The Cattle Truck

[helicoptercow]

Thought I'd create a little build thread when i came across this photo, taken the day i drove it back from QLD after flying up there to buy it only 10hrs earlier. Didn't really know what I'd be bringing home, but after we spent 8hrs together trundelling down the highway back to newcastle we developed a good understanding of each other and i was pretty pleased with my purchase

Who knows where this adventure will take me... probably closer to bankruptcy



appart from being stock she came with the following:
- Narva 225's
- uniden uhf
- 3M film bonnet protector
- dash mat
- rhino racks
- factory HD towbar
- waterproof RM Williams seat covers - wouldn't buy them now I've had them, they just don't fit the seat nicely

and this is how it stands today



Outside:
- BFG All Terrains 265/70/16
- NARVA 225 combination spot and spread
- Rhino HD roof racks
- OME tub liner
- Hard cover + sports bar off ebay (replaced)
- Mitsubishi factory canopy

Under the bonnet:
- uni filter
- Ironman snorkel
- Chip IT DPS215
- Provent Catch Can
- DBA 4x4 Survival series rotors with bendix HD pads
- Ultimate suspension 2" lift


Protection:
- 4mm mild steel bash plates (buzzy's design)
- Bushskinz step sliders
- MCC rear bar
- 3M stone guard film on bonnet
- ARB delux bar


Inside:
- Uniden UHF
- Tekonshia P3 brake controller
- Bluetooth OBDII connection to ECU via phone
- RM Williams waterproof seat covers - don't fit seats well at all
- Aux input for ipod
- Tint - Midnight express


Other Stuff:
- Black Max II air compressor
- basic recovery gear
- 12V LED light strip for camping wired in with switches
- 100AH SSB AGM battery
- evakool 60L fridgeMate

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What you are about to read is my story...... Its been a hard fought battle but to get the mods i've wanted / "deserved"

[snowman]

i remember you getting it stuck about 3m into your first offroad trip ...............

[UAV]

I was expecting to see something like this...

[helicoptercow]

continuing the adventure....

first addition to the triton was a hardlid.. came in stylish red from ebay for a $100 and with some haggling got it resprayed for a good price

that was my first ear bashing from the misses to be... it came about with the auction ending in 10min, i sent an email, a txt saying if you don't reply by X time i'm buying it... lets just say she replied, but after the allowed time

following this learning curve, i did a similar thing for some new rubber, except this time her response to my question was 'i don't think you need them, but if you really think you can afford them and only if you really need them'... to which i replied, 'she's booked in for tomorrow morning' again found out when i got home that was the wrong answer...

so thats 2 strikes but the cattle truck was taking shape just in time for Geraldine...


the hardlid i picked up


and finally some decent rubber very pleased with the way they handled the mud to at Geraldine

[helicoptercow]

i remember you getting it stuck about 3m into your first offroad trip ...............

na, that wasn't my first trip unfortunately

[helicoptercow]

because my funds were limited and the misses has a pony (f'ken big pony if you ask me) that apparently doesn't cost a cent to keep or take anywhere... i started justifying expenses against him ... FYI strike 3, never use the horse as justification for anything cause apparently he's not an expense since he as feelings....bwahaha

anyways, a prodigy 3 brake controller was installed and the horse was mobile. Whole reason for the triton's purchase was to tow the horse, but she wont admit it. So after the first trip i decided a suspension mod was in order, and the horse was to fund half it... that battle was fought long and hard and its happening next week after how long Brendan? must be at least 9months. To make things even better i purchased a set of 4x4 survival series brakes too, but those are never mentioned and no strike awarded



There is more about the suspension and pics further through...

[helicoptercow]

before the big items took place, i started purchasing some little nice to haves.

i got stung for 2 filters in consecutive services so a unifilter was purchased soon after geraldine.

then i got the windows tinted cause i think it makes a world of difference to the cars interior temp.

got buzzy's bash plate diagram and sent that back to my brother and father to make me a set when they had some suitable scrap metal at work.

purchased an ODB-ll bluetooth dongle cause i could.

finally got around to the DIY ipod connector.

after a number of misadventures at sugarloaf, lithgow and on the 4wdAction mag shoot on my wedding day I figured some sliders were a MUST... and yes this incident did take place 3m from the sealed road



thanks garth for denying BG his first recovery


and recently purchased an Ironman snorkel which is sitting in the garage waiting to be installed after the following misadventure

[tassie_ml]

nice write up HC, I see you like living on the edge of danger as well.....

