Off roading with the Delica

[craigbeaumier@hotmail.com]

I'm very close to buying myself one of these Delica's. I have two questions left to be answered though. One is how well they perform in "real" 4X4 territory. I'd be particularly concerned having to go up a slope on an angle (i.e. trying to get around a boulder or downed tree on a logging road). Aren't they tippy?
Is there a particular model that is better suited to off-road?

[BCDelica]

Aren't they tippy?

No. More then a Jeep, but do a search on Youtube for Delica to see what the can do. Look for Adrock's and the 'positions' he gets it into. It's great they are a van, cause they're not a lifted solid axle rock crawler by any means. They do have a short wheelbase with excellent weight distribution, I have gone many places a full sized truck couldn't. And surprised skeptical passengers also. The only thing about the height is the trees that get in the way of the roof line. They are a IFS van with ok departure angles and such, with a un-sealed timing belt cover, etc - with a few mods there offroading tough-ness can be brought up many notches.

Model's are just different trim levels, powertrains are the same for most Delicas. Some people feel the low roof is better high road, lower clearance and less weight up top.

Cheers and Welcome!

[knight]

Actually I would say they are more tippy than most jeeps. I took mine out the other day on moderate offroad trails and found it to be very top heavy, even without cranking the torsion bars. On side slopes or off camber flex test, I thought I was gonna go over. Not the case in my Liberty diesel. My co-pilot for the tests owns a XJ jeep (cherokee) with 35's and lift and he was more scared than I was. Im hoping that a set of wider tires and rims might help widen the stance a bit. The other culprit might be worn bushings that cause more body roll. I just picked the rig up and have yet to really go through and see what needs to be replaced, if anything.

That being said the approach and departure angles are very good for a stock van. Is this a serious offroader? I dont think so. Is it capable of taking 7 people in comfort offroad yes. It can handle most offroad trails and conditions, its just a little big and top heavy for the more extreme trails.

[maxpowers]

ya'll should check out the video of the crazy russians.
its mad, they harsh on there vans.
I would also second that it is not extreme 4x4 but, it will get you everywhere you need to go within reason. and some other places....
the beauty of it is in sand and snow, the low end is amazing, and makes for minimal wheel slippage.
I used to rock a samurai back in the day, it was dope. for crazy shit.
the van is good to I just like it more so am less in clined to see when it wont make it.

delicas I think are more designed to get a family, from like beijing to new delhi on crap roads potholes, rivers, sand traps, sand storms, blizzards, goats, below knee deep mud stuff you would find on an unmaintained trans continental asian road. in one peice.

they are pretty tough and can handle the sheeit. just dont try and crawl over any massive stuff on a trail.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQDZNmn6rhM
join the delica revolution!

[BCDelica]

delicas I think are more designed to get a family, from like beijing to new delhi on crap roads potholes, rivers, sand traps, sand storms, blizzards, goats, below knee deep mud stuff you would find on an unmaintained trans continental asian road. in one peice.

Well put!! Have always referred to it as the ultimate BC backroad bus.

Kev - doesn't want to be the first dumbass to put his Deli on it's side following behind zuki buddies.

[patty]

This iis all true, the only thing i can say is about tipping.in my experiance it feels liek its going to tip WAY before you would actualy tip.i was down in stave lake and took a really shity route,had one wheel on the solider ground and then the other on a lower platform of staight muck (it was midnight and we had never been there,it seemed to be the only route)anyway i was on such an angle that i had to reach over and hold onto the passanger side roof screamer bar because i was slipping out of my seat, but i didint tip.Im pretty sure i was pushing it though.
As for pot holed loggin road ( like most) i find if your going alittle to fast the delica cant handle them,if you hit them alittle funny the ass of the deli swings wide.but you can always bring it down to a slower spead and they do fine.
So far i havent had to use the 4 low once, four high seems to pull me out of everthing, foot deep snow and mud.
Deffinatly go check out "adam delica" on youtube, you can see him do a pretty good noise stand.

[josh]

Actually I would say they are more tippy than most jeeps. I took mine out the other day on moderate offroad trails and found it to be very top heavy, even without cranking the torsion bars. On side slopes or off camber flex test, I thought I was gonna go over.

Try cranking them, the cranked torsion bars really tightened everything up and made it less tippy. As for feeling like you are about to go over, that is quite different then going over. Ask James, I think he had it close to 30% lean (you'd have to check with hime though).

Mine handles incredibly, and have pulled out other wheelers... which I can't say many "minivans" can do.

Josh

[delicat]

MaxPower, this Russian video is Crazy. Good thing it's not from Japan 'cause that white van looks like the one I just bought unseen...wouldn't have want the previous owner to get that kind of use out of it!

Delicat

[sasquatch-hunter]

Talking about wheeling, anyone here runs diff lock? That Taiwan site listed ARB and some front LSD.

http://tw.msnusers.com/yamanotw/page2.msnw

[knight]

interesting link. After the wedding in February and following honeymoon, I was planning on tracking down a front LSD. I was also wondering if anyone made larger torsion bars and it looks like that company does.

[sasquatch-hunter]

Sweet! 4 wheel LSD.... I still have to check if my Super Exceed has rear LSD.

[BCDelica]

http://tw.msnusers.com/yamanotw/shoebox.msnw

Who on the forum speaks Taiwanese?

I guess that msn user group posted by sasquatch-hunter is from Taiwan, and yes I know the have two languages. Somehow I signed up for email notifications from there group, and wow have they done some great mods! There's picture installs of; several intercooler installs, lifts with drop shackles, sliding door extensions, locker installs, and front door mounted flares.

Pretty cool, I know what I want for Christmas!