projek blackwind

A practical guide to 4 wheel driving

This 4WD handbook has been devised by Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd. to assist owners and drivers to safely use their Pajero four-wheel drive vehicle to its full capacity. It contains suggested procedures which can be used in overcoming the more common difficulties encountered by 4WD drivers/vehicles in Australia.

The use of a four-wheel drive vehicle is an activity which requires a high level of care and skill. This handbook is not intended and does not purport, in any way, to act as a substitute for the basic requirements of vehicle preparation, experience, attentiveness and care with difficult driving surfaces.

Proper regard must always be given to potential hazards, emergency precautions and advice given by appropriate local authorities. Whilst great care has been taken in the preparation of this handbook, no responsibility is accepted by Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd. to any persons acting or relying on this information.......

The contents:
Introduction
Take Care
Mitsubishi 4WD
Getting the most from your 4WD
Dirt Roads
Sand
Snow
Mud
Mountain Terrain
Water Crossings
Winching
Back on the move
Preparation and Survival
Recreational Vehicle Code of Ethics
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . .
Your 4WD Adventure

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Note :
I think this 4wd handbook is good to be share with others. If anyone wanted a copy, just contact me at projekblackwind@gmail.com and I will email to you.

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(PARTS FROM THE 4WD HANDBOOK)
Dirt Roads
General tips

Always drive with your headlights on to give other road users warning of your presence in the low visibility conditions.
Shift into 4WD as soon as you hit unpaved surfaces, simply because the greater traction and adhesion of all four wheels driving delivers driver confi dence and safety.
If travelling with others, stay back out of the dust. Many people don’t, because they are afraid of being left behind, but missing a corner or hitting something on the road, like a rock, is far more likely if your driving visibility is impaired.
Slow down when you see another vehicle coming towards you. This minimises the danger of stones thrown up by the other vehicle cracking your windscreen. If it’s a road-train coming the other way, move off the road and stop until it passes.
To minimise dust entry into the vehicle, turn the air conditioning on and switch from recirculate to fresh. Yes, that sounds paradoxical, but it works.
During daylight hours, if you have driving lights fi tted, make sure the covers are on.
Many dirt roads have dips cut into them to allow for water runoff. Brake on approaching, but lift off the brake just before you hit the bottom of the dip. This will raise the front of the vehicle, decompressing suspension components. Likewise, approaching the dips at an angle rather than straight on is easier on the suspension.
If driving on dirt roads a lot, check your air filter for dust build-up. Simply clean by knocking the dust out.

(more guide in this book - check it out)

Here are photos from our friends in Puerto Rico. They are called Bayamon Montero Club of Puerto Rico Inc. This club started in May 2008 with 22 Pajero as members.

Basic Off Road driving Hints:

This section is for those, who have yet to experience the joys of off road 4WD driving. It may serve as a 'refresher for the more experienced driver as well!

General

There is no great secret about being able to drive off road safely. Common sense comes very high up the list of requirements, together with total confidence in what you are doing!
We steer you in the right direction with a few basic hints, tips – or perhaps reminders! Reminders are needed from time to time, for it is so easy to get carried away once you are in control of a powerful motor that is capable of transporting you over the roughest of terrain. So, let’s add self-discipline to the list of requirements as well.

DO NOT attempt anything other than the basic muddy track, before you undergo some basic training with some experienced instructors such as those at True Grip.

A 4x4 vehicle is quite expensive. A life is precious!

First things first.

There are some basic checks to do with your 4x4 before attempting any off roads venture – even a seemingly simple green lane trek.

• Check your battery is properly fastened, and that the filler caps are also secure
• Basic things like water and fuel hoses need to be checked. They will undergo extra strain, and in any case, a ruptured hose a few miles from anywhere is to say the least, inconvenient!
• Following on from the hoses and pipes, even the best of them are pretty useless if they have nothing running through them! Check that all fluid and fuel levels are well topped up. Water, oils, brake/clutch fluid, fuel. In fact, every substance that can run through a pipe or hose.
• Successful off road drives depends upon good grip, so check over the tyres – including the spare. Incidentally, do you have a suitable Jack, and a base for the jack that will be suitable of supporting it in muddy conditions? Might be as well to make sure that you have the proper attachment for undoing ‘lock-nuts’ if needs be.
• Two vehicles are always better than one – so try not to travel alone. You can’t tow yourself!

Basic Driving Hints

As soon as you are off-road, slip into 4WD mode – preferably before you get stuck! Some 4x4s don’t engage into 4WD once you are stuck. Now that can be embarrassing. Keep a good lookout on all 4 corners of the vehicle – and at all points between.
My personal MUST for the novice (and many experienced drivers) is to keep your thumbs in the air – right off the steering wheel. Otherwise, if one of your front wheels hits a snag – and it will do of course – your steering wheel will rote at a heck of a lick, and if your thumb is in the way of a rotating spoke or wheel strut, it hurts!

Keep your head in the cab – that’s what it is there for. SAFETY!

(source from kent4x4offroading)

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If you are thinking about some serious - and I mean SERIOUS off road work, you had better read this first!

Don't call us when you get stuck!

Body Lift Kits

Body lift kits are designed to raise the body height by 2 or 3 inches depending on the kit used. Reinforced nylon blocks are fixed between the body and the frame to raise the vehicle height without needing to replace the dampers or any part of the suspension. The vehicle’s ride quality will not be affected and lifting the body allows larger tyres to be fitted to the vehicle.

