LJ70 Build Thread!

[Scott]

Thanks Scott.

Whenever you buy/register a car here you have to pay stamp duty. Which is a percentage of the purchase price. So a lot of people will ask for a lower amount to be put on the receipt when they purchase a car, so they pay less tax.

Not sure why there are 2 stamp duty charges. Maybe because its an import and so has to have import/stamp duty applied?

Understood. I have researched the stamp duty process in Oz, and the fact that the rate varies between states. Thats why it was strange to see two amounts on your receipt, but as you say, its probably due to you importing the truck.

Yep loads more mods/work and trip reports.

Top man

Hows the 105 coming along?

I will have a huge list of great places to visit/4wd for when you get here!

The 105 is coming along nicely thanks, there has been a pause in progress due to an Easter rush on other vehicles, but progress has resumed. If you visit Chris at any point on your travels, you'll have to let me know what you think.

I look forward to following your trip reports and can't wait for a guided tour of the VIC high country's best bits.

Happy travels.

 

[Ben]

Awesome, should know the High Country pretty well by then.

When I registered mine the chap behind the desk told me to just put down $1000

I can highly recommend Kings Springs. I'm still running the cheapy Ironman shocks, but swapped the front springs for Kings springs when I fitted the bullbar and winch. The truck feels much, much better now. I didn't bother swapping the rear springs as I've got airbags in.

Thanks, another manufacturer to look into.

 

[Ben]

OK...................quick update then I'm going off road!

More wood work first!









The roof got a layer of 1/2" ply.













Built a stud wall at the one end, this is to hide the BBQ and gas bottles.





Battens, insulation and a layer of tyvec later, the tin sheets could go on.





Screwed some weather boards onto the stud wall.





At the other end I made a removable section of handrail.









LJ has become quite the pussy magnet!





We just managed to get the veranda built into time for my boss's mates engagement party which was last night.
I got invited and it was a great night!

Bit of a sore head today though.

I met a very attractive blonde who is into 4wding and owns a shorty patrol!

Shame she lives a few thousand miles away in Queensland.

Anyway back to LJ..................

Yesterday afternoon I went shopping.

I went to ARB's headquarters where theyve got a big shop, and also to my local TJM store, but sadly both were closed.

Must get over there in the week or Saturday morning next time.

This was ARB.



Anyway...................................I did buy a UHF (cb radio).

I could have bought a cheaper Chinese one but I want to support my country and buy Australian made whenever possible!

So I bought a GME one.





Tiny thing.





I also bought an aerial, but I'm going to see how my Sirio one goes today first.



Found a suitable mounting position. (Its far too small to mount in the stainless steel roof mount I made.)



Drilled and bolted the mounting bracket on.





Got it mounted.



Then found there wasnt enough room to get the aerial cable connected.

So I flipped the bracket round and this time the aerial cable fitted.





Removed a plastic grommet in the dash and found a hole which I thought I could make use of.









The radio has a function in which you can flip the digital display. It also came with another sticker
to stick over the other one which was now upside down.





I'm leaving soon to head up to Tallangi state forest!

Apparently there are some really really extreme tracks there!

I arranged it with 2 of the guys out of the 4wd club, and I asked my mate who leant me the tyres if he wants to come. Hes bringing his mate who also drives a Patrol.

So will be me and 4 Patrol's!

Pics to follow!

 

[Paul]

Good radio....same as mine, they have really thought about it having the flip function.

 

[Ben]

Yeah I'm impressed with it so far Paul.

My Sirio aerial worked OK at the weekend, but there were a couple of occasions where we got split up from a few others in the group, and I could hardly hear them over the radio, yet the other guys I was with were picking them up and chatting to them fine.

It might be my aerial cable got damaged slightly in the roll over, as the cable was running up one of the A pillars and along the roof to the radio.

Think I'm going to fit the new one I bought.

 

[grantw]

Great work.

No photos from Toolangi or am I just being impatient?

 

[sae70]

All looking most excellent there Ben

What time am I picking you up from Heathrow for Lincomb then?

 

[Ben]

Thanks guys.

Toolangi update coming.

Sorry Steven forgot to buy a lottery ticket.

Will let you know when I'm coming over mate, wont be for a few years though.

 

[Ben]

Toolangi State Forest Trip.

Firstly heres a few pics from my Bindaree trip, that I got from one of the other guys.

















So the latest trip to Toolangi State Forest.

I met up with 2 of the guys at 10am in Yarra Glen.



We nipped in a delhi and bought lunch, when we came out the other guy arrived.



