Thanks mate.

Sounds like you've had all the fun! My feeling is the quality of the three pointed star is not up to the reputation it once enjoyed. Fingers crossed neither of us has to do that again.

Yes it was a big relief to be cool again. Without even really trying, we discovered a lot about the attacks on Australian soil in places like Kalumburu and Broome. A lot of people suffered, and we didn't really know much about it. Very eye opening.

@@WeHitTheRoad-qo8wn Yes indeed

Thank you, and I bet you can't wait. The inspiration is sort of why we started with the videos. Sharing what we have learnt. When we first tried to find out about these vans, and how suitable one might be to go off the beaten track in Australia, we couldn't really find anything on the tube. Mostly just the odd German tester driving in an old quarry where a Falcon wouldn't get stuck, and one Aussie van that didn't really go off road. It was a bit of a leap of faith.

It was a bit fugly,... No a lot fugly, when we first it on tiny little tyres in the car yard, and it's just sort of stuck. I agree, he looks much better now. Almost macho if I squint. Yes, I am making the wheel carriers and some other things. No website yet, it's coming soon, but for information now you can contact me via another website of ours www.jamescorbettart.com

Just saw my earlier reply didn't stick for some reason. No bones. The water is very clear there, and shallow for a long way out, so some of the locals were having a quick sit and splash in water about a foot deep or less. When in Darwin, do as the locals I guess...We survived...refreshed.

@@WeHitTheRoad-qo8wn I could tell by the look on your faces. Yes, when in Rome...

Thanks mate

Yes, things weren't right, but I will thank them both for their service to the country. There are lots of things to learn about our history, good bad and secret, in some of the little museums around the top end, in places like Kununurra, Wyndham, and Broome

Thanks. I was pretty happy to see that job done

Thanks. Sometimes you just have to do what you gotta do.

Thanks mate.

You sure can, if it's a good one. We had one at the start of the trip that developed a screeching mind of its own after we fixed it to the inside windscreen camera mount and drove on corrugations. We have some collar ones too, that seem very unreliable. Really annoying when you look at a video later and discover the sound isn't there or very poor. We are not professionals and I do try and play with the sound in editing. Maybe next trip.

What cameras are you using?

@@ArdashMuradian We are very basic, we mostly use our iPhone SEs, and and sometimes a DJI mini pro 4, and of course the drone on occasion. So certainly not very flash. It's just a bit of fun for us. Glad you still enjoyed the video.

Thanks, and yes the desert is beautiful.

Actually everything is from the audio options in the free Capcut video editing Ap. It's sort of simple that way. No issues with licensing. We spend quite a bit of time searching through trying to find things that we like, and that we think fit the vibe of the images. Our main intro is credited to 'New Air' and 'Crocodelia' is responsible for some, and I just googled them. They are a Taiwanese band headed by two brothers! So it's probably all very obscure, but It works for us. Glad you enjoy it.

Thanks very much for your reply just watching the halls creek Video again when you were alongside a billabong or lake, great acoustic guitar great videos always interesting. Garry

@@Garry-p2k That one at the billabong has the rather snappy title of " Raw Guitar Slow Country Style Blues (868672)". The other one at the water hole under the cliff is "Heavy Blues" by Peaceful Groove. Google finds them.

Yes, low range and ESP switch off. Not sure if it's my imagination, but I am thinking that the 4x4 system reacts noticeably quicker when you are in low range. On this trip we did not use the rolling road mode, neither on this short desert visit nor the full crossing on the way home. The 4x4 system actually works really well on the desert dunes. You can see and feel it transferring drive around to different wheels. Brakes will probably get hot if doing it constantly, like on a soft beach, and then you might need to resort to the rolling road mode.

Thanks. They are pretty versatile for sure.

Shoulda gone to spec savers! 😵‍💫

Sometimes, I wonder if it's a tactic to get you to leave, rather than confront, so they can then have the primo spot themselves. I really just don't get it. That particular incident was just weird.

