Mid life crisis Cali Swamper!

[RoB5urf]

I should note that my van is much heavier than a Cali and this makes a difference. With fully loaded water and diesel tanks and all my gear I’m driving around at 3.2T weight. Anything less than 3.5 bar cold and I could feel it via the suspension and pedals and see more bulge in the sidewalls than I was comfortable with.

In a Cali you could theoretically go with lower Tyre pressure for the same result. Just need to know your vans weight and adjust accordingly.

Many will say just use the pressure on the door card sticker. Mine say 2.4 bar. That is totally unrealistic with the change in Tyre dimensions as well as the build of the Falken Tyre. These have 3 ply Duraspec sidewalls for more durability off-road and can handle/require more pressure for street use. Of course when going off-road you’d want to air down depending on the surface (sand, gravel, mud)


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That's a good point about the weight. Given my van is a Beach and we only travel 2-up my current pressures are probably about right. The wheel/tyre shop suggested 46PSI as a starting point.

 

[Defender90]

That's a good point about the weight. Given my van is a Beach and we only travel 2-up my current pressures are probably about right. The wheel/tyre shop suggested 46PSI as a starting point.

I run mine at 45/46 depending on weight

 

[Cali-donia]

I run mine at 45/46 depending on weight

I’m ’lightly loaded’ so I might reduce the pressure and see how it feels.

 

[wildslammer22]

What is the best pressure to run Falken Wildpeak 235/65/17s at? I have them all at 48PSI (cold).

I think I’m going to keep them on all year, they’re great for the single track roads about here. Does anyone know the going rate for gloss black 18” Springfields and tyres?

Sounds about right for a reinforced AT tyre. I go 50psi on my KO2’s for general driving but like Webbah my van is over 3t when fully loaded. Had the van on snow a little while back and didn’t feel the need to drop the pressure for on road driving.

 

[Corradobrit]

I run 50psi front and 48psi rear. Less than that and the handling gets sloppy

 

[Gecko_Bioyag77]

Help me decide the best colour combo for a Pure Grey Swamper look. View attachment 117356

Black looks best imho

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Sounds about right for a reinforced AT tyre. I go 50psi on my KO2’s for general driving but like Webbah my van is over 3t when fully loaded. Had the van on snow a little while back and didn’t feel the need to drop the pressure for on road driving.

Is that fully loaded with deer & salmon you hunted with nothing but your cunning and a tent peg?

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Black looks best imho

You’ll have upset @Jimmylondon07 with that verdict.

You need to be sensitive to your audience.

(Black is of course the ‘correct’ choice!)

 

[wildslammer22]

Is that fully loaded with deer & salmon you hunted with nothing but your cunning and a tent peg?

And a tree trunk for the cooking fire…

 

[s2bear]

I’ve just done this.
235/55R18 BFG Trail Terrain on Delta Klassik B rims.
I’m not convinced it’s for me. (Coming from 275/35R20)
I’ve not had chance to check the tyre pressures yet but my initial observations are that the steering is now really light vs the 20’s and the ride quality is no different.
I think maybe it needs raising a little or going back to standard height.
Having AT tyres on a lowered van feels a bit like wearing timberland boots with a suit.
I’m in half a mind to just stick all seasons on my 20’s and go back to that.

-


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[wildslammer22]

I’ve just done this.
235/55R18 BFG Trail Terrain on Delta Klassik B rims.
I’m not convinced it’s for me. (Coming from 275/35R20)
I’ve not had chance to check the tyre pressures yet but my initial observations are that the steering is now really light vs the 20’s and the ride quality is no different.
I think maybe it needs raising a little or going back to standard height.
Having AT tyres on a lowered van feels a bit like wearing timberland boots with a suit.
I’m in half a mind to just stick all seasons on my 20’s and go back to that.

-


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Not sure about Trail Terrains on a lowered van, I tend to agree with your suit and Timberlands analogy (made me chuckle).

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

I asked Grok to generate a Tesla camper with off-road wheels. Lol!

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[Meoncoast]

I asked Grok to generate a Tesla camper with off-road wheels. Lol!

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Big solar panel on the roof there

 

[Corradobrit]

Looks like the Baha Edition. Love it.

 

[wildslammer22]

Is that the latest self actuating Starlink on the top?

