Norvic

I think your mod and the hipstick might turn out whats best for me too, so far its working tops, I`ll definitely know after this season.

Same over here, Fred, recall suggesting I take a detector down an incline where the miner had lost the reef. He looked at me with a sort of patronising look and brushed it aside. But I guess we all suffer from tunnel vision one way or another.

Yes the 4 Runner was an OZ model few years back, taken off the OZ market before the Prado was introduced. Had a top rep as all Toyotas do here in OZ, in fact you drive down any highway in OZ, Toyotas would have to be the most popular by far and every second in the bush or better. I went down from the larger Toyota to the Hilux for its lightness and narrowness and nimbleness as Steve has found, but think it appears they may be now made for lighter duty than the bush bashing we require. I`ll report back on this after I take it up with Toyota, because it is relevant to our fever. See if they answer my emails or are like Minelab in that dept.(gotta have a shot at Minelab at every opportunity ) Thinking back my first Toyota was a Stout back in early 70`s. The Stout was the forerunner to the Hilux but only in 2WD and 30cwt. I love my Toyotas and rely on them as much as my Minelabs. The theme to the Toyota TV ads in OZ is "Oh what a feeling" not sure I agree with it at the moment. Strange the diesel Toyotas aren`t everywhere in US, reckon that`d have something to do with your big manufactures influencing the Govt. We have very few locally produced 4WDs, well even cars too in OZ. Not sure but think sleeping in front seat downunder is "resting" too, well it`ll do. My Hilux with its turbo direct injected diesel pulls a mates 19ft boat surprisingly easy up and down the great divide. Toyota have progressed a lot with that little diesel, Dale yours would be the indirect injected I suspect as in Missus Prado.

Make a great addition to recovery of those smallies, but bloody hell I can`t carry anymore.

Yeah, they did have but rectified in my model, apparently. But I have a feeling, because like you I don`t want to be hung up on some steep hill miles from help, I might be in the market for a new troopie but on those there is a similar problem, because they widened the front dif to fit the V8 diesel, they are suffering breakages in the shockie mountings there too, but because its not IFS could limp home no drama. Might be time to give the old troopie a make-up and reregister, nothing wrong with it, just because of its age thought time for a new one, reliability and all that stuff.

Many Thanks for PM reply, I suspected that was the weakness they introduced, unfortunately because the shockies diameter would foul the axle thus the rod, they`ve added that weakness in 05, I suspect, Bugger them I felt with the lead up of smallies I was getting close to a broken down reef. But I`ll be back there. As its under Warranty will have a chat to Toyota. Not to have repair made by them, they`d only replace with same, just to alert them of this.

Yeah Don Kyat is tops, bought most of my spares for bus business I had for 20 years. But I`ve PMed you with a small ask. Yes I regret going from a Cruiser should have got the a new Troppie, but my old Hilux was a beauty, could wrap its wheels around a lamp post and climb it. Well almost. Don`t get me wrong I like the comfort of the new Hilux, and have ordered a set of EHD Bilstein struts complete for front, but I am disappointed if I had hit bump at speed could understand. Unfortunately just feel they are only occasional 4WDs now, made for a different market than prospectors.

Having the bungy loose at that pivot point may be a refinement on having the bungee half hitched to that point. Love it KISS.

Dale, Hilux has just had its 30000km service and is fitted out much same as yours, solar panels, lots of weight etc. After 28 years of totally breakdown free cruising in a Troopie, other than ripping out a flexible break hose, chasing that yellow stuff. Which I`d sealed off with a piece of gold to maintain brakes till I got the new hose. At about 6000ks I punctured the CV joints protective rubber boot in the Hilux, no gotta agree to disagree it ain`t as unbreakable as the troopie, nor as the non IFS 86 Hilux I had. Reckon you`d get a friendly discussion with Tremain over this too. But I`m a wee rough on my gear. Just an addition there was a few changes made in 05 to the front struts on the Hilux, that might explain this break. Perhaps the diameter of the steel was larger on your model, mine is 16mm to the bush.

Donno, but reckon could check out at the 19th hole.

Wow, nice one, he has some nice ones there too right. That is certainly value adding.

Yeah the Cruisers are tough and the Hiluxs were until that put those bloody ifs on front. You folks don`t have them over there?

