Australian touring vehicle

[The BN Guy]

I mentioned that there was a company in Oz that produced a large vehicle for mines, expeditions, military, etc. Just found the website...

http://www.oka.com.au/

[Scenic WonderRunner]

I've never seen a "Kewler " ....."Touring Expedition Vehicle"!

Great find on the website! :D


Me Likey!http://www.oka.com.au/images/photogallery/tourbus.jpg

[datrupr]

Very cool.

[brittan]

Place drooling smiley face icon here...

[bluerunner]

I love the approach and departure angle, very tough!

[chnlisle]

I've never seen a "Kewler " ....."Touring Expedition Vehicle"!


And left hand drive too!!!

[BiG BoB]

Better known as a "Shoka" as in shocker... they're a brilliant idea but they can be lemons...

[Tony LEE]

Most conversions involve cutting a hole in the roof and adding a pop-top.

www.tinyurl.com/35ra68 has details of one owner that ditched the passenger cab and built a camper body on the back. Fits in an open top 20' container.

[Bluewater Australia]

And left hand drive too!!!
Ah, maybe not; that pic has been flipped.

I've owned an OKA for about ten years, very happy with it.

There's also http://www.okaownersgroup.info/tiki-index.php?page=Table+of+Contents which is the OKA Owners Group website; but most of it is inaccessible unless you're an OKA owner. You can see a few for sale on the lower right; and that one pictured before is the new model NT 003, which is for sale in that list.

[markymark]

People here either LOVE them or HATE them, and the debate rages on in internet forums evermore.

I love them and have been looking for one for a while now, but they only ever made about 400 all up and half of those were trashed by mining and tour companies. They are getting pretty hard to find a decent 2nd hand one. Don't know how serious they are with the new model coming out, but looks awesome.

Bluewater, the above poster, has one of the best looking ones around :drool:, c'mon man show us some pics. (i've seen it on 4wd action website).

[Bluewater Australia]

Mmmm OK, I guess I'll count this as putting back for some of what I get out of this site... always hesitant coz I'm not wanting to be seen as showing off, but then I do love looking at other peoples' trucks myself...

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/Bluewater_Australia/P2090061a.jpg

I will have to get some new pics; the PVC tubes (for sand flags & fishing rods) have since been replaced with aluminium ones, rather more durable around low branches.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/Bluewater_Australia/P1250010a.jpg

Removable front rack carries up to 225qts of coolers, or a fridge or two with a cooler or two. There are power outlets for the fridges on the bullbar and on the rack.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/Bluewater_Australia/P1250099.jpg

Add-on bits like above are handy, especially on the beach.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/Bluewater_Australia/P1250089a.jpg

Dana 60 front, Dana 70 rear, double shocks each corner... the Mag-Hytecs and Bilstein 7100s are my changes. The new OKAs (NT series) don't have Danas, they use something made in South Africa I think.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/Bluewater_Australia/DSC03350a.jpg

Brilliant in the sand. A little heavy for the original motor (four-litre Perkins), though tolerable given the economy, but the new ones have plenty more power with a four-litre new technology Cummins. There is a hidden-away aluminium derrick and winch to get that spare on & off the roof. The standard spare lives under the bum but these tyres are a bit bigger.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/Bluewater_Australia/tv_2008_03b.jpg

A 22" widescreen TV keeps the kids happy on rainy days... they're not all mine. :Wow1:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/Bluewater_Australia/P1100017.jpg

There's that rack again, and I just fitted up a recovery gear box behind it; filling the wasted space. That's the lid sitting in front of it but the lid does still come off with the cooler in place.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/Bluewater_Australia/2009_04_b640.jpg

Last one for now... hope you like it. The knockers are usually people who know OKAs from thrashed tour buses and mining vehicles. This one's 14 years old (built 04/1995) and gets looked after. She's been good to me.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/Bluewater_Australia/P2070010a.jpg

[engineer]

I agree with you there Bluewater, the OKA certainly has made some enemies out there.
But they have made alot of dedicated followers as well, another Polariser, like land rover.
As a diesel fitter, i can honestly say that there are other vehicles around that i would rather work on, but i do love to drive the OKA. The second best vehicle to drive over large corrugations.

