SNOOPY THE TROOPY

By Evan Spence 24 Min Read

Last issue we sorted the big modifications on the outside of the vehicle – a suspension system, bull bar, and roof rack. So I guess it makes sense to head inside the vehicle now and take care of the next modifications we’ll need!

Since we plan on taking Snoopy The Troopy on a big lap of Australia, we wanted to make sure that we had a good living system that allowed us to sleep inside the vehicle if we needed, and a massive fridge to keep us fed well for those longer trips.

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Luckily, OffRoad Systems was able to custom-design a pretty comprehensive drawer system that not only allowed us to store everything we’ll need, but also allow us to sit inside if it’s rainy, wet, or otherwise miserable outside. There’s even room for a cheeky sleep on the side of the road if we’re pushing hard on the pavement to make it to a destination. Ironman 4X4’s new 65L IceCube fridge has been an essential item in the time we’ve had it, and we’ve absolutely fallen in love with its twin compartment configuration, and at a price point of just $1190, with a fridge bag, who wouldn’t fall in love with it? So far it’s drawn relatively little power, and the build quality is on par with more expensive fridges – so give it a closer read in the next few pages.

To make sure we’re able to see on the road, we replaced the factory headlights (which seemed to be powered by candles) with a set of Narva’s brand-new LED headlights. These place less strain on the electrical system, while putting out more light and being more durable. The United States Military runs these on all of their vehicles because they’re next to indestructible – so they should be fine for a lonely old Troopy!

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Last but not least, we put a Uniden UHF radio in the vehicle so we can start paying attention to what our mates are doing around us. We love the radio, but miss the blissful silence that we used to have without our mates chatting in our ear 24/7! Anyway, it’s a great safety item to have, especially if you’re heading out into the bush. Read more about it on the next page!

 

Install and Initial Test:

Uniden UH8055S

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Uniden is a new player in the 4X4 UHF radio scene – but that couldn’t be further from the truth. They’re one of the most respected names in wireless communications, so when I went looking for a high-quality UHF to fit to Snoopy, I went to the blokes at Uniden, and they recommended their new UH8055S.

It’s a DIN mount size 5W UHF CB radio and features their Masterscan technology, which allows you to communicate more effectively without interruption by switching to unused channels. Masterscan also scans for other radios that share the same CTCSS or DCS tone, and when the radio detects a signal with no code, or the wrong code, it’ll switch to another unused channel.

 

My absolute favourite feature of this radio, aside from the Masterscan, which you’ll need a degree to understand, is the replay function. Now I’m sure you’ve been bouncing down a rugged track and your mate keeps talking on the radio, but you’re too busy paying attention to the track and you missed what he said. The Uniden radio allows you to automatically replay that message so you don’t have to call out on the radio ‘could you repeat that’. It’s really handy, and something I don’t think that I could live without.

Uniden claims an 18+ kilometre range with this particular unit, and frankly I have no reason to believe that it wouldn’t reach that far. I won’t say that I got the tape measure out and figured out how far the unit was reaching, but I never have had a problem related to range, and I run a pretty standard antenna.
I guess the problem is that I’ve installed this radio in the summer and the autumn, and it’s just too hot down in the flat country right now to get a good test. I’ll be able to speak more on range in my long term review.

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As far as installing the unit goes, I had the fine gentlemen at Action Communications in Kingswood, NSW handle that, and I couldn’t be happier. Snoopy the Troopy has an overhead console up front, so it was the perfect place to mount this DIN unit since it has a forward-facing speaker and easy to use and reach controls. Action Communications was even smart enough to professionally install a quick-disconnect on the antenna wire to allow me to upgrade my antenna in the future. It’ll also be handy if I have to test a few aftermarket units.

 

The only downside to this unit is that I can’t for the life of me figure out how to turn off the confirmation ‘beep’ that comes with every transmission you make or receive. This is especially annoying if you’re getting cross traffic and pick up a million transmissions. It’s a bit loud and it gives me a headache. It

might sound a bit nit-picky, but it’s worth mentioning.

I look forward to a good few years of service from my Uniden UH8055S, and I might just have to take it on a big trip to give it a good range test – sounds like a good excuse!

 

UNIDEN

1300 366 895
https://uniden.com.au/

 

NARVA

LED HEADLIGHTS

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last few years, you’ll undoubtably know that LED lighting is quickly becoming the way of the future. It’s more compact than HID solutions, more rugged than halogen bulbs, and most importantly, more efficient than almost anything else on the market today. So, when I get the chance to swap something over to LED, I often take the leap.

 

Narva’s new 7-inch LED is worth the leap, but you shouldn’t expect too much from it. After all, contrary to what you may think, the purpose of a headlight isn’t actually to be as bright as humanly possible. Its job per ADR regulations is to deliver a well-focused beam of light that doesn’t disturb other road users, and to that end, the Narva LED headlight delivers its promise. It’s most certainly bright – slightly brighter than the headlights fitted at the factory by Toyota – but nothing groundbreaking.

