Herbie wrote:Tom, the vids look like good fun. A few places where I'd fear for the state of my sidewalls, and a few spots I know my wife would be uncomfortable with the drop-offs, etc., but looks mostly manageable.
Generally speaking, I never do any off-road if there's a way to do it on-road, and never a hard-trail if there's an easy one. Put me down for all the sneak routes, bypasses, and bail-outs.
Not yet discussed: How long of a trip are we thinking, overall? I'm of the opinion that anything less than 3 days is hard to justify unless close to home. I'm not sure my wife/kid have the stamina for a REALLY long trip yet, but they've surprised me before...
Generally speaking, I never do any on-road if there's a way to do it off-road, and never a easy-trail if there's a hard one. Don't put me down for any of the sneak routes, bypasses, and bail-outs.
Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
Soon to have the standard G80 locker installed in rear.
I had one of those in my van. First time (I think) I spun at low speed it broke. Those units are not meant to work at high differential wheel speed (one spinning one stationary), the engaging mechanism is very light weight. They are known to fail off road.
Your mileage may vary.
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710
Soon to have the standard G80 locker installed in rear.
I had one of those in my van. First time (I think) I spun at low speed it broke. Those units are not meant to work at high differential wheel speed (one spinning one stationary), the engaging mechanism is very light weight. They are known to fail off road.
Your mileage may vary.
Yea, I have heard that, but it is my cheap alternative for right now.... Don't have the money to pony up for an aftermarket one just yet.
I think Tom is running a Detroit, but not too sure.
I just mentioned that because it is a lot of time and or money to install a different carrier due to the gears needing to be set up. It's not necessarily something you want to do (or pay to be done) more than once.
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710
photo_van wrote:I think Tom is running a Detroit, but not too sure.
I just mentioned that because it is a lot of time and or money to install a different carrier due to the gears needing to be set up. It's not necessarily something you want to do (or pay to be done) more than once.
Well, I got the g80, complete with gears, shims and pinion for 100$, the labor is going to be free as I am doing it myself under guidance from someone who has done lots of locker installs. So I will still have my gear set if the g80 ever blows up, and at that time I will probably have a detroit locker installed.
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710
Zexel Torsen rear diff w/3.73's
Open front for now cast iron diff in the shed
np136 transfer case for today
np236 in the shed
Captn. Crunch
"I don't beat my rig-I use it to it's maximum potential"
1994 Safari conversion (sold) and miss'n it!
1999 Safari SLE AWD junked
2003 GMC Safari AWD SLT
cast iron Torsen equipped front diff
S-10 leafs-G80 rear w/3.73’s
2” body lift w/Falken Wildpeak AT’s
Tree hugger wheeler. Like going boldly where no Astro has gone before! Trails and established routes only, avoid running over plants and critters as much as possible. More nights out, the better.
mountains of eastern California
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710