[Mickldo]

I don't mind the OKAs and I reckon yours is one of the best out there. Thanks for the photos, Bluewater.

[RgrBox]

Not a bad looking 4x4 home...

Very nice indeed..

[whatcharterboat]

I don't mind the OKAs and I reckon yours is one of the best out there. Thanks for the photos, Bluewater.

X2. Thanks. The first wide angle shot on the rock platform is awesome. Where were the pics taken? Not up towards Kalbari is it? At Lucky Bay?

[Sergeant_V]

That's a great looking rig Bluewater! :sombrero:

[Bluewater Australia]

Some of the pics were taken at Wedge Island just north of Perth, some at Yeagerup on the south-west corner down south, but the rock pic was taken somewhere between Bremer Bay and Hopetoun, on the south coast east of Albany...

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/Bluewater_Australia/OKA_2009_02.jpg

engineer, that's the first time I've had somebody volunteer that there is a better vehicle than an OKA on corrugations, and by your location, you would know; what is it? People often ask what the OKA is like on corrugations; and I don't know if they believe me or not, but usually all you can do in this OKA is hear the fact that you're on corrugations, you can't really feel it.

[engineer]

They are as solid as a house brick on Corries, I love the OKA, I'm waiting for Warnsie to get his new one so i can have a look at it in Cairns.
The only vehicle i've found more comfortable is the six wheeler Toyota, but they will tend to show thier age more than the OKA.

[alan]

And a strong rigid chassis!

[RHINO]

Mmmm OK, always hesitant coz I'm not wanting to be seen as showing off, but then I do love looking at other peoples' trucks myself...




it all depends how you show it off,, good onya mate !! that how ya say it ?

[engineer]

And a strong rigid chassis!
:confused: "engineer scratches head"

[whatcharterboat]

"engineer scratches head"

I was waiting for that. Hahahahhahahahahah. Followed by Lololololol.

Mate, I've seen a few running around here on 19.5 wheels. Do you know what tyres they are running?? What do they come from the factory with?
The one I saw up at Inskip had Michelin XDE+2 but he wasn't happy with them. Not suitable at all for a 4x4 and he was looking for a better alternative.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3359/3488092645_00abbac762_b.jpg

I've already posted these pics but it's a very cool looking setup , heh? From the Gold Coast.

[alan]

I think 900x16 were standard, not sure.

[whatcharterboat]

Hi Alan , These rims obviously weren't supplied by OKA. IIRC The owner told me he paid $750 each for them. Made on the Gold Coast. Not Titans. Really thick centres but only MIGed and not submerged arc welded. Still more suited to the weight of the truck.

IIRC it was 5.5 ton with the camper. Not 100% sure of that. The camper looked very light but there was a lot of tanks, and the steel tray, etc.

[Bluewater Australia]

Tyres have been a bit of a love/hate relationship for me. The following was written for the Oka Owners Group newsletter a while ago. The earliest OKAs had 16" wheels, but most later ones had 19.5". As one wag put it, given that most OKAs ended up being sold as tour buses, the fact that 19.5s weren't as good off-road was not so bad, because when they got bogged, they had 13 people on board to get out and push! ...

A little history first: our LT OKA was purchased with the standard 19.5” wheels, fitted with Michelin XZY 285/70s. This was a fairly popular setup on late 90s OKAs, and while they serve the purpose, they are really nothing special. The steel wheels are diabolically heavy, and looked dead ordinary. We had them sandblasted and powdercoated a few years back, which made them look better and clean easier, but nothing was going to make them lighter.

However, the real problem was the tyres. The 19.5” size is uncommon, and while not unobtainable, the choice is very limited. Picking one up when you need one at short notice is unlikely to happen. Worse still, they’re not designed for off-roading; reducing tyre pressure to get flotation over sand required some pretty low pressures at times, and 19.5” truck tyres were never designed to be trundling around at 40psi, let alone 14psi. We tried to stick to 65psi on the highway and 25psi on sand, but it was a telling tale as we destroyed tyres one after another – almost one every serious trip, a nerve-wracking scenario when you know you have no chance of finding a 19.5” tyre anywhere within 3000km.