Upgraded from a Toyota Troop carrier(28yrs old) back in 2012 to a Hilux 4WD. Heading off this morn to new prospective area hit a bump not a jarring jolt going slowly in low range. Front strut busted limped home and removed photo below. Independent suspension, nice ride but not impressed but I do know I`m going back there, the Goddess of Gold is trying to keep me away.

Had a deep target with the 5000, dug down about 18"(very hard going) and struck a live tree root about 4" in diameter. Covered it back in and went straight back with the GPZ once I got it and the 5000. They both gave the signal so with pick, crowbar, axe etc dug and cut the root out signal gone, much sweating and cussing. But laying root on surface a positive signal on both detectors, but still a very broad signal. Checked out on that trees other roots that were visible in hole, no signal so cut up the part of root dug out, signal was gone. Certainly not a common occurrence with the PI`s and haven`t struck another with the GPZ as yet. Obviously on cutting up root, signal had dissipated, was very moist.

I think the key is avoid excessive brushing of the coil on the ground. The PI coils become noisy after many hours of use, and I believe the insides become "loose" with time, the more they hit the ground or rocks the quicker this happened. Got a feeling we will find this also applies to the GPZ, the tolerances of windings in relation to each other is probably more critical in the GPZ. The bulkiness of the coils construction suggests this also. I didn`t notice this with the VLF`s but that may have been because they were noisy to start with. Sort of "back to the future" scenario.

Your on the money there Steve, there is no one way for everyone. As I stated in other post on this issue, I don`t wear many coil covers out because I don`t scrub the coil. I like as rock steady threshold as I can get, thus I`ll cut sensitivity somewhat. We develop individual techniques over time, good and bad habits, thus I rebel a wee too that a certain setting is for all, at the same time consider others methods. An open and questioning mind is always the key.

Paul, Received the hipstick this arvo, will be heading out tomorrow for a few days and use the hipstick. Report back next week on hipstick. Many Thanks Vic

I found that with the PI`s it wasn`t necessary to have coil right on ground in fact better to try for a constant 1 inch approx off ground, that is why I`ve yet to go through a coil cover on a PI, but found the coils would become noisy with use so changed them often, went through a few coil covers in the VLF days but never like other users did. Thus it is not surprising that this also applies to the GPZ. I have always considered the scuffing of coils on the ground was a sort of myth, any depth you gained was lost by the additional noises generated by the coil in doing so. That is a remarkable that these two posts pertaining to the same issue were posted together, ESP?? who knows, but it definitely does happen and not that infrequently.

Fire Extinguisher, preferably CO2 rather than dry powder. Solar panel on vehicle roof to keep those batteries charged and maybe to save a bit of space cut out the extra spare tyre, take a tube instead assuming you have the tools to fit tube.

Steve, Not having used a GB2, used the original GB briefly, how does it compare with the GM2 which I just loved and wish I`d never sold when PI`s came in. Found it tops on the small surface and specis even in hot ground. I do miss the "fun" of that VLF over the "business" of the PI and now GPZ. Actually I`ll take the opportunity to tell a wee story which explains my brief use of the original GB, out in NQ way back run across a fellow using the GB, we swapped machines for hour or so, he gave the GM2 a run. He was very impressed and left day after to purchase. But we had a few drinks and chat that night, the fellow was David DeHaviland of Gold & Ghost fame. Never seen an operator before or since cover so much ground in a short period but still did it well. Certainly was a privledge meeting him, he was very open and gave me a lot of hints.

Have the baby gofind 20 ordered for grandaugther, they are being released this week in OZ, seems with plenty of fanfare, giant sandpits littered with coins, kids lining up to have a go. Sort of carnival atmosphere, in the selected cities. Hope it goes well for Minelab, get them young, fresh air and an outside interest, be good for their growing up. Our hobby may be getting a big boost with this new marketing strategy.

Dowsing rods, bloody hell there`s even more variations of them than detectors. Ones for right hand, left hand for finding water, gold, silver, sheilas etc etc. Made of wire, wood, plastic etc etc and now even space age carbon fibre.

Gotta agree with Klunker, your divulging all our close kept secrets. But now I`m getting lazy and just get a new Walco every now and then.

That lovely yellow stuff financed my GPZ, found by the mighty GPX 5000 and lots of boot slogging. Had no choice but part with the gold, dealer wouldn`t take the Missus as trade-in.

'after the next one" bet your wife shakes her head at that, mine would for sure. Thanks for that one I`ll certainly use it. Bit like the old Irish saying re. mining "You never leave a shaft till you`ve dug it another foot".