The Baby Troupe from Beginning

[baby_troupe]

A few years ago, a man graced the car yards in search of a good 4be to replace the Sierra, which was too small for what was wanted. It had to be either a yota or a datto, prefer a diesel & if possible low km.
The Baby Troupe was the first one looked at, and after seeing a number of vehicles, it was bought.
Low KM (100,000) for around 15K
http://www.offroader.com.au/photo/ACF9CB.jpg

After picking it up, it was off to get tyres ready for it's first test, a trip to stockton.

That is where it all began.

[baby_troupe]

After the first day trip, I sent it in for a service with the local 4wd mechanic (who shall remain nameless) & he did a pretty good job in getting it ready to play, without really changing anything from OE.
What he did tell me though, is this is an import & most mechanics will have nothing to do with it (which meant anything I wanted done will probably have to be done by me).
Luckily for me, I started joining forums around this time & met up with a few people who know a fair bit about 4bes.
So first up was a bullbar & some lights in readiness for its trip to Dixon Long Point.
That weekend, we thought it would be grand to attempt to sleep in the back, much like many do with a full size troopy, but as this is about a foot shorter & the temp was 7 below zero, it put us off that idea, so allowed me to plan what to do next.
http://www.offroader.com.au/photo/ACF1E4.jpg

[baby_troupe]

After that trip, I took a little break, while I tracked down more bits, including a towbar & a cargo barrier, which as it turned out, being a grey import was making it hard to source.
http://www.offroader.com.au/photo/Spanish_Steps_Col_2_Thumb.jpg
In the end, while visiting Kincumber's Junkastic Park (now closed), I saw a pile of cargo barriers dumped which belonged to EA Falson wagons. After a little negotiation, I picked one up for $20 & took it home.
It needed to get some mounting brackets made up, which using angle was not difficult & then fitting.
As I was removing the rearmost seats, I used the mounting holes for those to attach the bottom & the hand rail mounts for the top, as these are quite strong.
After this was put in, I designed a basic storage system, using square hollow section, angle & some scrap pine left over from a making my pergola at home.
This storage system made use of plastic boxes to hold gear & while at first was good, it was not long before I realized it was wasting space.

See http://www.baby-troupe.i8.com/New-Products/Old-Custom-Rear-Storage.htm

http://whiteknight.ca/FORUMS/uploads/post-10-1119348320_thumb.jpg

This system was in place for about a year before I designed it's replacement.

After this, I had a 2" suspension system fitted thru ARB at West Gosford (OME system with standard rated springs up front & heavy duty in the rear)

http://whiteknight.ca/FORUMS/uploads/post-10-1119348463_thumb.jpg

[baby_troupe]

While all of that was going on with the storage system, I came to thinking that riding back in the convoy all of the time in the dust was not really where I wanted to be all of the time & as I knew I could not train the wife to read maps & navigate for me, I had to come up with a solutiuon.
This led me to looking at GPS systems & also combining this with a laptop.
Initially I was going to just use a GPS, but when I saw the screen, I thoiught that this was not really usable, so went with a laptop.
I had many ideas on what to do with the laptop, so I could see it in the driving compartment.
One was mount it on the rear seat & read it in the rear view mirror. That idea lasted until I drove about 2km & thought that it is too dangerous.
Then I thought about using a desktop monitor holder bolted to the floor in the back & have that slide between the front seats. The problem with that was it had nothing to stop it hitting the dash & also was in the way of the hand brake & the gear lever, so that idea was scrapped (monitor holder is now in use in house)
Then I sourced a 10" flat panel display & mounted that initially from the console, but in bright light was a bit hard to see, so mounted it on the dash.
Again was still hard to see & while there it damaged the CD player.
http://www.baby-troupe.i8.com/Laptop-GPS-Installation.htm

I now have a roof mounted 8" display & am using a docking station for the laptop, so is a little different to the link above, but that whows where this has been so far.

