I'm planning a biggish trip next year... 2-3 months to cross the topend (i.e. Cairns to Broome....and everything in between). I was thinking about the different planning tasks ahead of me and one of the things I was thinking.... is would it be worth water/dust proofing as much of the many KJ electronics that we know and love?

I have no idea where to start with this.... but I have been left stranded in the bush before due to an dust getting into some prado electronics and don't want the same thing to happen with the KJ. Given the amount of electrics on the KJ I thought that this could be an important thing have a look into.

Has anyone done this kind of thing??? or have any of you had any electrical problems that could have been avoided with a little dust proofing?

After a few convoys and road train encounters, I have to say that dust proofing is probably a waste of time. There is no way to seal the engine compartment (it has to breath) and the dust will get anywhere it can. There are a few things that I thought might help:

Get some good quality duct tape, not the Big W stuff, but the stuff used on boats or to tape up air con ducts. Tape up the seams on the fuse boxes in the engine bay, the dust will get in there. Keep the windows completely closed and switch to recycled cabin air when it gets really dusty (just be aware that you need to open the external vent now and then to refresh the oxygen in the cabin. Get a snorkel it will help your engine breath higher (thus cleaner air). Take a few air filters and blow them out at the end of a dusty day (with a compressor if you have one, or bang them out).

I would not use Lanolin type sprays because the dust will cake to it and create a hard to remove mess.

Now waterproofing is a major issue, on petrols it will kill your electrcal system and in diesels it can hydrolock your engine and break it. Again, I would suggest a snorkel, even if you don't do deep water crossings it will raise your air intake above low hanging road dust, and raise your intake above any water that you might encounter. If your crossing water, extend your breathers (on the KJ there are six: Front Diff, Tranny, Transfer Case, Rear Diff, and two on the fuel tank - one on the top of the tank at the rear and one running into the filler neck). There are posts on Ajor about how to do this, or better yet come to Camp Coffs and I'll show you where they are and how I did it.

Use a water dispersant spray on the alternator, and exposed electrics just before you cross water, if you do it before the trip it will be ineffective by the time you need it (underhood temps will evaporate the film or it will be dust bound). If the water is deeper than bumper height use a MSA Water Bra.

Yeah.. get a snorkel, that way your getting the cleanest air into the intake.

I've travelled some pretty dusty stuff, down through SA desert region, I must say one little thing I wasn't expecting was the headlight wiring connectors to get fouled with dust, I had one of my headlights stop working, I thought it was blown, but, when I went to change the bulb, I found the connector caked in dust, and water, and that had shorted the system and burnt out the connector.. I cleaned it all up and reconnected the harnes to the bulb, all was good. I still keep an eye on these as they tend to pick up a lot of dust and moisture.


Other than that, no other hassles.

_________________
SOME SAY

I'm Toight... Toight lik a Toiger.

And

When I go to the Toilet, Chuck Norris is there to tear the squares off for me.

"Pass me another one Chuck, and keep em coming!! On sencond thoughts..Go get the hose"

Thanks guys thats great advice. I will definately be getting a snorkel soon...UNfortunately I can't make it to coffs this year (Have booked a house boat fishing holiday in Weipa for 2 weeks during that time) but i'll have a look on AJOR for the posts about extending the breathers and have a chat to some of the qld boys on the next trip. Thanks Again!

2 week's fishing in Weipa, man I'm jealous that sound's great. Lucky I'm excited about my first Coff's trip
or I think I'd have to quit work and go fishing all the time. Hope you catch some big one's.

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2003 Limited, 2.5 inch lift, Pedders springs, Ironman Shocks and lots Fab work I have to do
but my other car is a Jeep

Weipa


dont tease the crocs

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http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/742957
aussie KJ Lost No#150605
3" OME lift + Rancho RS9000xl's front and rear
prototype Airflow snorkel
Magnaflow cat back
265/70R16 Hankook MTRT03 on MOABS baby
4.10's and a truetrac up front
super skinks
coming soon
a myride wireless controller

Or eat the Bauxite..

_________________
SOME SAY

I'm Toight... Toight lik a Toiger.

And

When I go to the Toilet, Chuck Norris is there to tear the squares off for me.

"Pass me another one Chuck, and keep em coming!! On sencond thoughts..Go get the hose"

Bauxite is not as good as you might think......especially the nodules that the body doesn't break down, they really come back to haunt you later on......similarly to the way corn does!

Yeah I am counting down......I spent about 4 months of last year (on and off) up there for work..... so i can't wait to go up there and just relax and catch some fish! I'm definately in for coffs next year tho!