Queensland cops test H3 Hummer

The current fleet of Landcruisers used by the police in Queensland is due for replacement and, as part of the review and assessment process, some Hummer H3 vehicles are being tested.

According to a Brisbane newspaper, the Deputy Commissioner, Ian Steward, said the H3 is significantly cheaper than the Toyota, and its efficiency is equal or better.

Really? Can you imagine five big and burly Queensland cops squeezed into the cabin of a Hummer H3?

Then there’s the black H3 that Queensland Police is using in its ‘undercover operations’ fleet. It’s hard to believe. If a black, unmarked, Hummer tried to pull you over, would you think it was the police? Would you stop? We wouldn’t. We’d floor the pedal of the Jeep and head for the closest narrow-gutted street, or any other place that didn’t allow super-wide vehicles.

PIMP YOUR Jeep

Wrangler TJ 1996 - 2006

Exterior Accessories
Bonnet Catches - Rugged Ridge

THAT'S A STEAL! is probably what the thieves say when access to the Jeep Wrangler engine bay is so easy. These fantastic locking bonnet latches not only look hot, but provide that much needed protection. Installs to the factory latch location with no drilling required. Both sides are keyed to the same key. Excellent protection and styling.

Bonnet Latches - Rugged Ridge

Rare as hens teeth!! These polished stainless steel bonnet latches have been out of stock for longer than we can remember. Simple to install, with no drilling required, they add some bling to your TJ Wrangler. Limited

Bonnet Scoop - Rugged Ridge

Want your Jeep Wrangler to look hot? This polished stainless steel bonnet scoop adds that much needed bling to your vehicle. Easy installation with no drilling required. The scoop covers the air vent and will assist with airflow.

Bonnet/Hood Vent Cover - Rugged Ridge

Polished stainless steel vent cover is just great. Looks like chrome, with the durability of stainless steel. Fits in minutes with high grade dual sided tape. Really trick.

Diff Guard - Warn

Our Warn Differential Guard is finished in polished stainless steel providing both the ultimate protection and great looks.

Frame Cover - Rugged Ridge

Polished stainless steel contoured to go over the existing molded plastic frame cover and includes cut-out to expose Jeep logo. Easy to fit. A neat classy way to trim the gap between your front bar/bumper and grille.

Fuel Bezel - Rugged Ridge

Add a dash of class to your Jeep Wrangler with this polished stainless fuel bezel. Fits in minutes with no drilling required

Fuel/Petrol Hatch - Aviation Style

Our biggest seller! Polished stainless steel aviation style fuel hatch cover with flip lid for access to existing fuel cap. Fits in minutes. Looks hot!

Grille & Light Black Out Kit - Rugged Ridge

Give your Jeep Wrangler a strong dark appearance. Molded black headlight bezels replace original chrome type, and back grille slot inserts simply snap into place for a deeper exaggerated look. Got any blacker?

Grille Bug Protector - Rugged Ridge

Designed to fit over your Jeep Wrangler grille without affecting the cooling system. Includes a pre-cut opening for the bonnet catch and installs easily with minimal drilling required. Complete with all required hardware.

License Plate Mounting Bracket - Rugged Ridge

This mounting bracket makes for easy fitment of your vehicles license plate. Suits any front and rear Moab® tubular bars, or any other 3 inch diameter tube bar.

Light Bar Tubular - Rugged Ridge

Polished 38mm diameter stainless steel tube bar. Looks like a roll bar! 4 tab mounts to fit up to 4 lights and ported to hide wiring. Easy to fit. Looks like chrome, but won't scratch or rust like it. Lights sold separately

Light Covers - Ribbed Style

Smarten up the rear of your Jeep Wrangler with these easy-install guards. The ribbed-design really enhance the appearance of your Jeep and fit in minutes with high-grade double sided tap. Very classy!

Mirror Relocation Bracket - Rugged Ridge

Easy to fit polished stainless steel brackets allow your to retain the fitment of your mirrors when driving with the doors off. Mounts to existing holes in windscreen hinges. Stainless steel hardware supplied.

