I'm loving the BT. I havn't towed the van yet. It's been in for warranty work the whole time! Gives me a bit of a chance to run the BT in however.
Still, cant wait to get the van behind it on the open road and see what it can do!!!
Relgate got a new BT50 GT
- Thread starter relgate
- Start date
Still, cant wait to get the van behind it on the open road and see what it can do!!!
A few more pics in the daylight...
Bar, winch and lift
Winch with control box on top
Underbody protection
UHF handpiece mount (can be tucked away into the arm rest)
UHF main box/speaker. That is the brake pedal you can see. The box is mounted behind the AC vent
Suspension upgrade
Bar, winch and lift
Winch with control box on top
Underbody protection
UHF handpiece mount (can be tucked away into the arm rest)
UHF main box/speaker. That is the brake pedal you can see. The box is mounted behind the AC vent
Suspension upgrade
My wallet feels light just looking at those pictures!!!
But looks great...
At least you have yours. I handed mine in at ARB and they haven't given it back yet!
:hurt-41:
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Thanks Brad. I am really happy with it. I should have tucked the cord in for the pic. Normally it is tucked away between the seat and the handrest and doesn't ever get in the way (one of my initial concerns)
Looking great relgate! I want those bash plates, my factory ones are a bit dented already. Your bar and winch combo look tough too. We need to hit the tracks now
How have you found the suspension? Is that a medium or heavy duty leaf pack?
How have you found the suspension? Is that a medium or heavy duty leaf pack?
Looking great relgate! I want those bash plates, my factory ones are a bit dented already. Your bar and winch combo look tough too. We need to hit the tracks now
How have you found the suspension? Is that a medium or heavy duty leaf pack?
This is my first suspension upgrade, so I'm not qualified to give it much of a review.
However, my thoughts are:
1. The ride is very nice, perhaps the same if not more comfortable than the factory over a tar road. (havent been off yet)
2. It is noticeably better at getting over a speed bump. You can go a lot faster and feel hardly anything compared to the factory suspension. Obviously this will apply to off road situations
3. BT's and Rangers can suffer from low speed shudder when modified. I cannot complain, but there is a hint of shudder around the 15km/hr mark. It is very hard to replicate and is hardly discernible, but it is there none the less. It does not bother me but once it settles, I will see if changing the spacers at the 500km check will rectify it. I understand it is solvable.
4. Lift is around 70mm at this stage.
5. I opted for the medium set up (300kg). I have the option to add another leaf if I feel I need it, to take it to 400kg constant.
OK. Big decision. I'm looking at getting some better tyres on the UBute50 and getting the old ones off while they are still sellable.
Choosing has proven to be very difficult
Here are my options:
Cooper ST MAXX-
Good -Great looking and no doubt as good as they say
Bad -Expensive and possibly more aggressive than I need -around $4-415 per tyre
BFG AT-
Good - Look cool and seem to be all-round a good tyre. Possibly less aggressive than ST MAXX
Bad - Not available for about a month and pricew is still up there around $350
Yokohama geolander GO12
Good - Good reviews, seem to be a good all rounder, price pretty good around $300
BAD -not a light truck construction
Bridgestone 697
Good -seem to be really good on sand/rocks. Very tough. Can replace anywhere in Australia and seem very tough. Price excellent at $250 Low noise and better around town
Bad - the least aggressive tread of all. Reviews are good for dry conditions. Some good comments about mud, but surely not as good as the others in the sticky stuff
HELP PLEASE...
My driving is probably 90% around town, but obviously when off road a good tread is needed. I'm not sure how much actual mud I will find. I may end up doing more sand driving?!
Also planning to do some longer trip to the centre and north, so need something for those conditions.
At this stage I'm leaning towards the bridgestone and perhaps get a set of muddies later on steel wheels to change over as required.
Any ideas?
It's always fun deciding and researching, but I need to get on with it and make a decision!!!
Choosing has proven to be very difficult
Here are my options:
Cooper ST MAXX-
Good -Great looking and no doubt as good as they say
Bad -Expensive and possibly more aggressive than I need -around $4-415 per tyre
BFG AT-
Good - Look cool and seem to be all-round a good tyre. Possibly less aggressive than ST MAXX
Bad - Not available for about a month and pricew is still up there around $350
Yokohama geolander GO12
Good - Good reviews, seem to be a good all rounder, price pretty good around $300
BAD -not a light truck construction
Bridgestone 697
Good -seem to be really good on sand/rocks. Very tough. Can replace anywhere in Australia and seem very tough. Price excellent at $250 Low noise and better around town
Bad - the least aggressive tread of all. Reviews are good for dry conditions. Some good comments about mud, but surely not as good as the others in the sticky stuff
HELP PLEASE...
My driving is probably 90% around town, but obviously when off road a good tread is needed. I'm not sure how much actual mud I will find. I may end up doing more sand driving?!
Also planning to do some longer trip to the centre and north, so need something for those conditions.
At this stage I'm leaning towards the bridgestone and perhaps get a set of muddies later on steel wheels to change over as required.
Any ideas?
It's always fun deciding and researching, but I need to get on with it and make a decision!!!
Tough call mate imo once you do an intial cost outlay on 2 tyre set ups you might as well get an agressive a/t
Tyre choice will sure open a whole can of worms for you and choose what you think will best suit your needs,it looks like a good options list to me mate. Good luck and remember shop around to
Tyre choice will sure open a whole can of worms for you
and choose what you think will best suit your needs,it looks like a good options list to me mate. Good luck and remember shop around to
Tough call mate imo once you do an intial cost outlay on 2 tyre set ups you might as well get an agressive a/t
Tyre choice will sure open a whole can of worms for you
Thanks CD
I currently have the Bridgies on my Hilux and love them. I am like in in that 90-95% of my drive is around town. They are gat in the wet, very quiet and are wearing brilliantly. Am very happy with them on the gravel, but will be honest, I haven't had the call for any mud work. Had the Bf's on my old Cruiser, and they were good, but not as comfortable on road and seemed "hard" for the use I gave them.
Good luck with the choice.
BJ
Good luck with the choice.
BJ
I really need to proof read for stupid auto correct changes!
"Like in in" should have read as "I am like you in that"... And "gat" is Great!
BJ
Tough call @relgate
All good options, i have the cooper AT3, over 40,000km and they still look new. May be worth considering. I think they would be around the BFG to ST Maxx pricing. For me 95% of my driving is highway, but these still go great offroad.
When these do wear out i will try the St Maxx i think, something a bit more aggressive.
Just to throw another option into the mix mate
All good options, i have the cooper AT3, over 40,000km and they still look new. May be worth considering. I think they would be around the BFG to ST Maxx pricing. For me 95% of my driving is highway, but these still go great offroad.
When these do wear out i will try the St Maxx i think, something a bit more aggressive.
Just to throw another option into the mix mate
Tough call @relgate
All good options, i have the cooper AT3, over 40,000km and they still look new. May be worth considering. I think they would be around the BFG to ST Maxx pricing. For me 95% of my driving is highway, but these still go great offroad.
When these do wear out i will try the St Maxx i think, something a bit more aggressive.
Just to throw another option into the mix mate
Ah yes, forgot to put those on the list. Thanks @Moto Moto
You might have pushed me over the edge...