The final straw was having yet another tyre disintegrate on the highway, and trying to get it replaced back in Perth only to be presented with a ‘new’ tyre that, by the date code, was already two years old; so to all intents, 1/3 of its way through its useful life, and of course at full quid.

So, after an inordinate amount of measuring, internet trawling, saving up and finally committing, I ordered a set of 16 x 10 Pro Comp forged alloy wheels, and Pro Comp Xtreme A/T 38.5/14.50R16 tyres.

A lot of the internet research was to do with finding wheels that were appropriate to the load-carrying requirements. Cast alloys are out; they have to be forged. The wheels I chose are from www.procomptires.com ; with the required 8x6.5 stud pattern, they’re rated to carry 3500lbs a corner; or a little over three tonnes each axle. I think all the various styles have the same load rating with that stud pattern.

I chose 16 x 10 for the maximum off-road ability within the realms of not necessitating body or suspension modifications; there are plenty of options. The standard 4.5” backspacing (very common amongst aftermarket wheels) was going to work fine with the OKA.

On to tyres, and the same company looked the goods with their Xtreme A/Ts. Despite being fairly huge, this tyre has a directional tread pattern, so they should be quiet, and good in the wet. All my measuring said I could fit in the 38.5” diameter ones – just – and they should be the best off-road. Their load rating was a whisker more than the wheels, so no problem there. Once again, there are options; smaller diameter tyres give more gearing power and are more easily matched for outside diameter if you need to buy something in a remote location. But I was on a roll now.

Once they landed, came the big test: were my measurements right, and was it going to be driveable?

The wheels clear the brakes by about 2mm. Scary close, but no problem. The backspacing was good, and the rears clear all around the outside with room to spare. The fronts just brush the LT’s splash panels in front of the tyres (XTs don’t have those panels) at full lock, just enough to take the paint off, nothing to bother about really; but eventually, we will have a sheet metal maestro modify them just to keep it absolutely legal. Remember these tyres are much bigger than standard; most would not go to this extreme.

Width-wise, I was keen on flotation, and certainly pushed the limits. After nearly two years of contentedly driving around with them poking out the sides a bit (and they really did look cool like that!), I thought I should do the right thing, so we bought four new flares from OKA (to save the panel beater a bit of work) and got them fitted up 30mm further out than the originals. The rears already had enough ‘extra’ to do that with, and fortunately for me OKA had a set of wider-than-standard cab flares in stock, so it was an easy job on the front too.

While the spare could still be squeezed under the rear at this size, it was a squeeze; touching the springs both sides. So that went up on the roof, with a little removable winch & derrick setup to get it on and off. So far, it hasn’t had to come off. On big trips we still stick one of the old 19.5s under the rear for a second spare.

Driving: no problem. They have been powder-balanced (powder within the assembly, no external weights), something I had never come across before, and the balance is perfect. They’re quiet, soft-riding (I’ve been using 45psi as a highway pressure) and great off road. On sand at below 15psi, they’re at home, bagging down beautifully.

http://www.okaownersgroup.info/img/wiki_up/tyres_200808b.JPG

The pic is of the originals and the new. The new make the 19.5s look like they’re running low profiles! The weight difference is significant: the original 19.5 steel wheel with a well-worn 285 tyre weighs 67kg; the alloy 16 with the 355 tyre and twice as much tread depth weighs 55kg.

We’ve had one puncture so far; a massive steel nail (used for pinning down a traffic-counting strip) that went straight through the tread, and resulted in a slow enough leak to allow a prompt drive to the nearest tyre repairer; where it was easily fixed.

We’ve also fitted up a wireless Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, which seems to be a good thing.

[Bluewater Australia]

From the Gold Coast.

I found that one just now on the Owners Group site, but they don't have recent info on there. The wheels are aftermarket as you say; the pic on the OG site has it with black wheels, and given that it's #023 (yes really, the 23rd OKA ever made) it would have had 16" rims originally. It started out as a motorhome, but was converted to the aluminum tray, slide-on camper setup.