[baby_troupe]

After that, I really wanted to kit up for those long trips, so I decided that the best way would be top get a roof rack & get this mounted on 3 roof bars.
The bars were sourced thru a couple of suppliers to keep the costs down, with the feet being bought second hand & the longer bar parts from the local electrical supply wholesaler.
The rack I found in the local newspaper & suited a 60 series high-top. so when I got it home, I cut off the legs with the grinder, ready to mount.
This was on for 2 trips, before I realized the fuel economy was getting slaughtered.
At the same time as this, I decided the 29" Bridgestone AT Duellers were not up to the task of getting me where I wanted to go, so I picked up a second hand set of rims deom a 90 series Prado & then off to the local tyre people, where I picked up a set of BFG Muddies (265/75 16's or 32" * 10.5")
Also I had a snorkel sourceed & fitted to it thru Recreation 4WD Accessories at Wyoming & while there, picked up a donaldson filter for those dusty trips.
http://www.4lux.net/albums/album02/ColC.sized.jpg

[baby_troupe]

From there, the exterior of the vehicle did not change much, other than the shovel holder (see http://www.baby-troupe.i8.com/Shovel-Holder.htm ) being made so I could take my shovel along on trips,plus the broom & axe from time to time as well.

http://whiteknight.ca/FORUMS/uploads/post-10-1119349222.jpg

I then did a trip to Barrington Tops & crossed the Karuah river, just after floods, which unfortunately caused damage to the fog lights up front (they cracked due to the sudden temp change when they were submerged) & the other cheaper lights were not really up to scratch, so they were replaced with a set of Narva Bull lights I picked up off Ebay.
Also as I was starting to enjoy taking the car for the odd swim, I decided to install dif breather extensions.
Also around that time, the 4WD Monthly forum came about & I joined up on the first day (along with a number of others). I again met up with a few very knowledgeable people & learned plenty about what I want to do next.
Thru my contacts at this forum, I picked up a McPauls continuous hot water Shower system, which runs off the cooling system on the car. It was a great pickup & I use it on nearly every trip. (see http://www.baby-troupe.i8.com/Shower-Install.htm)

http://whiteknight.ca/FORUMS/uploads/post-10-1119349323_thumb.jpg

[baby_troupe]

After those were done, I made the next generation of the rear storage system with drawers etc & once complete, I sent pics to the magazine as they were looking for custom tourers.
Luckily for me, I was selected & it made issue 70 last year.

Since then, I have added a rear locker & changed the rims to a solid axle offset, which has helped prevent rubbing on the front trailing arm when on full lock.

Righ now it is in with Dave at ARB getting a front locker (RD23, same as the rear)installed & he just noticed it will also need a new front carrier bearing as the original is too small & that it will need new front brake pads too.
It should be back next week some time ;)

[baby_troupe]

Spoke to Dave yesterday & he said it will be ready Tuesday.

Time to part with the hard earned to pick it up & if there is time I might take it for a test run up chamberlain rd ;D

[baby_troupe]

Got the call to have a look at the Lil' troopie today & it is not a happy sight.
The lockers are in, so that is all good & the brakes have all been replaced, but there are a few little problems.
The dif housing is bent from one of my little bounces I did on the passenger corner. It isn't too serious yet, but I have been told if it starts leaking it will have to be replaced.
Also some time in the last 18 months the drivers side electric hub has fell apart with one of the brushes falling out & has been floating around in the inside of the hub.
Apparently it has only been a 3wd for some time & was probably the reason I have struggled to climb some of the more difficult tracks in recent times, as I have not really had any drive from the front dif (3wd and an open dif = no drive)
With no parts available in Aust, it looks like I will have to get it converted to manual free wheeling hubs (Joy Joy), so it will be in the workshop for another week now.
Luckily it looks like the 75 series hubs will bolt up with very few mods.

[BLU-125]

With the TJ Wrangler, Jeep found the ultimate solution to unreliable locking hubs, whether electrically, vacuum, air or manually operated................leave 'em locked :o :o :o

[baby_troupe]

With the TJ Wrangler, Jeep found the ultimate solution to unreliable locking hubs, whether electrically, vacuum, air or manually operated................leave 'em locked :o :o :o

That option was suggested, but as I am planning to do the cape in the next 18 months, I know that there will be a large portion done in 2WD, so will have the hubs unlocked for that.
Also with now having an air locker up front, I thought it safer, should there be any other problems encounterred, like the locker not disengaging.

[baby_troupe]

Spoke last night to one of the guys in the club about rock sliders & he mentioned that Out of Town 4WD can make some up for me for about $300 to $350.

I reckon I will be getting them & some brush bars made up with them for when I get the lil' troopy back.

Respray is on the cards too ;D

[baby_troupe]

Just got some good news from ARB.
Dave called & said it is all ready to do & it turned out he was able to source new electric hubs ;D

That will save me getting wet locking them in.

Alll I have to do now is pick the baby up this weekend. ;D (Another 2K spent) :o

[baby_troupe]

All is working well & here is a pic of the new switch (with the others ;D )

http://whiteknight.ca/FORUMS/uploads/post-10-1119353697_thumb.jpg

[4xgold0]

aahhhh very nice BT

[baby_troupe]

aahhhh very nice BT

Thanks mate.

