderson plug lead from the engine bay in, and still lock the van if needed.
I added the fuse block and larger inline fuses recently also.
Swapped the alligator clips on the compressor for an Anderson plug and added one to the starter battery to plug it in without having to open the front seat for access to the aux battery when needing to use the compressor.
Next is install 6 LED lights in the rear head lining running off a 3way switched circuit off the aux battery as well as a separate circuit with two lights in the tail gate on their own switch.
Locations of 3 way switches will be, one rear tail gate right side, 2nd will be in the middle next to the sliding door on the right and the last in the dash so I can light the rear and turn it off from anywhere in the van anytime.
Also added drivers side passenger window for Miss 2.5 as the sleepy chair aint so sleepy anymore LOL
Got 3 weeks booked in for Tassie over xmas and planning on doing plenty of camping/touring while we are there visiting the outlaws.
Total overall height is 2050mm to the top of the platform and 2090mm to the top of the grab handles but they're easily removable should the need arise. This still allows me to get into any 2.1m underground or multideck carpark for work, without ladders on the roof obviously, which was a massive plus.
Good set up Markee. Is it the space availability why you’ve choose 2x75Ah batteries or some other reason?
It looks very neat install.
Cheers mate. Yeah that’s the reason, they were the two largest I could fit in that space. I had to modify the battery tray to suit them so they wouldn’t foul the bottom of the seat. I also wanted to put them there because that’s where the original second battery was with all the factory wiring.
Looks great. Pretty much exactly what I want to do with my T5.
Can I ask how much you got the rhino platform for too? I want to invest, and get a ladder for the non door side, I want some sunset rooftop beers while I'm out and about!
Looks great. Pretty much exactly what I want to do with my T5.
Can I ask how much you got the rhino platform for too? I want to invest, and get a ladder for the non door side, I want some sunset rooftop beers while I'm out and about!
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
Cheers mate.
Pioneer Platform was around the $1600 fitted mark. (I bought a bunch of other stuff on the same invoice and can’t remember the exact price) I have the biggest one they offer 2728x1465 with the lowest legs so as to keep the overall height under 2.1m
I have also thought of roof top beers and want a ladder for my tailgate though, will see how that pans out. Hehe
I have the same Rhino Sunseeker awning fitted to my T5.1 Multi. Good quality unit and can be found at very good prices online.
As a note to others, if you don’t need the roof platform this awning will bolt straight up to the Multi’s roof gutters using Rhino’s universal awning bracket mount kit (costs additional to awning). You can also use steel angle bracket found at Bunnings and drill holes which is cheaper...
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