Hi all. I`m a new Troopy owner and will up for any advice from you all.
I`m looking to do a bit of touring with it. Off- road for sure, but not into "winch challenge" territory. (Each to their own, but cars are for driving not pulling)
What suspension have I got? Yeah, sounds dumb, but from past experience what you`ve been told, assumed etc isn`t always accurate.
Is it standard springs or not? Is measuring from hub centre to mid point of wheel-arch a good indicator?
Yep, depends on vehicle weight etc, but how else is this done? Jack up the chassis so the springs are "no load"?
There are rubber spacers between body and chassis, about 40mm. I assume these are standard as the body only just clears the chassis in the arch.
On front, hub to arch top, 550mm. On rear, hub to arch 600mm.
Four wheels are white alloy, the spare is under body mounted and a steel split rim, different sized tyre.
So, I`m looking for 1? 2? 4? whatever wheels similar to those fitted.
Following wheels, I reckon I`ll want to mount any new spare wheel(s) up out of the muck.
I`ve read a thread about rear door mounting. As I understand it the 75`s doors have no provision for mounting spare wheels, but the 76s and 78s do? And it is possible to fit a 76/78 door to a 75? (cutting off an extra loop).
I am probably up for a replacement bumper with swing outs, but they ain`t cheap, and not too easy to source. Would a bumper designed for a 76 or 78 fit?
The vehicle has a "Silva" car compass fitted, but the fluid has party drained from it. Anyone got one for sale? Seen them at 80 quid on line but being a tight ole git that seems a lot to me.
Also has a Garmin 128 marine GPS fitted, but that seems dead. Be nice to have that period fitment working, but as I said, I`m a skinflint so am wary of chucking money about.
In the future:
I`ll be fitting a night heater, prob a Chinese E-Bay one.
Revising the split charge system, and prob fit solar panels to keep batteries topped when parked.
Maybe fit a 12v air con for when parked. Not cheap and needs power hence look at power first. And it is about 2.4m high as it stands, so may go for one to fit on side/rear rather than on roof if i do go for it.,
Winch? Dunno. I like the idea of being able to get myself outta the mucky stuff, but it is extra weight and expense. Will I be doing much stuff in the real wilderness? A farm jack and ratchet straps can be effective too.
Extra fuel tank? As above, dunno? Nice to have more autonomy but is it necessary? Not for Europe, but maybe for later and further.
Long post, so apologies for that.
Some pics so you can see what I`m on about.
I`m looking to do a bit of touring with it. Off- road for sure, but not into "winch challenge" territory. (Each to their own, but cars are for driving not pulling)
What suspension have I got? Yeah, sounds dumb, but from past experience what you`ve been told, assumed etc isn`t always accurate.
Is it standard springs or not? Is measuring from hub centre to mid point of wheel-arch a good indicator?
Yep, depends on vehicle weight etc, but how else is this done? Jack up the chassis so the springs are "no load"?
There are rubber spacers between body and chassis, about 40mm. I assume these are standard as the body only just clears the chassis in the arch.
On front, hub to arch top, 550mm. On rear, hub to arch 600mm.
Four wheels are white alloy, the spare is under body mounted and a steel split rim, different sized tyre.
So, I`m looking for 1? 2? 4? whatever wheels similar to those fitted.
Following wheels, I reckon I`ll want to mount any new spare wheel(s) up out of the muck.
I`ve read a thread about rear door mounting. As I understand it the 75`s doors have no provision for mounting spare wheels, but the 76s and 78s do? And it is possible to fit a 76/78 door to a 75? (cutting off an extra loop).
I am probably up for a replacement bumper with swing outs, but they ain`t cheap, and not too easy to source. Would a bumper designed for a 76 or 78 fit?
The vehicle has a "Silva" car compass fitted, but the fluid has party drained from it. Anyone got one for sale? Seen them at 80 quid on line but being a tight ole git that seems a lot to me.
Also has a Garmin 128 marine GPS fitted, but that seems dead. Be nice to have that period fitment working, but as I said, I`m a skinflint so am wary of chucking money about.
In the future:
I`ll be fitting a night heater, prob a Chinese E-Bay one.
Revising the split charge system, and prob fit solar panels to keep batteries topped when parked.
Maybe fit a 12v air con for when parked. Not cheap and needs power hence look at power first. And it is about 2.4m high as it stands, so may go for one to fit on side/rear rather than on roof if i do go for it.,
Winch? Dunno. I like the idea of being able to get myself outta the mucky stuff, but it is extra weight and expense. Will I be doing much stuff in the real wilderness? A farm jack and ratchet straps can be effective too.
Extra fuel tank? As above, dunno? Nice to have more autonomy but is it necessary? Not for Europe, but maybe for later and further.
Long post, so apologies for that.
Some pics so you can see what I`m on about.