Mirrors - Rugged Ridge

Wacko! Absolutely beautifully crafted. You won't know which side to look in! Give your Jeep Wrangler a real quality look.

Tyre Mounting Bracket - Rugged Ridge

Allows the easy fitment of a 33"x12.5" tyre to the existing tailgate bracket. Manufactured from 6.5mm plate steel, and 51mm box tube with full welds. This heavy-duty, great fitting, powder coated bracket provides extra spacing of two inches out, and one inch up.

Windscreen Hinges - Rugged Ridge

Looks like chrome, but made from polished stainless steel for great finish, durability and strength. Easy to fit. Provided with matching stainless steel hardware. Great custom look!Gives your Jeep Wrangler a 'set of shoulders'. Appearance is strong, tough, yet classy.

Sanya to Hold First International 4x4 Off-Road Events

The first China (Sanya) International Rainforest 4x4 Off-Road Challenge and Malaysia International Rainforest 4x4 Off-Road Challenge Sanya Summer Competition will be held in Sanya from September 19 to 23. Nearly one hundred 4x4s from home and abroad will take part the competition. Malaysia International Rainforest 4x4 Off-Road Challenge is the only internationally top-level rainforest challenge, including vehicle modifying, driving skill challenging and rainforest living competitions.

Suspension Alignment: Understanding and Adjusting Caster

Caster is the angle between the steering axis and the vertical axis as viewed from the side of the car. Caster affects straight-line stability and "camber gain". Positive caster is when the top of the steering axis is tilted back (steering axis intersects the ground in front of the tire contact patch). Negative caster is when the top of the steering axis is tilted forward (steering axis intersects the ground behind the tire contact patch). I have never seen negative caster used in suspension setup, and I do not believe it is beneficial in automobile suspension geometry. Therefore, for the rest of this section, when I refer to caster, I am talking about positive caster.
To visualize caster, think about the wheels of a shopping cart. The steering axis of the wheel intersects the ground far ahead of where the wheel touches the ground. As a result, the wheel is essentially dragged behind the steering axis. This keeps the wheel moving straight. If the steering axis intersected the ground at the same spot that the wheel touched the ground, then there would be no caster effect. The wheel would be free to spin around the steering axis as long as it was not held in place by some other force.
Unlike in a shopping cart, the steering axis on a car is placed close to the hub of the wheel. Therefore, the only way to make the steering axis intersect the ground ahead of the tire contact patch is to tilt the steering axis back. The more the axis is tilted (in the positive caster direction), the greater the caster effect.
Large caster settings increase the tendency of the front wheels to center themselves. This tendency is mainly due to the camber gain that occurs when the steering axis is tilted and the wheels are turned. Camber gain involved with caster is not easy to visualize. Think about the extreme case where the steering axis is tilted to the point where it is horizontal. When you turn the steering wheel in this case, the front wheels would stand up on their edges. If you turn left, the left tire will stand on its outer edge, and the right tire will stand on its inner edge. If you turn right, the left tire will stand on its inner edge the right on its outer edge. The same type of camber gain, only on a smaller scale, takes place with less caster. This camber gain is exactly what you want in a corner. Read my accompanying on camber to see what it is and why it’s beneficial.
When the tires stand up on their edges, the front of the car is actually raised up. This is why the wheels "center themselves" when you let go of the steering wheel. The weight of the car pushes the wheels flat on the ground, which resets the steering. This improves high-speed stability because it keeps the steering firmly in the center position. However, it is difficult to turn a car with a large caster setting because, while turning, you are actually lifting the front of the car with the steering. This effect is most visible in luxury sedans, where high-speed stability is important and sophisticated power steering makes up for the extra steering effort. If you watch one of these cars as the wheels turn to full lock (maximum steering angle), you will see the front end of the car rise slightly.
Increased caster is advantageous for racing and, in some cases, street driving. The only disadvantage is the added steering effort. While camber gain due to caster is generally good for increasing the grip of the front tires in a corner, too much camber gain will cause the tires to heat up, lose grip, and wear out prematurely. Therefore, do not use more than a few degrees of caster. If your car uses a MacPherson Strut suspension, it may be necessary to modify the strut tower mounts or tension rods to be able to adjust caster.
Visit www.240edge.com for more information about caster adjustments.
We always recommend that before you perform any maintenance or repair to your vehicle to always have a service manual for your vehicle handy. You can check for your service manual here.

