Beginner in a D40 stx

[bigtalljim]

Hi,
Im a first time owner of a 4WD. Ive bought a 2007 D40 stx and I thinks she's pretty stock standard. Shes got a bull bar with spotties and roof racks.
I wanna start hitting some track but I want to make sure im well enough equipped and would love a hand on what to buy and whats more and most important on the list...

Cheers

 

[nathand22]

gday bigtalljim.
for a start i would be looking at tyres at least allterains, lift, and some underbody protection. That should be a pretty good start.
If you need more info on different tyres and sizes you can run, suspension and bash plates, you should find all you need to know in the D40 section or use the search.

good luck with your new ride.
Nathan

 

[Old.Tony]

Welcome to the forum.

I'd start with decent tyres as well. I've got a set of BF Goodrich ATs and have no complaints - I haven't tried any others yet.

Have a look on your car for a sticker that says something about a suspension upgrade, and look to see if the bonnet has a retention strap on it. If there is nothing like this on the vehicle, fit a winch to the bullbar (I'm serious - you might want one anyway) then take the car to Nissan. They'll fit a bonnet strap and upgrade your front suspension.

As Nathan said, underbody protection is important. For water crossings, a snorkel lets the engine breath and a wading bra prevents sticks and debris from damaging the intercooler/radiator.

Larger tyres increase the height of your diff & axles but you'll feel like it has less power, it will use more fuel and your odometer will be inaccurate. A suspension lift will raise your chassis improving your ramp-over (ability to position the car over an obstacle) and a body lift will improve your approach and departure angles.

 

[sparra04]

or just trade it in on a d22
sorry
someone had to say it
lift kit,good a/t tyres and bashplates is a good start
welcome and enjoy your ride mate

 

[Leprechaun]

Seeing as you live in Victoria, your going to need a set of mud terrains(265/75/16) and a 2" lift and a recovery kit. The tracks are really wet and slippery at the moment so you might be better to wait until summer before you go off exploring on your own.

 

[nathand22]

or just trade it in on a d22
sorry
someone had to say it
lift kit,good a/t tyres and bashplates is a good start
welcome and enjoy your ride mate

I was going to warn bigtalljim about the wise cracks from the D22 owners

 

[bigtalljim]

Haha Yeah theres always a hater.
Ive got Goodrich A/Ts, also retention strap and the suspension has been upgraded.
IL look into lifts. Any thing u could suggest?
Bash plates are a def must, I looked under there today and theres only like a 2 or 3mm thick plate at the bonnet end nothing else..
I had a mate tell me that there not a "real" 4WD and to stay away cos id wreck my car. Can they handle it?

 

[Old.Tony]

The D40's downside on rough stuff is its long wheelbase. Park it beside a Land Rover or a D22 - they have a shorter wheelbase, which improves their ramp-over - the height of an obstacle that the vehicle can clear climbing over it. This includes climbing an incline and getting the vehicle onto the top.

The front diff isn't the strongest either and suffers badly with sudden shock loads for example if you have masses of wheelspin followed by solid grip, like when a wheel is in the air and suddenly hits the ground hard.

Lockers are available for the rear. You can raise these things quite a bit if you're willing to get the parts to do that (upper control arms, extended brake lines & ABS cables etc). Diff & gearbox breathers should all be extended - ARB sell these.

It depends what you mean, too, by "real 4WD". Equipped with a decent compressor and tyre deflator, you will go to the beach, let your tyres down to 20psi each and cruise happily along the sand, straight past the moron in his Hilux that insisted his "real 4WD" didn't need to air down. You can fit a wading bra to the front of your bullbar and cross straight through the river, water lapping your windscreen, and continue past the fool in his Vitara that has to patch his radiator to repair where the radiator was pushed against his cooling fan.

What is a "real 4WD"? In my mind, it's any vehicle that has all 4 wheels driven by someone who is competent in doing so. We've had D40s at Oodnadatta, crossing the Tanami, Canning Stock Route, Gibbs River Rd, Birdsville Track and more. They are quite capable of doing normal 4WD things.

 

[mike1303]

. If there is nothing like this on the vehicle, fit a winch to the bullbar (I'm serious - you might want one anyway) then take the car to Nissan. They'll fit a bonnet strap and upgrade your front suspension.

As a side note about this tony.
Do you know I the later models I.e 2011 require the same bonnet cable/suspension upgrade as the older ones?

 

[Old.Tony]

As a side note about this tony.
Do you know I the later models I.e 2011 require the same bonnet cable/suspension upgrade as the older ones?

I don't believe so. Aust Gov Recalls only list the wheels as an issue for the 2011 model, 2010 gets a bonnet strap, my 2009 got one (unlisted in the recall site).

 

[mike1303]

Thank you tony.
Didn't know that website existed I'll be sure to have a look at th wheels tomorrow when I drop the oil

 

[nathand22]

I think the d40 is defiantly a real 4wd as it goes most places i want to go, but if your comparing it to a solid axle 4wd like a patrol with a 4inch lift, diff lockers and 35 inch tyres then there is a massive difference.

If you drive it to its capabilities and not to the patrols, then you will be surprised where it will go. I have had mine on some pretty gnarly tracks where it shocked a few guys with bigger 4wd. It was great at stockton beach, lithgow and monkey gum track at yalwal and others.
Basically i use mine to go camping and fishing with the family and it gets me to some great spots that i would never get to in a 2x4 so i am really happy with it.
Have fun.
Nathan.

 

[nathand22]

I don't believe so. Aust Gov Recalls only list the wheels as an issue for the 2011 model, 2010 gets a bonnet strap, my 2009 got one (unlisted in the recall site).

Tony is this recall for the 2010 only the Spain built STX, or is it for both the Thai ST and the Spain STX.

As far as i knew it was only for the Spaniards but i could be wrong, like always haha

 

[LLadnar]

Welcome too the forum and enjoy.
As most have said a good place too start would be a good set of tyres and a 2" lift, then it depends on how far you want too take it from there.

 

[Old.Tony]

Tony is this recall for the 2010 only the Spain built STX, or is it for both the Thai ST and the Spain STX.

As far as i knew it was only for the Spaniards but i could be wrong, like always haha

If you're after the bonnet strap recall, the recall web site only lists VINs starting with VSK so it's only for Spanish-built trucks.

The 2011 recall only lists VSK VINs as well, so it's another bloody Spaniard thinking about the tomatoes again.

Maybe they have too many siestas over there. I won't say anything about Thai ladyboys with spanners.

 

[nathand22]

If you're after the bonnet strap recall, the recall web site only lists VINs starting with VSK so it's only for Spanish-built trucks.

The 2011 recall only lists VSK VINs as well, so it's another bloody Spaniard thinking about the tomatoes again.

Maybe they have too many siestas over there. I won't say anything about Thai ladyboys with spanners.

Thanks for the info on the recall Tony, but............
I wont say thanks for putting that image in my mind.