4x4ing Pics

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Awesome day on Sunday - 70 km of 4x4ing over 5 farms in Okaihau. Run by the Okaihau Fire Brigade - thanks guys, awesome event, and really well organised!

Was quite dry, so not many mud pics, but here are some of the better ones that I got. Ran out of film early on, so not many, but still some cool ones:

There were 44 vehicles and 102 people participating. We separated into 5 groups 10mins apart to save waiting time at obstacles.

Our group consisted of our willys, a couple of suzukis, a couple of hilux surfs, a regular hilux ute, a Mitsibishi CJ and a Mu.

The group in the morning before the fog cleared...

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Me, stuck in bog being towed out by the Mitsubishi CJ driven by my mechanic.

Only the first two vehicles got through here (the first two) by then it was too boggy without specialist tyres and lockers.

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It is much deeper than it looks in the pic.

Here is one of my old man towing a surf out with the willys.

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We only got stuck once more going through a bog noone else was game to try. And I stalled it in a river coz its a petrol, out with the CRC, and she started and I was away - no assistance required!

Anyway, here's one of the Suzuki Jimny with road tyres proving that you don't need a hard-out 4x4 to cross a river.

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But then again, maybe you do! (same spot about half a second later.)

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My mechanic showing us how it's done in his CJ. me lining up for my go in background with the Mu.

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Me trying to prove to my mechanic that his jeep is soft, and a proper bow-wave is what is needed

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A few rocks - but nothing serious

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Interior of willys afterwards.

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Willys CJ-5 in another group - awesome!

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And its powered by a 350 chev!!!!

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All in all an awesome day. Wish I had a couple of extra pics, but no film.

It could have been a little wetter, but the bogs (although they don't look it) were very deep and sloppy, and quite a challenge.

Have a couple of other pics, but they are boring group pics etc. Really good time had by all.

No major breakages, in our group. One of the surfs had a small fire in the engine bay that was put out smartly. Afterwards it would n't go into 4wd, but my mechanic diagnosed a melted vacuum tube for the 4wd and he was back running in a couple of minutes.

Someone in another vehicle sucked water through his intake and it f**ked his engine (conrod I think), but that was the only "fatality".

One woman needs new pants after she drove her dsicovery off a bank/cliff, but she and her car were recovered a little worse for wear, but essentially undamaged.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the pics.

-Bravo

[bimmer boy 21]

a willys jeep aye

my dad has one i think ,aswell as a grand jeep

i will tell my dad bout that willys jeep tho he loves them

... my dad and his mate even run there own jeep club thing up in walkworth

Edited February 27, 2005 by bimmer boy

[CaM 0]

Looks like awesome fun man, go the willys!!!!!!!

[aliluya 0]

Looks like you had a good time too ... great stuf ..

[E30stz 0]

did you goto the 4x4 show @ Clevedon (just South East of Auckland) last year. I'm sure there was enuff of those jeeps there for one of them to be you.l

[bravo 35]

I went, but not in the willys, took the ute I had then down, and also had a couple of mates with their vehicles.

There weren't many original army willys at the show last year, just lots of the CJ's. Most army willys are in museums, or kept in mint cond by enthsiasts and collectors, but we like to use it as it was meant to be used. it is a 1942 vehicle, with it's original engine, body and suspension with only new electrics and the odd replaced bit like exhaust or tie-rod end, etc. If we painted it and fixed the cv joints whih started clicking last weekend, we would get something in the order of $15 grand for it as it is all original (even the shovel and jerry cans are authentic WWII items. only the axe isn't - we have the original axe, but the one on the vehicle fits better in the holster).

We quite often get angry jeep owners telling us off for thrashing such a rare vehicle, but you can buy most parts for them because, as with bimmers, all of the original dies still exist, and there is a company which makes original parts from the original dies.

Want to go this year in the willys - its on the 3rd of April I think, but it looks as though getting the boat back in the water will be a priority and I'm going to miss it

Boat scheduled to be finished in two weeks, plus one week contingency, plus two weeks required on the water to get everything sussed, and make sure all the planking swells up, gaps close, no leaks, electrics work stearing and gearbox works, engine pumps water, etc, etc.

But, if it works out, the willys will be going hard down there. Putting a winch on her sometime between now and then, and so only need lockers (not going to happen) and some new rear tyres - the current ones are getting a bit down and you can't buy that tread any more (it is an argo tread made by firestone - looks like a tractor tyre but smaller)

you can buy original willys tread (military tread), which is non-directional, but the argo tread is a directional much more suited to mud).

We have an a-frame for it, so if I do go, will probably tow her down with another 4x4 - prob a toyota landcruiser - and have two vehicles.

[CaM 0]

Awesome dude, it's a shame to see cars parked up in a museum, they still deteriorate, should be out doin what they were meant to be doing *casts mind back to old mash episodes* porn :bowdown:

[bravo 35]

yeah, my dad's mates have started calling him clinger lmao! Although I got "radar" the other day - not impressed... not impressed at all. :thumbsdown:

[CaM 0]

haha, gutted for you...........radar

[Guest WAGON]

i think i might take the touring out 4wd cause it bloody high enough

[bravo 35]

Old thread - new pics.

We re-restored the jeep - painted inside and out and underneath - rebuilt 'box and clutch, new back seal on the engine, engine steam cleaned and painted, Roll bars, front seatbelts, fire extinguishers. Winch to come.

Before

Edited June 13, 2006 by bravomikewhiskey

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After

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New 4x4 toy also 90% purchased - 2.8L turbo diesel Rocky with a lift kit all round bars - and difflocks - all the toys. Will post pics when we roll it or something.

It'll be a third-each partnership me, my brother and Dad so we stop breaking the jeep.

Blew the rear seal on the engine and snapped front and rear LHS leaf springs and removed exhaust in the above run. Its a genuine 1942 Willy's and is often borrowed by the transport museum up here so we want to stop killing it, but still use it for off-roading so need a new toy to do the hard runs in.

One more...

Edited June 13, 2006 by bravomikewhiskey