The rest is a bit messy, as it needs a clean from the last few trips (I have been slack)

Might even give it a respray too.

[crusher]

All is working well & here is a pic of the new switch (with the others ;D )

http://whiteknight.ca/FORUMS/uploads/post-10-1119353697_thumb.jpg


Oh no he'll be unstoppable now on the 3rd July ;D ;)

[baby_troupe]

Oh no he'll be unstoppable now on the 3rd July ;D ;)

Two things will still stop me.
One is fear & the other is common sense ;)

I still won't risk major damage to the vehicle, even though I know it will be one hell of a capable toy.

[crusher]

Oh no he'll be unstoppable now on the 3rd July ;D ;)

Two things will still stop me.
One is fear & the other is common sense ;)

I still won't risk major damage to the vehicle, even though I know it will be one hell of a capable toy.


Agree wholeheartedly with that attitude Col and I certainly can't afford avoidable repairs

[Nath]

I certainly can't afford avoidable repairs


That's the key. I'm a bit like that myself. ;)

[baby_troupe]

I went to the 4WD show on the weekend at Homebush (Sydney) picked up a few accessories.
Not decided yet as to whether I will respray it or not yet, but have 2 sets of flexy flares to fit & a uni-filter (washeable, rather than disposable air filter)

I will get all these fitted over the next few weeks.
Can't fit this weekend, as I will be going for a play http://whiteknight.ca/FORUMS/style_emoticons/smilies/burnout[1].gif


http://whiteknight.ca/FORUMS/uploads/post-10-1119872577_thumb.jpg

[baby_troupe]

Went to test the front locker today on Watagans trip, but it didn't work >:(

In the process of trying to fix it, I lost the rear locker for a bit, & due to that. I mashed the side step on a rock again when being recovered.

Front locker is working now & tested it on a few muddy hills & it will definitely make a difference on harder tracks.

[mulesa]

as long as its all sorted, cos having troubles with very expensive things is the last thing u need

[baby_troupe]

as long as its all sorted, cos having troubles with very expensive things is the last thing u need

Spot on there.
Spend $1500 on a locker, only for it not to work, I was pretty annoyed.
I guess I was lucky that I could fix it myself, but I will ba having a chat with the installer regarding the location of thgr wires & that the plug was faulty for the solenoid.

[BushTuckerNed]

got any pics of the sidestep?

[baby_troupe]

got any pics of the sidestep?

Not yet.

Will do later I hope.

[boof]

bt i thought you would have checked it was working before leaving :o

[baby_troupe]

bt i thought you would have checked it was working before leaving :o

I did, but when I got up there, the vibration had shaken the POS connector apart & the green wire had fell out.
Prob was, when I found it, it shorted out the rest & I had no compressor or anything, so for part of the day was driving on open difs.

[boof]

thats not good i would be making the shop cover some of the damage :(

[mulesa]

OPEN DIFFS :o u wudnt be able to handle that now wud u :P

[baby_troupe]

thats not good i would be making the shop cover some of the damage :(

I will be chatting with Dave this weekend ;)

[baby_troupe]

OPEN DIFFS :o u wudnt be able to handle that now wud u :P

The reason I have lockers is so I can gently climb over obstacles, not have to bounce the car & risk too much damage.

When you get used to driving gently & know what it costs to fix things & how much of a PITA it is to source parts for an import, driving gently is what I would rather be doing.

[mulesa]

tru... true

[baby_troupe]

The lil' troopie passed rego yesterday with only a few minor repairs.
Front passenger parking light & one of the number plate lights were not working, so fixed those while there & all sweet.

I was surprised that my driving lights passed though & discussed it at length after the pass as I was concerned regarding the lights finishing slightly on front of the bar.

He said as it is obvious that my vehicle spends more time in areas where it is unlikely to see a pedestrian, he let it go. I asked if I should change them anyway as I was concerned to being pulled up & he said it is up to me.

Still undecided on what to do on those, as I love my lights & they have saved me from major impact with kangaroos on a few occasions.

http://whiteknight.ca/FORUMS/uploads/post-10-1122163513_thumb.jpg

[baby_troupe]

got any pics of the sidestep?

This is after I straightened it out a little

http://whiteknight.ca/FORUMS/uploads/post-10-1122163344_thumb.jpg

[cpt-mud]

i like the gps/laptop setup- food for thought