IceRocket Tags: Suspension repair,car repair info,promanuals,service manuals,caster alignment,how to car repair
Technorati Tags: Suspension repair,car repair info,promanuals,service manuals,caster alignment,how to car repair.

Finding and installing car parts

So you're mechanically inclined? Fabulous! You probably know a lot about repairing and installing car parts. When working on vehicles, there are certainly times when parts need to be replaced, costing you and, in turn, the customer a lot of money. But there are ways to cut your costs. Have you considered using recycled car parts?

Automotive recyclers offer great deals on used car parts. There are more recyclers out there than you might think. And their prices are hard to beat. One reason is that insurance companies can save money themselves by dropping off wrecked vehicles at a recycling yard. There are many other incentives, though, to shop from these guys.

Did you know that buying used car parts from auto recyclers helps prevent pollution caused by manufacturing new parts? A lot of oil is used to manufacture new car parts-resources that are saved by recycling. Reusing raw materials is beneficial to the environment. And finding the right car parts shouldn't be too difficult. Currently, more than 4 million automobiles are recycled every year in North America. That's a lot of available car parts!

Recycling car parts saves a lot of space in landfills. Why throw something away when it can still be used? Also, buying used car parts allows you to use quality parts made by the original manufacturer. Recyclers are skilled in determining which car parts are damaged and which are reusable.

And it is true: used car parts help you save money. Clearly, this is a cheaper alternative to buying new car parts. But are you getting the same quality? Good question. Actually, most automotive recyclers give warranties on car parts, so you won't need to worry about buying a lemon. Better yet, recyclers can often find car parts faster than other dealers, as they have developed an electronic network to communicate quickly with other recyclers. If they don't have what you need in stock, chances are they can find it in no time.

Next time you're looking for car parts, consider your local automotive recycler. You'll be satisfied with the product, and also with the price.
We always recommend having a service manual for your vehicle before performing any maintenance or repair. You can get your service manual here.
http://www.promanuals.net/

4WD winch

for more information just click below:
http://www.txwinches.com/newEbiz1/EbizPortalFG/portal/html/CategoryList.html?ProductMultiCategoryPicker210_action=Searchcategory&ProductPicker_action=Searchcategory&CategoryID=c373e91ba1202bd38f7a54a15ee1f1b6

Taupo Events Go Off-road

Taupo is set to play host to yet another international event when the 2009 Asset Finance 1000 comes to town on September 11-13.

Considered the toughest off-road 4WD race in the Southern Hemisphere, the Asset Finance 1000 will take place in the forests east of Taupo with the pits based at Te Awa airstrip.

Over 50 teams will battle against each other during three days of exciting racing action with three teams travelling from as far as Australia.

One of the favourites is David Jameson who has competed in the humid jungles of Malaysia and throughout Australia and claims Taupo is one of his favourite tracks.

"It's a great track and my family loves being so close to the ski fields!" he said.

The race begins with a preview day on September 11 followed by two days of competition on September 12 and 13 when drivers will complete up to 500 km per day.

"This is an event Destination Lake Taupo has supported for five years - it adds another string to our bow as the events capital of New Zealand," said Warwick Hall, Manager of Event Marketing for Destination Lake Taupo.

"Off-road racing is a great sport for spectators - the organisers are offering a fantastic deal for people who pre-purchase tickets online - a weekend pass will cost $20 if purchased online prior to the event," continued Hall.

"September 12-13 will be a busy one in Taupo - we are also hosting the inaugural training camp for the BNZ Trainer Wheels programme, designed to help beginner riders participate in their first Wattyl Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge," said Hall.

