Show us your Swamper
- Thread starter KombiKommando
- Start date
My work van. Not really a swamper just got the wheels powder coated as they were knacked!May add some swampy bits later!
My ever evolving van.
The arch trims look good, a job for over winter for mine.
Nice job with the mud flaps. I did nt suppose you have a link to where your lower trim and mudflaps came from? I made a bit of a mistake with the offset on my wheels and they stick out a bit too far and throw mud everywhere.
I am interested in the moulding products for additional protection, not for aesthetics particularly. It might help preventing some scratching and blast from debris spread from tyres, I am wondering. Does the wheel arch moulding help in deflection in any way or is it too thin for that?
Hellou from Finland
Here is my swamper. Works is in process as always, but I'm happy with this situation anyway.
elevator.kuvat.fi
Here is my swamper. Works is in process as always, but I'm happy with this situation anyway.
Transporter T6 Combi 2017: IMG_3575
elevator.kuvat.fi
A very practical and useful 4Motion. For work, rest and play. Plenty of lights for the long dark nights, are they all https://www.lazerlamps.com ? I imagine that lot would turn night into day. Even seeing behind for reversing. What do you use the work lights mounted close to the door mirrors for?Hellou from Finland
Here is my swamper. Works is in process as always, but I'm happy with this situation anyway.
Transporter T6 Combi 2017: IMG_3575
I am considering Lazer lamps myself. They have quite a variety. I quite like the responsive dipping light bar, perhaps mounting within the radiator grill. Cutting out a section of grill but replacing it to hide the light bar for when I visit a town or city to prevent theft. Good spread is more important than range I feel but they also need to comply with lighting regulations. Lots of very narrow twisting country roads in Wales and off road driving.
The manufacturers original fit LED headlamps are not so bad in the dry but as we get more of our fair share of rain here, they become poor with not enough spread or illumination for tight multiple bends. Reversing on dark wet nights is a problem. The reversing camera gets splatter from mud and road debris. Even after cleaning it it get smeared over quite quickly. A reverse camera mounted inside the rear window would be better, then the rear wipers would take care of splatter.
I quite like the idea of a roof rack similar to yours perhaps, lamps mounted rear wards up there might be an answer. Do you know the weight of your roof rack carrier when empty? My vehicle 2019 4Motion Caravelle with rear differential lock 255/55R18 BFG AT KO2. I think that yours, are 245/65R17 BFG KO2 AT ? Do you have the rear Differential lock? I find it very useful. I live off road at a remote hill farm/smallholding, no stock. I usually engaged the rear diff just to ensure it did not end up stiff and unusable due to lack of use.. I always felt that the vehicle felt far tighter off road, with it engaged and wondered why, as some time when the going was not that very difficult and the 4Motion might not be then operating normally and only engage with front axle slip. It just felt very positive and in places that I expected a front wheel should slip or spin slightly it would not and instead traction remain excellent. I now have learnt on here, that indeed, engaging the diff-lock, pre engages the 4Motion, so explaining the better traction at all times and my experiences.
I will need to lift the suspension, would really like air but very expensive in comparison to a full height spring and damper lift. Self levelling when parked up and camping is very much a dream. Also I would only need lift when off road and could even drop height to limbo under height restriction gates that are becoming all too common these days.
Many years ago I used a Finish 4x4 forum. I had ex military vehicles over a period of time LR101FC with crew cab, Volvo TGB 6x6 with crew cab portal axles and diff locks in all axles. UNIMOG U900 crew cab with smaller rear tub and of course portals and diff locks. I could see that Finland has a very serious off road following and plenty of countryside. I unfortunately never visited.
Any way, I like your vehicle and your adaptations and i also see that you have a willing crew! Happy motoring!
Thanks Kind of BlueA very practical and useful 4Motion. For work, rest and play. Plenty of lights for the long dark nights, are they all https://www.lazerlamps.com ? I imagine that lot would turn night into day. Even seeing behind for reversing. What do you use the work lights mounted close to the door mirrors for?
I am considering Lazer lamps myself. They have quite a variety. I quite like the responsive dipping light bar, perhaps mounting within the radiator grill. Cutting out a section of grill but replacing it to hide the light bar for when I visit a town or city to prevent theft. Good spread is more important than range I feel but they also need to comply with lighting regulations. Lots of very narrow twisting country roads in Wales and off road driving.
The manufacturers original fit LED headlamps are not so bad in the dry but as we get more of our fair share of rain here, they become poor with not enough spread or illumination for tight multiple bends. Reversing on dark wet nights is a problem. The reversing camera gets splatter from mud and road debris. Even after cleaning it it get smeared over quite quickly. A reverse camera mounted inside the rear window would be better, then the rear wipers would take care of splatter.
I quite like the idea of a roof rack similar to yours perhaps, lamps mounted rear wards up there might be an answer. Do you know the weight of your roof rack carrier when empty? My vehicle 2019 4Motion Caravelle with rear differential lock 255/55R18 BFG AT KO2. I think that yours, are 245/65R17 BFG KO2 AT ? Do you have the rear Differential lock? I find it very useful. I live off road at a remote hill farm/smallholding, no stock. I usually engaged the rear diff just to ensure it did not end up stiff and unusable due to lack of use.. I always felt that the vehicle felt far tighter off road, with it engaged and wondered why, as some time when the going was not that very difficult and the 4Motion might not be then operating normally and only engage with front axle slip. It just felt very positive and in places that I expected a front wheel should slip or spin slightly it would not and instead traction remain excellent. I now have learnt on here, that indeed, engaging the diff-lock, pre engages the 4Motion, so explaining the better traction at all times and my experiences.
