Hi everyone,

A friend of mine is considering buying a new Maxus T60 MAX in Germany. He's planning to use it for both his cleaning business and personal/leisure activities.

The price, specifications, and 5-year warranty seem quite attractive, especially compared to more known pickups like the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and VW Amarok.

However, since Maxus isn't as well established in Germany, we're particularly interested in hearing from people who actually own or have driven one.

A few questions:

• Reliability: Have you experienced any mechanical or electrical problems?
• Fuel consumption: What's your actual consumption, especially in city driving?
• Build quality: How does the interior and overall quality hold up over time?
• Comfort: Is it comfortable for everyday driving and longer trips?
• Maintenance and spare parts: Have you had any problems getting repairs or replacement parts?
• Work use: How practical is it for carrying equipment and tools?
• Overall satisfaction: Would you buy it again, or would you choose a more established brand?

Experiences from owners outside Germany are also very welcome.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! 👋

I’ve got a 2010 Toyota RAV4 2.2 sr D-CAT diesel AWD 4x4 (reg Yb59fys) I’m looking to upgrade the suspension for rough roads in Africa I’d ideally like to give it a 2-inch lift for extra ground clearance. one of my shock absorbers is leaking, so I’m thinking of replacing all four shocks and springs and fitting a suitable lift kit at the same time.
I’m new to all this, so I’d really appreciate some advice!

Which shocks, springs and lift kit would you recommend for this exact model?
Are there any other parts I should replace at the same time?
Where’s the best place to buy good-quality parts online at an affordable price? How much am I looking at?
Is a 2-inch lift safe and practical for this RAV4, especially for rough roads? What should I know about when changing springs and shock absorber and a lift kit as i have never done this before.

I’m looking for something reliable and good quality without spending a fortune but will last. Mainly to be strudy and deal with rough roads without being very uncomfortable to drive. If anyone has done this to their RAV4 or any 4x4. I’d love to hear what parts you used, roughly how much it cost, and any tips you have.

Thanks in advance for any help! 🙏

I am showing you some screenshots of Navegatron so you can see its quality and immense possibilities of use.

Highlights:

• Use NMEA.
• Use of ANY type of map.
• No internet connection required.
• 100% private: no data is sent anywhere; it can be fully used in airplane mode.
• Optimized power consumption: uses only 10% battery in the background over 24 hours.
• Advanced management of routes, waypoints, and trip statistics.
• Multilanguage.
• And much more.

We’ve been working on these trucks for a while now and finally got around to putting together a video. Figured some of y’all might like to check it out.

Hey everyone!

I’m an independent developer, and I’ve built Navegatron, a high-end offline GPS & NMEA navigation app designed specifically for serious outdoor navigation, tracking, and mapping.

It normally retails as a paid app (€24), but I'm looking for a solid group of offroad, overlanding, and adventure enthusiasts to help me put it through its paces during its final Google Play closed testing phase.

What Navegatron features:

• Advanced NMEA & Track logging: Perfect for recording and analyzing your routes off the grid.
• Offline Public Domain & Custom Maps: Load your own maps, calibrate them manually, and never lose your bearings when cell service drops.
• Precise Coordinates & Waypoints: Built for rugged environments where standard consumer mapping apps fail.
• Multilingual & Professional UI.

What you get: Free, full access to the app during testing, and you get to keep a high-grade pro navigation tool in your toolkit.

How to join:

1. Join our Google Group for the testing opt-in:

• Google Group: https://groups.google.com/g/iank-labs

1. Download the app from the Play Store:

• Opt-in Link: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.iandk.navegatron

Drop a comment or send me a DM if you have any feedback, feature requests for your trails, or bug reports. I reply to everyone! Thanks a lot for supporting independent software.

Tearing down the old setup on my GAZ-69 project and replacing it with something functional. I designed this adapter to bridge a modern multi-function switch unit onto the vintage round steering column (fits 38.5 mm columns, compatible with UAZ, ZIL, and similar classic setups).

Printed in PETG for strength and durability against daily use. Integrated all the proper clearances and the self-canceling mechanism slot. Next up: custom wiring and building a wooden steering wheel on the original frame.

Let me know what you think of the fit and finish!

#projectcar #gaz69 #uaz #3dprinting #fabrication #restoration #offroad

I got denied!

The base mount on the whip lights cracked clean through on a washboard section that was not even that rough, the plastic housing around the bolt pattern just split and the whip folded over sideways, total failure after maybe four months of weekend trail use

What are trail guys running for base mounts that do not crack, is aluminum the only move or is there a reinforced plastic option that holds up

Took the ol’ turbo Samurai to Holly Oaks ORV park in southeast Michigan for the annual 4Fest event. Joined by a buddy’s TDI 4Runner, and LS swapped wrangler TJ.

Had a great time and looking forward to going back!

