Central America, Panama offroading

[sport_truck]

I'm feeling lazy so here is the old thread I started at the beginning of the year

trailvoys on the offroad scene have gone a long way since I've been gone
http://forums.trailvoy.com/showthread.php?t=68693

I'm afraid that my trailvoy won't keep up with those guys I'll post other vids later...






cheers

[Trail X]

So what are your plans to keep up with them?

[KE7WOX]

Saludos.

I lived 3 years in Panama, went offroading twice to Las Lajitas, up in the mountains off Lago Bayano, following the road over the dam, but we took an army of Toyotas. Did you end up getting the 4WD TB?.

[sport_truck]

So what are your plans to keep up with them?

well i'm still using the search button like a mad man

but so far :
2" japan coils
3" Suspension lift (not sure on this one)
2inch Body lift (doubt I can fit 35's without them so)

33's or 35's tires
Body armor,(skid plates, rocksliders,etc )
3.73 or 4.10 gears with the eaton locker
Diff-breather extension

My biggest concern is river crossing; how the electronics handle it and also the lack of a snorkel

waiting for suggestions

[sport_truck]

Saludos.

I lived 3 years in Panama, went offroading twice to Las Lajitas, up in the mountains off Lago Bayano, following the road over the dam, but we took an army of Toyotas. Did you end up getting the 4WD TB?.

nice man, yeah Las Lajitas is a walk in a park right now compared to some other trails I've seen, hope you enjoyed your stay.

About the whole army of Toyotas its a lot bigger Big diesel Landcruisers, Nissan Patrols, and a crap load of jeeps... in the offroad scene.

I still have my 2wd but I got a couple of 4wds in sight

[Trail X]

So what are your plans to keep up with them?

well i'm still using the search button like a mad man

but so far :
2" japan coils
3" Suspension lift (not sure on this one)
2inch Body lift (doubt I can fit 35's without them so)

33's or 35's tires
Body armor,(skid plates, rocksliders,etc )
3.73 or 4.10 gears with the eaton locker
Diff-breather extension

My biggest concern is river crossing; how the electronics handle it and also the lack of a snorkel

waiting for suggestions

Japan coils are old news and only one person I know has actually located and used them. The new thing is the plethora of factory optioned springs. There's a thread about that... look around.

No 3" suspension lift exists.

Good luck with 35"ers... that's a feat that I don't think anyone here has obtained with any reliability.

[KE7WOX]

Saludos.

I lived 3 years in Panama, went offroading twice to Las Lajitas, up in the mountains off Lago Bayano, following the road over the dam, but we took an army of Toyotas. Did you end up getting the 4WD TB?.

nice man, yeah Las Lajitas is a walk in a park right now compared to some other trails I've seen, hope you enjoyed your stay.

I still have my 2wd but I got a couple of 4wds in sight

It is now, 2nd time we went there we took a Ssangyong Rexton, they had graded the road and removed all the trees that blocked the sun. 1st time there we had to ditch the Frontier because it couldn't make it up the hill, plenty of 4LOing and winching. The trip report for the 2nd time is somewhere on the Trail Reports subforum. My dad drove up there twice during wet weather in 2008/9, took his Prado.

If you're still looking, see if you can find a 4WD with the G80 locker.

Good luck fitting 35s. I don't think anyone has been able to fit them without extreme mods and have no rubbing/hitting at full compression. I believe Hardtrailz has 34"s

[sport_truck]

[/quote]It is now, 2nd time we went there we took a Ssangyong Rexton, they had graded the road and removed all the trees that blocked the sun. 1st time there we had to ditch the Frontier because it couldn't make it up the hill, plenty of 4LOing and winching. The trip report for the 2nd time is somewhere on the Trail Reports subforum. My dad drove up there twice during wet weather in 2008/9, took his Prado.

If you're still looking, see if you can find a 4WD with the G80 locker.

Good luck fitting 35s. I don't think anyone has been able to fit them without extreme mods and have no rubbing/hitting at full compression. I believe Hardtrailz has 34"s[/quote]

Lol yeah I just read that thread... and I lol'd a your comment from us locals carrying chains even if it doesn't snow...

We don't have snow but we have LOT OF MUD ... and you saw in your couple of trips... nothing but 4LO

hey If I can get a 4wd with the G80 and fit atleast a 34" I'll see if I can keep up to lifted turbo diesel 4runner on 33's that I've heard it can hang with the big guys on 37's


cheers

[KE7WOX]

34s will require quite a bit of of cutting and lifting.

Out of curiosity, are you a local, expat, or does your license plate start with CD?

[sport_truck]

34s will require quite a bit of of cutting and lifting.

Out of curiosity, are you a local, expat, or does your license plate start with CD?

I'm, ok with the cutting and lifting

and yeah i'm a local

[KE7WOX]

Lifting was assumed . But you will need to cut or remove the front bumper, and I'm guessing remove the fender liners aswell.

[AlekG]

Lifting was assumed . But you will need to cut or remove the front bumper, and I'm guessing remove the fender liners aswell.

With the proper setup you may not need to cut any visible sheet metal for 33s (only some inside metal tabs which are not really visible anyways). I didn't have to cut anything visible but Roadie did a bit.

34s and up you will need to trim the wheel well sheet metal, particularly the back end of the wheel well. With 35s I believe its more than an inch of metal.

AG

[KE7WOX]

Envoys are well known for needing a little bit more mods due to the design.

Nice to see you around Alek

[irishboy02]

I have 33x12.5 r15 on a 15x10 with 3.75BS and 1.5" adapter and i had to trim my fenders. I wasnt able to get more than half a turn on my steering wheel prior to trimming

[HARDTRAILZ]

My 33's hung with a bunch of Jeeps all weekend in TN ...there is a thread full of pics. From stock Rubicons to lifted and locked with 35's. I had a blast and surprised some people. Trusting a spotter and experience are as much a key as is the truck. Find a good group and go wheeling.

[TangoBravo]

I know this is an old post but I noticed that he had asked about water crossings. Well I happen to know about that, well kinda it's a long story but the fact is on my model there is a box under the rear seat it sort of looks like a battery box. Inside of this box is an assortment of fuses and a real major componant to my TB it is called the basic controll moddual(sp). So moral to the story is find a way to protect it or relocate it because once a drop of water hits the BCM it is game over and it has to be replaced by a dealer because of coding and all that so roughly 600 bucks later and you will be good to go. You could see that it was exactly one drop of water that got on the board of my BCM and my truck wouldn't start, no lights, windows ect.ect kinda like a dead battery but you cant jump start it, So I had to be towed home.