A short drive later we arrived at the forest.



First things first, we all aired down.





I went down to 15 psi.



The first track we did was rocky road. The pics really dont do it justice. It was a very long steep climb with lots of big rocks and steps.















I was lifting wheels constantly on my way up and had to stop and reverse and take a different line a few times because a front wheel would be going to high into the air, making it feel like it might tip.





Used the waffles which worked perfectly.

























The forest is very near to where the devastating Black Friday bush fires were in 2009, and a lot of the trees are still black.











All the tracks were very well sign posted.





There were some really challenging tracks.

























Saw loads of motorbikes out.



Saw some of the biggest bog holes I've ever seen.







































Pulled over at the bottom of a steep climb to let a couple of other trucks pass. Wed also been joined by another guy in a Patrol by this point.











Great views from one of the tracks on the edge of the forest.









Need to get myself some of these maps. (apparently there the best ones to get, and they sell them in the ARB shop.



I couldnt believe how many tracks there were, and all named aswell.























One of the guys, (the one who lent me the tyres) bounced out of a rut and hit his drivers side wheel hard. This resulted in his steering box exploding and loosing all its oil.

He had to call it a day and I decided to go aswell as I had stuff to do.

Took us ages to find our way out of the forest, but eventually we got out and were back on bitumen.



Was only out for half a day but I really enjoyed it and was very impressed with the tracks.

As its only 20-30mins away we will definitely be back soon.

Off to Licola this weekend for a few days of 4x4ing and camping.

The weekend after there is another trip, this time a 4 day one. Then the weekend after is a weekend trip to Wombat State Forest, that I'm going on.

So thinking of giving the 4 day trip a miss. Not sure I really want to go camping and 4x4ing 3 weekends in a row.

But Licola this weekend will be awesome!

Oh almost forgot.......................

Still cant really believe I'm here living, working, and 4wding!

It took so long to get my VISA, and to save up enough money it some times felt like I would never get out here. So to now be here feels so bloody good!

 

[Chris Green90]

Bet its nice not to be covered in all that wet cold brown mud we get over here mate.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[clivehorridge]

Great write-up Ben, plenty of pics too, what paradise you're in!

The veranda looks just ace, my house is made from wood and I appreciate good construction carpentry. They must be well pleased with your work.

Take care with the pussy magnet, sure he looked like a Tom!

 

[Maverick]

Jealous.com

 

[Ben]

Bet its nice not to be covered in all that wet cold brown mud we get over here mate.


Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Yeah it is nice, but it was quite dusty in places!

Must fit aircon as having to have the window down because its a hot day, and following another truck kicking up loads of dust isnt great!

Great write-up Ben, plenty of pics too, what paradise you're in!

The veranda looks just ace, my house is made from wood and I appreciate good construction carpentry. They must be well pleased with your work.

Take care with the pussy magnet, sure he looked like a Tom!

Thanks Clive!

Yes there very impressed and very keen to get more of the building projects done while I'm here. There is still a toilet block to build, 2 cottages to totally renovate as there near derelict, a huge extension and veranda to build on the main house, oh and an ensuite that my boss has been promising his mrs for 40 years hes going to build!

Next job is 1KM of new plastic fencing.

I'm still enjoying it here but not sure how long I'm going to stay. Id quite like my own place really.

Jealous.com

When you coming over for a holiday Brett?

 

[tonytoyota]

Hi looking good Ben and good look tonytoyota.

 

[AndyCook]

not jealous at all Ben

looks AMAZING - will make the short UK lanes seem very dull!!

enjoy!

 

[Ben]

Thankgs guys.

I'm really really excited about tomorrows trip to Licola!

Pics to follow.

 

[TonyS]

Great to know all going well, Ben. The woodshed verandah looks brilliant, need you to come and build us a woodshed here for the LC weekends and all the pony clubs!

Have another awesome weekend.

 

[Marius De Kock]

Have a good weekend Ben.

 

[Ben]

Thanks guys.

Going to be a few days until I get the trip report up I'm afraid. Its certainly been an eventful trip and not one I will forget in a hurry. I think its almost on a par with the trip where I rolled the truck, although luckily this time the truck is almost still in one piece.

Was only meant to be away for the weekend, but ended up getting home almost 24hours late, so I had to miss a days work.

 

[Paddler Ed]

Sounds like the pics are only going to be half the story...

Just picked up my brother who is over from Melbourne today... one of the first questions I asked was "Do you want a car registered in your name?"... means I can rego a car in VIC and use it up in NSW... Will let you know if I go down that route...