How much to do up my rig?

[Mcdeano]

Hi all I am new to this so be patient. I have a 1999 Hilux. Stock standard farmers edition. I have put 30" wheels on it and thats it. My wife says my budget for doing up my rig is $0 at the moment. :mad: Was wondering how much it would cost for a basic setup for now. UHF, Bullbar, airbags on the rear. This is my first 4wd and loving it so far.

[roscoFJ73]

Bullbars can be picked up used for half the price of a new one. A little black paint and they can look new again. $3-400 instead of $750
UHF radios are the same ,they clog up the classifieds and ebay.
I would stick some big tyres on it for about $1000 plus rims if you need them.

Bide your time and hunt for bargains,they crop up eventually.

Air bags,do you really need them?

[THE RIG]

was thinking the same thing,areairbags really needed,i guess comfier and for carrying a load,are they any good offroad?


tommo

[Mcdeano]

Thanks for the info rosco. Air bags? I run a canopy on the back of the ute when working, weighing about 450kg. This drops the ass end down a bit and the springs take a bit of a pounding when going over bumps. I have done a little research and have some more brochers to read but the air bags will be good with the canopy on, and let them down when off. Now if I end up lifting the rig a different story I believe. More reaserch needed.

[Mcdeano]

If you let the air bags back down to about 5psi you then let the existing suspension take ove as normal. Or if you go straight air bags and remove the existing suspension and run a full incar level setup (about $3000) it is ment to be the bees knees.

[boof]

Mate forget the airbags, get a set of leafs rated to take the load. Thats what I did it rides better than it did standard Like you I used to have to carry 500kgs when it was my work ute. Airbags will detract more than the springs (even when they are deflated) and you will lose what little offfroad ability the thing has. Personally I would do a 2" lift , 31" muddies, auto locker in the front and second hand bullbar and radio.

It will look good and be capable enough to keep you happy.

[taresk]

Mate if you really need to improve the load carrying you can get helper springs that bolt to the bottom of the leaf pack, only active when there's a load on, so they don't affect standard ride, cheaper and more reliable than airbags (and they can fit lifted springs).

[taresk]

If you let the air bags back down to about 5psi you then let the existing suspension take ove as normal. Or if you go straight air bags and remove the existing suspension and run a full incar level setup (about $3000) it is ment to be the bees knees.

Just saw this, you'd be up for more than 3k, I was quoted $2800 for airbags on the back of the Prado, and that's just replacing the coils, with yours they'd need to make up control arms and everything, bloody expensive and difficult to engineer.

Doesn't really fit the $0 budget

[mudy]

ill be selling the air bags out of my 80 soon, i think they would fit your truck. if you intersted, pm me.

[Mcdeano]

Thanks for all the info. The spring upgrade sounds good boof. I have a set of 30x9.5x15's on it at the moment and they are doing well for what I want until I can get some coin. The 2in lift would be great in the long run but I like what taresk said about the helper springs sounds the way to go. Will look into things a bit more when I get time.

My first 4WD and tring to learn the ropes.
See me in the Shed.

[Mcdeano]

Hi all just talking to TJM in Geelong and the helper springs are $500 fitted and the airbags $800. But the air bags can carry 2000kg acording to them and can be let down when not needed. Will have to do some more investigating and then find the coin.