RPR Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 The dog's danglies! Took the Tonka out for a field test on Saturday with the Bay State Rover Owners Association in Western Mass. Great trail and a great bunc of people. The Tonka was amazing. Need to d some work on the brakes (especially after splitting a brake line) but the Portals are incredible. What is remarkable is not only the clearance with the 36" tyres and portals, or the gearing which is excellent, but how smooth the ride is. I was in a Defender during the run and I have to say that the Tonka on paras with the big TSL SS Q78 airbags at 10 psi was noticably smoother. The articulation also cam out rather well, and that is with the rear end still held by check straps short of the revolvers really opening. Having said all that, I still pranged it. Slipped the back end out on a nasty descent and buried the rt wing in the bank - mostly just flaked off some bondo! Thanks to the lockers, I just drove out with some scraping rather than having been stuck. The portals transform a Series vehicle into a very capable beasty indeed!!! (and me showing off my best side.... It really is quite impressive. Not so clever in 4th gear on the road, but offroad, it's a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LR90 Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Nice one Looks like Portals are going to be IN in a big way next year. I got to have a nose round Moglite (thanks Andy) and find it very hard to imagine the 'typical' 90 on ARBs and Simex competing alongside it. I see even the guys on P4x4 are trading in there Dana 60's for Portals. No wonder those drop boxes went for so much on eblag (anyone know who too?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Looks very good. Not too sure about the picture of your bum in the 2nd pic though. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Wow ! fantastic ! Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_warne Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Looking good!!! You get a lot of sidewall flex with those tyres too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cols110 Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Kin ell, that is impressive, cant wait to see the photos from Moab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MogLite Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Looking good there Its good to compare the before and after of portals. How are you finding the wheelbase ? A little short ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesm Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Most impressive - and what big approach and departure angles you have! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Member Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 How are you finding the wheelbase ? A little short ? Not until he flips it on a climb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top90 Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Nice pics. Can't wait for the Volvo portals to be converted to coils for my 90 now. About 3 to 4 weeks to go hopefully They won't be going on this though, as I trial it and portals are not allowed. So I am building this one up with some help. Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPR Posted October 31, 2005 Author Share Posted October 31, 2005 Not until he flips it on a climb. Spoil Sport!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top90 Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 RPR Could you tell me what the offset of your Volvo C303 rims are please? I have been looking on the net and can't seem to get a definitive answer. Cheers Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPR Posted November 1, 2005 Author Share Posted November 1, 2005 RPRCould you tell me what the offset of your Volvo C303 rims are please? I have been looking on the net and can't seem to get a definitive answer. Cheers Richard Well, they are negative offset. I don't know by how much, but the wheel center is essentially flush with the wheel rim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixpot Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Hey RPR, that's very, very impressive! You look about ready for a Jon Fund outing and some kicking of Jeep Butt I think I might relegate the 109 to being a support vehicle rather than try and keep up if you're going to be leaping over obstacles in that thing. Whereabouts in Western MA were you BTW? Cheers Luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bush65 Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 RPRCould you tell me what the offset of your Volvo C303 rims are please? I have been looking on the net and can't seem to get a definitive answer. Cheers Richard The stock wheels are 7-1/2" wide and have 100% back-space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 Do you allow me to be jealous? How cool is that? Nice pics BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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