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Comments
-mike
Still trying to decide on what tires to buy.
Just put on Westin Side Steps (black). Pretty easy installation (1.5 hours in my driveway). My wife really likes having the steps. I'm really pleased with the way they look; visually lowers and widens the vehicle. And a more rugged look than running boards. I can recommend these, if you're not doing rugged off-road. As the off-roadies know, running boards and side steps are the first to go when you run out of ground clearance to the side.
Also, the side steps...are those the black 'pipe' or 'tube' looking ones? How much would I pay for a set? Can I install without much car/mechanical knowledge?!?
Thanks (this chat room is awesome!!)
I shop for value with respect to performance, quality & true cost over time. This criteria takes in a lot of variables that have to be considered. Damage & safety, related to the expectations of equipment performance & its intended purpose on any given vehicle, should also be part of the value equation - including the potential for risk & subsequent loss in its failure to adequately perform its job. The only thing between you & the "road"......is your tires.
By the way I replaced my stock bulbs with PIAA extreme whites. It improves the lighting some, but I don't think it was worth the $65 price tag.
-mike
-mike
Steve, Host
-mike
Those darn unreliable Troopers :-)
-mike
Last summer I had to have my steering column replaced due to premature wear (fortunately under warranty)
I am getting sub 15 MPG...more like 12 MPG on a good day. and up until recently I would have been afraid to take it on a long trip because it might overheat.
Stock shocks are pretty much gone in 15K miles, another cost.
I agree there are minimal major driveline issues, however there are issues as with any vehicle. In my book, the jury is still out on how reliable and long lasting this truck will be. I only have 30K on it.
Don't get me wrong I like my truck a lot, but I had a Nissan Altima for 6 years that needed no major repairs, and other than changing the oil and a brake job, I had no repairs done.
-mike
-mike
-mike
Anyway sbcooke, I hope it's just a bad streak and it gets better. The $400 30K isn't a fair thing to include in your lament, but the steering column thing makes me leery.
Are your shocks really gone? Mine are still functioning at 40K just about they way they always did (which is to say soft and spongy).
Yes, my Altima never did much hard driving, and I never swamped it. :-)
Shocks? Well there is some opinion that they don't hold up well over time. They are probably fine for everyday driving...I do take my truck offroad and bouncing over sanddunes can probably cause the stock to wear fast.
The steering column is a "common" issue in troopers...w/100K on them, they think that rubber boot over the joint ripped or something and let water get in and caused the premature wear...although they weren't really sure...I was just happy they agreed to fix it.
I too hope it was just a run of bad luck...and really none of the issues were major problems. I do beat on it sometimes so I can take some of the blame. However I bought a trooper expecting it to be able to handle the rigors of outdoor life.
I was not trying to rain on the parade of good luck everyone else is having. Only to point out there are issues...how many people have had to get the alignment done 3/4 times at different shops to get the pull left or right straightened out?
Overall I love my truck...no real complaints...just gripes.
-mike
Personally, I would go with the 265/70. The 75 aspect ratio of the 245/75 will give you a bit of a degradation in cornering as there is more flex in the sidewall. The 265/70 will go someway to countering that through the wider tread.
Either tire will lead to a slight drop in acceleration as the overall gearing is changed. Your cruising economy should be improved though, as the larger tire will be doing less revolutions per mile.
The final result will depend on how you drive it.
For example, the Toyota Landcruiser Prado in all models between 1996 and 2002 had a problem where the front ball joints would separate for no apparent reason and the front wheels would go off on there merry way all by themselves, while your front end gouges its way into the road surface.
Again with the Prado, there have been some cases of spider gears in the front diff failing, causing the axle shaft on the side of the failure to seize, leading to failure of the CV joint.
The Mitsubishi Pajero (or Montero for the US) is plagued in Australia by chronic electrical and electronic issues.
Generally, Land Rover products have a reputation for being a gamble as to whether they will get from A to B, at all. One brand new Range Rover recently burst in to flames on the Sydney Harbour Bridge it was quite a spectacular thing on the news to see an aluminium body that had simply disappeared into thin air. Not much left for the insurance company to salvage.
The biggest problems in my view with the current Trooper/Jackaroo is leaking manifold gaskets in early 3.5V6's and the alignment hassles. That's all. I also think the stock 245/70 tyres are a dumb choice. They should have at least fitted 265/70 size and set up the final drive ratios so as it performs the same as with the 245/70's. All relatively minor compared to the others.
BTW, my vehicle is in for it's 60000km service today. I asked the service coordinator about whether they are aware of the rubber boots on the steering column failing at around 160,000km (100,000km) and his response was that they never see it happen. I wonder if this is brought on by environmentals in the US, as Australia is generally warmer than the US all year.
Isuzu products in Australia, particularly the diesels, generally have a reputation for going over 700,000km without a major problem, given correct maintenance. That's over 400,000miles.
-mike
-mike
Different industry - different regulations, but I could see a business plan here for someone to review auto repair bills and dispute them. Since they'd get paid a % of any overcharge, there'd be a lot of disputed bills!
Steve, Host
I might need my personal t-stat replaced after all of this.
-mike
Thanks.
-mike