DId a quick run today to Hollister to just mess around and see how I like OMEs offroad. They defintely drove much nices offroad and made it feels smoother than previously. I just did a quick solo run, as it seemed certain people prefer web wheeling to a little real world experience (you know who you are, it was not wet and there was no mud)

It was a pretty quiet day, apart from 40 or so VW syncro busses that were there. Saw a LR3 as well, and it seemed to do pretty well. And also saw a Unimog look alike.

The trails were dry and nothing challenging or interesting. As I was flying solo I didn't want to push my luck either.

Here is a quick video of going up and and down truck hill, it was so smooth it felt like highway Click

I tried to get a decent spot to measure the OEM flex, but altimately was unsuccesfull. It does look like it is 1-2" more flex in the back than stock, the front was impossible to get a proper measurement. This was not due to a lack of trying, but I just couldn't get a nice spot as even the frame twsiter my wheels stayed on the ground.

At the quarry


At the mud area

 

Mud area right side


VW and Unimog look alike


Unimog look alike close range, quite a bit smaller but still nice. WIth gear reduction hubs, etc

 

Truck hill bottom


Suppose it is good enough for now


Nice 80 (gotta love them 80s)


Leaving upper ranch, hardly broke a sweat today

 

That video is actually not how DAC sounds, that is Andries after one too many bean burrittos

 

i saw the group of 3 Fj 80s on 101 on my way to anderson today, crazy that you saw them to

 

Man you are blowing my cover, I normally blame the sound on the TRAC or DAC and the smell on Bliksem.

 

oh no ... you mean he didn't go?????

 

Actually was bunch of guys from MUD, wanted to meet up with them but had to leave to get back home.

 

Andries, is it just these particular pictures or the poses, but it looks like the front doesn't want to compress at all?? It looks really stiff

 

I didn't really check the front that much, but it seems to be about the same as stock. I wouldn't expect too much with the front swaybar still connected. I never really took a shot of the front as it is difficult to really judge from the posted pictures. Below is a pic from the front and as you can see the one side is still on the ground, but I think you can get the idea.

 

Sweet lookin Unimog! I keep meaning to get to Hollister perhaps soonI will. I need to get my bud Jed and his T100 to go.

 

actually that is a Pinzgauer, not a Unimog...Pinzgauer's are usually Austrian or Swiss military vehicles...they like unimogs have portal axles, however, they are independent.

 

Yep it is much smaller than a Unimog and has 4 banger engine. WHen I saw the first glimpse of it I thought it was a Unimog. But when I got closer I noticed it was much smaller and a lot of differances. One is as mentioned the independant axles F and R. It seems to have a center tube for a frame with all the drivetrain hidden in it and very well protected. Pretty neat even if it isn't a Unimog I thought. The owner was just tooling around and providing a tow service for the VW Syncros.

 

wheeling in a VW? that seems wierd. are they even 4wd?

 

Yeah the syncros are 4WD with a viscious center diff with a low range if I remember correctly. The one going up the hill had a fixed coupling instead of center diff and also had front and rear lockers on.

 

Really?? Hmmm...that's pretty interesting. How did they wheel?

 

I think all the goodies were aftermarket, I saw a few camper versions. They did OK, but nothing serious.

 

nice pics. we'll have to organize a YT hollister trip soon. maybe mid-June...

 

Sounds like a plan, Hollister is more fun when it is wet. But then cleaning the mud can be a pain afterwards. Might do an earlier run though in May, dont know yet will see how things pan out.