New to 4x4, but I want to learn!

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Skilltagz's picture

Rob Cowley
Victoria
New to 4x4, but I want to learn!

Hey guys, I just bought my first car. It's a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder LE, and other than an aftermarket stereo and some upgraded (road) tires, she's bone stock. Anyway I was wondering if there was anyone in the Victoria area who would perhaps be willing to take me under their wing? I don't have much mechanical experience but I want to learn, both to know how and to save myself some money haha. While I doubt my ride will be trail ready anytime soon, I'd love to get out there and see what it's about even if I'm a passenger. And if anyone in the Victoria area needs a shop assistant I'm more than willing to help out :) Cheers guys

Skilltagz's picture

Rob Cowley
Victoria

I should also add, while I don't have much engine/car experience I do know my way around a workshop, I did some woodworking and metalworking in high school, although that was a few years ago. I know how to use basic tools and how to work in a safe manner in a shop :)

03XSportTrac's picture

Bryce Mercredi
Port Alberni

if your ever around port alberni area, gimme a week or few days heads up i can show you up our look out, which is fairly stocker friendly with some technical rocky area to crawl over in low range. im driving a sport trac 4door with a 2.5 " leaf lift in rear and 1" torsion twist up front with 255s tires and i make it up to the top no problem.

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Rob Cowley
Victoria

Thanks, I'm mainly stuck in the Victoria area because of school but I'll definitely hit you up if I'm going to be in that area :)

Old smokey's picture

Andrew
Victoria

We are based out of victoria as well and explore all around the south island. Don't have a shop per se, but get out the wrenches in the driveway now and again when we have things to fix or upgrade. Our explorations rarely have much serious 4 wheeling, but we are slowly prepping the trucks for more action. I'll post up when we do a trail run and see if you can tag along

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Peter
Victoria

Hey Rob
I'm new the 4x4 community as well. purchased a 17 Tacoma last fall and have been steadily upgrading what I can afford on it. He's still bone stock as far as tires and suspension go but has managed everything I have thrown at it. perhaps some of you guys on here could do a run we could join in on sometime? I know I have lots to learn and upgrade on my rig and anyone that's willing to show me some stuff on the trail would be greatly appreciated.

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sam
Victoria

Hey guys, also local to Victoria, been doing this for a few years :) Have you guys been out on trails in the area ( ish) yet? There isnt much for bigger vehicles / or stock friendly trails , closest trail I know would be oliphant in mill bay. One thing is for sure though, unless you wana stick to FSR's, get ready for BC pinstripping

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Peter
Victoria

I have been on a lot of the FSR between Vic, Cowichan, and nitnat. Pushed though a lot of down brush on decommissioned roads, and had to clear a bit in places to get to some camping spots a coworker told me about. Biggest setback for me right now is shit tires, and very little recovery gear. I'm carrying a 20' tow strap, 2 - 3/4" shackles, and some crappy traction mats right now.

Pinstriping is the last of worries. I bought a truck to use it, not to baby it.

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sam
Victoria

good thats awesome! so did I haha. In that case a good close to town loop would be the oliphant lake loop, in mill bay, have you heard of it? Honestly I didnt have much recovery gear for a long time, strap is definitely good to have, and crappy traction mats is better than no traction mats. Been through some rough spots and never needed a winch, but you also have to know what your truck is capable of VS being dumb and trying anything. Theres lots of stuff ive said no too, because sometimes the risk isnt worth it. That being said, our trucks are super capable despite the length! Best upgrade I would recommend on is tires for sure, and rock sliders. ( im judging by your picture you have a double cab long bed?) so do I, and thats the weakest point of the truck, the length. May not seem like you need rock sliders now, but you will eventually come up to obstacles you wish you had them, even for something simple as tight turns in the bush in tighter trails. I tore up my factory side steps before i finally got sliders lol

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Peter
Victoria

I haven't​ heard of it. When I get off work tonight I'll take a look into it.
I have been slowly learning what this truck is capable of. So far I haven't got majorly stuck. Had a couple high center incidents in the snow that I dug myself out of. Then on the way out of one of those times I pulled a jeep Cherokee out of the ditch. (That was the first weekend I had it as well!) The tires I'm saving for are the Cooper st Maxx. I like the look better then KO2'S and I also don't feel like following the crowd. Sliders are definitely the next one after that, if I can find someone in Canada that makes them. My truck is actually a double cab Short bed, it's the offroad model.
Really I already have over $7K of stuff I want to buy. It's just a matter of time and money.

