Awesome ute for 21grand, plenty of go rough when unloaded and zero traction on wet grass which is fun except when your trying to get out of your mates backyard and end up against his colourbond fence
after constant whinging from the other half about the ride and a few trips from Newcastle back home with a mate and a single cab full of Crap so it doesnt get wet.
so the search began hilux too pricey, Dmax and Colorado the works utes are terrible, a BT50 or Ranger was the fallback model but i was searching for something a little different so i was sold on a Navara d40 ST. On a Rostered day off i thought id try Mitsu and see if i could get a test drive. 45mins later i signed for a new GLXR triton 12/2009 early MN model.. a total of 6 days debt free
sitting on the lot right infront of me i couldnt resist.. now i see i should have waited for the Difflock option...
anywho came with MMCS, soft torneau and window tinting.
First Mod, fit the UHF from the BT50, install the Narva 225's and MMCS (first of many forum inspired mods)
Not really wanting to pay a couple hundred bucks for a Tub liner i opted for Heavy Duty Tub Floor Liner, which is usually marketed as Horse float matting, ARB Tie down rails were installed to help with tying in bikes primarily.
the kit comes with 6x 6mm countersunk screw, 6x 50mm wide 6mm washers and nylock nuts and is rated as good for 1.8 tonne... having little faith in that i slipped a 2x30mm mildsteel flat bar, drilled and tapped and fully fastened. sounds fairly easy but i didnt know the headboard of the tub has a lip which made the install a bit tricky for one man..
lotsa swearing later we had tying down action
Being a new model i discovered the troubles of getting accessories. a couple grand in the bank i ordered a Hayman Reese Towbar and set off to price trailers, just about to say yep ill have that 5x7 gal box trailer. i get a call 2 month wait on the towbar.. so on the way home i call in to the local ARB dealer to see what they can do. trailer money spent on ARB Deluxe Bar. best thing about Black cars.. commercial black is pretty much colour coded. quoted 4 hours one lazy monday 9 hours later..
i had red and white meat protection which worked out well the box trailer wouldnt have helped me with the first roo strike within a week out the back of Gulgong.(photo taken at Freeflight)
2 months later Mistubishi came thru with the soft torneau cover, and a failed reverse camera plugged into the MMCS inputs in the centre console
August 2010 was a big month.. A new UHF antenna to suit some of the hilly terrain ill be exploring with mates. Its a Unity Gain 1/2wave Dipole but due to a low radiation angle it acts like 4Db 1/4wave whip. a MMCS override in hope to help with the Reverse camera but doesnt work on the RCA inputs.. but now i can use my GPS and Ipod fully while moving. a few deep water crossings where i almost lost my ute in the flow resulting in prompt purchasing of a Billet racecraft quad breather kit, still plumed only to the rear
the same water adventure proved how worthless the stock HT duelers are terrible and being 17" rims there is squat all range.is settled for Goodyear ATR's but there was only 3 in the country... so after watching tyre websites for deals i talked a tyre shop they were 31,10.5x15 in the ad for $289 into Maxxis MT672 bighorns 255/65/17 (30.1") for 299 a tyre fitted and balanced. whist waiting for the Foghorns to be fitted i walked to Supercheap and picked up some yellow 55w spread spotties and mounted them on the Rear bar for "work" lights because they are too high for reverse lights
Not happy with the Narva's ability to stay still on the bullbar i found XXX HID's on ebay which are pretty much imposter retrofitted IPF's with internal HID ballasts 35watts of Crystal clear light but feedback issues with the UHF.
Now the Bullbar Mascot, we all have nicknames for the Utes, in my crew of mates we all have different 4wd's and different colours. i ended up with "Black bullet" and strolling thru coles one day, i spotted Super Mario figurines.
bullet bill from mario, is cable tied to the bullbar
with the Bighorns, bullbar and suspected carbon and definate muddy air filter element build up i invested in a K&N air filter which has dropped me back into the 10's per 100km tested today on a trip to Sydeny to pick up my GLXR rims which look to be fitted with Kelly Safari TSR's depends on prices i get and when i get my bank ballance up a couple of zero's
For now were up to date
no doubt ill edit the above and Add more probably early march.. next chapter Lift kit install
