Daihatsu fourtrak

Author
Discussion

adsvx220

Original Poster:

705 posts

190 months

Friday 25th February 2011
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I am considering buying a daihatsu fourtrak for doing a bit of green laning and off roading with a few mates. Just wondering if any of you guys have one and do they do the job well.

Cheers
Adam

durbster

10,754 posts

229 months

Friday 25th February 2011
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I bought one late last year but only took it off-road last weekend.

Mechanically they're rock solid but it's tricky to find one that isn't covered in rust, particularly around the arches and windows.

Off-road it totally surprised me at how good it was. Even on fairly worn AT tyres I was driving up and down steep, wet, muddy hills with no problems. In fact the only issue I had all day was leaving the number plate in a water crossing biggrin

As a basic rule I found the newer the Fourtrak the better the spec, but the main distinction between models is probably the independent suspension, which makes the front fairly low for off-roading.

Aside from the rust, they are really solid machines. Apparently they're favoured by smash-n-grab type robbers because they'll go through a brick wall but still get you home biggrin

It cost me about £750 off Ebay and aside from a flat battery, it's been faultless so far. Because it was so cheap I set aside another £1500 for repairs but that money is still waiting to be spent smile

adsvx220

Original Poster:

705 posts

190 months

Friday 25th February 2011
quotequote all
Well I think that has made my desicion. It's only going to be a dog car and off roading so the rust won't be two much of an issue.

MikeDov

167 posts

214 months

Saturday 26th February 2011
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Got an old (really old, lol) Fourtrak this year because I knew my BM would be going nowhere in the snow, bought it off a mate of mine who had kept it stood for three years, had a new clutch fitted, new exhaust, replaced the front wings and front panel. So far it has been a godsend, not let me down in the snow and taken it off road without any issues.

The only downside I can think is that it’s a F70 variant so leaf springs and a short wheel base can make for a ‘bouncy’ ride but at least it keeps me awake in the morning going to work.

Anyway, any excuse to post a picture:





durbster

10,754 posts

229 months

Sunday 27th February 2011
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Well if we're posting photos biggrin




GravelBen

15,915 posts

237 months

Tuesday 1st March 2011
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Does the rear canopy come off? I know the Rockies do but they're a bit on the small side, could be a handy shooting truck if it does!

Edited by GravelBen on Tuesday 1st March 08:26

durbster

10,754 posts

229 months

Tuesday 1st March 2011
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Apparently yes. The previous owner said that basically all the silver bits can be removed, but I haven't tried it. I fear for the rust I might uncover biggrin

devonshiredave

552 posts

209 months

Saturday 5th March 2011
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Hello fellow fourtrak owners!

Im trying to change the timing belt on my fourtrak, but having some problems.

I have cannot get the crankshaft pulley off to remove the timing belt.

I have removed the 6 bolts which hold the outer/inner pulley together and also the large central bolt. but i just cannt get the inner part of the pulley to come off - is this because it screws on or do i need to use some sort of mechanical removal device to pull it off?

thanks

dave

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

189 months

Saturday 5th March 2011
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How do these compare to the Suzuki of similar size?

MikeDov

167 posts

214 months

Sunday 6th March 2011
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devonshiredave said:
Hello fellow fourtrak owners!

Im trying to change the timing belt on my fourtrak, but having some problems.

I have cannot get the crankshaft pulley off to remove the timing belt.

I have removed the 6 bolts which hold the outer/inner pulley together and also the large central bolt. but i just cannt get the inner part of the pulley to come off - is this because it screws on or do i need to use some sort of mechanical removal device to pull it off?

thanks

dave
Can’t really help you on that one, sorry, mine is a bit of an oddity in that its gear driven, apparently it shouldn’t be but there’s no belt there!

While I’m on here though I thought I should remind you all to grease your CV joints on your prop-shafts, I hadn’t done mine and last week it started to behave like a massage chair set to kill, not good on the M4. The replacement parts are cheep enough just a good chunk of yesterday was spend crawling around underneath the truck having bits dropping into my eyes and swearing lots. On the plus side its driving smoother now than it ever has and my neighbours must have learnt some new words that they had never heard before, bonus biggrin

durbster

10,754 posts

229 months

Sunday 6th March 2011
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Dave, you're probably best asking on the Difflock forum for technical advice. There are several Fourtrak owners on there and they're really helpful.

mcjimny

93 posts

166 months

Sunday 6th March 2011
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durbster said:
Well if we're posting photos biggrin

Stainby??

durbster

10,754 posts

229 months

Monday 7th March 2011
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Yep smile

mcjimny

93 posts

166 months

Monday 7th March 2011
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Without hijacking the thread too much, you must be local to me then, i'm in south lincs. Who do you get down there with, AMORC? I rcognise the 101. I went to a bank holiday event they ran a couple of years ago now. I struggle to find any info on events there other than a few rtv's and comp safari.
I think its a great site.

durbster

10,754 posts

229 months

Monday 7th March 2011
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Yeah I got word of the event through the Linc4x4 club but it was run by AMOR. Apparently the farmer is only allowed to run a limited number of events per year ( because of noise or environmental legislation I think ) so it probably doesn't get used much.

I'm in Notts and I keep trying to find out about local events but there doesn't seem to be much going on in the midlands. If you know of any coming up, please let me know!

mcjimny

93 posts

166 months

Monday 7th March 2011
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I was registered on lincs 4x4 ages ago but a lot of the events were grimsby way. The limit on events at the site explains the lack of stuff going on there. The only other site i know of in the midlands is Sibbertoft at husbands bosworth http://www.avalancheadventure.co.uk/ or Devils pit at Barton le clay http://www.devilspit.co.uk/diary.htm
There is lincs off road too.
Yarwell or Tixover can't be too far for you, just off the A47.

Godzuki

73,668 posts

262 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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HereBeMonsters said:
How do these compare to the Suzuki of similar size?
Offroading is entirely tyres, and driver. I wouldn't worry so much about the different models of different vehicles. Case in point... Diahatsu, Vitara, and Jimny quite happy on this trail, but the defender isn't. Not the car with the issue, but the driver, and the tyres.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4p6mL2i-Gs

So don't get hung upmon what car is best.

Caulkhead

4,938 posts

164 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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Odd car fact no. 33092b - when Daihatsu finally got round to fitting coil springs instead of leaf springs they called it the 'Independent' even though the suspension wasn't independent, it was still the same old beam axle but with coils instead of leafs! silly

Jem0911

4,415 posts

208 months

Monday 25th March 2013
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Keeping it fresh with a Thread resurrection from the depths

My Fourtrak project is on going.
As purchased

On arrival


So the plan is cut out rot put plastic 'over' wings from independent.


Replace seats
With

Or maybe


Fully line out the rear.
Refurb wheels and replace rubber with AT or MT
CB fitting for Laning trips.

Will keep a wee blog.

MikeDov

167 posts

214 months

Monday 25th March 2013
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Oh my God, I don't even remember posting in this thread!

I was looking at the pictures of yours over on Difflock, at least you can see the rust on yours and get it covered easily enough, I bought a 97 F78 just before Christmas, so far it's had a new exhaust, clutch, all been poly bushed, new rear shocks and more welding than you can shake a shi**y stick at, so, it's turned out to be a bit of a 'pup'. I'm trying to get it all finished off and a new MOT on it before looking at getting any pictures up smile

I'm still running the old Tonka pictured above in the snow and it still makes me smile whenever I drive it, they're great toys smile