Set in the massive production pine forests east of Taupo, the race track is based at an all-new pit complex on the forestry airstrip, and the roads used in the 53 km lap are significantly different from the course used for the previous race.

"The entry list thus far includes a high number of crews that are new to the sport of off-road racing," said event organiser Tony Saelman.

"The Taupo 1000 has always welcomed the four wheel drive and winch challenge drivers who love to get out in the forest - we are now seeing people come across from rallying to race in our event."

Local entrants include Lou Pilkington and Craig Halligan (Challenger/VW), Bruce Jaine and Ian Jensen (Challenger/VW) and Klem Christensen and Daniel Connor.

Volvo Malaysia To Tap Off-Road Market For Heavy Duty Trucks

KUCHING, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- Volvo Malaysia Sdn Bhd is looking at expanding the market for its heavy-duty Renault trucks in Sarawak's off-road segments.

Its Managing Director, Eric Leblanc, said the company was exploring the state's logging, mining and dam construction industries as niche markets for the trucks.

Leblanc, who is also Managing Director of Renault Trucks Malaysia said Volvo Malaysia has, todate, sold 300 heavy-duty trucks in Sarawak, mainly for rough logging trails and other off-road use.

"We are also exploring the potential of selling specialised Renault trucks for the use in the Petronas gas pipeline project from Kimanis, Sabah, to Bintulu, Sarawak, the Bakun hydro electric dam and coal mines in Kapit and Mukah," he told reporters after launching the latest Renault trucks here today.

The Volvo Group, a world leading provider of commercial transportation solutions and manufaturer of trucks, buses and construction equipment, teamed up with Renault Trucks in 2001.

With the strengthening of Renault Trucks in the country, Leblanc said customers would be spoilt for choice with a wide range of trucks with prices retailing from RM280,000 to RM600,000 per unit.

The Volvo group garnered 42 per cent of the Malaysian market for 16-tonne trucks and above. It was number one in Europe and second in the world.

Leblanc added that Volvo Malaysia planned to replace, nationwide, some 200 units of "ghost trucks," which are customised trucks rebuilt from scrap, with the low-fuel consumption Renault Trucks.

3Racing - Winch

Like your for your full size off-roader, you know that you want one, actually you need one...

Your 4x4 cannot be called an off-roader if it does not have a meaty winch at the front, you just could not be taken seriously. You know exactly what I mean here.

The more time I spend with my RC cars, the more I get addicted. I trully got hooked by the scale-type crawlers and trailers. The ones that look like standard 4x4 and have great off-road capability.

So following the same thought process as for my Land Rover, I decided that I needed and wanted a winch for my crawlers.

It did not take long to find what I wanted; the 3Racing Winch with its controller.

There have been a number of attempts over the last couple of years to make winches using servos or else, but this one does look like the real deal.





It does conform to the 1/10th scale and would look great on any similar sized vehicles like the ones we reviewed before (Axial AX10, SCX10, or the Tamiya CR01).

Its design is very similar to a Warn low profile winch like the 9.5XP, even the logo pattern is there. You would just need to paint a red 'W' to make it a true replica.

The roller fairlead is very nicely done as well and the mounting plate could place itself on whatever flat surface on your RC cars, so no worry there.

The winch comes with a controller that enables you to connect the winch to the power source and to a receiver should you wish to control it from a 3+ channel transmitter. If you do not have a 3-channel one, the controller has a small button that will give you control over the winch operation.

I tested the winch on its own, and I can report that it could easily lift the full weight of my Tamyia CR01 Land Cruiser. That was impressive.

Now I just need to install it on one of my cars, but which one???

More to come in the future...

Pinoy off-road racing team gunning for #1

MANILA - Off-road racing may not be the favorite pastime of Filipinos but the driving skills of Pinoys are definitely world-class, whether it's on or off the road.

That's why, when given the best vehicle for the challenge, Pinoys will surely be up for competing with the best.

