THE PORTAL HUB - Pinzgauers, Haflingers, Volvo 303s and more!

Hello all
New member, first post!

I am Luc, a 1953 french-Canadian model and I just bought, unseen, a pinz 710M from the good mister Karl Portman at Pinzgauer Canada.
His garage is just a few streets from where I live.
I wanted to buy a Pinz in 2002, but life being what it is, there was always something to posponne the project.
But now I gave a deposit!
The truck should enter the port of Montreal tomorrow or so, with the time it takes Karl to get a release from the Canadian excises etc, then the Quebec mandatory vehicle inspection, and his thorough incoming inspection, I should get the keys in about 3 weeks!
Can't wait!

Meanwhile...
12-13 years ago when I wanted to buy this truck, if I remember well, the main mods to do was to:
- change the tyres
- install a Pertronix ignition system
- eventually, install a fuel injection system and get rid of the carbs.

What is the consensus nowadays as to what is good to do on a 'brand new' 40 years old swiss army truck with about 50,000km on it? and everything original?

I intend to use the truck for moderate off-roading and turn it into a somewhat 'rustic' camper where I can go where most people don't think of going for a week-end retreat.
No deep mud trail or rock crawling is envisioned, no competition of any sort... Just get off the beaten path from time to time!
Since most of my trekking will be alone, I do not want to risk to be lost somewhere inaccessible to everything else!

The truck will spend more time on the highway, in order to finally get to the trail I guess...

So there you have it, that's me!
Sincerely, Luc

Welcome Luc,
Even though we all know what a Pinzgauer looks like, when it is in your possession a few pics of you and your new acquisition will be most welcome.

New tires are a must.

My understanding though is that supply is short on tires for the Pinz.

I am really interested in seeing what the forums think on the tallest tire you can run on the Pinz without issues. That will help squeeze some MPHs out of the thing. I can only find BFGs in the size I've seen posted here a few times.

Welcome
Please fill out your location in your profile so in future posts people know where you are!
New tires
Many are now installing Pinz SSI with great results!

Hmmmm location is Laval (Ste-Rose area) Let me find out how to put that in my profile.
Meanwhile, for this year, I will do only easy off-roading, if any!
And next winter I will use the truck once a week just to keep it in shape, and when we get snowed-in!

I will need to amortize the buying price before I get some more money to put on it.

Meanwhile, Mocki, my mix of siberian husky/samoyed white dog will be VERY interested in going camping with me, even if it is not too far and too remote for the first few trials!

Luc

Welcome, Luc.. From just slightly south of the border from you!

Hey cascade.king
Where in Vermont are you located... Maybe Mocki and I can pay you a visit?
And will bring a jar of real maple syrup, you will see what it should taste like!!
(gently pulling your leg of course!)

The problem with us Canadians visiting the US neighbours, is with the trigger twitchy, security paranoid us border officers!

No, I don't want to start s debate here, it's just that they took all the fun out of going south of the border visiting friends and relatives.
But i maintain that Québec's maple syrup is the best!

Friendly yours, but slightly chinned up, Luc

Welcome to the forum Luc!

The problem with us Canadians visiting the US neighbours, is with the trigger twitchy, security paranoid us border officers!

You're welcome to visit Australia...... We won't shoot you as you enter the country

The very first thing I would do is to change all the fluids in everything from the Engine, transmission, diffs, Hubs, brakes, to the hydraulics for the lockers.

In addition to that, for your intended purpose, I'd recommend a winch and plenty of rigging as well as hand tools like a saw and axe, etc. If you are going alone and on trails and roads that most vehicles won't be going down, you are going to have to be self reliant as far as getting unstuck is concerned.

Personally, I'd wait on the tires until you got those other things out of the way. This is in part because the stock Maloyas, though bad on the highway, aren't so bad off-road and that can get you by where you need it most until you can afford the expense.

I bought my 712 for the exact purpose you state, to get to rugged and remote destinations, solo. That being said, in addition to what I previously mentioned, I carry just about every kind of tool needed to get out of a jam, in addition to common spare parts like a fuel pump.

I also carry a supply of all the fluids as well as an infrared thermometer, just to keep an eye on everything.

CentAr712 wrote:Personally, I'd wait on the tires until you got those other things out of the way.

Winch before tires?? Not me!

You'll use those tires every time you drive it. Old Maloyas suck on-road. You'll use a winch (maybe) when? I've had my truck for 12 years and really only needed a winch once.

I guess it depends on where you live, what you do, and how you drive. But I'd second most people's comments above, and agree with OP's original list that started with new tires.

I would also go for the tires before the winch. Travel with someone and it may not be an issue, after all.

I have been using these tires for years with no problems...on both vehicles. TreadWright tires...check them out for impressive savings, including the shipping to your door. I have the 245/75/R16 and although there used to be a stigma about retreads, these people seem to be doing something correctly.
I rarely drive over 55 so speed is not a factor for me.

I would not recommend anything that was not personally used and tried on a variety of terrains. On road a bit of noise but who can hear over the pinz engine? Good in mud and gravel and although I do not rock crawl they seem to be OK on most rock surfaces I have been on in Colorado and Utah.

I have used 33's for awhile in CA and WA but when I got to CO the garage was not tall enough so had to go to 31's. Still enough clearance for almost everything I do, and I can get into the garage.

My $.02

Welcome Luc,
Just a friendly question… are you sure your Pinz is Swiss spec’ed, not assumed it is? Lots of Austrian Pinzes have been recently released. A good Pinz is a good Pinz, but answers to questions can be different ( Americans assume everything is a Swiss Pinz).
Swiss Pinzes are fitted with Maloyas, tough as nails but miserable on wet surfaces. Tires will probably be 15+ years old… not as bad as the inner tubes may be the same age. Austrian spec Pinzes will have Semperit tires, much nicer but need to be sure of the inner tubes still. As for new tires, I recommend whatever you can readily source locally, and NOT have to ship in. nothing worse than having wait for replacement tires and having to buy another tire while waiting, in case of blow-outs. AT’s nice for road, MT’s for mud.

Most inspectors may miss it, but check to make sure your windshield is laminated, many of the early Pinzes had tempered .. not good to have an IED that can to go off in your face.

Profpinz wrote:Welcome to the forum Luc!

The problem with us Canadians visiting the US neighbours, is with the trigger twitchy, security paranoid us border officers!

You're welcome to visit Australia...... We won't shoot you as you enter the country

Peter,
He's on the wrong US border... Cal welcomes all and gives them driver's licenses and welfare.... though he may have to fake speaking Spanish

I did know a French-Canadian that was deported. Now, if that isn't racial profiling

Davis makes a great point about local tires!

265/75/16 Total Terrian by MotoMaster (Canadian Tire) are only $200 each and are made by Cooper. I have the 18" version on my Land Rover and they are great! You can go tubeless on the stock rims or run radial tubes if you wish. Canadian Tire even warranties them against road hazard (fix or replace). I had one damaged this winter and it was replaced with no hassle.

By the way, blocky tread on the side of the tires (on many mud tires) will cause rub issues. For the Canadian Shield All or Total Terrain tires work great.

Cheers, Clive

Cooper is a good tire company and makes tires all over the world under a lot of brand and private names. Years ago, I called Cooper and they had given me the name, when and where they had sold a particular tire tread and size and to what private label.