Very neat and very loved by the looks.

[engineer]

I seem to remember the Australian Getaway 4x4 Fraser island buses trialing the 19.5" on Canters. They sank one from memory, and removed them as a result. They were a full bodied canter done by NC&B. Weird looking things...
I love the look of the new OKA's with the 19.5s, They were alright on Cape York from memory, I think Oz had them. Warnsies trucks had them as well, but he ended up going back to 825/16. I know that's what Oz run on thier canters, we are on 235/85 16 at the moment. They give better ratios for the hill climbs at Daintree and Kuranda, rev like crap at 100k's though. I've found it makes no difference to fuel economy, large or small tyre, pressures will cost you though.
Warnsies truck with 825's
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa129/f1engineer/Cape%20York/Capeyork20607017.jpg

[whatcharterboat]

I seem to remember the Australian Getaway 4x4 Fraser island buses trialing the 19.5" on Canters. They sank one from memory, and removed them as a result. They were a full bodied canter done by NC&B. Weird looking things...

Yeah. Actually I drove one for Getaway some years back. Only as a short term fill in driver. This one had an aftermarket turbo and IIRC was back on 16" XZL's. I remember hitting a washout pretty hard in it and gt a few groans from the guys in thew back. Bet you'd know all about that.

Also I remember the gear linkages weren't too good either but the turbo on the old 4.2 was a hoot. Sorry for the hijak.

Blue Water, really appreciate the comments about your tyre selection. Well justified. What weight is your OKA or did I miss that?

[Bluewater Australia]

What weight is your OKA

I've never weighed it but theoretically 3.8 tonnes bare, 4.5 tonnes with a usual load on. So the way things go, probably around five tonnes.

[Corey]

My jaw is dropping at these cool pics of the rigs and scenery.

And nothing wrong with showing off your vehicle, that is what we on the other end of the Internet cable are here for :D

[charlieaarons]

What about either 325/85R16 XMLs or 335/80R20 XZLs? Both pretty tall, very good load capacity (4600 and 5150 kg/axle respectively), designed to run at low pressures on sand.

Charlie

[Bluewater Australia]

I just had a look at the specs for the NT (current model) OKA 4WD. It gets 19.5 x 8.25 wheels with 265/70R tyres; doesn't say what breed. Tour buses get a standard upgrade to 285/70R.

CTIS, beadlocks, 20" 'military spec' wheels/tyres, runflats, tubes and split rims are all optional accessories.

Out of curiosity I looked at Michelin XML - max speed 62mph (100km/h) and load range D; both too low. XZLs are a bit better at 68mph but they're all too tall except for the 11.00R16s (load range E).

[charlieaarons]

Out of curiosity I looked at Michelin XML - max speed 62mph (100km/h) and load range D; both too low. XZLs are a bit better at 68mph but they're all too tall except for the 11.00R16s (load range E).

Isn't a load capacity of 4600kg/axle enough for a 5500kg vehicle? Who cares what the nominal "ply rating" is? All that tells you is the max inflation pressure. What really matters is the load index, which in the case of the 325 is 137 and the 335 is 141, but only 135 for the 11.00.

Charlie

[whatcharterboat]

What about either 325/85R16 XMLs or 335/80R20 XZLs? Both pretty tall, very good load capacity (4600 and 5150 kg/axle respectively), designed to run at low pressures on sand.


If I could throw my 50cents in here >>

The 325/85 R 16 XML are an excellent offroad tyre. Probably the best thing we've used but they aren't cheap. About $1200Aud each a few years back and Michelin really only like selling them to the military. 20,000 kays of mixed on/offroad use on a 6 ton truck and they are looking very ordinary. They start to get a harmonic wave wearing into the tread. Bit hard to explain. Never really seen it before with normal offroad tyres. There was a couple of sets at auction a few weeks back in Brisbane. Now sure what they brought.

Also for us they usually major mods to get them to fit under a little Jap truck like a FG or NPS. I guess that an OKA would be the same.

