Hello

[wpalmo]

Hi All,
Just wanted to introduce myself to the forum. I own a 1981 Stage One Truck Cab that I believe is an ex RAN clearance vehicle. Thinking about purchasing one of the Land Rovers that the ADF is clearing through the auction houses at the moment. Look forward to being part of the forum.
Regards Warrick.

[Mick_Marsh]

You mean to say, you're not on here already?

Welcome to the forum.

[Carzee]

Hi  and welcome to the forum. I hope there is some info here for you. RAN LR info is scarce.

When you obtained the Landy ute what clues convinced you the LR had done RAN service?

cheers 

[wpalmo]

G'day Mick and Carzee,

I have been a member on the AULRO forum for quite a few years and have enjoyed the generosity of the AULRO crew with all the helpful information I have received during my ownership of the Stage One. I won't ever sell her as she is very special and is truely a part of my family.

I have been seriously considering purchasing one of the Perentie Land Rovers that are being sold off by the ADF as I have some plans to do a bit of remote travelling in WA and I think these vehicles along with one of the 3/4 trailers would be pretty much perfect. I hope that by becoming a member here It would be a good starting point when deciding what type of Perentie I should be looking at spending my hard earned on so expect a few questions in the coming weeks and months.

As far as my Stage One Truck Cab goes it comes from the Northern Territory about 23 years ago when a good mate of mine purchased it. He was told at the time that it was ex RAN or RAAF vehicle but after a bit of investigation I think it may be ex RAN. I have seen images of these vehicles as part of the RAN fleet. I believe they purchased a small amount of them as clearance vehicles working on beaches and bombing ranges. I stand corrected though and would welcome any information that would shed any more light on the history of Stage One's in the ADF. A link to images and discussion on the identity of my Stage One below.

Regards Warrick.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/series-iii/152016-stage-one-v8-work-2.html

[Carzee]

Sorry -quoted the wrong bit from the RAN pages the first time..

This is the Stg 1 info:

"Recently these photos of two Royal Australian Navy Stage 1 utes were sent to REMLR. A big thankyou to Peter H for sending them to us, and Jack Withers for letting us publish them.

"These 2 vehicles have a Fire Pallet fitted in the tub for work on the Beecroft Range Circa 1983. The rego of one is ZWD-177. Both vehicles were fitted with Sunraysia rims and 'Sand tyres' for the beach clearance work that they had to do at the range. Both of these Stage 1's were equipped with 3.5L V8 engines.

"The 2nd two photos show the 2nd vehicle with the white roof more clearly and it's registration, ZND-559. The white roof is because it was involved in a roll over at some stage, hence the replacement white roof.

"Other things to note on the 2nd vehicle are the flares similar to those fitted to the series 3 "Game" and the army style brush guard.  "

http://www.remlr.com/ranstage1.html

[wpalmo]

Thanks Carzee for the information. The link you provided was excellent and from the look of the images of the Stage Ones pictured on the Beecroft Range there is much in common with mine. Have any other Stage One Truck Cabs with the same blue body and white roofs been identified as ex RAN vehicles? As I am new to this forum I am not aware if there are any owners of Australian ex military Stage Ones on the forum. I know the NZ military had a lot of them and NZ has been a good place to source parts for mine over the years.
Regards Warrick.

[fc101]

As I indicated on AULRO that certainly looks ex Navy - colour is right, white roof etc  - these of course predate the white 110s, 

The Stage 1 109s were certainly used by the diving teams but also used in many other areas such as the bombing ranges, air station and as a general use vehicle.  They would have had Z plates.

Garru

[wpalmo]

Thanks for all the information guys. Much appreciated. Just checked the Perentie link too, excellent! I think I will watch the next auction of Perentie's and see what sort of money they fetch compared to the last auction at Minto. From what I can work out going on those auction prices you need to pay around 16K for one of the RFSV Land Rovers.

I am not sure which type of Perentie to buy yet but I think I am leaning towards a surveillance Perentie though because of the power steering and 4 wheel disk brakes. I love the Stage One but power steering, disk brakes all round as well as the economy of that great Isuzu Diesel engine are a fantastic package that is hard to beat from all accounts. Not sure if the current crop of Defenders would be as reliable and as tough in the bush as a Perentie.

