Mitsubishi Pajero SFX - Project Overland Conversion

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Last weekend we went camping with a few friends to an offbeat location around 100kms from mumbai.

The vehicles:
My pajero, a vcross and jeep compass from pune and another pajero from mumbai.



Vehicles parked:




Setting up:

The awing lights are a temporary measure. Need to find a proper way to fix the lights. In my old awning, i had stuck the light on the aluminium bracket. However since this swivels, i thought i would stick the lights on the swing poles. BUT! The fabric of the awning is stuck to the inner side of the poles and the light will not stick to this. Thus, back to the drawing board.


I really also need to get time to make a dedicated rear storage solution. Packing in is fine but when breaking camp, stuff tends to be dumped into the back.




The owner of the Vcross, is a die hard BBQ guy and came prepared with his weber and all sorts of food marinated a day before.

Here's the grill:




The stuff he cooked up is to die for. Here's me with a bunch of burgers:




The awesome venue:



The campsite:






The campsite at sunrise



You see the bonnet of my vehicle open because we hooked up my 1000W inverter to the battery to connect an electric kettle for tea/coffee in the morning



The Wheelie Bin i bought recently from bangalore was put to first use. An awesome product and highly recommended. All the waste is secure and outside you car till you reach a garbage can in civilisation to dump it all.

Our motto is leave with more than you came in with.



That's why the Tread Lightly sticker is proudly displayed on my vehicle:



Breaking camp in the morning:




Exiting the trail:




Random pics:












Pics Courtesy: Some clicked by me, some by the Oliveiras - the couple in the Isuzu and some by my the friends in the other Pajero.

[amrutmhatre90]

Nice pictures, burger's look amazing.
Your using your car and modifications for the right things. Many people make modifications and add stuff to their cars, but rarely use them.
This is an astonishing spot, could you share details where this is located ?

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Originally Posted by amrutmhatre90

Nice pictures, burger's look amazing.
Your using your car and modifications for the right things. Many people make modifications and add stuff to their cars, but rarely use them.

Thanks

Originally Posted by amrutmhatre90

This is an astonishing spot, could you share details where this is located ?

It's a private property near Imagica, off the mumbai pune expressway.

[Sheel]

Did you guys try out the Compass for off-roading? The approach angle appears horrible [from pics]

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Originally Posted by Sheel

Did you guys try out the Compass for off-roading? The approach angle appears horrible [from pics]

The owner wasn't an off-roader nor was he keen to check the capabilities and stuck to the trail. We respected his wishes and didn't push him.

In fact the few thorny bushes that scrapped the side of the car gave him nightmares and next day he was off to 3M for a detail job

[VivOverland]

Looks like you all had a great time, real sorry to have missed out. You've reminded me, I need to update my thread with a trip update and post a review as well. Please do keep us in mind next time, perhaps a lake or riverside camp. We'll bring the Excursion 5 along


Loving the pic of the Weber grill, can empathize with the owner of that fine product. We make use of our jugaad chulha which is good for short trips and basic cooking in small groups (we used it for sausages and Maggi in our recent lakeside trip). Coal should be counted as a spice IMHO!


On a side note, we're tripping (pun intended) on the utility of the V-Cross' truck bed. Very handy when carrying bulky stuff, kids and adults too can grab a quick ride. This car is ideal for outdoorsy types.


On this trip, we packed everything in and closed the Carryboy lid, but on the return were just too lazy and left it open. Quite refreshing, after so many years of trying to beat the laws of physics, when stuffing the boot of a car beyond capacity. As responsible campers, we too leave a site better than when we arrived. That irritating green PET bottle from some earlier visitor, returned with us. Followed our own tracks back with minimal diversion from an existing path.

Great pics, great trip and cheers to many more!

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Originally Posted by VivOverland

Looks like you all had a great time, real sorry to have missed out. You've reminded me, I need to update my thread with a trip update and post a review as well. Please do keep us in mind next time, perhaps a lake or riverside camp. We'll bring the Excursion 5 along
Attachment 1715150

We missed you on this trip.

Great stuff! We are planing a trip by the end of the month and close to a lake and will make use of that rubber dinghy!

[ashwin1224]

Ive been following on your thread for a long time Tejas and Ive got several of your pictures as my phone wallpapers over the months. Brilliant stuff!

My dad used to own a Pajero that we had bought brand new in 2010. Over the past 8 years it has done roughly 1.5Lac KMs. The brute now belongs to an associate of dads who isnt much of an enthusiast. Ive been eyeing the car for a very long time and honestly it is one of my favorite vehicles of all time. Its the same color as yours too!

