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.

14/5/2017 - #Vanlife and simplicity

Get a vanlife!  Nothing beats it! Try it today & be forever changed!

Sometimes a simple #Vanlife is all you really need to be happy. 
Please share your adventure with me today:

Please follow me today:

https://twitter.com/NZ_420Van

https://www.facebook.com/420Van01

30/4/2017 - Everyone keep traveling its a reminder that we're free!!

4WD camping, New South Wales, Australia

Chilean Patagonian Andes

Milford Sounds, New Zealand

New Zealand's Southern Alps

Wellington Coast, New Zealand

27/3/2017 - Sandblasting, galvinising and powder coating along side new UHF radio & LED HD lights (Part I)

Even though I already have a really nice portable, waterproof/submersible, UHF 5 watt radio/GPS receiver and a nice 4000 lumen LED bar on my van's bull bar, I wanted more lights and a real CB style radio.  So I ordered the following items as such and took my van to a 4WD specialist here in Sydney.  

AE4703 UHF h/D Radome Antenna, 6.6 dBi

My new CV radio - GME TX3100DP Super Compact UHF

Additionally, for a while now I have been wanting some work powder coating work done on my van. Namely I wanted to get the growing rush problem off my rear ladder, bull bar/engine bash plate and my snorkel. You see when this custom work was originally done,  I didn't have the budget for powdering so I went with standard painting. I guess living on the ocean I paid the price with rust!   Anyway check out the rust on this baby!

My bull bar alone removed from the front and underside of the van

This was just added - a platform for my new lights and an antenna holder.

My bull bar, bash plate, rear ladder and snorkel all ready to get fixed up nice!

This is just part 1 of this post because part II will be when its finished and looking all flash!  This is going to take some time to get this all sorted, so please do keep tuned in for more!

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.

17/6/2016 - Twitter account

OK OK, so I am just finally getting my Twitter account going from when it was created in 2010.  You can follow me via the hashtag:




or going directly going to my Twitter account at:

https://twitter.com/NZ_420Van

Cheers

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