Tag: #kiwipetesadventures
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Project Troopy Update
Project Troopy delayed start this morning with the Boss testing out the bed! Bed, bed wall mounting, air compressor and hinge sidewall panel almost finished ✅Time to start on fridge/freezer, Toilet pivot mount and sink/cupboard assembly.
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So What Is Canicross?
Here you go, I’m lucky to have trained Mr Z 🐕🦺 to know his Left and Right months ago and now working on slowing and Mr Z Back (behind me) for steep technical downhills.It’s so much fun and my ankle injury is finally settling down after six months. 🐾❤️
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Autumn Colours Three
I’m so much enjoying manual focus photography again. I find it much more relaxing taking photos with manual focus because my Brain does not have to think about how to get the auto focus to focus on the part of the photo that I’m trying to photograph.
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Project Troopy Part One
Is the first part of my Troopy build the Security Mesh/Molle Panels window covers to keep out the wild crazy possums and giant spiders we have in New Zealand Plus being able to sleep safely in the back with the windows wide open.
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Canon R5 Upgrade
So I have owned my Canon R5 camera for almost two years and have not used it much because I prefer a manual focusing Camera.Then a friend posted about his new camera and manual focus lenses. This made me sunny think that I should look at manual lenses and a new camera but somehow came…
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Bristol Lodekka
One of the best driving buses I’ve ever driven and I’ve got to drive many other sorts including some preproduction vehicles when driving for a different European tour company.Love the crash gearboxes that TD had in them, the hum of a Gardner engine flat out at 80 kph (on a good day)were far better than…
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To Fail Is Part Of Life
Is life not about taking an adventure and the possibility of failure? I have lived my life with a passion and a calculated risk of failure but if there’s no risk of failure is there a point in doing it in the first place?A number of people have told me I do high risk activities?White…
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Video Of My Design Plans For My Troopy
So here is a short video about a different way of building an Overland/Camper Troopy. More videos to come as the build comes along and hopefully I learn to edit the videos better become more confident in front of a camera. My profession is being a motorcycle engineer and had years of experience helping with…
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Life ❤️
Well I have done this all numerous times over the years.So I can’t complain about my Brain Injury!That’s life
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The Start Of My Life Of Adventure
Back in the 1980’s and 1990’s we had true adventures.I travelled with Top deck Travel in 1987 as a passenger.It made such an impression on me that I applied to be a tour manager for the 1988 season which I was unsuccessful.But they asked so many questions about my life racing sportscars and motocross (tail…
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Update: On XPLR & The Future Plans
So I have been working on the new XPLR (explore) vehicle and photos are coming in a future post. So I have been and only have to finish off an adapter plate to make a rear door table from a different vehicle fit my Land Cruiser. I have fitted a dash mount to my dash…
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New “XPLR” Here
Hi so my new Explore (adventure) vehicle is in my hands and I have already clocked up over 200 kilometres in the first two days of ownership. I also have already had a nap in the back. She’s gonna work out perfectly for the two of us. Adventures are coming.
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Ready To Explore
Well Mr Z (my dog) and I are ready to Explore the back roads of New Zealand. At long last I have a vehicle that I feel at home in. I have missed windup windows, and the simple things in life.
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Update On The Ultra Micro Overlander & More
So a few weeks ago I sold my Suzuki Jimny back to my local Suzuki Dealership after finishing her off. Why? Well when I started the project it was for just myself and I had not planned to share my life with someone else. I also had no need for a refrigerator (years of experience…
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Learning Things From YouTube
It’s amazing what you can learn watching YouTube! Well despite my Brain Injury I can still learn new things but it takes me much longer to do a simple job. This is taking me all day today, and I’m exhausted mentally. Fitting the two locking plates to the front section of my bed base of…
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Ultra Micro Overlander Update
Well my sleeping/storage system is complete aside from some finishing touches/paint. No drawers because of the size and to keep the weight down. Front section of the bed is removed in only a minute and stored behind the front seats and this in closes the rear storage space (so it’s got a dual roll). Drivers…
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Live Life Now And Not Later
Take the opportunity when you can, And live life to the max before it’s too late! I’m so glad to have travelled overseas extensively years ago, not of waited until I was older in life to do so. There’s nothing stopping you sell things and just do it. It’s called having an adventure.
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Life Without Spare Wheels
Live life to the fullest possible! So why not try reducing your wheels on your vehicles?
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My Old Titanium Geared Mountain Unicycle
Myself 2011, with old custom made 26” Titanium Geared Mountain Unicycle. Sold in late 2011 too help fund my 2012 Africa Misadventure. I would love to be able to go out again and enjoy a good 20+ kilometre Uni ride, but I’ll be happy to manage 10 minutes of riding before having to take a…
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Freedom
The freedom of riding on just one tyre is hard to give up and a load easier than it may look. I had to stop riding my mountain unicycle after my 2017 bicycle accident because it was too much of a brain overload and extremely frustrating. But now after 6 years and a load of…
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Drive In The Green Zone Is More Efficient & Better
As a former Motorcycle Engineer and Mechanic it was very surprising, how many customers motorcycles needed to have the Italian tune. In fact, once I had a visit from the local police officer about a motorcycle going along the bypass putting out so much smoke that no one could see where they were going? Bobby…
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Leaning Tree
Mid winter’s day ride over 2 years on my Retro build up Ritchey Ascent, with Nitto Bullmoose handlebars, NOS 1990’s Ritchey Brake Levers, Brooks C15 Cambium saddle, Kent Erickson Titanium seatpost, Paul Components Thumbies Shifter mount’s and Shimano 9 speed Barend shifters. Build the retro way with Shimano XT 3×9 mixed set-up.Wheels are DT Swiss…
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Overlanding With Your Dog
Here is a video that I have come across with a number of different ideas that have me thinking about my Dogs things and setup.
