expedition prep opinions....

[Pskhaat]

Two spares?

As all have said, live axle swap can wait.

Three biggest things for me to make `expedition' travel:

1. Dual (or more) batteries
2. Extra starter & extra alternator
3. Two spares tires.
4. Lift (if only for weight bearing)
5. For old vehicles extra voltage regulators.

The rest you have mentioned or is other common sense material. For me its all about limping home in the worst case. I can't tell you how many times I've used my dual battery setup for starting. I have yet to use the dual spares, but I totally foresee the day as I have blown a tire far out on the trail that I must traverse to get back.

Starters are also prone to failure on modern vehicles (more than older ones). And I know too many instances of failing alternators during harsh conditions.

 

[Pskhaat]

came with an auto and 4.56 gears

4Runner's came stock with 4.56s? Even if you did go to 33s, I think 4.56s would be absolutely fine for you, especially considering you have an automatic w/ torque converter.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

EX.....

I would be surprised if you have 4.56 gears from the factory.....if you do....good for you!

I used the link below to help determine my Toyota factory gear ratio (by VIN number) when I was trying to decide on larger tires.

Check out the link below.


http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/other/4_axles.html

 

[SixLug]

yes...it sounds odd, and maybe amazing to some....but I know for a FACT that the 3.0L, auto 4Runners (second gen anyway) came with 4.56 gears from the factory with the 225/75R15's and 4.88 gears with the 31" tire package....look up the axle codes.

I have run 33"s with my 4.56's (another thing I know for a fact I have) and my gas mileage went to around 10 mpg on the interstate....so needless to say, I need lower gears for 33's. Look up this stuff on yotatech.com too...you'll see that the most common gear ration with an auto and 33's are 5.29's to regain stock performance.

Pskhaat.....thanks for the list...those most of those were items I was thinking I might need.

Bundubasher....if "my ears were burning" is a bad thing....Im sorry if I bugged you. Besides overland I do some other mild types of fourwheeling, and the locker will come in handy. And although, yes it takes a lot of cash to do this, I am slowly doing, even while wheeling and traveling. Thanks for your input though.....and I totally dig your roofrack.

Thanks all you guys for the help....keep it comin if you think of anything else.:elkgrin:

 

[Scott Brady]

My ears were burning...

It is very easy to over prep. for a trans-african expedition: lockers and bulbars and all sorts of BS! Some of this kit is very expensive (and heavy) and finding the cash for kitting out your truck further delays you actually getting out there! People cross africa in 2wds all the time and although a winch "may" come in handy I think lockers are a little extreme for "overlanding" where longetivity, simplicity and self reliance are the watch words. Just my 2c's

Glad they were burning, and you stopped into the forum to say hi, and offer your opinion.

I do agree with what you are saying, though I have found several situations in Mexico where a diff lock was helpful. They are more of a luxury, but do help the driver to maintain slow, and steady progress through technical terrain.

Then again, I have found more than a few times I thought the trail was pretty rough, only to be passed by a 2wd truck with 10 locals in the back on the way to the next town. I asked the driver of one of these trucks (he had a flat, and no jack) if they needed 4wd. He just smiled, and pointed to the ten people sitting on the side of the road. "they push sometimes" he responded. :ylsmoke:

The one area I would resist doing much, if any modifications is to the motor. Keep things as stock and serviceable as possible.

 

[Nullifier]

Scott's on the money with the stock motor thing. I have built way to many motors to know that add ons mean headaches, and that is the last thing you want when you're 100 miles from anywhere.

 

[SixLug]

ok...as far as engine mods go....1. are things like a bored out throttle body from DOA and maybe a cat back exhaust cool? or is that too much? 2. what do you guys think about doing something to the exhaust manifolds or getting headers? The thing is, is that the crossover exhaust on the 3.0 is such a restricting factor on this engine...the pass. side manifold crosses over and dumps into the driver's side manifold right on top of the #5 or #6 (not sure which #it is) cylinder, and then all that is bottle-necked out the driver's side manifold. VERY RESTRICTIVE. If you guys think I should just let it be, then say so, but otherwise...would headers be too much or what?

Other than this...I was pretty much going to leave it alone. Its a new Jasper reman. 3.0 (not rebuilt...remanufactured) with 25K that I have put on it, so its in awesome shape. Let me know...Alex

 

[SixLug]

ok guys....What in your opinion would your next mod be if you had about 200-300 bucks after seeing what I already have on the first page?

 

[Nullifier]

How about getting the material to fab a nice drawer system for organising your gear. That would be nice Tools extractiongear below. Camping and food on top.

 

[SixLug]

good idea....I can actually get most of the materials for free because my dad owns a sign and stained glass business, and I can get most of that stuff for free. But it is something I need to work on. Any other ideas? I was thinking maybe a dual battery setup or an ARB snorkel. What do you think? Alex

 

[SixLug]

bump?

 

[Pskhaat]

would your next mod be if you had about 200-300

Can't remember which of these you already have:

1. Dual batteries (dual alternators if possible),
2. Dual fuel tanks,
3. On board air.

Of all the mods I've ever done to my vehicles, the one that has saved me time & again is the dual batteries, and though it may not be a fun mod, done properly it's non-trivial and very valuable.

 

[SixLug]

sweet...thats what Im lookin for....stuff that comes in handy the most. Thanks man....Alex