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basshead Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: Panania, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 2852
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Misty Mountains 4WD Training 21st Nov 2004 (OLD)


Not sure if this is the correct place to post this thread, but just to let everyone know that Clare & I are doing a full day of 4WD driver training through "Misty Mountains 4WD Tours" company.

Will let you know how it goes, and guarantee lots of video footage and photos (if they let me take them, that is).



Just one more thing - I hope it rains! <mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha>



Last edited by GeoffM, 10/Jan/2005, 9:02 pm


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Rich. X-013(c)
'04 S2 ST Auto. Nudge_roofracks_tow_tints_Lightforce_GME_YokoGeoA/T-S_TBS_bashplate_50mm-spacer-lift
Click here to see >300MB of photos and videos All For His Glory.
17/Nov/2004, 5:26 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message MSN Yahoo Blog
 
jalalski Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: Misty Mountains 4WD Training 21st November 2004


quote:

basshead wrote:

Not sure if this is the correct place to post this thread, but just to let everyone know that Clare & I are doing a full day of 4WD driver training through "Misty Mountains 4WD Tours" company (at Peter's recommendation, after we couldn't fit in any other weekends to suit his schedule emoticon ).



Can I ask you how much would it cost? If you don't feel comfortable replying here, just PM me.

quote:

Just one more thing - I hope it rains! <mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha>



I'll be waiting for you with a sponge and a bucket =D Poor exy.

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17/Nov/2004, 7:08 pm Link to this post Send Private Message MSN Blog
 
basshead Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: Panania, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 2852
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Re: Misty Mountains 4WD Training 21st November 2004


We got a "special" price.

The price is on their website...

http://www.mistymtns4wdtours.com.au/



Last edited by basshead, 17/Nov/2004, 10:43 pm


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Rich. X-013(c)
'04 S2 ST Auto. Nudge_roofracks_tow_tints_Lightforce_GME_YokoGeoA/T-S_TBS_bashplate_50mm-spacer-lift
Click here to see >300MB of photos and videos All For His Glory.
17/Nov/2004, 10:41 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message MSN Yahoo Blog
 
basshead Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: Panania, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 2852
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Re: Misty Mountains 4WD Training 21st November 2004


Just a brief report back from the training day Clare & I went on yesterday, meeting @ ZigZag Railway, near Lithgow NSW...


It was one-on-one (no other trainees except for us two) so I think that helped, and allowed the instructor to build up our confidence alot more than what may have been possible in a large group...

Admittedly, I already knew alot of the theory that was taught, but Clare didn't, so I think it was good she got some proper instruction rather than me just telling her. I believe the "introductory course" we did would be more suited to people that have absolutely no idea about 4WD's.

The best part of the day/course was getting us to go up tracks which I honestly didn't believe an X-Trail would be capable of doing. As when you are learning, sometimes you have to forget things (bad habits) you have learnt in the past, and trust the instructor. This was proven to me in this course - particularly about taking certain lines in the track to get past obstacles (dips, boulders, etc). Where I would've thought was the worst way to go, did in fact turn out to be the best way to go (and this was proven to us).

Alot of people say the X-Trail's main downfall is clearance - I say it's more to do with driver-error or inexperience, and it's lack of articulation (which in a sense is related to low clearance). On numerous occasions we had to re-attempt an obstance because we took a line which allows the two opposite wheels to lose traction. Yes, the ground was wet from earlier rain and fog etc, and better tyres would've made a difference, but because the sway-bars on the X-Trail are too stiff (to reduce body-roll while cornering hard), on the uneven tracks, sway-bars are a hindrance and lift up the opposite wheel too early, and thus lose traction. Yes, we bottomed out on occasions, but nothing we couldn't reverse back out of and have another go with a slightly different line. The thing I'm most proud of is that we didn't scratch any panels, amazing considering what we encountered! Lots of rocks got thrown around all underneath, though!

It's a hassle to have to remove and replace the sway-bars all the time, but if you were going to be going offroad alot, it could be worth removing them. But if you're going to go to that extreme, you've probably bought the wrong 4WD emoticon

I've got to go through the video footage and I'll pick out the good bits and post again with the links to download/view them. I just hope the footage and photos does justice to the terrain we encountered (and defeated!)

It's good to know what our X-Trails are capable of, and I reckon alot of hardcore/real 4WD-owners out there would be quite amazed at what they can overcome.


EDIT: I am pleased to say that I am happy with the footage of the particular part I mentioned previously. I can't load the photos while I'm copying the stuff from the video camera, but will hopefully get a chance to retrieve them tonight, after I've editted the video footage, and put them online.

Last edited by basshead, 23/Nov/2004, 5:48 am


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Rich. X-013(c)
'04 S2 ST Auto. Nudge_roofracks_tow_tints_Lightforce_GME_YokoGeoA/T-S_TBS_bashplate_50mm-spacer-lift
Click here to see >300MB of photos and videos All For His Glory.
22/Nov/2004, 3:46 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message MSN Yahoo Blog
 
basshead Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: Panania, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 2852
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Re: Misty Mountains 4WD Training 21st November 2004


http://members.iinet.net.au/~richnclare/xtrail_training.html

Half-way through uploading clips as I type this post...

Photos to come later (maybe tomorrow arvo/night).


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Rich. X-013(c)
'04 S2 ST Auto. Nudge_roofracks_tow_tints_Lightforce_GME_YokoGeoA/T-S_TBS_bashplate_50mm-spacer-lift
Click here to see >300MB of photos and videos All For His Glory.
22/Nov/2004, 10:00 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message MSN Yahoo Blog
 
embi Profile
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Date Registered: 06-2004
TOTAL POSTS: 51
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Re: Misty Mountains 4WD Training 21st November 2004


Great videos. Good to see someone else having a go.

I have AT tyres on my xtrail and you can see what a difference they make.

How hard is it to remove the sway bars?? =D
23/Nov/2004, 3:51 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message
 
jalalski Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: Misty Mountains 4WD Training 21st November 2004


Excellent movie clips Richi.

You're giving your exy a good work-out emoticon

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23/Nov/2004, 4:08 pm Link to this post Send Private Message MSN Blog
 
basshead Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: Panania, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 2852
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Re: Misty Mountains 4WD Training 21st November 2004


Photos added to previously supplied link... Reload the page...


As for sway-bar removal - it was pretty straight-forward in my pulsar, but putting it back on again is a pain in the neck, especially if you have one side jacked up - it's near impossible to get back on again emoticon

I haven't had a look to see if there is one at the front and the back - I assume there is, but most cars only have them on the front. Removing the front one could affect your wheel alignment (and therefore handling and tyre-wear). Obviously it'll drive like a boat once they're removed, so hard cornering would best be avoided as I suspect there would be alot more chance of it rolling over! I'd prefer to upgrade tyres before I start considering removing sway-bars.



---
Rich. X-013(c)
'04 S2 ST Auto. Nudge_roofracks_tow_tints_Lightforce_GME_YokoGeoA/T-S_TBS_bashplate_50mm-spacer-lift
Click here to see >300MB of photos and videos All For His Glory.
23/Nov/2004, 4:14 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message MSN Yahoo Blog
 


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