The benefit of the LED headlight isn’t exactly paid out in brightness. As mentioned previously, it’s paid out in durability and efficiency. Provided everything continues to go well with the Narva LED, which I suspect it will thanks to its high-quality construction, these replacement headlights will likely outlast my vehicle, and considering they’re fitted to a Troopy, that’s saying a lot.

Let’s be honest, there’s something cool (we’re not talking about the colour temperature) about having LED headlights on an older vehicle. They lend immediate distinction as well, separating you from the hordes of other four-wheel drive vehicles equipped with standard seven-inch round headlights. There’s also the parking lights, which add a bit of ‘flair’ to the otherwise old look of the 4X4. If they’re not your style, they can be disconnected, but ssshhhhh – we didn’t tell you that.

The biggest performance advantage of the Narva LED headlight is its decreased draw on your electrical system. Compared to an upgraded H4 round headlight, the Narva draws approximately 2.5 times less power. This puts less stress on your electrical system; and if you’re like me and frequently leave your headlights on, it means you’re less likely to end up with a flat battery. If you wanted to get very particular in ‘expedition’ lingo, it would also mean that if your alternator was to fail and you absolutely had to get somewhere at night, you’d be able to make it a lot further before your battery died. But that’s not why you fit a set of LED headlights – you fit them because they’re cool, and the Narva LED headlamp replacement is plenty cool.

NARVA

1800 113 443
www.narva.com.au

 

OffRoad Systems

Drawers

There are only a handful of companies still making off-road drawers in Australia, and one of them, OffRoad Systems, just so happened to be down the road from us. So when I was looking to get a semi-custom drawer system installed into my project Troopcarrier, it made sense to give them a call. It didn’t hurt that they’re also one of the best in the business for this sort of thing.

 

The Backstory

OffRoad Systems didn’t start life by making off-road drawers, rather they began their journey by creating bespoke hi-fi speakers and home theatre furniture. Why does this lend credibility to their pursuits in off-road drawers, you ask? Because hi-fi speaker enthusiasts are some of the most particular consumers on the market, and the designs required to create the perfect sounding speaker make the engineering behind an off-road drawer pale in significance. These expert skills in woodcraft and the availability of dozens of computer-controlled milling and cutting machines means OffRoad Systems is able to create things in ways that few others can.

Their attention to detail shines brightly in the system that they were able to create for my Troopcarrier. It doesn’t creak, rattle, chirp or move – no matter what kind of terrain you’re putting the vehicle through. For me, that’s the first measure of a good drawer system, as I’ve seen way too many that turned the inside of your vehicle into a tin box filled with marbles.

The second measure of a good drawer system for me is how it functions. A drawer system needs to be easy to use, durable, and flexible. I had a rather obscure design in mind which OffRoad Systems’ Steve Jones was able to turn into reality for me. I was a bit surprised that it worked out exactly how I wanted because my sketches were less than stellar, and my directions confusing at best, which must mean Steve has some kind of telepathic power. This means OffRoad Systems is a perfect starting point for those of you that only have a vague idea of what you want.

 

The Design

Essentially I wanted a drawer system that was party in the back, business in the front, with the ability to sleep inside if I absolutely needed to. This meant a fridge with easy access so I could grab a cold beer after a day on the tracks, plenty of cooking space, and the ability to quickly access snacks and food which would be stored in one of the drawers.

Up front, I wanted the ability to sit inside and get some work done, as I’m often creating a good portion of this magazine from the bush, and it’s nice to have a dust-free dry environment to work from. It also needed to have plenty of water for extended treks, and to add to the difficulty I specifically said I wanted the tank mounted low and centred between the axles for better weight distribution.

Steve said none of this would be a problem and that most of it could be completed with their modular ‘off the shelf’ components. I also was surprised when he said that their manufacturing tolerances were tight enough that the compartments and drawers would by default become dust-free areas to store my camera gear.

It ended up working out well in the end. The addition of two large cubby compartments forward of the drawers meant I had efficient use of storage, and the ability to have a built-in seat inside of the vehicle. Down the track, I’ll be able to add a small table mount so I can comfortably eat inside.

 

Construction

OffRoad Systems constructs their drawers with a CNC formed metal base structure (either galvanised steel or aluminium for weight savings) and timber panelling made from waterproof plywood and marine-grade carpet. I opted for the alloy frame as it’s significantly lighter (a 30 per cent reduction) and it means less weight for my not-so-powerful 1HZ to lug around.

There’s also an option to fit two ball bearing runners on each side of the drawer, which doubles the already large carrying capacity. There’s a good chance this is the absolute strongest option on the market, perfect for those who like to carry around bricks or conceal bodies in your drawers. When I extended them and sat on the ends of the drawers — they didn’t move one bit, and I’m not exactly the lightest bloke around … though I wish I was.