Thanks Ross. The best way to contact me is via the contact on www.jamescorbettart.com

Especially when it's a big area with no one else about, and they park just a few metres away. Time to trust your instincts! In this case I didn't really get bad vibes. Just odd ones.

Thanks, glad you are enjoying it.

One of the pleasures in life.

Thanks for watching. I've not tried to buy one, but as far as I know they are for sale here, only because of the knowledge that plenty of people have been taking delivery of them, and I've not heard that they are not anywhere else. Perhaps the Australian quota was sold out at the time. Some new AWD owners are saying that they are more effective than their old 4x4 Sprinters. I have not driven one so I don't know. There are comparisons on KZbin that suggest that they are, when fitted with a rear locker, but then they also say that the 4x4 needs a locker also. It would be better for sure, but I don't think ours outright needs one. And yes the AWDs do seem to suffer from even more intrusive driver assist electronics. My point was that it was incorrect to dismiss the Sprinter as a capable ' Overlanding' vehicle, as I believe we have proven that it is, and then also compare it to a 4wd van that does not exist in Toyota's show rooms. The after market 4x4 conversion of the Hiace seems like a good thing, but did you know that same is possible with a new Sprinter. Also based on a 2wd. A proper low range, and 3 diff locks, from Inglehaut. I think the the Army had some here years ago, but cost of a new one pretty much rules it out. There are also aftermarket kits to fit an Atlas low ratio transfer case, and complete Dana locking rear axles to Sprinters. I have no beef with the man in question, I just have a different opinion about it's overlanding capabilities, and my impression was, and still is, that apples were compared to bananas. A stock Sprinter compared to a totally upgraded Hiace. Perhaps compare the Hiace to a Sprinter with the Dana and Atlas. I also thought he said that you could not buy a low range Sprinter in Aus without referencing it being new. Everyone loves a good Troopy.

@ fair enough and good points. I’m glad you know about the Atlas transmission conversions. I get frustrated with people thinking they need to four-wheel-drive truck or vehicle to go and explore Scandinavia when it is illegal to drive anywhere off-road other than the dirt roads in both Norway, Sweden and Finland. And for whole summer, I drive for a camping tour company with a standard two wheel drive coach and didn’t have any problems at all with attraction etc. But then I suppose I grew up on dirt roads and I got used to being to drive sideways round corners when needed. Start of each tour I had to take it easy for the passengers to relax and appreciate that I had the experience and had the training behind me to drive safely. Keep up the great videos and mods to the Mercedes. I’ll stick with my Troopy because some of the tracks I drive in New Zealand there is no way a high van would fit through as there’s too many low branches

And it is as varied as it is beautiful. Great place to visit.

Yes, we are fortunate to have such a big beautiful country to explore.

Glad you enjoyed it.

Yes, the weather was great, we had a couple of beautiful ' winter ' days while we were there, but I don't know how they can live there in summer. They say Northern Australia has only two seasons. Hot and dry, or very hot and very wet.

The broader area around Kununurra is full of diverse and spectacular scenery. Well worth a visit. This was our second visit, and we have more to see.

@@WeHitTheRoad-qo8wn Definitely hope to get there one day

It did cross my mind, but I figure the kids at the water's edge the afternoon before would have been an easier meal.

@@WeHitTheRoad-qo8wn Ahh, indeed, the old "I just have to run faster than you" argument - brilliant - if there is only one croc.

Having done a lot more off road with the van since then, I understand it a lot more. Firstly it seems that the 4x4 system responds much quicker to inputs from the wheel speed sensors when the vehicle is in low range. I'm not sure that I was in low range going down that bank. The other thing is that you need to keep a constant throttle even when your past experience tells you that you are going to bog it worse if you don't lift off. When you do throttle on, it will eventually transfer drive to where it's needed. The front in this case. It has surprised me how it will drag itself through soft sand on a dune crest in the Simpson when you drive it the right way. I'm not so confident that it won't burry itself in beach sand If we try that. In hindsight, I'm pretty sure I gave up too early. Yeah, no doubt we botched the names, but I think we got Flinders right...maybe.

