[rhandle]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Gurkha has better ride-comfort than Safari, this is a fact I have mentioned many times since 2007. Generally un-comfortable silence follows this statement.

The biggest problem with Gurkha is not the vehicle, but Force Motors.

Very true. In fact as I have mentioned earlier I have gone through your thread umpteen number of times since it first appeared. Somehow I feel people are not ready to accept Gurkha as an off-roader, and that too a comfortable one. Every where I have seen people are trying to down a "gurkha" but then every vehicle has its plus and minus, even a landcruiser has! I guess the reason being not many people who own Gurkha or have driven it to it's max. We are trying to learn and post our views, in fact I am trying to do without any bias. I guess it would be few more years before I become experienced in Gurkha as per the lines the Jeep guys over here are. Mind you we do not have many teachers over here who can tell us how to handle Gurkha and how it behaves. it's our trial and error method which is coming to us and it is really difficult to learn everything by your own experience.

Regarding Force Motors -- Yes! I still have not heard anything after my trip to Pune. Had I been in Mumbai or nearby Place guess I would have put down a camp outside their factory. (I know production is in Pithampur but all top shots are in Pune)

Though their service team though have been very helpful all the time and I am greatly indebted to their Service Manager Mr. Desai for helping me out numerous time.

Originally Posted by mohan

@SAMURAI:
Yes I have read your test drive report,not once, twice ,to read between the lines.
I have found your statements objective ,sometimes terse but I must confess that your report helped me in coming to conclusions.Rhandle aka Rahul also wrote a very objective report which helped a lot.I was to buy a 4WD Safari ,which I didn't.
I owe you a big thanks...so here goes..THANKS!

Gurkha is a capable machine Mohan and hopefully once you have done through the initial hiccups and come to terms with machine you would love it. Everyday whenever I drive it and when off-road clear obstacles my respect for the vehicle increases.

lets see if you can make it to Silvasa then it would be great otherwise we will meet-up in Mumbai and can exchange notes.

[mohan]

I drove the Gurkha on a highway ,the total distance travelled was 750 kms.
I required 53 litres of diesel.
I kept the top speed at around 80 km/hr,as it was raining heavily and as I was not very confident about the tyre grip.
I used the A/c only for 20 kms.
That means the Gurkha gives a mileage of 14 km/litre.
I guess this may improve after a little more running in.
My vehicle has just done around 2000 km and has not yet gone for its second servicing.
My Invader(Bolero) used to give me 10/litre.
My scorpio gives me 10 with A/C on.

[vinod_nookala]

Originally Posted by mohan

That means the Gurkha gives a mileage of 14 km/litre.


My Invader(Bolero) used to give me 10/litre..

Hi mohan,
Iam glad you are enjoying your Gurkha ownership. Was the Invader with XD3p? A Di turbo Invader will match the mileage of Gurkha. Any pics of that Invader? (You can post it in Jeep pics thread, i dont want to hijack this thread)

[mohan]

hello Vinod,
I have sold my invader.
I will try to get some photos.

[mohan]

Rhandle ,I had sent you a pm which I dont think you have recieved,
please pm me your mobile number as I have some important issues to discuss regarding the Gurkha,I seem to have lost your number for a long time now

[rhandle]

PM sent Sir and I will follow it up with the call!

[mohan]

Hi,I am posting a few photos of my Gurkha while I was at it on a mountain trail .Hope you like it.Though I would have liked them to appear in a sequence it dosent show the way I want

[Samurai]

Nice shots. That rear footstep really limits the departure angle. Also, I feel Gurkha has way too much chrome in the front. I'd like to see the cow bar removed or painted matt black. That should really improve the looks from the front.

[mohan]

Yes,Samurai,the rear footstep did really create a hindrance on a few occasions.
I plan to remove the rear small side seats altogether and the foot step.
Plan to fabricate a box which will fit in the rear to keep regular equipment.
I plan to keep the chrome till it eventually wears out and then do an all black job.

[007 Bond]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Nice shots. That rear footstep really limits the departure angle. Also, I feel Gurkha has way too much chrome in the front. I'd like to see the cow bar removed or painted matt black. That should really improve the looks from the front.