As for 20R's >>> Bluewater made the comment about the weight of the 19.5" wheels. While they are probably much heavier than they need to be for a 5 or 6 ton truck, the 20" rims available to wheel builder's here are way over the top. I know we are only talking half an inch but the weight difference is huge. Also the 20" tyres are also on the extra heavy side.

Getting back to the XML's >>> Being on a 16"rims is also a problem. Wheel builders only use tubeless 16"rims made for 4x4 cars. I know what the "load ratings" say but this goes out the window after a couple of years of hitting wash outs and corrugations. I'm not basing this on wheel specifications but wheel failures that I've actually seen. This is the problem when you are in the 5/6 ton bracket and want single rear wheels. Go for 16's and run the risk of wheel failure or go for 19.5's and put up with the weight but have peace of mind. All the guys we have built trucks for that are running XML's have changed or are in the process of changing to 19.5s.

If you can stay under or stay around that weight bracket you can get away with the 16"s safely so always keep the weight in mind and you'll escape the dramas.

[engineer]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the tyre the army use on the LAV's?
You'd be squeezing them onto an OKA, Great for a "small" Unimog though!!

[whatcharterboat]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the tyre the army use on the LAV's?

Yep. 16" XML's on the ASLAV's but the Bushmaster's have the XZL 20R's I think.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/ASLAV_2.JPG/800px-ASLAV_2.JPG

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/LAND_Bushmaster_lg.jpg

[engineer]

Michelins have always looked after me....
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa129/f1engineer/Trucks/rfw1.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa129/f1engineer/Trucks/rfw2.jpg
I swear by them, I'm sure my brother uses them on his compactors on the island.

[engineer]

BTW, i'm not Hijacking, these are australian made!!
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa129/f1engineer/Trucks/trucks010.jpg
My brothers truck, not really an expedition vehicle, but it could be.....one day!!!

[whatcharterboat]

My brothers truck, not really an expedition vehicle, but it could be.....one day!!!

It'd certainly be easy to load food, kids, gear, spare wheels and that odd dirtbike but wouldn't the windows blow out when you squashed everything down the back. Love that sunroof too.

BTW Would it come with that cool self loading roof rack/box system as well? I like it.

[Bluewater Australia]

Isn't a load capacity of 4600kg/axle enough for a 5500kg vehicle?
Sure sounds like it would be, and there are evidently plenty of people here who know much more about this stuff than I do! So at the risk of taking this thread in yet another direction :bike_rider: I learnt a little tonight... having had in the back of my mind that I needed (and got) a load rating 'E' in the tyres I have, I saw that the 325/85R16 XMLs have a load rating 'D' in the USA... and figured that wasn't enough. But as I now know, the letters are a 'load range' rating more relevant to how much abuse a tyre will cop, not how much weight it can hold up (ply rating as charlieaarons points out). The 'load index' of the 325 XML says 5070lbs at 65psi; so plenty there. In fact 4600kg/axle.

But if they're really going to cost two or three times what I have, I'll be even happier with what I have!

Very educational stuff from others here too, thanks.

[whatcharterboat]

Hey, I learnt something too. Charlie's must eat truck manuals for breakfast.

BTW Charlie when you come to Oz next year>>> as the Michelins are so expensive here, maybe you should throw in a couple of extra spares if you've got any lying around. You're welcome to leave them with us while you're on the road "just in case". Freight depot is just next door so it's no hassle. Only a thought. Plenty of time yet.

[charlieaarons]

I am overwhelmed with your generous offer, thank you very much.
I carry the usual mounted spare plus another unmounted spare on the roof. I have 2 more virtually brand new tires. The truck has 29K miles (~47K km) and the tires (395/85R20 XZLs) are only about 25-30% worn. I figure if I can keep the truck in Aus. for 1-1/2 years I'd take about 4 trips, each lasting ~2-2.5 months. So I'd probably put about 7-10K miles (100-150 miles/day), times 4 = 28-40K miles. At the high end of that the tires would still be usable but only with ~6mm tread, so a change would be wise, keeping the best of the old ones for spares.
BTW I do have a lot of various specifications and manuals laying around and bookmarked in the computer, and also a really good memory. I have a complete wiring diagram for the U500, a full notebook of pages that open out, the CD workshop manual and a Star Diagnosis system on a PC. And lots of spare parts. Ranging from a shock, brake and hub parts and oil seals to a spare ECU, air compressor, fuel and water pumps, filters, etc.

