Forum:
Ok so I have bought a pretty standard Fourtrak mainly for going to the stables and towing a horse box but I am interested in doing some light off road stuff just for fun. I don't want to wreck itso wont be doing anything too extreme but is there any basic modifications that are well know or advised to do to a Fourtrak if taking it offroad?
I don't mind spending a few £££ but don't have access to a car lift or have welding or metal work equipment.
Also the spare wheel is currently not attached to the rear door as the previous owner said it makes the door and hinges sag. Is it a good idea to keep it off as I was thinking of putting it back on as I think they look quite good on the back door.
Here is a few photos as it is:
Thanks in advance,
Mark.
number one off road rule
the thing that connects a vehicle to the ground is Tyres, get a good set of grippy mud tyres and thats a good start. i would put the spare wheel back, yes it does wear the hinges but mine are now 22 yrs old soooooo........theres no other room in a trak for spare, unless you make a roof fitment via roofrack, or bonnet.
Full of ideas but no time to do them!!
www.bloodredoffroad.com
www.milneroffroad.com
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youtube: Redfourtrack
The spare wheel was in the
The spare wheel was in the back as there are no rear seats but it was taking up a lot of room so just put it in the garage for now. The fact I had no jack or tools in it meant it would just be even more annoying if I had a spare wheel i could change but no tools to do it with. lol. I will get the spare wheel cleaned and painted or buy a new wheel and get it put back on and also make up a small tool kit to keep in there at all times.
Thanks for the advise though on tyres. Chances are I will do 90% of driving on the road to and from the stables or towing a horse box on the motorway but would still like something that would be hard wearing quite and capable off road. I am guessing there isn't such a wonder tyre or everyone would have them so will have to compromise somewhere.
Daihatsu Fourtrak Fieldman TDL
Many people have a second set
Many people have a second set of wheels and tyres for playing with. I have found in the past that a good compromise (and as with all compromises it isn't perfect) is to put BF Goodrich AT's on the front, and BF Goodrich MT's on the back. The AT's keep the road manners quite reasonable, while the MT's on the back will push you through reasonabley sticky stuff. However, from experience, this set up can couse problems when towing in the wet. The back end does tend to have less sideways grip on the road than with road tyres. When the car is solo this tends not to be an issue, as even if the back end steps out a little the AT's on the front keep the truck going where you point it. However with a heavy trailer on the back (especially a 4 wheel trailer which will tend to want to go in a straight line all the time anyway) this slight stepping out can eisily turn into a full jackknife. I've never done this myself, but I have had a close call or two. On the plus side the AT's wear very well (worth the £120 a tyre). The MT's are softer, and therfor wear quicker than the AT, but still wear well compared to most like minded rubber.
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.
Seeing as the tyres I have on
Seeing as the tyres I have on at the moment were new only 3,000 miles ago and the fact new wheels are only £30 each I may end up with another set of offroad tyres. Only downside I can think of is that it would look soo much cooler with big off road tyres on all the time! lol.
Also I will be towing a 4 wheel (700kg) horse trailer and up to two horses (600kg each) so dont really want to be stepping out much!
Daihatsu Fourtrak Fieldman TDL
bfg
Out of the 5 fourtraks my dad runs all apart from my tds are on bfg AT's, with mine on insa turbo sahara's. the bfg AT's stick to the road unless you go doing stupid things, dad is regularly towing 2 if not 3 horses with his tdx and thats fine. i notice in the damp the sahara can be a bit loose, not majorly just something that sticks in your mind when driving to think about.
I changed from the AT's to the Sahara's as i wanted something that could pull me up out of ruts as i do more offroading in mine that the others, but for light stuff the AT's do fine
i agree bfg
i went through a session of changing, trying testing different all terrain patterns and found the bf pattern the best, however have not tried coopers yet or general grabbers, but i would recommend the tyre to have is actually the kumho KL 71.
Full of ideas but no time to do them!!
www.bloodredoffroad.com
www.milneroffroad.com
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youtube: Redfourtrack
the jack and small tools
the jack and small tools should be under the front passenger seat... and a long jack handle on the bonnet slam panel
Update
The previous owner brought round a service kit for me which was nice. Oil filter, Fuel filter, Air filter, V belt and windscreen wipers. That's the first job and I am going to change the gearbox, diffs and transfer box oils, grease everything up and service the auto hubs.
Migh torder some Kumho's today as I have found them in stock and £20 a tyre cheaper than the BFG's. Going to get new wheels too. Oh and maybe 2" lift springs and shocks!
Daihatsu Fourtrak Fieldman TDL