Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Hi guys,

With the help of Tinus Lotz I got hold of two new and one 50% worn 285/70 LT 17 BFG muds. Then I found third new one in Pretoria and a fourth new one in Jhb. All at very good prices. They were from dealers that had one of these tyres and who do not generally sell this size tyre. Both wanted close to R5k each, but accepted when I offered just under R3k each.

I repainted the 17 x 9j rims, and also refurbed 3 of the genuine Patrol 17"mags that I bought from Pieter. While these 10 rims had their tyres off, I also had new holes drilled (on the inside, behind a spoke) for a second valve to be fitted. The purpose of this second valve is to fit a TPMS sender to each wheel, where it is out of sight and out of the way.

When I went with the Patrol guys on a 4x4 route towards the middle of last year, I discovered a major shortcoming of the Patrol! The poor rear bumper design and its propensity to get damaged when going down a 'step' when offroad. This inevitably leads to popped out rear lights.

I had a good look underneath the Patrol and worked out I could have a cure for this problem! At a local engineering works I had a 4mm plate of steel cut; 1350mm long and 350mm wide. I had the front and rear lips bent up about 30 degrees and a double kink along the middle line in the length. This made the plate immensely rigid and strong. I then cut, modified and bent this plate, welded a bracket on the inside left and right and bolted it to the rear tow brackets. Just to ensure it was strong enough, I also put 4 x 12mm high tensile bolts through it into the chassis in strategic places. Then I had it plated or silver passivized, however you want to call it.

I also fitted two new rear shocks, the Standard ones seemed very soft, the same as the ones I got from Clem. They pushed in very easily, but the old ones off my vehicle pulled out a lot harder than the ones I got from Clem. Neither sets were however nearly as hard as the Bilsteins to compress and to pull out again. These shocks are also about 60mm longer that the standard ones, which suited my Patrol's 65mm lift just fine..

Here are some pictures of the mods:

The patrol with the 33's fitted (285/70 LT 17 BFG Muds The extra valves fitted on the inside of the standard 17 in Patrol Mags. There are 265/65 x 17 Bridgestone ATRs on these rims.
I also fitted them in the same place on the black rims currently fitted to the Patrol. The Rear Protection Plate New Bilsteins fitted in the rear

Lyk baie smart. Slim Plan.

Dit lyk baie goed!

Malcolm

Interesting solution to protect those rear lights - just these that stay behind in the donga's....

The valves are interesting.

Malcolm, why did you need to install additional valves to fit TPMS? Do you specifically want to use the type with the external sender for some reason?

Interesting idea to protect the bumper-mounted lights, any idea what it weighs?

Peter, I have one set of sensors that I use on two sets of wheels, that is why I went for one set of the external ones. Also, I don't want to take tyres off rims when the sensor battery goes flat after 2 years.

The plate weighs 18.5 kg, as weighed at the electroplaters. The charge per KG for plating.

Malcolm - I see the comment about flat betteries on the sensors. Do you replace them successfully? If so - do you take steps to seal the unit against moisture?

That makes sense Malcolm. My set of internal sensors are still going strong after 7 years, so I am confident that they would outlast a set of tires, but with two sets it's a different story.

18.5kg is not too bad. Certainly less than a steel bumper.

Peter

The literature and the guy who brings them in, say to expect battery life of 2 years, that is why I went that route, but by goodness, the life you got on yours so far is really excellent. But you know what my luck would be like? I would put new tyres on the vehicle after say 4 years, and six months later the batteries will go flat one after the other...

How do you remove the battery on yours? I see they suggest you either put the unit on and cover it with quickset epoxy or silicone sealant paste.


and Rodney

The unit has a cap with a waterproof rubber seal. The pamphlet suggests you use a pair of pliers to tighten the cap.


PS
The second valve on the inside of the rim was a suggestion by Abraham Kruger, the guy who imports and sells the units I bought. He just said one must be careful to fit it where it could not get damaged by the brake caliper. He also suggests to use the shortest valve you can get (or the steel valves) if there is not much clearance.

The longer rubber valve stem allows for quite a lot of movement. I have already damaged one sensor (R front), I think I got a stone inside the rim that 'klapped' the sensor's cap, battery clip and battery right off. It also ever so slightly damaged the thread that the cap screws onto.

The damaged sensor & the good sensor