Offroad Excursions - another way of using a van - camping or not

[Marlow]

From the choice of my vans, it's pretty obvious, that I just don't stick to the road.

I also use them off the road. Sometimes a bit more extreme than average.

Here's my T4 on an offroad day with a few other 4x4's:
http://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/74996_10151272911473682_42072112_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/555273_10151272910663682_546305536_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/74339_10151272911603682_273946688_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/395987_10151272910728682_1706976043_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207656_10151272911943682_1727402232_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/408551_10151272912003682_1327702648_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/734255_10151272910993682_1029201121_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/431315_10151272912273682_1926544192_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/165083_10151272912243682_1105911894_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/217798_10151272912673682_1384398503_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/19412_10151272917713682_578239265_n.jpg

A bit of video was also gathered

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSw2AvhpehY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHXKDo16fUE

Obviously that bus isn't standard. It's a T4 Syncro, but it's lifted 50mm on Seikel offroad suspension and I've also replaced the cover under the engine with a 2 mm steel-bashpan.

For tyres, I'm running Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S tyres.

/M

[Marlow]

But also my LT's see their fair share of offroad use. Here's the high top in terrain.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/p417x417/536012_10151250477398682_453263703_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/383877_10151253890108682_1852893810_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/268177_10151250476878682_1640654927_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/551736_10151250505408682_154409601_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/537859_10151253890103682_1528797616_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/542458_10151296336743682_1174177293_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/148740_10151298109178682_1005982414_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/312343_10151298109383682_553509906_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/554449_10151298109478682_1965753119_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/555270_10151298192953682_1815163379_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/408481_10151298193033682_138970699_n.jpg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIlg2MxcHuc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mQJZkiHtvo

/M

[Marlow]

Here are a few other nice examples of people, who are not afraid of taking their vans off the road.

Italian T3 club - some real nice metal there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsBb1oEeY1U&list=FLdbxKoDUAeSTCNsIojEVmnw

MiniBrutes - Japanese 4WD Kei Vans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNTlr65s0Dw

/M

[mxdave]

WHY DID I LOOK AT THIS!

My old 2.4 was a great offroader with a set of BF's AT but always wanted a Syncro

[Dirty1]

I told ya Davey, knew you'd love that stuff.

[mxdave]

Gonna have to get the chunkies for the T4 again now :D

Van's offroad are far cooler than Jeeps :cool:

[Marlow]

Gonna have to get the chunkies for the T4 again now :D

Van's offroad are far cooler than Jeeps :cool:

I might part with 4 used Yokohama Geolandar 235/60R16 100H A/T tyres, if you're interested.

/M

[Marlow]

I've been at it again. In the LT with Leinster 4x4 is the Carrig Forests at the Wicklow/Wexford border. Serious good craic.

Ross, attacking a waterhole, that was a bit too muddy for the poor Pajero.
http://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1150195_10151662246163682_789610341_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/993676_10151662246083682_589078751_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/998912_10151662246843682_936745895_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1170745_10151662246908682_680537435_n.jpg
I hope, there isn't too much wrong with it. Had full power, but was pretty smokey, after we got it out.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/60209_10151662247848682_823341792_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1011497_10151662247683682_976573034_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1001403_10151662255953682_1637067988_n.jpg
The next mishap.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/935938_10151662248488682_228572287_n.jpg
Trying to get the spring back in.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/526453_10151662248838682_126244748_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/998457_10151662252743682_2040728712_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/972175_10151662253953682_1678825187_n.jpg
The campsite in the forest.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1146710_10151662249243682_567984982_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1157554_10151662250003682_48665225_n.jpg
This was the extreme of my ground clearance. Just barely made it over this. Had to be winched over the next one, because I had issues with my front difflocker and transferbox.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1006312_10151662250648682_1269894530_n.jpg
I only had issues at the bottom of the stretch. The remainder was tackled without hassle.

[Marlow]

http://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1170749_10151662250918682_2083669546_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1150173_10151662251598682_1071586462_n.jpg
Relocating a few stones to make sure the Vitara will make it. The LT needed waffleboards to get out at the bottom.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1150820_10151662252063682_419642090_n.jpg
This however was managed without any hassle whatsoever.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1146647_10151662254448682_629531939_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/954889_10151662255158682_703011351_n.jpg
In the forest on a trail, that was supposed to be intermediate, but virtually had disappeared.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1002882_10151662255123682_642144913_n.jpg
The Vitara didn't like this waterhole. There was no issues for the LT.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1005223_10151662255773682_353335861_n.jpg
And this stretch, I wasn't gonna be able to tackle. It dips deep first and then goes straight up at an angle. Need more groundclearance first.

/M