Hey Samurai....
keep your fingers crossed hope so the wait is this time not to long a new trax is in offering well bench mark vehicle has been displayed inside factory & work for body changes are on way... this is going to compete with Innova & likes but with a change expect it to be a 7 door version, on Cruiser/Toofan chassis. Now that would be a industry first.... don't know how the market will take that, also not known will they focus on Urban dwellers or still the rural ones.Future details as I get, but sure shot would be on display at Expo 10. This will carry new OM611 engine & G32 gear box. Now if this change carries on to Gurkha is still not known.

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by mohan

Hi,I am posting a few photos of my Gurkha while I was at it on a mountain trail .Hope you like it.Though I would have liked them to appear in a sequence it dosent show the way I want

very nice pix you got mohan. nice wheels.

Originally Posted by Samurai

Nice shots. That rear footstep really limits the departure angle. Also, I feel Gurkha has way too much chrome in the front. I'd like to see the cow bar removed or painted matt black. That should really improve the looks from the front.

+1 to that. There are a few trimmings you may need to give your gurkha THE look. The chrome has to go. wonder why it was there in the first place. The bull/Cow bar (why are we behind cattle??) can be chucked I guess.
I'm not sure if I'd say SPOA yet.

[rhandle]

Wht is the tyre size u r using Dr. and which make Tyres are those.

Your Gurkha looks exciting! Hope we meet up soon!

[mohan]

Thanks for the compliments.
Yeah the cow-bar does look odd and you are absolutely correct in pointing out that we ain't cattle-chasing any more,but in my vccinity I have 2 legged cattle who are more dumb and dangerous ,so, its better that I keep those guards on.Yes I do plan to paint the bar black to get a more meaner look from my Gurkha.
Rahul,do you remember we had discussed about a 275 X 70 X16.These are the same Yokohama make A/T tyres.
To be honest I am not very happy with these.
The ride has become bumpier on the streets,but the off-road experience is hilarious.
The vehicle has become a solid head-turner after these wheels were in place.
I tried to figure out the explanation for this unexpected problem.

For that I read through a lot of tire mechanics.

What I understood was this:
I have maintained the same tyre height that is the "section height" but by fixing up a mag-wheel and increasing the width significantly,I have inadvertently increased the "section width" . That means I have reduced the "aspect ratio".
Aspect ratio= height/width.
When the aspect ratio decreases,more shocks are transmitted to the chasis,but the cornering capacity increases significantly(true in my case).
It is said that lower aspect ratio tyres have more speed ratings.

A wider aspect ratio tyre has more capability of taking up shocks and making the ride comfortable because of the side wall curve.
So in my case I should have removed the original A/T tyres (and saved them for off-road use) and fixed up normal road tyres for general purpose driving.Is this a correct understanding,or am I missing something?
Many members on this forum are more experienced in these matters and I would be more than happy to learn from them.

Another observation:
I drove through a lot of sand ,as we have plenty of it nearby( I live near a beach) but at no point did I feel comfortable or confident .The weight factor of this vehicle simply isnt good for the soft sand.(didnt try reducing the tyre pressure,although it may help)
However take this vehicle to a mountain and it would take the steepest grade possible without a groan.Here the weight factor works positively for it as it stabilises the vehicle along any gradient.Drove above 12 inch boulders without as much as a sigh.
Hence its name is very apt, the Gurkha,for "hilly terrain".

[rhandle]

Originally Posted by mohan

Rahul,do you remember we had discussed about a 275 X 70 X16.These are the same Yokohama make A/T tyres.
To be honest I am not very happy with these.
T

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/tyre-a...ml#post1365693

Chk this out. I told you about me not being entirely pleased with this conversion!

Actually at the moment I am not happy with Yoko, because of the number of times I have got side wall punctures. You are luck you wont be doing those terrains we do here. Be careful when ever you are driving on stoney or thorny path.

This is how Gurkha wud look with black bullbar courtesy a fellow TBHPIAN:


Also do not remove the bull bars. Your lights would be gone in no time by small accidents to cycle walas and the other things.

Hills wud never be any issue. I am also trying to learn how to wade through this slush and muck problem. Let plan a drive to Pann or Panchmarhi and we can have some fun together!

PS: are your tyres on 7.5" rim, I feel tyres are kind of ballooning?

[Bazius]

@Mohan: Nice ride and superb pics. Where have you clicked these pictures?