Suspension Kits/Lift Kits

Suspension lift kits usually include replacement coil or leaf springs, dampers, lower control arms, new bushes and new U-bolts. These kits are used to raise the vehicles’ ride height by up to 6 inches while still maintaining a comfortable on road ride. The kits come with all the bolts and brackets you need, and usually full instructions for fitting them. Fitting these kits allows for larger tyres to be fitted to the vehicle, but different kits allow for different size tyres so make sure you check the size allowance before fitting.

Snorkels

A snorkel moves the point of the engines air intake to above the engine compartment. This keeps the air that is drawn into the engine dry, cool and clean from sand, mud dust and water. Snorkels are usually made from Polyethylene Plastic for durability and long life use.

Wheel Spacers

Wheel spacers are used to add extra width to the front and rear axles of your vehicle. This means there is more space between the wheels for better ground clearance, mobility and vehicle performance. They also allow larger tyres to be fitted to the vehicle, but different kits allow for different sizes to be used so again, make sure you check the given allowance before fitting.

Winches

It is not a necessity to fit a winch to your off road vehicle unless you use it off road on a regular basis. They are very useful if you do as they allow you to get yourself out of tricky situations if you get stuck, and allow you to help recover other vehicles if they get into trouble on courses and tracks.
Hydraulic, Manual and Electric winches are available for most 4x4s. In my experience, hydraulic winches are the most reliable and definitely the most powerful; electric/battery powered winches cannot pull as much weight and will usually over heat in a matter of minutes.

CB Radios

CB radios can be very useful for off roading. For example, for a group of vehicles are visiting a course, CB radios are an ideal way of communication between drivers. They allow you to keep in touch with every member and vehicle in your group and call for assistance if you get stuck.

(source from kent4x4offroading)

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The first Pajero prototype was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in November of 1973. The Pajero II prototype followed in 1978, five years later. Mitsubishi’s aim was to create more of a recreational vehicle, not just an SUV.

In January 1983, the first Pajero made its debut at the Paris Dakar Rally, taking first place in 1985 at only the third attempt. To date, the Pajero is the most successful vehicle in the Dakar Rally. This not only gave the Pajero an offroad reputation, but also helped in the sales department.

In February of 1983, Mitsubishi came out with a long wheel base, five door model, to serve the needs of a larger target market. The long wheel base model was available with a choice of two different engines; a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol (badged as "2.0 Turbo" and "2000 Turbo" in some markets) and a 2.3 liter turbocharged diesel (badged as 2.3 TD or 2300 TD).

The long wheelbase model also increased seating capacity to seven, with available third row seats, which could be folded to the sides for additional trunk space or combined with second row seats to form a bed.

The Pajero was further refined in June 1984. The turbo diesel engines now had higher horsepower/torque ratings, whilst the long wheel base models got standard four wheel disc brakes and four way adjustable shock absorbers as standard equipment.

A new flagship model was then introduced in early 1987, with a two-tone paintjob, fifteen inch (38 cm) light alloy wheels, front seat heaters, wool seat covers, genuine leather headrests, a three spoke steering wheel and a sound system with radio/cassette. Also at this time, a version of the Pajero/Montero was marketed to Dodge dealers as the Raider, which ran through 1989.

Finally in 1988, a 3.0-litre SOHC V6 engine was made available, alongside a 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine, with the first 4x4 intercooler. This translated to better acceleration in mid to high rev ranges. The long wheel base models got a leaf spring rear suspension, which formed a coil link suspension system for better ride comfort and off-road ability.

The first generation was introduced on May 7, 1982 and manufactured until 1991.

Source from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Pajero

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The Spirit of Adventure and Competition has been the cornerstone of Mitsubishi's motor sport commitment for many years. And nowhere has this philosophy been better demonstrated than in the Paris-Dakar - probably the most famous rally in the world. By 1986, the Mitsubishi Pajero was the acknowledge master of this type of motor sport event, known to the world as the toughest, most reliable and fastest machine of its type in the world. Again boasting over 14,000 km and 22 days of hard, driving competition, the 1986 "Dakar" presented an incredible challenge once more.With the confidence of three years of victory behind it, Pajero set out this time as a clear favourite from being a fancied runner in previous years. Again, the Mitsubishi Pajero lived up to its fast-developing reputation with a superb 3rd, fifth and seventh overall, capturing the challenging Marathon class for the fourth time in four years. It wasn't quite the victory that Mitsubishi enjoyed the previous year, but nevertheless, it was still a great testament to the strength and durability of the Pajero in very difficult circumstances, and the Mitsubishi off-road machine was by now firmly established as the vehicle to beat in off-road motor sport.

click here for more detail...

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Malaysia’s rugged terrain, dense rain forests and numerous mountainous regions make it an irresistible destination for off road driving enthusiasts. Mud, heat, sloping hills and rainstorms add to the challenge in the grueling and exhilarating sport of off road driving.

With 58 per cent of the country still under jungle cover, Malaysia’s terrain bring out the best of man and machine in a test of skill under ever changing conditions.

The three international off road events held in Malaysia annually around October and November are the Trans Borneo International Rally, the National Challenge and the Rainforest International Challenge of Malaysia.

The casual visitor may not be cut out for the rigours of world class international events like the year-end Camel Trophy or the Rainforest Challenge, two of the world of 4X4 driving’s most competitive events. However, there is nothing to stop an interested novice from learning the rudiments of off road or 4X4 driving and having an exciting time exploring places off the beaten track.

Because of the rugged terrain and the jolts and bumps sustained during a drive, participants need to be of a sound body and constitution.

Off road driving is a year round activity, but depending on the level of expertise of the driver, some months are better than others. The dry season from March to October make for firmer terrain and less mud.

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