Next tow vehicle

[Razorbill RIBs]

Do you by any chance know where I can get hold of a snorkel for a WJ (petrol and /or CRD) in the UK Rockraider......Aus supplier found and my little bro can send from US, but if there was a good local UK source..... thanks

[Rokraider]

We are agents for Safari who make this snorkel. Which engine?
Safari Snorkel System for the Jeep WJ Grand Cherokee

[Rogue Wave]

Rockraider I have a 1990 Patrol GR cracking vehicle 4.2 non turbo does anybody make an after market Overdrive for them. I've driven 4 round trips this year of over 1100 mies and I cant help feeling it needs a 6th gear

ta

[Rokraider]

I believe Fairey used to make an overdrive for the Patrol and Land Cruiser (now owned by Superwinch). I have not seen one for years. They were mostly sold in Australia, despite being made in Tavistock, Devon. You will probably have to do some searching on the web over there.
From memory it was a new back cover for the transfer case that incorporated the overdrive unit. In the early 90's it cost around £1200 as I recall.

[Razorbill RIBs]

Originally Posted by Rokraider

We are agents for Safari who make this snorkel. Which engine?
Safari Snorkel System for the Jeep WJ Grand Cherokee

A couple of 4.0 six (powertech) and a 2.7 Merc CRD...... Less worried about the CRD /not sure thats available?

[Rokraider]

I will check it out and get back to you.
Keep an eye on the injectors on the CRD. They are prone to compression blow by around the seal on the head. The valley will fill up with black gunge. It pays to get at it sooner than later. If it is No 5 injector, you have to drop the engine and box, to create enough space between the head and the bulkhead to get the injector out. Coca Cola is good at dissolving the black gunge (makes you wonder what it must do to your guts!).

[willk]

Originally Posted by Rokraider

Coca Cola is good at dissolving the black gunge (makes you wonder what it must do to your guts!).

Phosphoric acid - Coke's fairly hopping with it, does yer guts no harm whatsoever. Yer belly's loaded with 0.5% Hydrochloric Acid anyway - the other stuff wouldn't make a dent.

Cillit Bang (the bathroom cleaner) uses Phosphoric Acid to clean metals - maybe easier to use that than Coke on an engine?

[Razorbill RIBs]

Originally Posted by willk

Phosphoric acid - Coke's fairly hopping with it, does yer guts no harm whatsoever. Yer belly's loaded with 0.5% Hydrochloric Acid anyway - the other stuff wouldn't make a dent.

Cillit Bang (the bathroom cleaner) uses Phosphoric Acid to clean metals - maybe easier to use that than Coke on an engine?

I've priced both up.... the Cillit wins it by a country mile. Apparently the coke is £50 a gramme the kids in my village seem very switched on..... I only buy tesco own brand pop so am a bit out of the loop on these things....

The 'black death' as its known amongst CRD owners.... I check mine regularly for first signs.....are you suggesting there is a preventative step Rockraider? Would be interested if there was. Todays puzzle is why the CRDs ECU is perodically turning the turbo off....hoping it has a link to the oil pressure sender going crazy, but who knows.... As someone mentioned in a previous Jeep vs. landrover vs. Jap (yawn) thread.....by owning a few we can always have a spare for when ones broken

[paddlers]

Had the 'black death' on my Ml. Sadly 2 of the injectors were cracked which cost me £280 each to replace. Seems to be a common fault.
Had the same thing with the turbo, replaced the MAF (£55) & then found a leak in the vacuum hose to the egr. Replaced the pipe now sorted !
Had a steady journey home from Kintyre towing the boat with no turbo !!

[Rokraider]

I don't know of a preventive cure for the "black death". The problem is the wander that designed it decided to use one long single 4mm bolt that goes through a clamp to hold the injector in place. You can see that it can only clamp down fully on one side of the injector. Sensible designers use 2 bolts to clamp evenly. I have got the DRB III factory computer here if you are passing, I could always interrogate it to see if it flags up any faults regarding the turbo.
Old Man Emu do a nice suspension kit for the WJ's.

[Portholme]

Deed done, I placed a deposit on a very nice 2007 gl 320 with a few nice extras and only 46k on the clock. Bought from an MB main dealer because they took my Viano at a great trade in price, we're keen to do a deal and I have the peace of mind of their warranty for twelve months. I thought a car this size would need the bigger engine but the 320 has more than enough grunt.

I have to say dealing with this particular guy at this particular dealership could not have been easier and the deal came in at only £200 above my wildest dream cost to change and £2000 less than where I thought I might have to be.

Now all I need are; detachable tow bar, roof box and snow socks to keep the French police happy when we go skiing!!

Thanks for all your help and comments.

[Rokraider]

Glad you got it sorted ok. When you buy the tow bar, make sure it has the homologation plate on it that has the E mark and shows the rating. It is a legal requirement on vehicles newer than an S registration. Factory one or Witter are probably your easiest options. You also want the factory trailer electrics kit. That should come with the correct plugs to hook into the wiring harness, rather than the usual scotch lock bodge.

[Portholme]

Thanks. Was going to go witter or Thule.

[willk]

Seeing as everyone is done with this thread now, I'll hijack it...

Of the 4x4 car and van type vehicles available new in the UK, which can legally tow 3500kg without modification?

Discovery
Defender & Ancestors
Range Rover
Toyota Amazon (V8)
Top spec Mercedes Sprinter
Jeep Grand Cherokee

Any others?

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by willk

Seeing as everyone is done with this thread now, I'll hijack it...

Of the 4x4 car and van type vehicles available new in the UK, which can legally tow 3500kg without modification?

Discovery
Defender & Ancestors
Range Rover
Toyota Amazon (V8)
Top spec Mercedes Sprinter
Jeep Grand Cherokee

Any others?

Dai-hat-sue Fourtrack, remarkably.
Mitzy Shotgun LWB- 3300Kg
Iveco Daily twin rear wheel.
Merc G Wagon
Nissan Patrol
Isuzu Trooper LWB

[tonymac]

Originally Posted by willk

Seeing as everyone is done with this thread now, I'll hijack it...

Of the 4x4 car and van type vehicles available new in the UK, which can legally tow 3500kg without modification?

Discovery
Defender & Ancestors
Range Rover
Toyota Amazon (V8)
Top spec Mercedes Sprinter
Jeep Grand Cherokee

Any others?

Thinking of changing Willk? What do you need the big tow capability for now? Maybe you're changing the LR and BUYING?????????

[Portholme]

Merc gl. Unless GE just been misled!!!

[paddlers]

Merc ML.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by paddlers

Merc ML.

Only the 3.5Ltr and above.

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Originally Posted by Portholme

Deed done, I placed a deposit on a very nice 2007 gl 320 with a few nice extras and only 46k on the clock. Bought from an MB main dealer because they took my Viano at a great trade in price, we're keen to do a deal and I have the peace of mind of their warranty for twelve months. I thought a car this size would need the bigger engine but the 320 has more than enough grunt.

I have to say dealing with this particular guy at this particular dealership could not have been easier and the deal came in at only £200 above my wildest dream cost to change and £2000 less than where I thought I might have to be.

Now all I need are; detachable tow bar, roof box and snow socks to keep the French police happy when we go skiing!!

Thanks for all your help and comments.

Nice http://www.topgear.com/uk/mercedes-b...d-test/320-cdi