4WDing

[304runner]

My wife I just bought our first one before Christmas. We have a stock standard r51 Nissan Pathfinder. Haven't done much with it yet. We're newbies to 4WDing so are going to get some lessons and then get out amongst it.

Pick up a few copies of 4wdAction from your local newsagent or servo, there are a stack of hints and tips for beginners in their mags.

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

As long as you can weed out all the self promotion and the products they push onto you from "sponsors".

The best way to learn is to head out with a reputable club. They will talk you through a lot and give you tips on what to do. 4WD courses aren't bad, but you would learn a lot more from a couple of trips out with a club. My opinion anyway. Even though I have a mate that runs a 4WD training business.

Me and the wife learnt by doing. We went out to a local spot every weekend, both days, for about 6 months and just drove everything and listened to everyone that would give us advice. You soon learn the advice to follow and you do get the feel of the car.

One piece of advice I will give you is that the car is a whole lot more capable than you think it is. With the right pressures, you can drive just about anything, (Grand Canyon sized ruts aside). It all depends on what sort of driving and terrain you want to do.

 

[Marko_SJ]

My wife I just bought our first one before Christmas. We have a stock standard r51 Nissan Pathfinder. Haven't done much with it yet. We're newbies to 4WDing so are going to get some lessons and then get out amongst it.

Defintely go with a club or people who you know have been doing 4x4ing for a while. I probably would take 4x4action with a grain of salt. Do everything NAAF has said. Another thing to be wary of is that there are different types of 4x4ers too:

There are people who like to drive extreme stuff that really know their (S word goes here) that will help you and be good for advice, but you wont be able to go with them because of the terrain and vehicles.

There are people who like to break stuff, or talk you into doing something silly, these people are to be avoided

Then there are good 4x4ers who will be patient with you and give you proper advice, find these people.

Then theres the final category, people who don't drive anything difficult, just tear up dirt and roll cars doing donuts etc and just make the rest of us look bad. Similar to "mang" i suppose.

Saw a few of these specimens last time I went to gunn point. Doing burnouts next to the road, shouting and were obviously pissed as newts doing all of this. Again, to be avoided.



Where are you located also I could maybe, maybe get you into a trip off another board?

 

[SV6 Matt]

Wow darwin is abit of a drive away for me to play at haha, maybe one day when i do a trip up the far north.

I only got my first 4x4 this time last year, and never having previous driving experience in a fourby i used to get out on my local tracks every afternoon after work, usually solo and sometimes with a mate in his rodeo. Started on the easy stuff till i got use to how my car handles and flex's and within 3-4 months i was attempting and conquering tracks in my stock cruiser that experienced 4x4 people were struggling in the 4"lifted 35" mud terrain tyred 80 series cruisers

Fourby clubs are a good source of info, especially when you go out on tag alongs and befreind local groups on facebook incase you go out and need a recovery, a month after i got my car it had nearly bald road tyres, got stuck in a mud puddle someone had dug in the middle of a field hiding in grass, and my brothers cruiser ute couldnt budge me, a post on the local fourby group page and i had 3 offers of assistance in 5 minutes and sure enough someone came out for a laugh and a quick recovery

 

[ncass11]

not sure if this link will work, my landy from last weekend

[video]https://fbcdn-video-a.akamaihd.net/hvideo-ak-prn2/v/t42/1520937_10201761118925383_1308545827_n.mp4?oh=0ad4 81bc029eb9f660455d9bb5aa0a2a&oe=53132AD1&__gda__=1393765978_324999391712d13111ea75f8caea7f2 f[/video]

my mates 12HT cruiser, didnt go so well, that road tyres for ya

took two cruisers to get him out

[video]https://fbcdn-video-a.akamaihd.net/hvideo-ak-prn2/v/t42/1464031_592247734201915_1639326484_n.mp4?oh=fbfa3b 98a63ac3eebbce47f9e2950998&oe=53133672&__gda__=1393768584_15517d5eebbe1070c41f6a4332e57fa d[/video]

 

[SV6 Matt]

Bump..

Mate just bought a Nissan Terrano, IFS import version of a pathfinder i believe, 90 something model..
Cant wait to be skull dragging him out of the situations he will put it through, thinking that it will outdo the might cruiser

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

You will e surprised Matt, they are pretty capable 4WD's, as long as he knows how to drive it.

 

[BookMe]

Buying a Nissan D22 soon. Looking for a 2008-2010 model (in my missus' price range). In black.
She wants to (I'm pushing her also lol) do a 2" body and suspension lift with 33" muddies on sunraysias. Xrox (sp?) front bar also. Rear bumper delete.

Those mods would be for a start anyway. Can look at the diffs another time lol.

Had a look at one yesterday but it was no good.

 

[Ed]

going on a trip up the high country tomorrow til monday, can't wait!

 

[rory]

Buying a Nissan D22 soon. Looking for a 2008-2010 model (in my missus' price range). In black.
She wants to (I'm pushing her also lol) do a 2" body and suspension lift with 33" muddies on sunraysias. Xrox (sp?) front bar also. Rear bumper delete.

Those mods would be for a start anyway. Can look at the diffs another time lol.

Had a look at one yesterday but it was no good.

Would steer clear of X-ROX bars, they're quite thin steel so are easily bent, only positive is the approach angle. Depends on what your priorities are really.
Also black will show scratches badly from skinny tracks. Sounds good still mate and can't wait to see some photos