Tips to make commodore more dirtbike towing worthy?

[Heffer_Slayer]

Gday guys, i have been toying with idea's on getting a new car to tow the dirtbike (possibley a hilux or a crewman/rtv) but i dont really want to give up the vt.

The reason i am thinking a new car is simple. I lack ground clearance in my vt.

Facing the harsh reality of bush roads, there are some with small ruts, potholes, mud and other harsh terrain.

So instead of just "giving up" on my current car, maybe there is something i can do to it, to minimize damage/scrapes when i want to go dirt bike riding?

Basically im trying to get a compromise with my current car so i can keep it!

I just dont want to scrape my ass everywhere in the bush.
Is there anything i can put on the car to protect my skirts/underbody incase of nastys? More so bottoming and scraping.

I love my commodore and would hate for it to get damaged while im going bush, so far i have just been making my friends drive, but there are times i want to just go when they are not avail ect

[2005vzute]

airbag suspension jack it up when in the bush, drop it down when its on the road haha, thats all i can think off..or something similar..possibly a permanent raise if you'd be happy to drive it on road like that?

[Heffer_Slayer]

ha ha ive thought of airbag suspension to.... Though in all seriousness whats it worth?

A permanent raise could be good and bad...main reason is i think it would look totally pox. :\
See my signature for what my car looks like at the moment.

[Happydaze]

you could raise the VT back up, wont look as tough but more practical

[2005vzute]

ahh man...can't permanently raise a car like that...unless you wanted to give it that 4wd look haha...i have no idea mate..i've seen lots of prices for this...have a look at the airbag man, i think it is..i've seen like 300 bux pair, right up to thousands..i dunno a hell of a lot about suspension, so you might need to contact someone or get someone else wiht advice to help ya out on that one

[Happydaze]

or get another tow car

[Heffer_Slayer]

Mmmm another car at this stage might be to much. 2x Rego's, 2x Insurance 2x EVERYTHING! Though it may end up being my cheapest option...

and thte airbag thing may be just a dream :P ha ha

[TrikkBen]

I have an old set of HQ air shockers that you pump up when you want to tow, used to use them to tow the race cars. Maybe you could look at something like that.

They are pretty much a shocker but have a small airbag inside that you fill and it lifts the car up. Might need a new set of rear spring but it would be easy to change them, just pump up the shockers and slide them in.
Or you could go the full bag setup, mine cost me 3000 plus controller etc. cost me 4200. I would only use proper USA bags, as those 300 buck special pop easy and are just plain poo.

Ben

[Heffer_Slayer]

Those pump up air shockers sound like a good idea...what are they worth ? Being only 20 and just started full time work, main goal is a save for a house...this may just be the ticket..

[calais24/7]

Cant you get some sort of skin made up that will bolt up under your car to protect it? Maybe a thing sheet of steel cut out to the right diemensions and bolt it in? Just a though

[Heffer_Slayer]

Are you thinking like a car bra type thing?
Out in the bush there may be some roads that have decent ruts and what not in them, i wouldn't want the bodykit to be dragging a fair distance, and if it gets hit hard enough there is a possibility it could snap off?

[TrikkBen]

I dunno how much they would be, these are pretty old. have a geez around you might find some.

[danja]

I seem to recall hearing the country pack came with a sump protector, and it's possible the one that came stock on VZ's (and possibly VY?) might bolt straight onto a VT. Also there is the stock country pack suspension to consider, it's not stupidly high, but gives you a bit more room to play with.

[dumpedvs]

get a mate to take ur bike for you? or just get a shitty ute, my mate picked up a moti ute for $500 bucks. Gets from A to B

[Heffer_Slayer]

get a mate to take ur bike for you? or just get a shitty ute, my mate picked up a moti ute for $500 bucks. Gets from A to B

Thats what i have been doing now....but there are times when its spare of the moment, everybody is busy and you just wanna go!!

A moty ute is another possible option...for $500!? Thats crazy...If i could get a moty ute for $500 with a rwc id be laughin...but id say thats impossible :P

[vn_v6]

no its not mate, i got my vn for 950 with rego.....

[dumpedvs]

yeh he was pretty lucky it only needed a handbrake cable. still you could be able to find one for 1000, I saw a van in a used car sales for $800. It was nothing special but who cares if you scratch it

[Heffer_Slayer]

no its not mate, i got my vn for 950 with rego.....

...are you for real?! You got your vn for $950, with a rwc?! family friend or something though right....?

[Stretchomatic]

dude just jump on ebay or carsales and search everything from cheapest first...you'll be amazed at the bomby tow cars you could find. best thing is they dont really need insurance, just third party. i got my vl country pack for 1500 with 8 months rego...goes everywhere. i'd hate to think what i could do with a old hilux or rodeo.

[Heffer_Slayer]

Thats a friggin sweet idea, ill scout around now and see what i can find.

[calais24/7]

Nah i never thought of a car bra, just a big sheet of some sort that attaches to the bottom of your car, like all the rally cars do

[Heffer_Slayer]

So ive been hunting around for bomb cars. And well, there sure are some bomb cars out there. But not many utes that are in my league of bomb car worthy.

Most cars around the $1500 mark (ute wise) are VERY rough. And would need a bit of money spent on rwc i would image. Which defeats the purpose of buying a $1500 car if you ask me.
Not to mention the extra rego costs, servicing and insurance

Now i was re reading this and people mentioned air bag suspension. Now i know airbag suspension is very expensive, and for that sort of money i would probebly be better off getting a second car, (its roughly 2,000 to 5,000 isn't it).
Anyway, I was now thinking is it possible to get adjustable suspension? Where you can just take to it with a air compressor and jack up the ride height of your car? Or something along those lines where you have to do it manually. Doing it manually would be alot cheaper i would imagine because you dont need a compressor in your boot and what not.

If you can get them, where do i go? How much will they be?

[sleepa]

I know you can get those helper air bags that go in the back end to raise it up, they use them for caravans. You can just hook it up to an air compressor when you need to use them. Not sure about the fronts though, you might have to get proper airbag struts.

[old mate]

its not just a driving thing. like pay big attention on wheel placement etc, it shouldnt be too hard unless you're going crazy offroad. where abouts does it scrape?

what spring are you running? i know that my ute is different but lows are a pretty good compromise for height and looks. but you have that body kit.

hmm, pump up shocks in the rear would help rear clearance but it would lose approach angle because the car angle change would make it slightly more nose down.