[FFRMAN]

Thanks for all the information guys. Much appreciated. Just checked the Perentie link too, excellent! I think I will watch the next auction of Perentie's and see what sort of money they fetch compared to the last auction at Minto. From what I can work out going on those auction prices you need to pay around 16K for one of the RFSV Land Rovers.

I am not sure which type of Perentie to buy yet but I think I am leaning towards a surveillance Perentie though because of the power steering and 4 wheel disk brakes. I love the Stage One but power steering, disk brakes all round as well as the economy of that great Isuzu Diesel engine are a fantastic package that is hard to beat from all accounts. Not sure if the current crop of Defenders would be as reliable and as tough in the bush as a Perentie.

Howdy,

I'd suggest doing heaps of homework, buy Barefoot Daves buyers guide, it really is excellent.

It will advise you that the RFSV have had a hard and I mean hard life, the transfer case is geared lower so slower than a normal GS or FFR for $10k cheaper buy a good FFR, buy a power steering kit from KLR for under $2k and you're way better off, oh yeah full economy on the RFSV is at least 50% more fuel usage per 100kms because of all the weight. Front disc rear drum still work very well (even my brand new Isuzu D Max has that set up)

Lots of "tricks of the trade" or "old trick for young players" etc etc

My recommendation is do your homework, even a simple GS can go from a low km excellent vehicle (rebuild or not) to a low km heap of crap for the same price - seen it plenty of times now becuase the buyer gets it wrong - even seen on forums people talking about speedo/odometer being changed and didn't realise Army do this regularly

But if you really want a RFSV go for it

anyway my 2 bobs worth

cheers
Scott

[wpalmo]

Thanks for the advice Scott. I will take it onboard. Do you own a Perentie yourself?

As I said I am doing my research first as my plan is to fly over to view the vehicles and then if I am happy with what I see I will bid on one. I am also hoping to buy a trailer and drive the rig back to Perth. I am not in a hurry and I know there is a heap more Perentie's to be disposed of so if I don't get one the first time I bid I am happy to just visit my daughter in Sydney and fly home.

My plan for the Perentie is to do some serious work off road in the back blocks of WA by myself so I want a good one mechanically as I am sure everyone does. I will purchase Barefoot Daves Buyer Guide today and start reading. Thanks again for the advice.

Regards Warrick.

[FFRMAN]

Hi Warrick

Yep have bought 1x FFR and 1x GS. next I'd love a RFSV but that's 12 months away

Cheers

[Phoenix]

Certainly that looks like a navy unit.  any chance you could post the chassis number so that we can add it to our listings??

[fc101]

"The 2nd two photos show the 2nd vehicle with the white roof more clearly and it's registration, ZND-559. The white roof is because it was involved in a roll over at some stage, hence the replacement white roof.

I don't think that is correct - the standard colour scheme at the time was the grey/blue for the body and the roofs were white.  In the 80s the odd vehicle out is a navy vehicle with a grey/blue roof.  This scheme generally applied to most vehicles including Valiant and Commodore sedans and the Landrovers and even the buses and trucks.  Of course variations are always possible but the none white roof is the odd one out.

Note the white roof


Note the white roof



Garry

[AGAS 5]

Hi Gary.

I hear what your saying, but that statement came from one of the staff at Beecroft who witnessed the roll over and the subsequent repair job.

Maybe it was the blue roof and his memory has crossed things over ? It can happen to all of us aye 

Cheers,

Pete

[fc101]

It can happen to all of us aye 

Speak for yourself 

The rolled vehicle would have gone to a company that had the contract to repair smashed Commonwealth vehicles - so like private vehicles the instructions would have been to return it back to what it was like it was before.

Why the other vehicle has the blue/grey painted roof is anyone's guess.

Though it was about this time that it was realised that there really was no need to have specific painted vehicles and the move to more generic colour schemes - hence the later white Defender 110s.  So maybe when the later 109s were being painted when new for the Commonwealth contract they were painted all one colour.

Cheers

Garry