Thanks again,

Charlie

[engineer]

They are as solid as a house brick on Corries, I love the OKA, I'm waiting for Warnsie to get his new one so i can have a look at it in Cairns.
The only vehicle i've found more comfortable is the six wheeler Toyota, but they will tend to show thier age more than the OKA.

I knew i had pics somewhere
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa129/f1engineer/Cape%20York/sc00710adf.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa129/f1engineer/Cape%20York/sc0070e238.jpg
There were like driving a limosine, very smooth. It was possibly due to the fact that they were origionally designed for around 3 ton, we had them pulling around 7-7.5t, don't tell anyone.......

[engineer]

How's this for a real OZ made expedition vehicle, the original six wheel drive Arkana, chassis by multidrive (vic), body by Arkana(w.a.). These could not be beaten, except for the maintianence bill!!!!!
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa129/f1engineer/Cape%20York/sc00002733.jpg

[Outback]

Im in love! What a beautiful rig!:Wow1::drool: Now THAT would make a perfect RV for my family. What do used units go for?

[Outback]

You aussies are so damned lucky!
http://www.multidrive.com.au/index.html
:coffee:

[engineer]

Im in love! What a beautiful rig!:Wow1::drool: Now THAT would make a perfect RV for my family. What do used units go for?

Good luck finding one, they are all in six wheeler heaven!! Last one that i know of that was operational was on Fraser island nearly 10 years ago!!

[markymark]

there's been one for sale in just 4x4's for the past coupla months. 25 Gorillas and she's yours. :ylsmoke:

[engineer]

What colour?

[markymark]

not sure, it's a black and white pic... a lighter colour though, white or tan or something. Seen a couple come up on carsales and ebay over the past year, one was a half finished reno, which looked pretty good. The others were full of rust from what I could tell.

[Mickldo]

There has been a light blue one parked at a servo near my work for about five years now, hasn't moved once. It has a phone number painted on the window so I assume it is for sale. That is as much as I know about it as I have never checked it out apart from looking at it each day on the way to work. I get fuel from a different servo so have never gone for a closer look.

If you want I can go and ask about it and check it out.

[engineer]

Would i be asking too much for a pic Mick? ;)

[Mickldo]

Would i be asking too much for a pic Mick? ;)

I'll see what I can do.

[Mickldo]

I went down there this arvo and asked about it. The young guy on the counter knew nothing about it but he said he would ask for me if I came back later in the week.

http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/43384/2195552250103919311S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2195552250103919311wdTdCI)

http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/44885/2937874610103919311S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2937874610103919311ColyHD)

http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/43797/2452008480103919311S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2452008480103919311IozOUY)

http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/41572/2204909560103919311S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2204909560103919311QJCZmB)

http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/44573/2075135640103919311S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2075135640103919311qiFpCG)

http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/40908/2676250230103919311S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2676250230103919311nyZZBw)

Sorry about the quality of the photos.

The cruiser had a little rust in it but if you had a good panel beater it could be fixed. The phone number on the side looks to be the previous owners. There were faded silhouettes of the old sign writing. One said "Deepwater and Eurimbula National Parks" and the other "Discovery Coast Detours"

[markymark]

What a weapon. What's with the fore and aft back doors? Seems a bit odd. Was it full of rust?

[RgrBox]

Wow! I like that.. looks liek ti would make a great 4x4 touring vehicle..

[engineer]

Thanks Mick, great work mate!!
It's a 6x4 tourer made by either Pierce engineering or Coerts in Noosa. It looks like the old model, which is discernable by the roof shape, the newer models had a 100mm height added above the windscreen. They were famous along with the arkana and preferred until the advent of the Mits Canter, which were more capable and carry more weight.
The construction was monocoque, spot welded and a guaranteed 5 kg of bog with every bus!!! They also had issues with major cracking of the join above the windscreen. This was over come with various methods, like using Oz Easts fibreglass windscreen surrounds and only Sikaflex where the join was originally below the screen. Successful, but you had to change the door locks every machinery inspection.
I'm still keen depending on the price......