 

[JuanVecino2023]

I’ve just done this.
235/55R18 BFG Trail Terrain on Delta Klassik B rims.
I’m not convinced it’s for me. (Coming from 275/35R20)
I’ve not had chance to check the tyre pressures yet but my initial observations are that the steering is now really light vs the 20’s and the ride quality is no different.
I think maybe it needs raising a little or going back to standard height.
Having AT tyres on a lowered van feels a bit like wearing timberland boots with a suit.
I’m in half a mind to just stick all seasons on my 20’s and go back to that.

-


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If those Delta Klassiks had been 17” I would have bitten your arm off.

Lovely wheels. I’ve been eyeballing for awhile.

 

[wildslammer22]

A longish Terranger video (all in German) but my main take out is the new Ford looks like it will make a good base vehicle for a Swamper build. An off road mode in AWD and torque converter auto box are advantages over the T6.1 4motion.

Providing of course they have sorted the engines!

 

[Nand0]

Providing of course they have sorted the engines!

What is/was the problem with Ford engines? just the ones used in the vans? genuine question, just curious

 

[kave]

What is/was the problem with Ford engines? just the ones used in the vans? genuine question, just curious

My friend who works for a company with 100s of VW Transporters switched to Ford Rangers when the VW T6 went out last year. They claim that the Ford engines will last about 50.000km and then need replacement.

 

[Kayleigh]

What is/was the problem with Ford engines? just the ones used in the vans? genuine question, just curious

The timing belt is inside the engine and lubricated by oil. They are supposed to last 10 years but the reality is very different.as contaminants in the oil can degrade the belt much quicker. It can’t be visually inspected and changing the belt is very expensive as most of the engine has to be disassembled.

 

[Nand0]

The timing belt is inside the engine and lubricated by oil. They are supposed to last 10 years but the reality is very different.as contaminants in the oil can degrade the belt much quicker. It can’t be visually inspected and changing the belt is very expensive as most of the engine has to be disassembled.

Ah, I know that is/was a problem with the Citroen (Stellantis) diesel engines. Is Ford still sourcing diesel engines from Stellantis then? I thought they had their own range now.

I've already been adviced from multiple sources to not touch those engines with a barge pole, including from a mechanic that works at a Citroen/Peugeot dealer (family friend)

 

[wildslammer22]

Ah, I know that is/was a problem with the Citroen (Stellantis) diesel engines. Is Ford still sourcing diesel engines from Stellantis then? I thought they had their own range now.

I've already been adviced from multiple sources to not touch those engines with a barge pole, including from a mechanic that works at a Citroen/Peugeot dealer (family friend)

It’s not easy to find out what engines Ford and VW are using in the new partnership. Neither manufacturer are going to admit that there was an inherent problem with the wet belt design but it would seem bad practice to have not addressed it for the new vans. I note that VW have offered a 5 year (or 124,000 miles) warranty on the new 'T7' which is almost certainly designed in part to reassure VW buyers that are put ff by historical Ford engine problems.

 

[larrylamb]

I note that VW have offered a 5 year (or 124,000 miles) warranty on the new 'T7' which is almost certainly designed in part to reassure VW buyers that are put ff by historical Ford engine problems.

I have no problem buying a 7 year old T6 but wouldn't want to buy a 7 year old "wet belt" Vw in the future. I know VW aren't perfect but this engine down the line could decimate used values and reputation, IMO of course.

 

[Kayleigh]

Ah, I know that is/was a problem with the Citroen (Stellantis) diesel engines. Is Ford still sourcing diesel engines from Stellantis then? I thought they had their own range now.

I've already been adviced from multiple sources to not touch those engines with a barge pole, including from a mechanic that works at a Citroen/Peugeot dealer (family friend)

I don’t know all the engines affected, but it does certainly affect the Focus, Fiesta and Transit. Citroen/Peugeot engines also have them and the Toyota Proace I believe. Personally, I would not consider any car with a wet belt.

 

[wildslammer22]

I have no problem buying a 7 year old T6 but wouldn't want to buy a 7 year old "wet belt" Vw in the future. I know VW aren't perfect but this engine down the line could decimate used values and reputation, IMO of course.

Do we know for sure that Ford/VW are using wet belt engines in the collab? I can’t find any definitive confirmation that they are.