OLD SCHOOL 4x4 and CAMPING

[duggie]

The term OLD SCHOOL is often used on this forum, normally referring to someone's choice of buying a Nissan Patrol by someone else who owns/wants to own a flash as a rat with a gold tooth built for highway use four wheel drive. Now the term OLD SCHOOL has also been branded against the Toyota's range of 76 series Troopies. Does this give me joy, no but it does make me smile. I do realize that everyone is different and their want and needs are also different as are opinions. Every body is entitled to an opinion.  Rant over.

But this term OLD SCHOOL got me thinking as to how many people out there enjoy going four wheel driving and or camping with their OLD SCHOOL 4x4 or camp set up.

I for one enjoy my old school Nissan's and I normally drive around in a 1991 Nissan Patrol with a little bit of fruit and bling towing a Trackabout Deluxe , but the Old Girl has a few problems at the moment and when the 2013 Myswag Trip Across the Gulf  was set to go I had to resort to one of my other old school Nissan's to drive so that I could be part of this wonderful adventure.



My 1973 NISSAN/DATSUN PATROL

So we set off in my old truck 1973 Nissan/Datsun Patrol for the 600 k journey to Normanton, took me about 8 1/2 hours stopping in Georgetown for fuel and lunch, air conditioner was on full blast, (both windows wound down and the below the windscreen and mud guard mounted vents were open )  my camp set up was very old school, a trap on poles two stretches and a couple of fold out tables.

After two nights, I traveled with the group out to Lawn Hill. We spent another two nights with the group and then done the 1000 k trip home.
Did I slow the group down in my 40 year old Nissan, on the dirt they were slowing me down on the black top I was only five minutes behind the group. Did we enjoy the trip, hell yes.

cheers duggie.

I dropped my camera and now she be buggered so I could not get photos of this trip.
 

[KingBilly]

I dropped my camera and now she be buggered so I could not get photos of this trip.

Gee, I thought those box brownies were pretty much bullet proof 

KB

[FNQBunyip]

Good work Duggie , you might drive Datsuns but your still alright in my book ..I don't see me in anything late model , love the '91 HZJ75 and plan on many more years with her..

I used to own a 4WD AB120 international that had a Ford V8 , I should of kept that old girl and put a real engine in it , she would be a nice real OLD SCHOOL 4x4 .. Also had a couple of International Scouts .. drove one up the inland from Sydney too Mossman about 10 years ago , just me and the dog , unregistered , lots of back roads , was a great trip ..

cheers

[oldmate]

My work ute is a 90 LN106 hilux. 2.8 355000km slow but keeps chugging along. I love it.

[Tjupurula]

What is this camping with some form of tent as being Old School.  We still, and always will, just chuck our groundsheet and blankets on the ground.  That is at home and when we are away, but then we are not Old School, just desert people.
Regards
Tjupurula

[speewa158]

Its all about getting out there to Enjoy it all , isn't it 

[MarkGU]

Its all about getting out there to Enjoy it all , isn't it 

ZACHARY

[muzza01]

I agree Duggie, you got the right idea.  I would love to own another 45 or 47 series.

[Mrs smith]

Old-School           Olds-cool

[duggie]

Gee, I thought those box brownies were pretty much bullet proof 

KB

GOLD 

[duggie]

What is this camping with some form of tent as being Old School.  We still, and always will, just chuck our groundsheet and blankets on the ground.  That is at home and when we are away, but then we are not Old School, just desert people.
Regards
Tjupurula

Not a lot of trees that you can string a trap up from in your neck of the woods.

[alnjan]

G'day Duggie, don't know where you got the idea that Old School only relates to a Nissan Patrol.  Can just as easily relate to the 40 Series Cruisers, Series 1 Landy etc.  I do agree calling a 76 as Old School is stretching it a bit.  The 70 Series was based on Old School but too much electrics in there now to call them Old School.  Maybe for the newbies that want all the mod cons would call it Old School. 

[nbd73]

Just to clear up 1 point, in the post that duggie is referring to I said the SUSPENSION & BODY were old school, I did not make reference to the engine, electrics etc. And despite what any one may think, it is not opinion but fact that the bodywork is pretty much from 1985 (rusts more easily > have my father's vehicle as proof; etc) and the suspension set up is outdated compared to modern practice: solid axle and coils for front have been on the out for a while, and mainly because the vast majority of use is on road where independent set ups offer far superior steering and driving characteristics, not withstanding that for hard core off road use the solid axle/coil is better. And leaf springs on the rear is the domain of utes and trailers. Nothing wrong with it, but "old school" that's all, if you don't mind a ride like a mouthful of tacks.
But with regard to the topic at hand, a 90's vehicle was new once, so why stop there, why not go back to horse & cart? Seriously, this rhetoric is similar to other posts that are nostalgic in nature, and the people who posted them were panned for it. Whilst preferring "old school" would you also prefer dentistry work without anaesthetic?

[fishfinder]

must remember next camping destination is on the oval of the first school I went to and I will take the 4x4 - now that will be "OLD SCHOOL CAMPING"   

[alnjan]

suspension and body may be Old School.  As for the independent set ups offer far superior steering and driving characteristics, well I get to drive a wide selection of vehicles at work under varying conditions and really for what they are I would not say an independent set is superior, each to their own. 

For me people demanding 4wds to have the same ride as a sedan has turned 4wds into soft roaders.   Creature comforts are nice but the beauty of the 70 Series at present is that you can take them off road and do some harder 4wding and enjoy it.  That is what makes Old School so good.

[berlitza]

Just goes to show ya  dont need a mega $$ outfit to get out there and enjoy the show, No doubt it would have been great fun in the old girl aswell

[Tjupurula]

Not a lot of trees that you can string a trap up from in your neck of the woods.

Heaps of trees down at the lake, but in general you are quite correct.
Tjupurula

[03hilux]

I get reminded every now and then that my 2003 hilux is old school because the windows are wind up, not electric. Must be old school anyway, it has wheels, and we all know how long the wheel has been around.
 If only Delorean made a 4x4. They even have a flux capacitor.

[edz]

They do have one

[speewa158]

They do have one

You might need a step down treg hitch for that rig 

[Tjupurula]

You might need a step down treg hitch for that rig 

Good ground clearance though for rough country.
Tjupurula

[achjimmy]

Duggie great vehicle. My parents bought a secondhand 3 speed G60 wagon in 72 or 73. It was in pretty good Nic and as a kid I thought it was the greatest vehicle ever. We went everywhere in that even on our side down near Cann River, all sitting on a cushion between the two bucket seats. Those air vents were pretty effective but would wake the dead opening or closing if I recall.

[02-SR5]

I actualy prefer old school.

Don't have to worry about stone chips, bush pin stripes down the sides, the occasional dent hear and there.

Don't have to worry about food and drink getting spilt in the interior.

You can fix it withr tape and fence wire.

I reckon it would be more relaxing just taking your time and not have a care in the world.

Every time we open a camping/4wd magazine, we are told we need all the fruit and the most expensive before we leave home.

If I could afford it, I would purchase an ex Army 110 landrover to get out there.

[Turbojohn]

Nothing wrong with old school! Some of us just choose to drive old tractors cause we like them. 

[GeoffA]

Everything becomes OLD SCHOOL, eventually..........