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sam
Victoria

yea fair enough, thats good that your learning, and you definitely have an advantage with having a short box, good call for offroading! long bed makes it a challenge haha, especially in tight trails here in BC. The guy who made my sliders custom made them, he lives in sooke, his name is Brad Poulin. Hes well known on alot of 4x4 groups for building a whole bunch of custom things, does a really good job too and charges a fair amount. Sliders would probably run you like 700-900$ all depending on what you want

yea ive heard mix things about KO2. Not 100% certain with 3rd gen taco, but keep in mind anything bigger than 265/75R16 will need some sort of clearance, either aftermarket wheels , probably a lift of some sort, maybe some trimming. Your good at 265/75R16, which are like 31.8 tires, if you wana go 33's ( 285/75R16) then you will def need to change some stuff / trim some stuff

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sam
Victoria

also nice pic! im digging the soft top, where was this pic taken?

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Peter
Victoria

I'll have to contact him in a few when I'm ready to get a set. I saw your thread about them, and they look killer. Much better to support a local guy as well!

Currently in planning on getting 265/75/16 maxxs. Drive on them till I kill them, then do a full suspension replace. After having my truck for 6 months I'm already at 16K km. So it won't take long.

That picture was taken at Nitnat River falls. It's the smallest little provincial park Just of the mainline to nitnat.

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Mike
Victoria

For what it's worth I got KO2s and i love them. Granted i don't have a lot to compare them to, but the stuff they've pulled me through so far makes me feel invincible sometimes. Can't argue with the price either!

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Moderator

sam
Victoria

yea KO2 definitely have good reviews on them, ive heard some bad stuff but not much!

and yea for sure , hes definitely worth contacting, those sliders are really solid, super impressed, I wanted bolt on ones too! good idea on 265/75/16 , easiest to do without changing anything, fits on stock wheels too! I plasti dipped my wheels, looks way better black IMO, especially with a blue truck

nice ive never been out to nitnat, looks awesome!

Beer-n-Meat's picture

Beer-n-Meat
Nanaimo

Good 4x4 etiquette.

Do not post pictures of your rig in rivers/lakes/fish bearing streams.

I would also recommend Brad over at Island Armor for your armor needs.

Website would lead you to believe he is exclusive to Jeeps but he is not.

https://www.cjstojks.ca/

I have recently put on some Cooper STT Pros and I love them, they are fairly quiet on the road and GREAT! off road.

Out4aRip's picture

Rob
Victoria

I wonder if that's who Westshore Spring is using..?
The next major project for my Tracker is going to be the front bumper, well including a winch, bull bars,bush guards & lights. I have yet to see a decent OTS bumper replacement for the 2nd gen Trackers & Grand Vitaras. Calmini has one but it's meh, The rep at ARB I emailed with said they had plans to design bumpers for them and plans for designing and certifying a RD air locker for them that does not require any cutting as well but who knows how long that may take to hit market... O_o

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Peter
Victoria

fair enough, at the time we thought since it wasn't salmon spawning season, one pass would be ok for a picture. however, in hindsight, there are numerous other organisms that call it home and I wish I hadn't done it.
it's good to know Brad does more then Jeep's! when I know what I want ill probably do a large order from him, sliders and under armor this year, and eventually some sort of front and rear bumpers.
I looked at the STT Pros a while back, but my truck is also my daily driver. So I'm trying to build it for what I need, and not do a ton of overkill on it. I figured since most of my driving is forest service roads decommissioned and not (at least right now....) Maxx's will suffice.
but out of curiosity, what did you pay for them and from where?

Beer-n-Meat's picture

Beer-n-Meat
Nanaimo

I got a pretty good deal on them.
I bought them from Integra tire across form Nanaimo airport for about $240.00 a tire
35x12.5x15

Butch's picture

Peter
Victoria

That's actually a really great price! The maxxs I have looked at were 270-290 a tire. That price might make me change...

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