I plan on some serious offroading on my gen 4LWB this weekend.apart from taking off side steps should I remove the front and rear bumpers?
Or there is no need to take off any of those?
depends on your definition of 'serious'.
its a pretty capable vehicle generally. if you're going to do some rocky bits, it would be wise to remove the side steps. IF you have a towbar, it will protect your rear bumper mostly. the front approach angle is great, so you should be able to tackle most obstacles.
biggest issue is normally ground clearance (rocky trails again). Get some spacers - then you'll be able to go where most of the hardcore folks go.
P.s. notice the word 'most' is used a lot - as I said, it depends on your definition of serious. if you notice all of the other vehicles are highly modified and with serious additional clearance you might be looking for trouble.
its a pretty capable vehicle generally. if you're going to do some rocky bits, it would be wise to remove the side steps. IF you have a towbar, it will protect your rear bumper mostly. the front approach angle is great, so you should be able to tackle most obstacles.
biggest issue is normally ground clearance (rocky trails again). Get some spacers - then you'll be able to go where most of the hardcore folks go.
P.s. notice the word 'most' is used a lot - as I said, it depends on your definition of serious. if you notice all of the other vehicles are highly modified and with serious additional clearance you might be looking for trouble.
Karl
Thank you.. Have removed the side steps... But spacers will lift the body only?? How do we lift the entire chasi or diff parts that really look low..
Hi Josef,
Gemaskerde Tuinvurk is right, the spacers on. The Pajero due to the fact it has independant suspension will mean it will increase the clearance under the Pajero as well, this is typically not possible with the solid axle 4x4 which would only raise the body. The front bumper should be fine, rear bumper does tend to hook on the serious stuff, but so do all the other LWB 4x4's. I am a firm believer of protect rather than replace. The standard bash plates are just for show, I would suggest investing in a good set of protection plates. So in summary, remove running boards, add protection plates, add spacers and watch your rear bumper, and also the centre exhaumine has a few minor dings.
Hope that helps
Cheers
David
Gemaskerde Tuinvurk is right, the spacers on. The Pajero due to the fact it has independant suspension will mean it will increase the clearance under the Pajero as well, this is typically not possible with the solid axle 4x4 which would only raise the body. The front bumper should be fine, rear bumper does tend to hook on the serious stuff, but so do all the other LWB 4x4's. I am a firm believer of protect rather than replace. The standard bash plates are just for show, I would suggest investing in a good set of protection plates. So in summary, remove running boards, add protection plates, add spacers and watch your rear bumper, and also the centre exhaumine has a few minor dings.
Hope that helps
Cheers
David
Josef,
Just some advice, the Pajero approach angle is really good, so if the serious offroading means that you would damage the front bumper, it is very likely that you would damage underneath, and almost guaranteed that you would do damage to the rear bumper as well. In my opinion if your front bumper cannot clear the said obstacle, I would choose another route. I would leave front bumper on, and consider removing the rear based on the time available, before you go and play.
Just some of my observations, the front approach angle on the Pajero is very good, probably 1 of the better ones, break over is average and rear clearance ave, however the Toyota 100 series. Rear dimensions are very similar to the pajero and prone to the same type of damage on rough stuff, they just not to takk about it so it appears.
Post some pics of your weekend once done.
Cheers
Just some advice, the Pajero approach angle is really good, so if the serious offroading means that you would damage the front bumper, it is very likely that you would damage underneath, and almost guaranteed that you would do damage to the rear bumper as well. In my opinion if your front bumper cannot clear the said obstacle, I would choose another route. I would leave front bumper on, and consider removing the rear based on the time available, before you go and play.
Just some of my observations, the front approach angle on the Pajero is very good, probably 1 of the better ones, break over is average and rear clearance ave, however the Toyota 100 series. Rear dimensions are very similar to the pajero and prone to the same type of damage on rough stuff, they just not to takk about it so it appears.
Post some pics of your weekend once done.
Cheers
Good advice guys. i've found keeping my tyres inflated at about 1.8 to 2 bar on hard surface trails keeps my ground clearance suitable for 90% of the trail / obstacles. My towbar receiver square tubing is a big aid in protecting my rear bumper, especially on declines.
If you can remove the black strips at the bottom of the rear bumper, and the plastic rear middle-lip beforehand, you WILL save yourself a few hours home-maintenance.
on thicker sand trails, you generally won't have any hassels so keep the tyre pressure low.
David and GT, have you had the spacers fitted? my concern is the height i've been reading: i'm not sure that much is necessary, do you think 10mm spacers would be ok?
If you can remove the black strips at the bottom of the rear bumper, and the plastic rear middle-lip beforehand, you WILL save yourself a few hours home-maintenance.
on thicker sand trails, you generally won't have any hassels so keep the tyre pressure low.
David and GT, have you had the spacers fitted? my concern is the height i've been reading: i'm not sure that much is necessary, do you think 10mm spacers would be ok?
Hi Red Cat,
My spacers are not in yet, I have opted for air bags in rear which gave me 30mm lift, and the smaller spacer up front which will give +-45mm lift, since I fitted my replacement bumper dropped 15mm so that would be a 30mm lift all round, which I am happy with that for now, just needed a little ride height. Have got some conveyor belt for rear if need be, but will see before I go there.
Front spacers should be in soon, just a bit busy at the moment.
Hope that helps
Cheers
David
My spacers are not in yet, I have opted for air bags in rear which gave me 30mm lift, and the smaller spacer up front which will give +-45mm lift, since I fitted my replacement bumper dropped 15mm so that would be a 30mm lift all round, which I am happy with that for now, just needed a little ride height. Have got some conveyor belt for rear if need be, but will see before I go there.
Front spacers should be in soon, just a bit busy at the moment.
Hope that helps
Cheers
David
I think the trail was way too serious for pajero or maybe I'm a newbie in offroading. The track was sticky mud with slight rain all the way with big rocks and very steep uphills.. As the trail started it was ok but it became scary in the middle and I cudnt backout either as there is not much space and behind me some 30 other 4x4s... Couple of places I had to be towed up ...
The scary part is the trail return was on the same track.. I had no control over the pajero in the downhill..it's like I'm being pushed down from a steep mountain.. I had posted a thread earlier Abt the less engine breaking of my auto pajero..I was on 4LLC with tiptronic on 1st and even then I was too fast on the slopes and if i apply brakes I can't steer and the vehicle it goes by its own..man it was so scary...all the other cars had much more engine breaking..I was the only one to be pulled/holded from behind on two extreme slopes with a winch..and then I tried to go by my own on one slope and result was two tyre got burst hitting a rock:(
One vehicle toppled on the slope which I was pulled from behind..
I think the pajero is too heavy with no hill descent assist.. On way up TC or centre diff locks dint help much with this terrain..
Damages; two tyre burst, scrapes here and there,underbody protection dents here and there,diesel tank protection broken, rear bumper dent as shown in pic..
Last edited by Josef9177 on Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:58 pm, edited 2 times in total.
How come the ABS dint work at all yes my tyres was normal tyres and not suitable for this track with sticky mud all over on the grooves..