Re: The Official Off Road Roll Call Thread
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 8:08 am
I don't know about taking my Safari OFF road but I am definitely interested in wandering along on "the road less traveled". More of an overlander than a rock crawler or stump jumper. I am a member of H/U and subscribe to their motto ..." Not all who wander are lost". Did the Baja on a KLR 650 for six weeks and want to repeat the experience in a camperized AWD van.
I am planning on spending next Winter in Baja in an AWD Safari van, probably parked at Santispac most of the time. My genuine "off roading" down there would be done by tricked out folding mountain bike
OR
exploring the shoreline in a folding kayak.
Name: LAZ 1
1998 & 1999 Safari AWD
Lift: Just spent an interesting afternoon in Duncan installing the DIY 2" front end body lift blocks into my White 99 CARGO van. I also have all the parts for another front end 2" body block lift on my Green 98 van. AND I have an appointment this Friday with Island Springs in Ladysmith to do a rear 4" lift adding another long top leaf, re-arcing the springs and either KONI or Bilstein shocks.
Diff: 3.73 in the 98, 3.42 in the 99. The 98 SUPPOSEDLY had a G80 replacement installed by the previous owner but so far have not noticed it (if it is there).
Tires: currently running 215/75/R15 but soon will go with a set of LT235/75/R15. Still debating about tires ... since overlanding in a VAN involves mostly SOME type of road, a six or eight ply M & S rated All Terrain tire with a VERY STIFF side wall, to minimise flex and " wind wander" at hiway speed, is more suitable to me than a more aggressive tread pattern. Previously, I have run Mud Terrain tires (27/8.50/R14") on a couple of my Toyota LE 4x4 vans and the improvement in handling on and off road was IMMENSE. However, my last two MPV 4WD vans ran the much less agressive Pirelli Scorpions and Michelin LTX tires and these were surprisingly adequate on DRY dirt roads.
I would really enjoy getting together with other AWD ASTRO/SAFARI owners to compare gear. And perhaps could be induced to do a bit of "fender bending" in my beater 99 cargo Safari. But the 98 is too pretty and clean to mangle.
(;{)
LAZ 1
PS: I AM CURRENTLY A HOMELESS PERSON LIVING IN MY 36' motorhome parked in Colwood. I don't have an actual address. Mostly I wander around South Vancouver Island in the Summers and some Southernly warmer place for the Winters.
Have van, will.travel.
I am planning on spending next Winter in Baja in an AWD Safari van, probably parked at Santispac most of the time. My genuine "off roading" down there would be done by tricked out folding mountain bike
OR
exploring the shoreline in a folding kayak.
Name: LAZ 1
1998 & 1999 Safari AWD
Lift: Just spent an interesting afternoon in Duncan installing the DIY 2" front end body lift blocks into my White 99 CARGO van. I also have all the parts for another front end 2" body block lift on my Green 98 van. AND I have an appointment this Friday with Island Springs in Ladysmith to do a rear 4" lift adding another long top leaf, re-arcing the springs and either KONI or Bilstein shocks.
Diff: 3.73 in the 98, 3.42 in the 99. The 98 SUPPOSEDLY had a G80 replacement installed by the previous owner but so far have not noticed it (if it is there).
Tires: currently running 215/75/R15 but soon will go with a set of LT235/75/R15. Still debating about tires ... since overlanding in a VAN involves mostly SOME type of road, a six or eight ply M & S rated All Terrain tire with a VERY STIFF side wall, to minimise flex and " wind wander" at hiway speed, is more suitable to me than a more aggressive tread pattern. Previously, I have run Mud Terrain tires (27/8.50/R14") on a couple of my Toyota LE 4x4 vans and the improvement in handling on and off road was IMMENSE. However, my last two MPV 4WD vans ran the much less agressive Pirelli Scorpions and Michelin LTX tires and these were surprisingly adequate on DRY dirt roads.
I would really enjoy getting together with other AWD ASTRO/SAFARI owners to compare gear. And perhaps could be induced to do a bit of "fender bending" in my beater 99 cargo Safari. But the 98 is too pretty and clean to mangle.
(;{)
LAZ 1
PS: I AM CURRENTLY A HOMELESS PERSON LIVING IN MY 36' motorhome parked in Colwood. I don't have an actual address. Mostly I wander around South Vancouver Island in the Summers and some Southernly warmer place for the Winters.
Have van, will.travel.
