VW Amarok

seventyfive

seventyfive

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Jan 3, 2010
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we have a touareg in the shop today for an overview, and i forgot about these things! the V6 is pretty reliable and easy to work on. springs instead of air suspension, and they come with low range AND diff lock.

only reason i post this is due to a friend calling last week asking if the LR3 has the 'nipple' to lock the center diff like a disco, which leads me to believe a lot of you guys are going to salivate over the sub $10k LR3's popping up only to purchase and then realize that.

anyways, the Amarok may be available here one day.......but much like hilux's, LC70's, patrols, etc, i doubt it.

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Tugela

Tugela

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May 21, 2007
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Seattle
The Amarok has quickly gained popularity in southern Africa where the double-cab pickup truck has become the vehicle of choice for many off-roaders and travelers. It's a crowded market, though, and one that the Japanese dominate. I have a hard time seeing VW improving over what Toyota and Nissan have produced, but I haven't had a chance to drive an Amarok yet. Maybe when I go back to RSA this fall.

As to Disco owners being disappointed by no CDL when they buy LR3s, that seems like a stretch. Most guys who will want to wheel the LR3 will look for models with the factory rear e-locker. I've gone wheeling with guys in LR3s and their stock trucks make light work of terrain that makes modified Discos break a sweat. But with a computer making the decisions for the driver, it's questionable who's really in control.
 
K-rover

K-rover

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Jan 15, 2010
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Raleigh, NC
Tugela said:
The Amarok has quickly gained popularity in southern Africa where the double-cab pickup truck has become the vehicle of choice for many off-roaders and travelers. It's a crowded market, though, and one that the Japanese dominate. I have a hard time seeing VW improving over what Toyota and Nissan have produced, but I haven't had a chance to drive an Amarok yet. Maybe when I go back to RSA this fall.

As to Disco owners being disappointed by no CDL when they buy LR3s, that seems like a stretch. Most guys who will want to wheel the LR3 will look for models with the factory rear e-locker. I've gone wheeling with guys in LR3s and their stock trucks make light work of terrain that makes modified Discos break a sweat. But with a computer making the decisions for the driver, it's questionable who's really in control.
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So, I have a friend with a 2013 nissan frontier pro 4x, with factory rear locker and skid plates. running on stock 265/75 16 tires. He came wheeling with us and had all kinds of clearance issues.

This past Uwharrie Safari I was leading a group up Daniel trail. There was a LR3 with the longer links and over sized MT tires ( not sure of size).. He made it up everything, but not nearly as easy as my D2. He then proceeded to puncture the sidewall of his front left tire on the way down. The LR3 is comfy, and capable, but cant compare to a solid axle truck.
 
kennith

kennith

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Apr 22, 2004
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North Carolina
K-rover said:
So, I have a friend with a 2013 nissan frontier pro 4x, with factory rear locker and skid plates. running on stock 265/75 16 tires. He came wheeling with us and had all kinds of clearance issues.

This past Uwharrie Safari I was leading a group up Daniel trail. There was a LR3 with the longer links and over sized MT tires ( not sure of size).. He made it up everything, but not nearly as easy as my D2. He then proceeded to puncture the sidewall of his front left tire on the way down. The LR3 is comfy, and capable, but cant compare to a solid axle truck.
Click to expand...

I like that trail.

When dry it's just enough to make you feel like you're doing something without being troublesome, and you don't need anything too fancy to drive it.

A few inches in either direction to change a line, however, will keep the big vehicles happy in some sections. It's a nice trail for two or three people with vehicles of vastly differing capability to enjoy together.

Cheers,

Kennith
 
LRflip

LRflip

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Oct 8, 2006
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none of your fucking business
K-rover said:
So, I have a friend with a 2013 nissan frontier pro 4x, with factory rear locker and skid plates. running on stock 265/75 16 tires. He came wheeling with us and had all kinds of clearance issues.

This past Uwharrie Safari I was leading a group up Daniel trail. There was a LR3 with the longer links and over sized MT tires ( not sure of size).. He made it up everything, but not nearly as easy as my D2. He then proceeded to puncture the sidewall of his front left tire on the way down. The LR3 is comfy, and capable, but cant compare to a solid axle truck.
Click to expand...

wheel base.
 
K-rover

K-rover

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Jan 15, 2010
2,170
63
Raleigh, NC
LRflip said:
So you're telling me that IFS has something to do with clearance?

I disagree mi amigo.
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I wasnt comparing IFS to clearance. I was just saying that neither the offroad ready Datsun or the moded LR3 did as well as my D2. .. They both have IFS. but yes the biggest downfall of the Nissan is wheel base..
 
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kennith

kennith

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Apr 22, 2004
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The LR3, with a decent wheelman, is a very solid performer. The newer Rovers would embarrass the hell out of our solid axle machines in stock form, and will even give modified vehicles a run for their money.

Whether or not you like them, they are damned good off pavement.

Cheers,

Kennith
 
seventyfive

seventyfive

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Jan 3, 2010
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Tugela said:
The Amarok has quickly gained popularity in southern Africa where the double-cab pickup truck has become the vehicle of choice for many off-roaders and travelers. It's a crowded market, though, and one that the Japanese dominate. I have a hard time seeing VW improving over what Toyota and Nissan have produced, but I haven't had a chance to drive an Amarok yet. Maybe when I go back to RSA this fall.

