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QUICK DRIVE: TJM NAVARA ST-X
there was a better way, a missed opportunity big time!
With the release of the Mercedes X-Class now with us,
Nissan had to act quickly to fix the problem before the new truck
arrived and as you will have read in my review on the previous
pages, I reckon they’ve nailed it. I’ll say again that the revised
D23 is probably the best stock-suspended ute in our local
marketplace and can now carry a load.
But after banging around in 4WDs for four and a half decades,
I can tell you that stock suspension can always be improved
by the aftermarket, especially when you’re seeking better
articulation off-road or when carrying heavy loads and loaded to
the max on that big trip or towing.
So I picked up the TJM D23 and their Mazda BT50 (which
we’ll take a look at in another issue of Loaded 4X4) and headed
out with TJM’s Ross Jevons to the Mundaring Powerlines Track in
the Perth foothills to check out whether even better performance
was possible from their kit bag of
suspension bits.
The TJM D23 is a veritable
cornucopia of TJM products of
either their own making or from
one of their many supplying
sources. The base ute was a
Slate Grey ST-X, the top of the
range automatic, and the model
I like the least as it comes
with 18” wheels, leather seats,
that stupid push-button start
and softer stock suspension
than the lesser commercial
variants. It was pretty obvious
that the TJM D23 was heavy.
Now with all that bar-work,
winch, drawers, fridge and
loaded to the hilt with other
accessories, it couldn’t
help but weigh around
the 2.5-tonne mark. Yet
surprise, surprise the
suspension was carrying
that mass with the right
attitude – tail upright
where it should be and
nose not dragging on the
ground. Big tick on that point then. Driving
around town and later on the highway told me immediately that
the spring rates were comfy for the bitumen and the initial bump
on potholes was well managed. One thing that was impacting on
the comfort-stakes though was the 18” wheel and tyre combo. I
dislike 18” wheels intensely on 4WDs, as what is purely a fashion