Stainless Water Tank

Carrying water with you is important, because rumour has it that you can’t live without it. Being able to cleanly integrate a water tank into my drawer system build was an area that OffRoad Systems really excelled in.

They’ve designed their stainless steel water tank for the LandCruiser Troopcarrier with some smarts in mind. It sits equidistant between the front and rear axles and is angled as to not ruin the ability for the seats to be reclined. It’s constructed from high quality food grade stainless steel and includes a useful hose with a shut-off valve that hasn’t leaked so far. I’m sure the tanks they have designed for other models are just as thoughtful. Mine holds 70 litres, which is a good balance between too much and too little.

At first, I thought I would prefer the water to be stored outside, and underneath the vehicle to improve centre of gravity. But after further thinking, I’m very happy with storing it inside as, generally speaking it will be better insulated from warm and cold weather, keeping the water more drinkable. Right now the system is gravity fed, and down the track I may look into fitting a water pump and a heater, all of which is doable with the OffRoad Systems design.

 

Side Wing Storage

Because most vehicles have wheel arches in the back, it’s impossible to have a drawer take up all of the space. This means they can only be as wide as the space between the arches. To make use of all available space and to create a flat sleeping platform, it makes sense to create side ‘wings’ to allow for additional storage. While this is pretty common throughout the drawer world, I was impressed with the bracing and fit that OffRoad Systems builds into these drawers – you can put your full weight on the wings and they feel as solid as everything else. ‘

 

Drawer Table

OffRoad Systems designed a simple little drawer top table platform that’s so simple you’ll wonder why you hadn’t thought of it years ago. It’s literally just a table top with two grooves in it that matches up to the sides of the drawers. It creates the perfect platform for a quick snack, or a great place to park your camp stove or cutting board, with easy access to everything you need right next to you.

 

Offroad Systems

14 Orielton Rd, Smeaton Grange
N.S.W. 2567 Australia

(02) 4647 6322

 

Ironman 4X4 Ice Cube Fridge

Once you’ve been spoilt by a fridge, it’s really hard to go back to using an esky on your 4X4 adventures. You see, while a fridge has its drawbacks, they’re much less annoying than dealing with a half-melted esky sloshing over every single corrugation, driving you absolutely insane. Ice, as it seems, is also quite hard to come by when you’re camping in the desert. Imagine that.

So let’s take a look at Ironman 4X4’s 65L Icecube fridge/freezer. It’s part of Ironman’s revamped product line, so leave your opinions at the door. The cool thing with this unit is the ability to run two fridges, two freezers, or a combination of both. I know what you’re thinking – ‘I’ve just upgraded from an esky, do I really need this?’ The answer is … yes – if you’re doing some serious four-wheel drive touring.

The problem with fridges is that you become quickly reliant upon them, and your average-sized 40-50L fridge quickly becomes too small. But as we’ve found from our last few trips, the 65L dual zone is right on the money, especially with the separated fridge and freezer. Because after a while, if you’re on a budget and you’re travelling for an extended period of time, having a freezer becomes a cost-saver.

The Ironman 4X4 65L Icecube uses the same compressor as some other well-known dual compartment fridges, and shares roughly the same design. However, it does this at nearly half the price point ($1199) and even includes a fridge jacket to keep it better insulated. I was a bit surprised when I found out the price, because Ironman 4X4 could really be selling this for more money.

You adjust the fridge by way of the built-in digital panel, which tells you the current interior temperature of each compartment, along with what you’ve set it to. In addition, there’s a three setting low voltage battery cut-off built in (which actually works), and the option to turn up the compressor to cool things down quicker. It’s really handy if you’re throwing a warm carton of beer in, and you absolutely need to have it cool down as fast as possible, though it does use more energy.

The build quality is good, but don’t expect perfection at this price. For example, the latches seem a bit ordinary, but they do their job just fine and don’t come undone on even the roughest tracks. And the seals on the inside seem like they could be a bit more substantial, but then again, we’ve found this fridge to be quite efficient, so maybe I’m just crazy. Granted, my testing period has been almost exclusively during autumn, so temperatures haven’t been extreme, but it runs on my auxiliary battery for a day or two without worry, and what more do you really need?

 

The verdict?

I’m impressed. I think Ironman 4X4 has finally struck the balance between price, performance, and quality. It’s a solid fridge and it has all of the features you’ll find on fridges twice the price, yet on the inside it has the same compressor (which is the big focus) as the big boys. Not to mention for $1190, it comes with a insulation bag of good quality. I’m sold, and it’ll be staying in Snoopy for the long haul, so stay tuned for a long-term review.

 

IRONMAN 4X4

1300 731 137

https://www.ironman4x4.com/

By Matt Scott


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