As to Disco owners being disappointed by no CDL when they buy LR3s, that seems like a stretch. Most guys who will want to wheel the LR3 will look for models with the factory rear e-locker. I've gone wheeling with guys in LR3s and their stock trucks make light work of terrain that makes modified Discos break a sweat. But with a computer making the decisions for the driver, it's questionable who's really in control.
Click to expand...

Aside from the LC70, aren't all the bush trucks now very similar to one another? The hilux, patrol, pujero, etc all look similar. I talk with Garrett about the new stuff and they seem like they aren't as boxy and utilitarian as they used to appear. I can only compare them from what I find on the google box not from first hand observation.
It would be cool to see these trucks lined up together.

Comparing them they all seem to have the essentials, Diesel engines, solid rear with e lockers, manual and optional auto box transmissions, minimal failure prone goodies found in the US market disposable type vehicles.

At first the amarok looks similar to a hilux (body lines) but it is made in the Argentina VW plant.

From my experience wrenching euro I can honestly say the new rovers are disappointing. When I'm fixing a truck I always imagine 'how would I fix this on the trail or at camp'. The newer rovers vs something like a touareg would be a pain in the ass on a trail. Then again anything newer than '04 is not very trail-repair-friendly.

I can only hope that guys looking to pick up an LR3 to actually wheel would wait for an HSE but sometimes people look for the best deal. The issues we see with higher mileage lower priced rovers is electrical/wire harness issues. And when it's the electron that makes the vehicle capable you really need that electron to flow properly otherwise you're absolutely shit out of luck.
 
seventyfive

seventyfive

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Jan 3, 2010
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kennith said:
The LR3, with a decent wheelman, is a very solid performer. The newer Rovers would embarrass the hell out of our solid axle machines in stock form, and will even give modified vehicles a run for their money.

Whether or not you like them, they are damned good off pavement.

Cheers,

Kennith
Click to expand...

That is very true, until the electronics become unreliable. I've always said the LR3 is way more capable out of the box than any previous rover...but I always worry about what will leave me stranded in the middle of the woods. You can always make sure the mechanical aspect is under control and load up mechanical spares, but when you're talking EPB modules, terrain control modules, wire harness', then a scanner to initialize modules if you do swap out on the trail.....you can see where I'm going.
 
seventyfive

seventyfive

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Jan 3, 2010
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p m said:
... if you only need to drive a couple of hours to the trailhead.
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Peter,
Tractors are unbelievably uncomfortable and a little too tippy for me, but at least they are bare bones and easy to fix on a trail.


But they are very over priced for what they are.
 
kennith

kennith

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Apr 22, 2004
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North Carolina
seventyfive said:
That is very true, until the electronics become unreliable. I've always said the LR3 is way more capable out of the box than any previous rover...but I always worry about what will leave me stranded in the middle of the woods. You can always make sure the mechanical aspect is under control and load up mechanical spares, but when you're talking EPB modules, terrain control modules, wire harness', then a scanner to initialize modules if you do swap out on the trail.....you can see where I'm going.
Click to expand...

True, but I'm beginning to see a light I'd never have expected at the end of that tunnel.

With fiber optic signal transports, redundant systems, isolated control units, plenty of power, and a mechanical structure that could, in theory, function without any of it, we are approaching a point that could be very interesting.

Ever notice how the NCC-1701-D can always be kicked back into shape by disabling a few systems, replacing control modules, and bypassing faults? In the real world, these are just a bunch of wiring and plumbing tricks, but in that fantasy world they hold a starship together; a starship that was actually quite thoroughly thought out.

Within a few iterations, that could actually be possible. We've stepped past those little tricks quite some time ago, and things are very difficult to maintain and service in the field. Once technology advances enough, however, it becomes more simple again.

Just what separates Picard's ride from a new Range Rover?

If you really think hard about it, there's only one thing: Isolated auxiliary systems. When something breaks on the Enterprise, everything else still works. It's not dead in space until the impulse drive fails.

Standardized, universal electronic control modules and entirely fiber optic signal transports could make this a reality, and with recent advancements in PCB components as well as expected near-future microchip architecture, a computer could be pretty much immune to failure beyond physical damage.

A briefcase could contain everything you'd need to keep the electronic systems functional under even the most arduous conditions. Traction control computer failed? Pull a brick out of the briefcase, connect it to your Toughbook, and upload the appropriate program.

Well, it's an optimistic perspective, anyway. Things are never going back to the way they were, but they could be improved beyond their current state to become a "different" kind of simple.

Right now, it's possible to build a pretty much bulletproof vehicle with numerous electronic systems.

Of course, nobody is doing it.

Cheers,

Kennith
 
emmodg

emmodg

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Apr 17, 2006
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Don't kid yourselves - The Toyota D4D has a myriad of sensors to cause fault that cannot be fixed in the field. Common-rail diesels certainly have their advantages over distributor style/unit direct injection but "field repair simplicity" isn't one of them. The common rail field repair class I used to teach at Overland Amateurs was short in duration when compared to what can be accomplished in the field with distributor/unit injection. You can fire up a 3B with no "electron flow" whatsoever (especially one with an EDIC system) - not so with a D4D. Modern common rails don't suffer fuel condensation and particulates(think 3rd world especially) as well as an "old" unit injection diesel.
 
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