[engineer]

I knew i had photos
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa129/f1engineer/Trucks/sc0008814e.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa129/f1engineer/Trucks/sc00089ae9.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa129/f1engineer/Trucks/sc0008b582.jpg

[Mickldo]

What a weapon. What's with the fore and aft back doors? Seems a bit odd. Was it full of rust?

By the look of it the fore and aft doors were for easier access to the seating in the back.

There was fair bit of rust in it but I reckon if you had access to a good panel beater and some replacement panels it could be salvaged. The worst I saw was across the cowl at the base of the windscreen.

[Mickldo]

Wow! I like that.. looks liek ti would make a great 4x4 touring vehicle..

Yeah. The standard troopy is great touring vehicle and this has heaps more room.

[Mickldo]

Thanks Mick, great work mate!!
It's a 6x4 tourer made by either Pierce engineering or Coerts in Noosa. It looks like the old model, which is discernable by the roof shape, the newer models had a 100mm height added above the windscreen. They were famous along with the arkana and preferred until the advent of the Mits Canter, which were more capable and carry more weight.
The construction was monocoque, spot welded and a guaranteed 5 kg of bog with every bus!!! They also had issues with major cracking of the join above the windscreen. This was over come with various methods, like using Oz Easts fibreglass windscreen surrounds and only Sikaflex where the join was originally below the screen. Successful, but you had to change the door locks every machinery inspection.
I'm still keen depending on the price......

I'll call back in later in the week and see if I can get any more info on it.

The troopies used on Fraser Island are similar. Every machinery inspection they used to have to repair the joins at the top and bottom of every pillar to fix the rust and cracking. Then they stopped making the annual inspections mandatory....... The hire mob I used to work for had Land Rovers instead and we modified the Defender 130s into extra LWB soft tops to keep the COG down, the rust potential down and keep the same seating capacity. We didn't have anywhere near the same amount of hassles as the other mobs when it came to the inspections on the vehicles.

[Mickldo]

Wow! I like that.. looks liek ti would make a great 6x4 touring vehicle..

Fixed it for you;)

[roscoFJ73]

Thanks Mick, great work mate!!
It's a 6x4 tourer made by either Pierce engineering or Coerts in Noosa. It looks like the old model, which is discernable by the roof shape, the newer models had a 100mm height added above the windscreen. They were famous along with the arkana and preferred until the advent of the Mits Canter, which were more capable and carry more weight.
The construction was monocoque, spot welded and a guaranteed 5 kg of bog with every bus!!! They also had issues with major cracking of the join above the windscreen. This was over come with various methods, like using Oz Easts fibreglass windscreen surrounds and only Sikaflex where the join was originally below the screen. Successful, but you had to change the door locks every machinery inspection.
I'm still keen depending on the price......

Ive got the original sales pamphlet for these,Ill have to drag it out. It even looks like the same vehicle judging by the phone number.
I think they were sold through a Toyota dealer who had them made.
Ive got an older pic of one here

[whatcharterboat]

Having trouble posting pics so I just attached it for now. Camped next to this OKA on our way home from our North Queensland trip 2 weeks ago.

[whatcharterboat]

Then we followed this rig. That's a twincab Triton 4x4 underneath the boat with bikes stashed down there too I think. Must have won Lotto.

[whatcharterboat]

Close up.

[xpdishn]

Is this the "the grass is greener" syndrome? It seems all Oz rides are great and made exceptionally well. Whereas the manufactures in the USA can't come up with comparable rigs. Keep the pics coming. I can just keep dreaming.

THANKS

[whatcharterboat]

Is this the "the grass is greener" syndrome?

Absolutely. I grew up dreaming of American things. Lol.Lol. Harleys, Indians, Baracudas, Broncos, Jeeps.................zzzzzzzzzzzzz

[whatcharterboat]

Another one for the dreamers / Lotto winners. Taken on the beach at Magnetic Island on the same trip. It was called "Hardship" but I don't know. As far as Australian Touring goes.....

