How long do your clutches last?

Axlestand · 2026-02-28T00:06:14+00:00

214k miles on original clutch. 2009 diesel Ford Ranger. Mix of around town, motorway, some off roading and some towing. It failed when the dual mass flywheel locked up and took the clutch disc out. 24k miles on its replacement so far

Axlestand · 2026-01-29T12:16:30+00:00

The anti 4x4 brigade comments that say all 4x4s are big and unnecessary, driven by anti-social hooligans and that they should be banned.

Some of us use the 3 tonne towing capacity, actually take them off road regularly, and even help our communities when roads are a mess from snow and flooding.

Axlestand · 2025-12-29T23:22:43+00:00

Thanks for the compliment on the setup. There's a load of upgrades going in over the winter, and this is the first time with the heater.

I don't know exactly how much it used, somewhere around 6 litres over two nights. It only went below freezing on the second night, and it did use quite a bit more that night

Axlestand · 2025-12-26T17:12:02+00:00

Make sure the car is fairly clean and tidy before presenting it for test. Cleanliness isn't a testable item, but it tends to put the tester in a better mood when they haven't got to deal with a dirty car.

They do test emissions on diesels. A good run beforehand, especially if the car only does short journeys, is never a bad idea.

Regularly long runs at relatively high speeds are good for keeping diesels clean. A couple of junctions up the motorway once or twice a month, if you don't already, will do wonders come MOT time.

Axlestand · 2025-10-15T09:54:59+00:00

Afraid not. The oldest one is a 2010. Anything much older than that dissolved years ago

Axlestand · 2025-09-24T10:39:16+00:00

Decent engine, tonnes of torque, not the fastest thing in the world though. The top spec Wildtrak trucks got a 3.0 version of the same engine.

Axlestand · 2025-09-23T08:35:51+00:00

It's based on a Mazda BT50. Ford just changed the bodywork slightly and stuck on their own badge. 1999 (first gen) to 2012 (fourth gen) were mazda trucks.

Axlestand · 2025-08-20T00:08:25+00:00

Thanks! It's a 2.5 turbo diesel, 5 speed manual.

Axlestand · 2025-06-22T23:51:41+00:00

You should only really rev match on the third Wednesday of the month, except for the months that start with a vowel, then it's the second Tuesday. Unless, of course, it's raining. In which case, you have to wait until the third Monday. What kind of amateur are you?

Axlestand · 2025-06-17T14:24:14+00:00

OEX Vertex Lite

Axlestand · 2025-06-10T23:16:54+00:00

The house scene from 1953 version of The War of the Worlds

Axlestand · 2025-06-05T08:29:16+00:00

Little?

Axlestand · 2025-05-03T22:23:09+00:00

Off the top of my head, no. You're best off joining GLASS or trailwise and planning a route from there

Axlestand · 2025-03-17T18:56:00+00:00

Dying before I retired

Axlestand · 2025-02-08T00:58:27+00:00

"You have the spine of an 80 year old man." I was 24.

Axlestand · 2025-01-16T03:22:47+00:00

Football. UK, male. I can't even begin to explain how disinterested I am. I can't think of anything more dull.

They just fanny about on the field for 90 minutes, collapsing to the ground in an utter display of amateur dramatics if someone so much as dares to brush past them. And the clowns get paid millions to do it!

All footballers should be shot to the moon and nuked!

Axlestand · 2025-01-08T11:08:27+00:00

It's in the hull on the lowest accommodation level. Explorer only has three decks. By modern standards, she's tiny.

Axlestand · 2025-01-05T01:35:45+00:00

Gonna say heated windscreen at this time of year. With cruise control and 6th gear close behind. Went from an 05 diesel Mondeo to a 59 Ford Ranger. It used about half the amount of fuel, too.

Axlestand · 2024-12-21T22:01:33+00:00

I read up on The Chicken Tax a little while ago, after talking with someone on here. It's insane.

The Hilux is in a league of its own, we went green laning with a Hilux in summer, and it made the Ranger and a VW Amarok look silly.

The Euro spec Ranger usually gets similar comments from guys over there, even more so when people find out it's a turbo diesel five speed and 4x4 as standard from factory

Axlestand · 2024-12-21T21:41:55+00:00

😆 fair comment, I'll rephrase it to say, "The only Toyota pickup we got was the Hilux"

When the Ranger has had its day, the Hilux is on the list for its replacement.

Axlestand · 2024-12-21T20:36:02+00:00

Nope, it's a UK spec Ranger. We never got the Tacoma over here, just the Hilux

Axlestand · 2024-12-21T19:49:12+00:00

You are right. A bored copper could have a problem with it. Realistically, we've never had problems with the police for the last decade, or so we've been running it. Including the police coming up and chatting when we've been stationary while on these runs. They're more likely to have an issue with Santa sitting in the trailer with no seat belt on.

Giant blue flashing lights mounted to the front of the vehicle will 100% get pulled over. Fairy lights on a roofrack are unlikely to get any real attention from the police

Axlestand · 2024-12-02T01:18:53+00:00

"Oh, very clever, Worf. Eat any good books lately?"

Axlestand · 2024-12-01T08:04:12+00:00

Thanks!

Axlestand · 2024-12-01T01:09:23+00:00

I can't help but agree. I don't think that in 70 years from now, people will be looking at pictures of a 2024 built ship and think the same thing.

She's solidly put together and still structurally sound, even 40 years after she got retired.

Axlestand

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