woodhill forest closed due to current fire danger.

[geeves]

Copied from nz4wd forum

Woodhill Forest and the 4WD Park is still closed and is likely to remain so
for some time yet as there is no significant rain forecast.

Roger of the 4WD Park has advised that it will now take at least 50mm of
rain before it will open again.

On another note Roger has advised that despite the closure of Woodhill
Forest, people have been ignoring the warning and closure signs and
accessing Wilsons Road.

The residents are upset at these actions that are putting them and their
homes at higher risk from fire danger. They have forced the Council to act
and as from Saturday 23 February the road will be closed with large concrete
barricades at either end.

The beach end will be at the top of the dune so be warned that if you race
up the dune ignoring the warning signs you are likely to hit those concrete
blocks.

I think I know who will come off second best!

Also if you do drive up the beach remember that some of those dune areas are
within the Woodhill Forest boundaries, even though not fully planted at the
moment. A closer watch is been made of the area up there and those that do
infringe into forest land could find themselves with a trespass notice.

Of course anything off the high waters edge at the top of South Head, often
referred to as the "Bombing Range" is of course a complete no go area.

Ashley Lucas

[MonstaMu]

Woodhill 4X4 park is now open again. Been out twice in the last couple weeks. Great fun.

[MonstaMu]

image.jpg

image.jpg

[geeves]

Doesnt look too dry any more but will have to complain about the shorts. Its 8C outside here in Wellington now and shorts is just showing off

[MonstaMu]

You don't swim in trousers do you? Haha. It got very wet about 15min after that picture. The heavens opened up and it got quite cold. I have been known to sport shorts and T-shirt in the middle of winter though.

[geeves]

You need to do a write up on your wagon. I see some nice features in those pictures ie rancho shocks after market springs A bit of a lift rated rear hook etc. How is that rear hook attached?

[MonstaMu]

It's just bolted to the factory holes with the standard bolts. All I've done to the vehicle is a 2inch body lift and fitted a set of 33x12,5R15 Mickey Thompson MTZ tyres. It has been lifted by a previous owner. I am currently in process of building a new bumper to mount my winch. Here's a bit of a sneak peek.

image.jpg

[geeves]

so its a factory hook on the back.
The factory hooks are cast not forged and break (testing by a local 4wd club broke one at 11 ton) where the rated hooks bend releasing the strap. A strap can kill but adding a piece of hook pretty much guarantees the result. More importantly though the factory bolts are only 10mm If you are serious about 4wding this must be upgraded. The rated hooks you buy from 4wd shops have 12mm grade 8.8 bolts and the spacing is different to Isuzu. You need a bit of engineering to fit

[isuzurob]

11 ton is alot geeves, i've never broken one neither have any of my mates isuzus, have seen lots of them open up like you said in the club im in

[MonstaMu]

I have after market hooks going on the front once the new bumper is finished. They will be bolted with grade 10 1/2inch bolts. I'm not planning to go backwards hence the winch. Haha. But 11 ton is more than double the straps rated at. I am intending to replace the bolts with grade 10 bolts too. The hook is a cast one with a wire strap retainer.

[daisy]

That rear hook probably be ok but it will get ripped off the chassis when you get snatched out of a mud hole by a V8 landcrusier no very serious now IT WILL RIP OFF with a big pull I wouldnt snatch any Mu using it! BE WARNED !

[geeves]

the bolts must be 12mm or half inch at least 8.8 grade. The factory points are no good. Daisy knows. Hes still searching for his hook and the piece of chassis it was attached to.
Even 12mm bolts bend. Ive found one set of mine bent once and replaced all of them before the next time I went out. A standard Cookes snatch strap has a rated breaking load of 8000kg. Only one hook was tested and that might of been stronger than average. Thats not much of a safety margin

[MonstaMu]

That's why I'm using grade 10 bolts at 12inch size. Will be mounted to new bumper which is 10mm thick on top. It is basically channel iron. Decent thick steel to mount the winch to.

[geeves]

Sounds Good. How are you mounting it to the chassis
Dont forget the rear. Even if you never get pulled backwards you may have to pull someone else forwards.

[muzila]

If your in a club check with your saftey officer. Most clubs only allow grade 8.8 I don't know why but grade 10 is sometimes not allowed.

[slightlydodgy]

Might want to check the rules for making bumpers When I made mine I used 6mm channel for the main part and mounting plates I was told that you are only allowed 8mm max

[geeves]

For a vehicle without airbags the only real rules that the front face is at least 50mm (it actualy says 50mm diameter tube. Not sure how that applies to square) and that there are no pedestrian traps.
Much better the pedestrian bounces off and goes under the truck rather than getting caught and dragged along.
They can get funny about a shroud over the winch but mine is similar to yours and never a problem. If it becomes a problem I will tie a potato sack over the winch

[isuzurob]

in the VIRM (rules for wof) there are so many rules on bullbars, mine broke about 6 of them, but got a cert and is legal go figure that????

[geeves]

The number of bullbars on imported trucks I see that have a 6 to 8mm flat upright bar supporting the horizontal bars. Get too close to that at 50kph and it will act like a sharp axe. Still must of been complied when it landed and gets wofs

[MonstaMu]

All sharp corners will be gone once done. I have some tubing for the sides to round it off. Using factory mount position and looking for a suitable secondary position off the chassis. I haven't quite found that yet. Will also put some flat plate to protect the underside.