PROMO TRAIL continued...
INSIDE
Inside the cabin (if you are athletic enough to hoist yourself in) you are greeted with neatly fitted gadgets and switches in addition to those Nissan saw it necessary to include. A Westinghouse satphone sits within reach on the glovebox, and an UHF TX4400 GME radio slots snugly under the Nissan stereo that that plays CDs through Clarion speakers to relieve the monotony of the local radio stations. In clear view above the dash, Ian's Garmin 176C GPS unit keeps tabs on his location, and Black Duck canvas seat covers keep his greasy overalls from leaving their impression on the front seats. To the right of the steering wheel are switches for the twin Air Lockers and ARB air compressor.
UNDERNEATH
The Patrol gets called on to tow trail bikes, other cars and camper trailers. Being a 4.2 turbo-diesel, Ian is pretty happy with its pulling power but fitted a 3in stainless steel exhaust with fabricated turbo dump pipe to let it breathe a little easier. There are plans to fit a bigger turbo and modify the fuel pump when time permits. Pop the bonnet and you expose an ARB dual-battery kit, which comes in handy for powering up all the electrical accessories. The Patrol has plenty of under-bonnet space for the ARB air compressor, and auxiliary fuses are neatly mounted high up on the firewall. Ian's favourite items of recovery gear are his 35in BFG rubber and the front and rear Air Lockers that combine to make a mockery of most of the hardcore trails this Nissan will ever come across.
The downside to fitting the taller muddies is that acceleration and low-range reduction suffered. Ian fixed this problem by swapping the standard 4.1 diff ratios with 4.3s while the lockers were being fitted.
SUSPENSION
Lifted Patrols are like opinions Ð everybody's got one, and it's not hard to notice that this Nissan has sprouted a few inches. Part of the increased height is due to 1in steel spacers that lift the body a further inch above the chassis.
A 1in lift is child's play when you're building a truck to show off to your customers, so Ian took the Nissan to new heights by fitting 2in-taller OME springs and mated them to OME shocks on all four corners. At this height, the ute still retains some of its on-road manners and still looks down its bonnet scoop at lesser trucks. Any efforts by the road surface to pull the steering wheel out of the driver's hands are in vain, as the OME steering damper usually gets its way.
If 4WDs were meant to run 35in rubber, they'd have bigger wheel arches. Who says they're not meant to? Not Ian, by fitting 12mm spacers to the front lower trailing arms, therefore bringing the wheels forward, the bigger boots slotted under no problem.Being a coil cab ute, when the time comes for it to cart heavy loads, the rear springs need a helping hand. Shouldering some of the load are Aeon bump rubbers. These gizmos are like long, hollow rubber cones that replace the standard bump stops and start to work once the spring is compressed about 1in.
BRIEFLY
VEHICLE: 2003 Nissan Patrol GU Ute
ENGINE: 4.2L 6-cylinder turbo-diesel with intercooler
GEARBOX: 5-speed manual
4WD ACTIVATION: Part-time four-wheel drive with manual-locking hubs
SUSPENSION: Front Ð live axle with 2in-lifted OME springs and shocks
Rear Ð live axle with 2in-lifted OME springs and shocks, and Aeon bump rubbers
BRAKES: Front Ð standard ventilated discs and calipers
Rear Ð standard discs and calipers
WHEELS: Nissan steel 16x8in
TYRES: BFGoodrich Mud Terrain 315/75R16 (35in)
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