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JUE Story
This very first Land Rover Number One was known as JUE and this is the finding and it’s restoring to keep its original history. An awesome story behind the very first true four-wheel-drive outside of the army built jeeps one designed for everyone to use every day. The doors are opened.. I must watch. Note:…
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Wide vs Narrow – Four Wheel Drive Tyres
Maybe it’s my background in engineering or it maybe my love of the first Suzuki Jimny back in the early 1970’s ? I have always wanted and asked for tall narrow 4×4 tyres, if I had the money I would import a full set of 195R16 and/or 185/85R16 tyres and new light weight offroad 16”…
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Project Ultra Micro Overlander July Update
My Ultra Micro Overland project is at long long last taking shape.This is my first test off my storage/sleeping system. The front section that covers the front passenger seat is very easily removed in under 40 seconds. The rear opening lid is to access soft bag storage. This design is lightweight, make maximum use of…
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A Sunny Day Out In Middle Of Winter
A day out in XPLR and a short walk/jog with Zippy along part of the Great Lakes Trail on a beautiful sunny afternoon today over looking Lake Taupo.
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Tumbleweed Persuader Handlebars
12 months ago arrived from the USA one of the upgrades planned for my Jones LWB Spaceframe 29+ upgrade project! Yes I’m going to be running a pair of Tumbleweed Persuader handlebars. I sold off my Titanium Jones Loop H-Bar handlebars because of my discomfort riding with them. I’m looking forward to hopefully being able…
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The Pie’s 🥧 Of New Zealand
One of the best things about Touring in New Zealand is the World’s best Pie’s and the Hunt for them
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Re-Purposing MTB Lights For Dog Walking
So for the last few months I have been looking at replacing my broken head torch, as it’s dark out walking with my Dog in the early morning and evening. Was not happy with the low power red light options with any Headlamp available. A few weeks ago I remembered I had a Mountain Biking…
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A Shocking Experience
This week’s adventure with Zippy was a short 4+ kilometre walk. It also was his first time to see Sheep in paddock’s Here Zippy’s sitting/standing watching the Sheep eating away at the grass Unfortunately Zippy also touched a live electric fence! despite explaining to him, not to touch it! He jumped about two metres, cried…
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Exhaust Design & Performance
With my background as an ex motorcycle engineer and now having a brain injury it’s extremely hard for myself to explain how a more open and noisy exhaust does not equal more power. Now I’m not sponsored or use any Magnaflow exhaust systems! But I believe this video explains a lot of the engineering and…
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Do You Need Every Option Before Driving Offroad
Having owned 3 Jimny’s before my JB74 I have learned that lifting is not necessary and that a good tall set of tyres are all that’s required for moderate to serious offroad adventures in NZ. The past Jimny’s needed a bigger fuel tank, but with the much better range of the JB74 in NZ we…
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The Perfect Bicycle Stand
Are you still looking for the perfect bicycle stand?The best one is just around the corner!
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Overlanding Morocco
I loved my time in Morocco and North Africa back in 1993. It’s the one place that I have always wanted to return too. This video is inspiring 👍
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Snorkel Fitted – One Upgrade To Come
At long last I finished fitting an Ironman Snorkel to my Jimny named “Explore“
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Ultra Micro Overlander Progress
Busy few days (with a number of naps to rest up my brain)So the hay basic basic frame structure is complete.(Have to add mounting taps etc) Fit into my Jimny, a perfect fit. Fit my hinged top (half of bed base) and open up the top to allow the storage of soft bags. Run into…
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Ultra Micro Overlander – Update
So just over 12 months ago I started prototype one of my light weight sleeping/storage system for my Gen4 (2022) Suzuki Jimny.Now why not a drawer system? Too heavy! Why not just run with the plywood base instead of a light weight thin wall steel box tubing? The steel tubing design is lighter! Yes that’s…
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You Would Not Believe It – History
When I worked in Wellsford (Northland) in the local Honda motorcycle shop the Honda Car dealership across the road could not believe that he just sold a brand new Honda City to a local customer who had a Honda City that was two years old and the Vin number (chassis number/production number) off the new…
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Five Reasons Why You Should Ride A Hardtail Mountain Bike
So right! Mountain biking becomes so much more fun riding with less. Why have rear suspension? I switched to running a suspension forks in 1990 for hand comfort, substantial increase in speed and control. But my first full suspension mountain bike in 2013 just added service costs and I loss the feel of the ride…
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My Suzuki Jimny Affair Started With A LJ10
My love affair started in 1972/3 with a LJ10 as a youngster in the local engineering supplies that were selling Suzuki four-wheel-drive’s and motorcycles at the time in Wellsford. In the 1980 as a Motorcycle apprentice going to Petone for six week block courses I member being impressed for the three cylinder two-stroke LJ50 engines…
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Regaining Balance After Brain Injury
Now I believe that I’m probably not the only one with a Brain Injury that has had a balance problem since their brain injury? I was fine inside my home but had to weave (to keep my balance) when out walking outside. I asked a number of doctors and a few specialists why my balance…
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Welding Table Finished
Well to build my plan Sleeping System for my Suzuki Jimny (and future projects) I needed a flat level service to weld it all up straight and in line. So today I finished off a kit set Welding Table.More welding than I had planned on.Relearning to TIG weld has been a challenge with the wrong…
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Inspiring Videos of Some of New Zealand Offroad Roots
This is just one of the future planned adventures I have for myself and my ultra micro overland adventure Jimny. Marcus has videoed some of the great roots/tracks of the South Island.Like the one below.
