First outing with the 4x4,and 15 pigeons as well

[lakeside1000]

Well Wednesday we took delivery of an old Mitsubishi shogun pinin, Its only a 2001 but its all we could afford on our pension.( the missus let me sell her Mini cooper to buy it )

Its been well looked after by an old couple and has only done 86,000 miles.

So today I decided to go 'off road' for the first time in my life, at least through the mud, not over dry stubble fields in my Ducato van through August and September, we have permission to use the field edges to get across the marshes to where a few good flocks of pigeons are hammering the young rape plants but only if we have a 4x4..

It was a beautiful day, blue sky and bright sunshine, just a cool north easterly blowing about 15 mph,

I got down to the marsh around 10.30, delayed due to chores not done yesterday, very bad planning, stopping at the end of the roadway I slipped her into 4 wheel drive and set off, moving slowly at first but soon getting a feel for it, the first gateway led into a very soft patch, 30 yards of 12 inch deep mud, so I slipped in the 4 wheel lock and headed into the middle of it, but I need not have been concerned, she dug in and slithered all the way through to the grass track on the other side,

Now feeling a little smug I unlocked the diffs and set off , after about a mile with only a few soft patches I drove right up to my chosen spot, unloaded almost twice the amount of gear I would normally have dragged there on my trolley and set up, I moved her up into the corner of the field and had the most enjoyable session, hardly missed a bird, at around 2.00 I had to pack up as I had other plans for the rest of the afternoon, 15 picked and only one lost .

I brought the car back to the hide and packed it all in the back, at this point last week I would be facing a one mile walk back to the car park with all my gear and the extra weight of the days haul, but with it all loaded into the back I had a great time sliding and spinning my way back to the road but did not once feel I would not make it, I must say I am so pleased with my purchase and now can look forward to many more outings without all the walking, ain't life grand.Mind you her indoors insisted I wash all the mud off it before I got any dinner,

[kenholland]

good bus that but take it steady at first in 4x4 till you get the feel of it ground clearance is good ok.

[Hammo]

I paid £700 for a 1997 Shogun LWB, had it about 10 months now - and what a great truck it is!!

Not got stuck yet, and I have pushed my luck with the non off road tyres it wears.

Not too bad on fuel, for a 2.8 that is. LOADS of room, and I don't have to worry if I add to its battlescars either.

Drove me and Daughter to a Martial Arts Competition in Rugby, and she never missed a beat on the six hour round trip, cruise control worked fine.

I will upgrade to a newer Shogun when this one dies, I am impressed.

Good luck with yours.

 

Hammo

[David.Evans]

Nice result , bet your well pleased

Only one thing really you should have got the wife to wash the 4x4 , lol

Atb

Dave

[Old Boggy]

I had a Pinin for about 10 years, same age, both the Pinin and you & I. Never missed a beat and only wished they still made them and would have one tomorrow.

It did take some abuse off road but never let me down even in the stickiest of situations. More than once it drove through conditions that beat Discoverys due to its relative lightness.

Good luck with yours and enjoy it.

 

OB

[marsh man]

Excellent post and good luck with your new work horse Alan , I think my two wheel drive days are coming to a close now as old age is here to stay and the back is now only accepting light loads over short distances

[dead eye alan]

Thats a great post, But a few pointers. 1, you will fill it with with more stuff than you will need 2, The wife will constantly remind you that it's more hers than yours. 3, It will always be muddy inside and out. So just enjoy it.

[crowcaller]

Had isusu 3.1 long wheel Base for 7 years old but good wish I had kept hold as now got a freelander it's OK but I have not the same confidence in going through mud etc a friend had diatsu terios that would go anywhere because it was so light .hope you enjoy your 4x4 and keep on them pigeons good post.

[pigeon controller]

It's so pleasing when you can drive to your pitch , especially when you have good tyres to get you through the mud. Great write up and the first of many enjoyable trips off road.

[snow white]

Dont get to complasent somebody said to me 40 years ago you cant get a land rover stuck I did.

[E.w.]

Dont get to complasent somebody said to me 40 years ago you cant get a land rover stuck I did.

I know that feeling well, but I managed it with an audience, l looked and felt like a real *****.

[HIDENSEEK]

Dont get to complasent somebody said to me 40 years ago you cant get a land rover stuck I did.

Time to 'fess up........I did it too, 25 years ago now, was using the keepers land rover to ferry the other picker-ups to the next drive. When he got to me eventually he showed me how to put it in 4 wheel drive!!

[snow white]

I had it i four wheel drive sunk right up to the bottem of the doors good job i was slimmer then and fitter other wise i would still be there

[craig1982]

Last winter I took the wife's Yeti out with the pigeon gear in the back, went down a farm track which was very boggy. When I got to the end of the track I could not turn round so I had to reverse back down the track which had a tight 90' turn in it. I nearly went off in to the field at that point. The Yeti's 4x4 system really paid for itself that day. I learned my lesson and bought a Defender pick up as I have had several Defenders in the past.. As somebody said on a different thread Defenders are Marmite vehicles you love them or hate them, I have had 5 of them and a Series 2A and a Series 3. I love them.