Down Under (Patrol Paradise??)

[Tony]

Hey guys, we recently returned from a "look see" down under - what an awesome place, (yes there are rules for everything - but hey, they work, and everyone tows the line.) The highlight though were the sheer number of Patrol's to see - from single cab ute's (bakkies) to double cabs and station wagons and virtually every one was fitted with the minimum of a decent bull bar and huge spots..... to the usual stuff that we like to fit here. Interestingly 98% of them are all diesels.
Their ARB and TJM and Opposite Lock are huge, but there are stacks of really good deals on roof racks (baskets) and other accessories. Another big name there is Roo Systems and they have a large selection of kit available.
I bought some offroad magazines which come with DVD's showing trips and techniques and adverts for all their magic equipment - and lots of Patrol stuff!

I tried to snap as many pics of random Patrols as I could, but as usual the camera was not always there at the right time but I managed to take some nice ones which I have attached to the end (3'rd page) of the thread "OTHER PATROL PIC'S"

It was so nice to see so many "decent" 4x4's rather than the over dominating Toyota's, Land Rovers, Pajero's etc. that we are exposed to in SA. Toyota is big, more Prado's than Cruiser's and interestingly not one Fortuna - Landy was also surprisingly small!!

Anyhow, 'just thought I would share my experience.

[Jules]

I read somewhere that Fortuna is not allowed to be sold in Aus due to being unsafe ??

Shalom

[Alex Roux]

Fortuner is not sold in Australia or USA
The rumour is because it is required to pass the so called "swerve test", which it doesn't.
The swerve test requires to full lock the steering wheel at 80 km/h then full lock the other way and not roll the vehicle.
But then I suspect many 4x4's would fail.
Thats just a rumour though. I still contend, many Fortuners roll for other reasons:
a) there are many of them, hence more roll
b) the D4D engine makes it too easy to cruise at 170
c) its suspension is made for Sandton, not dirt road
d) people do not know how to drive