Hey all,
I'm back in a 4x4 after having given it away some 9 or 10 years ago due to sinking far too much money into the hobby. Back then I was in my late 20s with a GQ on 37s, RB30 turbo on straight gas with 2inch spring + 2inch body lift and a substantial guard chop. I was abusive to the thing and gave it tonnes of stick even on road and just kept breaking gearboxes, clutches and tyres. I blew a diff too but that was drag racing and the rest of it held up quite well but it as just too expensive to drive like that.
Last year I was car shopping and looked at the MQ triton but at the last moment decided to steer clear due to some concerns over prior models reliability and went ahead and bought a Mazda 6 GT with the twin turbo diesel which I've used to tour around eastern Australia for the past 10 months pulling not one but two caravans. Upon returning to Melbourne a couple months ago I decided it was time to cut my losses and get a Ute as the Mazda for all its positives was just too restrictive for touring and before you know it I've got a new MQ exceed in the driveway.
I fitted KO2 all terrains on the way home from the dealer and then immediately got the EGR trade top hard lid, TJM steps (bent the factory ones on the 3rd day of ownership), roof rack and a few smaller items ordered and fitted as they arrived. Currently I'm gearing up to do suspension as the fronts already not coping and then the bullbar and winch will go on at the same time. I've already done an on board compressor and fitting up an air tank shortly, uhf gear about to go on and well you know how these things go.
I've had it out a few times so far just getting a feel for it and whilst it's not much chop on my old GQ it's still capable with correct line choices and awfully comfortable and easy with the auto and 31 inch tyres. The cars not perfect but my dislikes are really limited and mostly fidly stuff like cruise control engagement and horrible reverse camera. Completely stock with only the tyres it was using 10 litres per hundred and now with the bits bolted in that's up to 11.5l/100km with 50kg of gear permanently on board which is great for a large car but it's an adjustment as my Maxda did 12l/100km with a caravan - a total weight of 3.2 tonne... My wallets already worn out.
Anyway for those who read it all it's good to be here, keen to get to know some of you and get some wheeling done although these days I'm a bit older and slower and tend to tread lightly.