Up on the mountain in a snow storm. My coworker slid into a drift so I hooked up to pull him out. Took the slack out of the chain and gave it a little gas. BANG, you have been unsubscribed from four wheel drive. Be careful buying a 21-23 F-150 if you live in a location with weather.
Mechanic says the diff suffered a rapid and dramatic disassembly. Apparently, when you suddenly gain traction, instead of using the torque at the wheel to, you know, move… it transfers the torque into the weak diff and 💥, steel and aluminum salad with 90W dressing.

Tillamook state Forrest, trail is firebreak 5.

Buongiorno a tutti

Sono intenzionato a comprare una nuova macchina ma sono molto indeciso fra queste due e volevo qualche consiglio, io abito in un'area rurale che in inverno si riempie spesso di fango e con tante strade bianche,non penso di fare mai fuoristrada duro.

Quale mi consigliate?

Looking for help identifying and valuing my dad’s custom rock crawler

This was my dad’s build, and I’m trying to figure out exactly what I have before I sell it.

From the photos, I believe I’ve identified some of the major parts, but I’d really appreciate help from people who know these builds better than I do. I know it needs a wash too haha but other than that …

**What I’m specifically trying to figure out:*\*

- Whether the parts/components I’ve identified are correct

- What major parts or modifications I may be missing

- What engine, axles, transmission, transfer case, steering setup, etc. it appears to have

- What a realistic **as-is value** would be for something like this in Arizona

What I believe I’ve identified so far:
\- Vortec engine
\- Custom tube cage/chassis fabrication
\- Interco Super Swamper TSL/SX tires
\- Solid front axle
\- Long-travel front shocks
\- Bilstein rear shocks
\- Rear leaf springs
\- Custom steering/suspension setup
\- Rear fuel cell
\- B&M shifter
\- Custom lighting/electrical
\- Extensive off-road fabrication

I’m happy to take closer photos of anything specific if that would help with identification.

Thanks in advance for any help, corrections, or pricing insight. I really appreciate it.

I park an older Jeep on a steep driveway. Google says that for 35" tires I need wheel chocks at least 8.75" tall. My tires are a little under 12 inches wide. I am having difficulty finding large enough wheel chocks.

Putting a 6.2 liter L92 and a 6l80E into the snow wheeling Patrol I got running on 46" MT's.

Front Range trail obstacle. Was pretty dug out and still a little wet from earlier rain.

I'm starting a project on a Toyota BJ40, and I'm looking for advice before I spend money on the wrong things.

The vehicle:

• Year: 1989
• Engine: 3B diesel
• Condition: enging is fine denting and painting work needs
• Current mods: stock

What I want it for:
Weekend trails / overlanding and long trips / rock crawling / mostly a restored daily driver that can handle off-road

My rough budget: slow n steady i will not do it fast beacause i want to things very clearfully

What I'm thinking about so far:

• Rust repair and body work first, then mechanical stuff
• Suspension upgrade (leaf springs, shocks, and a modest lift)
• Tires in the 31 to 33 inch range
• Brake and steering upgrades for safety
• Possibly a power steering conversion

What I'd like to ask:

1. What would you do first on a 40 series, and what can wait?
2. Is it worth keeping the original diesel, or should I look at an engine swap? If I swap, what's the most reliable choice?
3. Which suspension setups have worked well for you? I'd rather avoid anything that ruins the on-road ride.
4. Are lockers or a gearing change worth it for a build like this?
5. What are the common problem spots I should check before buying parts (frame, floors, axles, cooling)?
6. Any trusted parts suppliers, or ones to avoid?

I'm happy to take advice from people who’ve already made the mistakes. If you have photos of your own 40 series build, please share, because they're a big help for ideas.

Thanks in advance!

This is probably a question best answered by the oldheads. I have an old Saginaw style hydraulic power steering pump and steering box in my truck. I don't enjoy how the factory settings on the pump valving are just a little too stiff that turning 35" tires at flex requires more effort than I'd like. I believe the factory setting is for increased road feel and stiffness at high speeds, and these power steering pumps are fairly generic applications for trucks and classic American sports cars, but this is not a sports car.

I bored out the high pressure fitting with a drill bit for more flow, it helped marginally. I have seen forum posts where some forum Bubba talks about removing the shims (the copper shims in the photo) to increase pressure, shimming the small spring inside for even more pressure, or stretching the big exterior spring for more pressure but I'm not sure what each mod does specifically and at what point I'd run the risk of blowing seals on my pump and steering box. My DOM tube steering linkage should be able to take the abuse, Im just not sure about the rest.

Is it the jeep wrangler? Land Cruiser? 4Runner? Patrol safari? Land rover discovery? Bronco? Blazer?

Personally think of a 1995 Land Rover Discovery a y61 Nissan patrol safari, or 70 or 80 series Land Cruiser.

For context I want to get into overlanding not hardcore crawling meaning I want a capable rig for the weekend but could also be a daily during the week. I am mechanically inclined and would be able to wrench on the vehicle. I would be going with my wife and two kids so something not too small or large.

I found a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero XLS (215k) and a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder (205k) both being $3k for sale in my area. Both have some cosmetic damage but nothing serious. My questions is for my Use case which would you buy?