@@WeHitTheRoad-qo8wnthanks for the reply, it certainly is a capable vehicle and has made me realise that they are a good 4wd option if you are sensible and don’t try the impossible, Pajeros also have a traction control system that creates issues in beach sand and most people fit an electronic mod that gets around it. Don’t worry about pronunciations trying to decipher place names is part of the fun in Australia.

Thanks, yes we have after market shocks and springs, skid plates, and things. We run through them in our latest video.' 4x4 Van. How we built our Mercedes Sprinter Van to go off road'. In that video I also talk about the fuel tank. We will be making a few of these items for sale now that I've given them a good real world test. I can supply a cradle and tank that bolts into the existing brackets. We will have a website soon wwwfugvan.com but until then you can contact me for more details via another website of ours wwwjamescorbettart.com

Yes, happy with the Konis. We tried them initially without the coils because of tyre clearance issues, but the coils are a big improvement. Well worth doing as were the rear springs. Too much axle hop. The rear fox shocks work fine, but any shock is sort of compromised because of the mounting position and the amount of unsprung weight. I can't remember what the shipping cost was. Not ridiculous, but not cheap and I think they might be the only US Sprinter mob that will ship to Aus. They have a top shock mount kit now too. Mine was Van Compass from adventure fit outs. I think your shock mount will be the same as mine. Single shear is when the bolt though the shock is only fixed to the van on one end and not though a bracket on both sides. Yes I will make the tyre carriers.

Thanks.

Thanks. Scotland looks beautiful.

Ha, we sure can't brag about fitting somewhere a cruiser can't fit.

Yes, it's been a while....but they are tested.

From Fugvan, which is us. I made the carrier. We have decided to make some products for sale. The carrier is made using roll cage tubing, which is strong and light. Our Fugvan website is still under construction, but you can email me for more details via the contact page on my other website. www.jamescorbettart.com

Great info. No rodents yet, but it's a concern. I've had foot prints in the engine bay. I'm aware of the holes along the side, and had intended to pull the plastic off and do something about them, but forgot with all the other jobs. I should have done it from the inside before fitting out. I was too excited building out to think about it. The rear holes, are they behind the bumper corners?

@@WeHitTheRoad-qo8wn yes behind the corner bumper plastic. the lower part. If you decide to remove the plastic trims, have on hand some shares in case they break. the plastic trims also are secured with screws, like in wheel hub, so take them out first. Some holdings are slide in and out near the screws so don't just yank off. Pull off from end opposite screws.

@@WeHitTheRoad-qo8wn I also push in stainless steel scouring pads with silicone smudged on them, to hold in place, into the holes under the back end of the vehicle that allows cables etc into the body. Yours may have rubber gasket, but mine had air con tubes and other wires. Not the steel wool that can go rusty, the stripped stainless steel pads for saucepan scrubbing.

Thanks, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

No, it is a factory delivered 4x4. The built bit, refers to how we modified the suspension, made all of the accessories, and all of the interior fit out.

@@WeHitTheRoad-qo8wn Ok thanking you. Also with the plastic stripping in the air filter screws, anti-clockwise turn first until you feel/hear a drop/seating of the screw, before before tightening, else you may cut a new threat, and that's why they rip out the previous one - I guess. Not sure if they're self threading screws.

@@JimmyCall Thanks, yes I've leaned to be very careful putting them in and out. They are a small fairly fine threaded metric steel cap head bolt directly into fairly soft plastic. After the first fail, the fix is a size up course threaded wood screw, but eventually that thread pulls out as well. I've learned that the best thing is to add pressure to compress the two halves together to remove tension before undoing them.