Mickldo .. I was going to put this in the "Expedition Boat "thread you started but couldn't find it. Sorry if anyone thinks it's a hijak.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/3771304469_4e120edc96_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2531/3772118672_cfc9795a8b_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2634/3771321877_16ff71db83_b.jpg

[whatcharterboat]

And this Quad-bike sized barge was there too. Imagine towing that up to Cape York.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/3771348897_f1291eab0c_b.jpg

[whatcharterboat]

And this very well setup Troopy.

BTW Can anyone help. Am having trouble with posting pics for some strange reason. It's hit and miss. Some pics from my Flickr Photostream just won't post and others are no problem. I've tried the copyright settings and "who is able to view them" but to no avail. As you can see they attach OK. Weird.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3536/3771295417_6ab655ca75_b.jpg

[roscoFJ73]

Another one for the dreamers / Lotto winners. Taken on the beach at Magnetic Island on the same trip. It was called "Hardship" but I don't know. As far as Australian Touring goes.....



]

Cool looking boat even though it looks a little weird. Does it have a special purpose?
Reminds me of a chinese junk without a mast

[roscoFJ73]

And this very well setup Troopy.

BTW Can anyone help. Am having trouble with posting pics for some strange reason. It's hit and miss. Some pics from my Flickr Photostream just won't post and others are no problem. I've tried the copyright settings and "who is able to view them" but to no avail. As you can see they attach OK. Weird.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3536/3771295417_6ab655ca75_b.jpg

Ive had problems with flickr on MUD and imageshack on here . My Scania 6x6 pic has disappeared:confused:
Its seems to me as if the allowances for showing pics have shrunk since I 1st joined ths site:coffee:

I like the extendable f/g roof. Those plastic bull bars are not growing on me,they might look better on a newer shape like a Navarra or Hilux

[roscoFJ73]

Then we followed this rig. That's a twincab Triton 4x4 underneath the boat with bikes stashed down there too I think. Must have won Lotto.

I sometimes wonder what it like taking the kitchen sink with you.
All that extra gear to maintain ,load ,unload.
It would be nice to be disappointed though:sombrero:

[whatcharterboat]

Cool looking boat even though it looks a little weird. Does it have a special purpose?

Not sure. He was a real old hermit looking guy and I didn't want to bother him. I think the purpose of the ramp could only be for loading a bike or quad and he was obviously living onboard. Maybe Mickldo might offer an explanation. The extra wide flat planing bottom enabled it to sit easily on the sand at low tide as you can see. Perfect for the Top End. Imagine it up in the Gulf or the Kimberlies.


I like the extendable f/g roof. Those plastic bull bars are not growing on me,they might look better on a newer shape like a Navarra or Hilux

My thoughts exactly. The roof and the bar.

[Mickldo]

And this Quad-bike sized barge was there too. Imagine towing that up to Cape York.

Thanks for the pics John.

If I can find it again I'll update my ExPo Boat thread.

[Mickldo]

Not sure. He was a real old hermit looking guy and I didn't want to bother him. I think the purpose of the ramp could only be for loading a bike or quad and he was obviously living onboard. Maybe Mickldo might offer an explanation. The extra wide flat planing bottom enabled it to sit easily on the sand at low tide as you can see. Perfect for the Top End. Imagine it up in the Gulf or the Kimberlies.



My thoughts exactly. The roof and the bar.

I got no idea either. It looks like quite a decent sized boat but the ramp doesn't look wide enough for a car just going by the HJ60 on the beach. Bit hard to tell. It looks like a block and tackle on the targa bar over the front. Maybe that is to raise a section of the front cabin? Something like an enclosed garage?

[Area56]

Another one for the dreamers / Lotto winners. Taken on the beach at Magnetic Island on the same trip. It was called "Hardship" but I don't know. As far as Australian Touring goes.....

Mickldo .. I was going to put this in the "Expedition Boat "thread you started but couldn't find it. Sorry if anyone thinks it's a hijak.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2531/3772118672_cfc9795a8b_b.jpg


That hatch is for the Dwarf beach invasion.

I would however probably keep my quad in there for recon missions to the island beer store.