Did a little offroad test in the 1500cc single port baja before we headed up to the beach (this is the first day I have given it any stick since I got it on the road last week).

had a blast, but traction in the soft stockton sand was an issue. There's no way I'd want to take the baja on there without a backup real 4x4! I bogged it a good dozen times, but then we were going into some crazy places.

Unfortunately, the camera got a gutfull of sand and you can hear it jammed in the zoom gears of it, so now I have to get it sent for repair before it breaks something.

We got good fottage of my mate Dangerous Dave in his Challenger. The funniest part of the day was having to go back to help him dig the challenger out when he bogged it, and the baja just glided past!

anyway, hi res pics and movie files are here:

http://loud-noises.com/Carstuff/VW/ 

if you have good speakers, the first few vids especially sound awesome!

Good stuff.....should be more of it!!!

oh, there is, I'm still uploading

Good to hear......don't worry about needing a real 4x4....just make sure your tyre pressures are about 8/10psi on the rear and you'll get just about everywhere without problem.

I did a trip into the back of Ormeau with a couple of mates that have kingpin/swingaxle bajas, and was quite impressed at some of the tracks we drove up.....and the ease with which they did it. Every 4x4 we passed gave the thumbs up and were surprised to see us there. Also tested out the new mud tyres the guys got and was suitably impressed.
When the film is developed I'll post some pics.
Graham

last movie is uploading now,...

I ran the fronts at 15psi and the rears at about 8psi. I should have gone lower on the rear, even at that low pressure the tyre really wasnt deforming very much at all.

thats right. on a freidns baja, 8psi is normal off road (for mainly sand) pressure. when the sand gets soft. 5psi is the next stop. if bogged at 5 then 3. got stuck at 3 once. let it down to no shhhsh. it got out after that.

my buggy is lighter and less responsive to low press changes. my sidewalls look harder too. i can let mine out to 5psi and they look like his a 10. mine at 0 are still visibly suspended by the sidewall....

so spose it depends on your tyres. shoulda done a test is one of those real soft bits, 8psi down to 5 & down lower & see if you get out.

might depend on rims too. his are 10.5R on 8" wide rims while mine are 10.5R on 9.75 wide rims. rims might bee too wide to let tyre bag properly??
[Edited on 16-5-2004 by helterskelter400]

sorry bout edits but trying to attach pik.


[Edited on 16-5-2004 by helterskelter400]

damn "Column count doesn't match value count at row 1"
again:alien

[Edited on 16-5-2004 by helterskelter400]

see the pics...not the movies....damn

movies are quicktime format, you'll have to go to quicktime.com for the player if you dont have it already.

HAHA
That was you.
Well you missed having a suport vehicle by about 10 mins.
I past you just after the sweeping bend just before stockton bridge. I was in a white toyota hilux dual cab.
I did wave but i doubt you would have taken any notice of a standard hilux HEhEhe.
Good to see it out on the road.

Get your self some old speedway tyres and try those up there

jim if that yellow baja is urs mate its loooking nice, i had no idea.
good job.

I always found 10lb all round would cover Stockton beach quite nicely.

haha! VW0064 yeah that would have been me, I'm back up there today as I have an RDO I would have waved had I seen you, but I think I was too busy trying to steer it

Sam, yep, but I can't take credit for the build, it's pretty much as I bought it, apart from repairs for rego...

it's funny as it gets heaps of looks and thumbs up from all sorts of people, except the ferals in crusty hiluxes etc that look at it as if to say there's no way it'd get on and off the beach.

It's a ball joint swing axle 1500SP, and I'm impressed with the amount of torque it has, though it really needs a lot more for the beach.

I have to say though, it confirms that there is no way I would attempt Lavis Lane in this thing unless it's been raining.

Secoh we regually do trips to Stockton Sand Dunes with the Klub VW Offroad club and i believe our next trip is on the first weekend in November, and we will be staying at the Stockton Beach Caravan Park for more info on this weekend give Mike Sharp a ring on 0746356554 or 0400748756, other than that ,see ya on the dune's dude

I have a bit of work to do on my Manx but I hope to get out on Stockton REAL SOON..

I also have a Swing axle in the rear and ball joint front..
Wondering how you think it went..

I am looking at resetting my spring plates for some more ride hight..
Have you done this...???
I could do with some tips....

Any other things you have messed about with or think you should change for your next beach bash..?

Oh yeah and I now have a shovel and will be buying a Kangaroo Jack for sure..

Love the Vids buy the way.. I hope to post a few of my own Soon.. He He

ride height is definately the key...I'm trying to locate reduction boxes and raised front spindles. I just picked up some soft sidewall 4x4 tyres for the back today, the stiff truck rated desert dueler ones were crap.

I've got a gearbox with reduction boxes for sale .

ok tyres are both 10.5R15, baja has softer walls and rounded edges , buggy has harder walls & sharper edges. both sets of tyres 2nd hand off 4wds, either free or mounting cost only. buggy has 9.75" wide rims, baja has 8" wide rims.

seat of pants comparison is buggy would be better with softer walls and rounded edges & narrower rims so tyres bag better without having to go to 0psi which is scary with the too wide rim holding the bead out not in!!