Offroad with 4_motion

[shtoney]

hi y'all, just keen to hear of anyone's experience and knowledge on just how far offroad a new T5 with 4-motion will go. I get my van in a few weeks and the camper build will be underway. have questioned whether it will be worthwhile going for seikel suspension, or any other alternative, as well as chunkier tyres to increase ground clearance. similarly with underbody protection. the van is LWB with DSG, I know they both wont be ideal factors in takin the van off the beaten track.

it would be great to hear of any tried and tested tricks in setting the T5 up for this. will be taking the van around oz spending most of the time along the west coast of WA. I anticipate the 4-motion will handle many situations and have seen some vids online, but not sure if these are stock or with beefed up suspension and protection etc...

[Transporter]

The Seikel suspension kit with oversize tyres would guarantee the minimum damage in off road situations, that's for sure, but it comes with the steep price.
There is a member (I forgot his user name) in our forum who doesn't post much, he has double cab T5 4Motion with rear diff lock and heaps of mods. I will try to find his emails to me. He would be the best one to speak to, if you want some ideas.

[4wheels]

Hi Shtoney,

The 4Motion will surprise you, especially if you've ordered the rear diff lock (highly recommended for the price). I have a 2007 Trakkadu, that I took to Cape York in 2008. I went with a group of T3 Syncro's (and 1 highly modded T2 kombi), and went everywhere they did, except for the óld telegraph track'. I skipped out on this mainly because it was $100k to put at risk (rather than 10-20k for the syncro's), and because I didn't actually have to go that way. The bypass road was right there, and that turned out to be quite fun in a different way (high speed drifts round sandy corners). The long wheelbase/limited ramp-over angle was also a consideration, as at that stage the suspension was still stock, as were the tyres (original Michelin road pattern). I have since fitted the taller Bilstein springs & shocks and mild off-road tyres, still in standard size. I now think I could keep up with almost any T3 synro, and they can keep up or better most conventional 4WD's. Bigger tyres (ala the Seikel setup) would help further, but really need the matching (and very expensive) gear box mods to keep from raising the gearing. I don't think the gear box mods are available for the DSG any-way. If you're still able to, I would order the VW factory raised suspension kit (about 30mm lift, i think), as I think the Bilstein kit loses a bit on the NVH side, and presumably a factory lift would be better for that. That wasn't available in my day, but is now. Otherwise, you just want some protection for the fuel tank/fuel cooler area. I just made up a slide plate out of moderately thick galvanised sheet. The pre GP update models (ie the 5 cylinder TDI) had a plastic undertray under the engine/gear-box area, which seems a bit flimsy, but mine has survived so far (compared to 3 sets of fuel tank straps I bent before I put the slide plate on). I remember some discussion though, that the GP models don't have any undertray. I have previously posted a link to my journal and pics from the trip (it's actually on the Kombi Club site). If you can't find it, post again and I'll try to dig it out.

BrianR
2007 Trakkadu.

[Sunny43.5]

Sounds like a good trip with the right kit for the job , you have also noticed the silly place VW place the diesel cooler right behind the offside wheel . Real smart of the engineers put an alloy cooler where it can be struck by an object in a van driven on the left side of our roads where the worst missiles are lurking , ours was ruptured driving along a suburban road with a dirt verge one stone and it was all over red rover .

[Umai Naa!!]

There are a few underbody kits trickling onto the market now.

Someone posted up on here an aluminium bshplate/undertray from one place. Looked the goods.

[shtoney]

I've noticed that Brown Davis make underbody guards for the amarok, quite reasonably priced too...hoping to get them to custom make up a set for my van if they are keen for the work...

btw thanks for the info brian, I've optioned my van with the rear diff lock. I'm seriously considering the seikel suspension but not keen on a gear reduction...thou need to do some new research on tyres if I can't go the upsized 235/65-17s like on the current trakkadu...so will look for stock size with a slightly more aggressive tread design ie ATR...I've tried searching for your user/post on the kombi club to no avail...

[Seano]

Go with the beefed up suspension package offered by VW. Protect that stupid fuel cooler from the rocks. Don't worry about the flash harry AT tyres.

Your biggest limiting factor off road after that will be the ramp over of the LWB and the lack of low gearing. That said there's very little on the west coast of WA that is accessable to off roaders that a properly set up T5 shouldn't be able to tackle apart from the softest of the sand between Perth and Geraldton.

We did much of the WA coastline in 02 and 04 and much else besides in T4 LWB syncro (although a dual cab version) and there wasn't much it couldn't do even with the stock 15" van tyres. The T5 should eat it...

[phantomcamel]

I have just returned from the Amarok launch up on the Gibb River Road in W.A. and the two support vehicles were 4MOTION T5s (Transporters). We didn't have any issues at all - they are more then capable. As the Multivan is based on the T5 you won't have any problems. They even had standard tyres...(would carry an extra spare if you do the "Gibb")
Most of the tracks around W.A. up at Karinjini & Kimberley you can do easily. It's only really the stuff where you need clearance such as some 4WD tracks leading of the El Questro station or the track to Mitchell Falls where you need the clearance.
Obviously weather will have an impact in terms of creek / river crossings, so it depends what time you go.

[4wheels]

Finally found the thread to my journal post from the Cape trip;- Kombis to the Kape 2008
There are links to about 600 pics in there as well.
Enjoy,
BrianR.

[hoddy]

Hi Shtoney, congrats on the new purchase.
Just wanted to share my experiences with the 4motion / diff lock in a LWB 2010 132kw.
Awesome!! The diff lock is unbelievable, makes a huge difference in mud and sand. AFAIK the van performs differently when its engaged - ie diverts power from spinning wheel to other wheels, whereas without the diff-lock it brakes the spinning wheel-- not 100% sure about this.

I put in manual mode for difficult conditions - 1st gear - otherwise the auto mode will crawl in 2nd gear and you'll have no power on tap.

Tyres - i went bigger than standard - Yokohama geolander HT/S 235/60/17 (235/65/17 dont fit in spare area)
Bash plate - aluminium one made up by Vehquip (Ferntree Gully) $500
Water tank - 70 Litre underneath made by LRA Lilydale ( Longrange Automotive)
H4 Globes - IPF 110/80 (using existing wiring; no problems)

Enjoy!