[ag9111]

Great reasons for your purchases chopper bovine. Now you just need to rear end somebody

[al coholic]

I love the title of your thread Dave Nice work


The truck is coming along nicely......gotta love those "sneaky" purchases..............seems Brnedan is always involved tho......hmmmmm

[helicoptercow]

yea thought i needed something unique to call this thread... and according to daryn its not a ute, its a truck

yea funny how ultimate has something to do with most of my strikes... and he'll probably be responsible for more when his mcc gear comes in

[al coholic]

You should just change your mobile number in the wifes phone to Brendans mobile number............then when she is ringing to rant and yell..........he can cop the abuse as it is all his fault anyway

[helicoptercow]

You should just change your mobile number in the wifes phone to Brendans mobile number............then when she is ringing to rant and yell..........he can cop the abuse as it is all his fault anyway

you think he'll mind?

[Joe]

Great write up cow. Looking good

And keep up the good work mate, you're an inspiration to new husbands and husbands to be around the world

[chick_magnet_0001]

Great write up cow. Looking good

And keep up the good work mate, you're an inspiration to new husbands and husbands to be around the world

i can see kyle writing all of this down in a little note book!!! for future reference

[har05l]

Nice write up cow and good to see progress coming along just nicely

With your title being "cattle truck" and your name "helicoptercow" why do you cart horses

[borngeek]

I love the title of your thread Dave Nice work


The truck is coming along nicely......gotta love those "sneaky" purchases..............seems Brendan is always involved tho......hmmmmm

What sneaky purchase Alco? Don't see it in your shed yet.... keep meaning to spacebook that

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Nice work cow, truck is really coming along now!

[helicoptercow]

With your title being "cattle truck" and your name "helicoptercow" why do you cart horses

horses love cattle trucks

[ratstriton]

Your name reminds me of a joke I heard a long time ago told to me by a 9 year old.
One cow in a paddock say's to another cow,I'm really worried about mad cow disease.
The other cow replies I'm not I'm a helicopter.:lol::lol:

[biggibbo]

I love the title of your thread Dave Nice work


The truck is coming along nicely......gotta love those "sneaky" purchases..............seems Brendan is always involved tho......hmmmmm

What sneaky purchase Alco? Don't see it in your shed yet.... keep meaning to spacebook that

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Nice work cow, truck is really coming along now!

Gotta love those sneaky purchases. I'm sitting in downtown Campbelltown awaiting fitment of my latest stealth purchase, spray painted black to avoid drawing attention. Geez I hope the Princess never checks my posts or i'm a goner.

[helicoptercow]

Gotta love those sneaky purchases. I'm sitting in downtown Campbelltown awaiting fitment of my latest stealth purchase, spray painted black to avoid drawing attention. Geez I hope the Princess never checks my posts or i'm a goner.

other thing i've learnt is if you want something and can't get away without the other party notice... NAG THE HELL OUT OF THEM!!! i now have a better understanding of the female psyche, it may have taken 9 months, and she's put up a good fight but eventually everyone reaches their breaking point...So i'm looking forward to my suspension next week

other method is to constructive damage, thanks to some misadventures, some a little more deliberate then others, i have new sliders coming

[andyj]

Well done Heli cow I ahve to agree just keep at them and you will wear them down......

[salt36]

Hahahaha the sneaky purchases always end up in a strike for me too I have learned to just buy em and deal with the strike later

I just say 'well I needed it' An engine rebuild/upgrade is going to be hard to explain though...... especially when the other engine arrives... Oh well

[helicoptercow]

well last friday i got the first iteration of my new sliders - and group buy in the very near future.

all up very impressed with them, they look the goods Most importantly they passed the livability test - the misses approval



good thing about being the test vehicle... i dont have to install them




after she got a wash

[helicoptercow]

got my OBD reader in the mail on monday... was like my 6th birthday or something they way i tore the packaging off

easy to fit, lots or pretty numbers to amuse me... must remember watch the road and not the phone

can't wait to explain the misses how i 'found a wonderful magic feature that didn't cost a cent' next time she's in the car and notices what happening on my phone screen


and tonight, snorkel install