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TIG Welding Art & Projects
So after years welding with O-A and MIG welders for work and personal projects. It’s time to start a small business and after having registered business name, years ago and working through a few options!I have got myself a TIG welder and gear. First off it’s built a welding table (almost finished) than it’s built…
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A Cracking Day
It was a cracking day in Taupo.Beautiful clean crisp air and sunny.Taupo has to be the best place to live in the world.Also time to look forward and change my instagram name to Pete’s Overland Adventures
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Overloaded Camping Adventure’s In NZ
So below is myself riding in a self supported cycling event called the Kiwi Brevet. I was riding the short course a 750 kilometre long loop of the upper part of the South Island in 2015. I learned about trying to ride with too much camping gear and this photo is of myself with my…
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Paradise Is New Zealand
I’m so lucky to live in Paradise and having traveled the world over the last four decades I have come to the conclusion that New Zealand is the best country to live in. Love Taupo (North Island of NZ) but one day I may look to move to Central Otago (in the South Island of…
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Ultra Micro Overland/Camper
Out for a walk with Zippy this last weekend.Looking forward to finishing off my Ultra Micro Overland/Camper.No rooftop tent ⛺️ going on here!After after all we have no Lions or Hippos in New Zealand to keep safe from.So like in my last two Jimny’s it’s a simple sleep inside with a full size bed.Adventures are…
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Ultra Micro Overlander Table Solution
Next step in the built up of my Ultra Micro Overland/Camper Jimny.A rear door mounted folding down Table so that I can cook and eat without needing a space for a separate table to pull out, put up and put away all the time. I was going to make my own folding table and an…
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Front Winch Finally Finished Mounting
Well finally I have finished my Warn Axon 55-S winch mounting and relocated the front number plate from the standard number plate position with a Kaon Australia hinged number plate mount. It now pivots up out of the way when I’m using the winch to recover myself or clearing trees or branches of the road/track.…
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Large Self Loading Stock Truck (Bus)
I once drove an almost identical Vanhool Double Decker powered by a marine spec Mercedes turbocharged V8 engine.It flew when empty and was still a rocket when loaded with 85 passengers!Had many adventures in the 12+ months I worked for “Tracks UK/Europe”Had to sign a secrecy agreement with a government organisation on a few occasions,…
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A Fence Post With History
Close to Taupo is Opepe, it’s one of a number of ghost towns in the Taupo district. I can remember one building was still standing when I moved to Taupo years ago, unfortunately it is now a pile of rubble. History is returning to the Earth. Walking Adventures in NZ.
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Why Have I Have Changed In My Websites Name From Kiwi Pete’s Adventures?
So why have I renamed Kiwi Pete’s Adventures and moved all three of my websites into one? First of the rename is after a second person contacted me asking if I was the Kiwi Pete who had left them on the side the road in the middle of the USA? or I was the Kiwi…
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New Sliding Windows With Guards
So after one year of ownership of my Jimny it’s was finally time to upgrade my rear side windows to sliding open Explore Glazing windows with security grills in place. Now I have to point out that they are normally just bonded in like the standard side windows! I have not just bonded in the…
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Lightweight Recovery Winch Setup
Having learned from my previous Jimny experiences one of my main goals is to keep the complete built weight as low as possible and the centre of gravity as low as possible too. So I went to a lot of trouble to import one of Taubenreuther Germany front winch mounts for one of Warn Winch’s…
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Therapy Dog Trying Too Hard
My Co-Driver asking for the keys!Zippy would appreciated an automatic transmission, but I’m glad I have a manual transmission so that we don’t have a fight about who is driving each day.🥰Zippy having a little bit of fun with me after a good morning walk.
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The Scandinavian Christmas Can Surprise You
A Merry Christmas from the Finnish Police a few years ago. A nice way to say be safe. I can remember the Finnish Police (and the Swedish and Norwegian) were all very friendly when I was driving Scandinavian Tours about north of the arctic circle in 1994. We just missed seeing the Snow ❄️ and…