Once again, the Philippines has a representing team in the upcoming 4x4 Challenges in the China-Sanya International, as well as the much-awaited Rain Forest Challenge (RFC) in Malaysia.

The RFC, like the Formula 1 of 4x4 racing, is considered the number one extreme off-road jungle event that has been attracting teams from 35 countries since 1997.

Dream team

For the first time ever, the Philippine team will be fully sponsored, which means they will no longer be competing in a makeshift 4x4 truck put together with different surplus parts, but with arguably the best 4x4 vehicle available - the Land Rover Defender 90.

The China-Sanya “tune-up” will be a grueling 5-day event that will test the off-road teams' wits, strategy, techniques, driving, and recovery skills against the other teams.

Team Members Larry “Typhoon” Mendiola and Sergio Jamilla are so excited to represent the country again and are more confident that they can improve on their record 5th-place finish out of 35 countries.

They believe they can even now go for the number 1 spot. Team leader Atty. Robin Consunji believes that, with various partners giving all-out support to the very experienced team of Mendiola and Jamilla, becoming the best 4x4 driving team in the world is possible.

The team's first leg is to compete in China on September 19 to 23 then in the rainforests of Malaysia for the RFC in December.

Pinoy Land Rover team goes after podium finish

DIMINUTIVE Larry Mendiola gears up to scale greater heights as he heads the Team Philippines Land Rover vying for honors against some of the world’s best in the inaugural Sanya International Off-Road 4x4 Challenge next month in China. Together with codriver Sergio Jamilla, Mendiola has won numerous local and international races and, aboard a different make and model vehicle, gave his rivals a run for their money. Mendiola’s team placed fifth among 36 competitors in the 2005 edition of the Rainforest Challenge of Malaysia (RFC) and sixth the following year. Now with a new ride—he will be competing in a Land Rover Defender 90—and more backers, Mendiola is confident he has good chances of taking a podium spot and even stealing the overall crowns in China and Malaysia. “First place is achievable,” said Mendiola, who got into 4x4s in 1991 with Jeeps and Land Rovers but started competing using a Toyota Landcruiser. “Mas may kumpiyansa tayo ngayon. Hindi gaya ng dati na kaunti ang preparasyon namin and may mga problema sa mga piyesa, minsan pulot-pulot lang,” he added. The 43-year-old Mendiola, a four-time Automobile Association of the Philippines 4x4 Driver of the Year awardee, will be backed by seasoned competitor Sergio Jamila, who has seen action in the RFC thrice, and crew members Marvin Roxas and Dennis Javier. The China race, set from September 19 to 23, is a prelude to the RFC in Malaysia later in the year and is said to be the world’s biggest 4x4 event, so tough it is also dubbed as the Formula One of 4x4 races. The RFC has attracted participants from more than 35 countries annually since 1997. Among the top contenders seeing action are teams from Rawang Raiders of West Malaysia, led by Chong Yoke Sang, which have consistently been in the top five in the RFC since 2004; Poland’s Baltic Knights, headed by the husband-and-wife tandem of Marek and Agnieska Janaszkiewicz; Benzi 4x4 Team of Lebanon, led by Soly Khattar and Philippe Abboud; Roaring Lion FWDC of Sri Lanka with Sean Hameed and Rushiran Silva as leaders; and Indonesia’s Wild Nusantara, headed by Hans Mudali and Handoko. “Land Rover Philippines is proud to represent the country in such a prestigious event. We believe that our customized Defender 90, paired with the talent and determination of both Larry Mendiola and Sergio Jamilla makes us a very strong contender to finish at the top,” said LR Phils. Motors Inc. executive director Marc Soong Robby Consunji, consultant-coordinator for Team Land Rover Philippines, said: “The Rainforest Challenge is the most demanding 4x4 race in the world…and having our team backed by LR Phils Motors Inc. gives us a tremendous competitive advantage. The Defender 90, in its stock configuration, is already a very capable off-road vehicle and with the enhancements and customizations we’ve added, this vehicle, along with its driver, is nothing less than a world-class competitor.”