I will need to lift the suspension, would really like air but very expensive in comparison to a full height spring and damper lift. Self levelling when parked up and camping is very much a dream. Also I would only need lift when off road and could even drop height to limbo under height restriction gates that are becoming all too common these days.
Many years ago I used a Finish 4x4 forum. I had ex military vehicles over a period of time LR101FC with crew cab, Volvo TGB 6x6 with crew cab portal axles and diff locks in all axles. UNIMOG U900 crew cab with smaller rear tub and of course portals and diff locks. I could see that Finland has a very serious off road following and plenty of countryside. I unfortunately never visited.
Any way, I like your vehicle and your adaptations and i also see that you have a willing crew! Happy motoring!
In First, have to say, I read English better than I write it
But I will learn…Lazer lamps are too expensive in Finland, so front lamps are W-light Booster 9 lamps and on the roof Purelux Black X-Slim S1000. Side lamps and rear lamps are Purelux Terrain Black Slim Flood 30W. Those hood lights are Bullpro Spectrum Ellipse 54W. I drive a lot at night and it's very dark in the winter time. I think I don't have too many lights, maybe they will increase in winter. Have to check BlackFriday sales.
I have mutch more pics here:
Transporter T6 Combi 2017
Ruotsin tulijaisia Kamuxin kautta meille. 5 paikkainen Transporter KOMBI 150kW TDIAL7 CXEB. Auto ääni ja lämpöeristetty omasta toimesta. Käytetty Vevor äänieristeitä ja raskasmattoja sekä 13mm armaflex eristettä. Alkuperäiset takaosan verhoilut purettu ja asennettu autoon valmistetut...
elevator.kuvat.fi
I don't have a diff lock thats why those tires. Okay, those tires are pretty too
Diff lock is not a very common equipment here. I didn't choose the equipment for the car myself, so it is what it is. And you are right, those ar BFG AT Ko2 245/65 17. Sometimes I drive off-road, but I pull more of a boat trailer. This car is a compromise with those things. I have looked into whether a difflock could be built into this car, but the matter is still in progress. Maybe I’ll lift car too with some lift kit. At that time, if I go to very harsh places, I lower the tire pressure below 1.5bar and drive with extra care. Earliee I got a rear wheel drive+ manual MB Sprinter and learned to drive it quite well without getting stuck. Now driving is easy with 4motion with DSG. I write more with better time…
Thank you for the reply and the lamp reference. Your written English is just fine. I rely on spell checker quite a lot and if I publish without reading first it can come out rather strange with often unintended words and meaning. I come from here and so have no excuse. You have at lest two languages and can most probably get on with others also.Thanks Kind of Blue
In First, have to say, I read English better than I write it
Lazer lamps are too expensive in Finland, so front lamps are W-light Booster 9 lamps and on the roof Purelux Black X-Slim S1000. Side lamps and rear lamps are Purelux Terrain Black Slim Flood 30W. Those hood lights are Bullpro Spectrum Ellipse 54W. I drive a lot at night and it's very dark in the winter time. I think I don't have too many lights, maybe they will increase in winter. Have to check BlackFriday sales.
I have mutch more pics here:
Transporter T6 Combi 2017
Ruotsin tulijaisia Kamuxin kautta meille. 5 paikkainen Transporter KOMBI 150kW TDIAL7 CXEB. Auto ääni ja lämpöeristetty omasta toimesta. Käytetty Vevor äänieristeitä ja raskasmattoja sekä 13mm armaflex eristettä. Alkuperäiset takaosan verhoilut purettu ja asennettu autoon valmistetut...
I don't have a diff lock thats why those tires. Okay, those tires are pretty too
I write more with better time…
In my humble opinion diff-locks are a bit overrated . Better by far are the Quafe /Ferguson/Torsen Differentials. They are more accommodating to twists and turns and generally will not clog or crab up, operate smoothly without snatching and are completely automatic and provide grip at any angle of turn. They are far far better than locking diffs or Haldex but of course at a price. They make them for the front and possibly the rear but have only seen evidence for the front. They would be my preferred choice every time.
The tyres will go down to 6psi on standard rims if driven with care off road, but can come away from the rims if pushed too hard. The problem then as you will know is reinflation to pop them back on. So the little compressors that often come with some small cars are not man enough for that as the air just keeps escaping before the tyre seals against the rim. 10 psi is safer or 15 psi / 1 bar approx. However the BFG AT is such a very tough tyre it might get one out without damage if exceptionally careful even fully deflated. They must be about the toughest tyres generally available. The KO3 versions are coming out from now but it will take them a few years to have them available in all sizes. The BFG web site predicts when each KO3 size is due for release. I think the KO3 may well be better on snow than the KO2 not sure about general off road comparison but everything is a compromise as it is in life.
In this part of Britain we have not experienced much snow in a number of years. It has little to do with climate change but has more to do with the earths wobble and its attitude to the sun and Solar Activity and the magnetic changes of polarity in the sun. So I expect things to return over time. Still we do not have weather as bad as you do over in Finland in regards to snow and ice. Perhaps Scotland might. I certainly believe that every car should have at least All season tyres in most of Britain and perhaps full winters in Scotland over the winter months. It should be an offence to drive on the slicks / summer tyres at those times.
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