Reason im writing this is because I was wondering if the car will be worth flogging after all these KMs? I do not intend to go to OTR events or keep up with tiny 4x4s on muddy trails but I do dream of going on Overland excursions and traveling in the mountains. Will the engine still have juice for another 100k kms? What about reliability of other components? If the car is still worth the hassle, I'll definitely try and convince the current owner to gift it back to me, since the car had been gifted to him anyway by my dad and he has used it plenty now

[Traveler]

I came across your thread while looking for clutch information for my Pajero. I guess there are only a handful of Pajero owners here and I am sure you are as proud as me on owning this beauty.

Well I am considering a clutch change for my vehicle and wanted to know which actual clutch did you finally get. It will be great if you can share the brand and part number of the clutch you bought. Also please let me know from where I can get the same. I am in Bangalore presently. Thanks a lot. Cheers.

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by Tejas@perioimpl

Great stuff! We are planing a trip by the end of the month and close to a lake and will make use of that rubber dinghy!

Tejas!! What happened? Mellowed down huh?

What happened to hardcore off-roading? Where's the Classic?

[Road4X4Traveler]

Hi Tejas,
Can you please inform me about the length and breadth of the rhino rack you installed on your vehicle.

[rmonie]

Originally Posted by ashwin1224

Reason im writing this is because I was wondering if the car will be worth flogging after all these KMs? I do not intend to go to OTR events or keep up with tiny 4x4s on muddy trails but I do dream of going on Overland excursions and traveling in the mountains. Will the engine still have juice for another 100k kms? What about reliability of other components? If the car is still worth the hassle, I'll definitely try and convince the current owner to gift it back to me, since the car had been gifted to him anyway by my dad and he has used it plenty now

Ashwin,

If the vehicle has been regularly serviced 1.5L kms is nothing to the 4M40 engine! These engines last for 600-700K kms and more quite easily. I'd say go for it!

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Originally Posted by Traveler

I came across your thread while looking for clutch information for my Pajero. I guess there are only a handful of Pajero owners here and I am sure you are as proud as me on owning this beauty.

Well I am considering a clutch change for my vehicle and wanted to know which actual clutch did you finally get. It will be great if you can share the brand and part number of the clutch you bought. Also please let me know from where I can get the same. I am in Bangalore presently. Thanks a lot. Cheers.

Hi, i got it from the ASC directly and installed by them too.

I got your pm. The exedy clutch is cheaper. Just check if its a petrol or diesel vehicle clutch. Most dealers will sell the petrol one which will cause the fingers to rattle.

Originally Posted by ashwin1224

Ive been following on your thread for a long time Tejas and Ive got several of your pictures as my phone wallpapers over the months. Brilliant stuff!

My dad used to own a Pajero that we had bought brand new in 2010. Over the past 8 years it has done roughly 1.5Lac KMs. The brute now belongs to an associate of dads who isnt much of an enthusiast. Ive been eyeing the car for a very long time and honestly it is one of my favorite vehicles of all time. Its the same color as yours too!

Reason im writing this is because I was wondering if the car will be worth flogging after all these KMs? I do not intend to go to OTR events or keep up with tiny 4x4s on muddy trails but I do dream of going on Overland excursions and traveling in the mountains. Will the engine still have juice for another 100k kms? What about reliability of other components? If the car is still worth the hassle, I'll definitely try and convince the current owner to gift it back to me, since the car had been gifted to him anyway by my dad and he has used it plenty now

My friend amol's GLX has done 2.5 lakh kms and is still as old as showroom condition. He maintains it impeccably. Go for it.

Originally Posted by Spitfire

Tejas!! What happened? Mellowed down huh?

What happened to hardcore off-roading? Where's the Classic?

LOL!

Classic sold. I still have the blue jeep for harder stuff.

Originally Posted by Road4X4Traveler

Hi Tejas,
Can you please inform me about the length and breadth of the rhino rack you installed on your vehicle.

1928x1236mm

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by Tejas@perioimpl

LOL!

Phew!! For a moment I thought we lost you.

That jeep looks fabulous. Will look around the forum for details.

Keep going down the road less traveled.

Cheers.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

Phew!! For a moment I thought we lost you.

You remember that guy who had told me on my classic thread that i have a nice classic and i should try to offroad it sometime? And then how everyone trolled him!

Originally Posted by Spitfire

That jeep looks fabulous. Will look around the forum for details.

You won't find it on the forum.

Here are a few pics from various OTRs over the years: