Forum:
Hi fellas,
Lookin to buy my first Fourtrak in the next week or two. I was wondering if someone could point out the main advantages/disadvantages of the Independant TDX and the Fieldman TDL.
I'm looking at 1996-2000. I've noticed the Independant has wide arches...
Thanks in Advance,
Dan
few differences
With the independant models '92 onwards, the TDX and TDL have slightly wider plastic arches. The TDX is the "delux" model of the TDL, well as delux as fourtraks get. The fieldman is commercial version, without windows in the back. not too much difference other wise.
Others will probably either confirm these points or correct them and give you other points.
Cheers for that mate. So the
Cheers for that mate. So the Fieldman probably wont have electric windows, and has narrower arches?..
I would say a different style
I would say a different style of arches, i dont have measurements to hand to give a definate answer. No fieldman's that I know of have electric windows, may depend on the options when originally bought, the non-commercial 'traks may well have electric windows.
i cant add anything only that
i cant add anything only that i like the feildman it looks like a good work horse thats what i think ill be having next year.
it does seem to be the dearest of them all though.
Everyman is the architect of his own future.
The reason the Indipendents
The reason the Indipendents have wider arches than the earlier modle Fourtrak is that they have indipendent torsion bar suspention on the front. This needed a wider trak than the older leaf sprunge modle. The wheel arches were then streched out to cover the new width, and the rear axle (now coil sprung) was streched to match the front trak width.
As for the letters, that just denoted spec level, Like a Geia X is a Ford with everything on it, and an L is as basic as it gets.
The fieldman is the van, but all the fitting points are there to get an older modle Trak and use the bits (rear seat, rear roof with the windows (asuming it's the LWB with 'plastic' roof and not the SWB with metal roof) or just the windows themselves, center consol clocks, electric windows, etc) to 'upgrad' your vehicle.
Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.
Ok, I think I have it, the
Ok, I think I have it, the Fieldman I'm looking at has the raised roof at the back alright.
From what your telling me though, it's leaf sprung front and rear???
That's interesting about getting an older model and using the bits do do mine up a bit, I think I'd be leaving it as a van though, and although I Love electric windows, there only are 2 so I'd probably manage!
If it doesn't have the wide
If it doesn't have the wide metal wheel arches, then it's an earlier leafsprung modle. Fieldman just means comercial (van), and can be either an earlier or an Indipendent modle. Eisiest answer to that one is a quick look underneath. A live beam leafsprunge front axle, it's not an Indipendent. The Indipendent refures to the indipendent front suspention.
The raised 'plastic' roof means it's a Long Wheel Base, as the SWB's have a full metal roof, which is the same hight all the way along, or sometimes a soft top.
Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.
Well I've taken the plunge
Well I've taken the plunge lads and bought this baby:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320509415595&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
NOW, the question is... Where can I buy a black A-bar, I'm also looking for side-steps to suit this model.
I live in Ireland, but I'm picking the truck up in Milton Keynes and then driving to see family in Macclesfield, so somewhere on the way or around Macclesfield would be fantastic!
All the best,
Dan
That looks a very nice truck,
That looks a very nice truck, congrats! Looks really "mean" ^_^. 34 bids, looks like some other people thought so too. Thats a pretty long drive to pick it up
As for the A-bar and running boards, you can buy them new, but your going to be nearly doubling the price of the truck. Your best bet is it check ebay for people selling any. Or of there are none do a search for "fourtrak breaking" and mail the seller(s) to see if they have anything. I've used a breaker on there a few times called "daihatsu4parts" I think, he is pretty good.
Anyway, have a safe trip!
Fieldman and TDX/L .... same arches
Having both types, I can say that the body panels are the same except for some big holes used to retain the plastic flared arch extensions.
There is no problem, for example, when I fitted the wider wheels/tyres of the TDX to the Fieldman for the snow we had. (..... and since the Fieldman is something like 1/4 ton lighter, the wide tyres made light work of the snow.)
The Fieldman doesn't have electric windows and mirrors to go wrong, or that damn stupid electric/vacuum 4wd shift abortion which will DEFINITELY go wrong.