4WDs

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Meet Scott Crawford
President 'Australian National Four Wheel Drive Council'

Hi Ken,
 
Let me say from the start Ken, that I was some what sceptical when you asked me to let "TruckWhisperers" have a go at completing the circle of engineering and improving the perceived handling and ride comfort of my Nissan Patrol 3 Lt.  I was to that point in time very happy with the ride and Handling of my vehicle, it was every bit better in fact then the Holden Commodore Wagon that I have as a work vehicle, much more predicable and stable on the road.   I am aware that ALL vehicles no matter what price they may be are built by Manufacturers to a price and they are full of compromises, to keep to a final sell price.   I am also aware that even in the 2 wheel drive sedan range, there is a huge difference between handling of vehicles. For example, a mini or MG or such will handle completely different to a Holden Wagon, and the difference is staggering between a Ferrier and a Falcon Wagon for example.
 
When it got to Geoff's (Truck Whisperers' at Archerfield ) and he asked me what I thought of the handling and comfort of the Nissan, I said that it was great, and no, I had no handling problems and the steering wheel did not shake around 90kms.
 
So off we went for a test run - The first thing Geoff asked me to do was to run the passengers side wheels off the bitumen edge and Opps there was tail shake (rock and role.) Pretty good I said, confidently, (thinking to my self that the Holden Commodore Wagon I use for work would have ducked and dived all over the place).
 
We continued on the test run, when Geoff pointed out to me that between around the 90 I could see a ever so slight shimmy in the steering wheel.  (Now where did that come from, I thought, never noticed that before?)  On the highway he asked to sharply turn from left to right etc. and yes there was a back wallowing, (again I though it was much more predicable and more controllable then if I had done that in the Holden Commodore Wagon from work).
 
Back to the workshop and Geoff admitted that it was one of the best Nissan that he had tested, but if I allowed him, he believed that he could improve on the handling, and being a person who is always keen to make improvements where I can, I agreed.
 
So off to the reception and Geoff got under way. (dam he would not let me see what he does)  Some hours later he came forth, and said he was ready for me to re test the vehicle over the same course and doing the same tests.
 
Confidence is his middle name.
 
The first test was to repeat the passenger wheel being dropped off the edge of the bitumen, and whooooo No tail wag, it was clean and sure and more predictable then I could have imagined a vehicle to be, (and I have driven everything from a tank down). 
 
Then up to about 90 kms and the slight shimmy in the steering wheel had almost gone completely. In fact I think it has ( I was trying so hard to find it).  Then on the right lane and then let go of the steering wheel and the vehicle tracked slightly right and then to the left lane and yep it tracked slightly left.  Very predicable, sure footed.
 
Now for the 100 kms hour steering test, and whoooo no wallow and the vehicle was even more stable, then before (How / what did he do- I was thinking to my self, it was killing me not knowing.)  The a high speed sweeping corner and power on, the mighty Nissan stood up straight and powered through.
 
I must say that what ever Geoff did made some remarkable improvements. (I just wish I knew what he did?)
 
It has become clear to me that all vehicles including 4 wheel drives would benefit form a visit to Truckwhisperer.  That is not to say that the vehicle did not handle badly prior but everything can be improved on, there is no such thing as perfection, remember we are talking about a production vehicle built to a price.  The more I drive the vehicle the more I want to drive it.
 
 
Many thanks to Geoff and to you Ken.  (sure you can't tell me what it is that you actually do?)
 
Scott Crawford
President 'Australian National Four Wheel Drive Council'
Interim Director "Four Wheel Drive Australia" 

Meet Marc Biancon 
Melbourne - (FORD EXPLORER)

I’m the owner of a 2001 model Ford Explorer that has recently been to the Truck Whisperer in Benalla to rectify the handling and control of the vehicle. I was put onto the Truck Whisperer through my cousin. He asked me if I wanted my explorer to drive better than it was, because Ken at the Truck Whisperer was interested in looking at it to rectify some problems that he thought the vehicle had. I was a bit worried about taking it to Ken because I thought that the vehicle was fairly good to drive. I was told that I had nothing to lose and was reassured that the vehicle would be better than what it was after they had finished with it. So I took it to Benalla to get Ken to look at it. Before Ken started to work on the Explorer, he and I went on a test drive. Ken brought some things to my attention like the road edge control, steering feedback when driving on rough roads or going over train lines, and how well the vehicle handles around corners at high speeds. I then took a sweeping left bend at 100kph and I backed off to 80kph because I didn’t think it was safe enough, the car wanted to go straight. So we went back to the workshop and Ken started working on it. Once he finished we went on another test drive and I was impressed. The vehicle had less body roll, better road edge control, I had no steering feedback and it was taking corners like it never had before. I took the same sweeping left bend at 110kph and the car stuck to the road with very little body roll. So I do believe that the Truck Whisperer has made some vast improvements to my vehicle to make it a safer car to drive and for my family.

Yours Sincerely,

Marc Biancon.

Meet John Sutton

I had a 1985 60 Series Toyota Landcruiser which towed a 20 ft caravan. Until I found out about Truck Whisperer I had tried everything to improve the steering – wheel alignment, steering checks and changing tyres, to no avail. I put up with aching shoulders for 18 months trying to keep the vehicle on the road, for even a second the car would wander. A truck passing was a nightmare.

Thanks to Truck Whisperer they fixed the problem in about 30 minutes. I don’t know what they did, but as far as I’m concerned if anyone has a steering problem with their 4WD, take the time an contact Truck Whisperer.

I have driven trucks and busses and have been in transport most of my life. When I think of some of the problems and money I have spent on steering, that nobody could fix, I applaud Truck Whisperer.

Great Job. Well Done.

With Thanks

John Sutton
West Wyalong NSW

P.S. I recommend Truck Whisperer to anyone.