20/6/2017 - Moved back to New Zealand!

Driving on Peka Peka Beach, New Zealand!

I've moved back to NZ!  Something's come in three in life. This time, my longtime partner and I broke up, I got an awesome new job and I realised that big city life was not for me.

6/7/2016 - Major modification - Rear open diff conversation to L.S.D. (Limited Slip Diff)

It's been a while since I have had a major modification done on my van.   The only thing I thought I could've done more was to add a hot tub (which wouldn't fit anyway), a diesel heater, an electrical water heater or completely swapping out my rear differential to a locker or limited slip diff.   

My rear axel off and naked! 

The hot tub idea is not going to work obviously!
A diesel heater?  Perhaps I don't quite need it now since I have good insulation and -9c down sleeping bag.


I did however Think long and hard about swapping out my rear open diff to get a locker installed.  I looked at the pricing and it was far out of my price range.  So I look into getting a limited slip diff, but the problem is there are no factory ones available for this van. So G Guy Motors started doing research on where I can get one. Farther north up in New Plymouth, there was a Delica L400 which was recently totalled from an accident or something.  The L400 shares the same chassis as my van, less the rear limited slip diff. 


G Guy Motors had this LSD tested and it was in perfect working order. The supplier mailed down the LSD and the work began my van. The cost of the part was about $450-500, however once install it will provide a lot more traction in my current rear open diff.  Now I'm not mechanic but I can tell you it looks very impressive.


I'm looking forward to taking this off-road especially taking it off road in the snow.

27/6/2016- Getting exciting for my winter ski/snowshoe safari 4WD expedition

This photo was found Google images & not mine.  I will take more and
better ones for sure!

New Zealand's Southern Alps are arguably the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world.    In early August this year, I am departing on an 18 day solo ski, snowboard, photography & Southern Lights 4WD expedition.    One of my primary goals is to ski a total of 9 days in Queenstown and Wanaka, but moreso to explore the less explored vast areas of snow-covered Milford Sound, Mt Cook National Park and the Lake Tekapo regions.

Later this week, I am getting a major overhaul (upgrade) on the rear diff (differential) for my 4WD systems. I am getting it upgraded from an open diff to a LSD (limited slip diff) which will greatly increase my already good traction on snow, rocky and slippery terrain.   The 4WD experts doing this work suggest perhaps up to 50% increase in efficiency and traction especially when in running in 4WD low gear ratio mode.

With the very high ground clearance on my van added in with a LSD 4WD system, I am very excited to get on the snow and remote mountain roads.   Life is good...follow me on this blog or my Twitter page:

@NZ_420van

10/6/2016 - New Youtube channel!

I have been so busy modifying my van over the last year, that I've missed one important piece of info for you all.. I never created a Youtube channel.    I have a lot of videos and photos, so please follow my YouTube channel and be also on the lookout for my up-and-coming book that I am going to get published....

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx9kyvR_PSriyQsF8iCTK3A

29/5/2016 - Heavy rain storms, overflowing ponds and 4WDing like a champ..

I was out and about with a friend on the Wellington Coast during a break in a huge rain storm, and the pond at the entrance to the coastal 4WD track was abnormally high this day. No other 4WDs were daring to go through it, but the I took my trusty 420van through this very deep pond. What you see here is my driver's view as recorded with my iPhone 6plus.   Enjoy...

29/11/2015 - Pond hopping on Wellington South Coast...

13/11/2015 - Friday night fun! 4WDing on the coast at night time!

We had some houseguests so I decided to take one of them out to the coast for at little bouncy bumpy driving fun...  Nice weather and nice experience as this was his first ever off road experience...

Day Trip #1: 27/9/2015 - Peka Peka Beach, 4WD day trip lunch on the beach with my girl...

I took my finally completed / fully modified 4WD camper out with my girl for a day trip to a beach for lunch.  Oh what a day!  It was also the first day of daylight savings time frame for the 2015-2016 spring/summer/autumn season!   Enjoy the pics!

Chatting up some fisherman on the beach...

Just in case the apocalypse comes...I am more than ready!  

The shovel is bury the dead zombies of course..  (also for self-rescue!)

Busy New Zealand beaches...  oh yes