Thread: Leyland Moke
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Old 24-02-08, 23:13
Lang Lang is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane Australia
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Richard,

I was in the Army during the Moke period and had occasion to use several. they were never a general issue, main stream vehicle as far as I remember.

We had several at the Army Aviation Centre at Oakey for the Air Trafficers to check runways etc (but mainly used to drive from the control tower to the mess for lunch). They were never issued to working squadrons.

They were really only a two seater as they had ridiculous big vinyl covered loose cushions in the back that flopped around everywhere and people in the back had to make their own arrangements. The surveyors liked them to use as mattresses in their tent.

We had a few on mapping surveys in Indonesia, PNG and Borneo belonging to Survey Corps because they could be easily carried in an aircraft or lifted by a small Bell 206 Kiowa helicopter. Survey Corps also had a few Hafflingers for the same reason.

Their cross country ability is no better than a family sedan (I know there will be stories about super mokes climbing Mount Everest but if you were prepared to flog your wife's Ford Falcon over the same ground it would go further) but they are light and can be pushed out as required. Really low ground clearance, even with the bigger wheels, is a drawback.

Having said that, they are an interesting, everyday driveable vehicle and both look like and in fact are fun to own and drive. I think it is great ploy to buy one to adjust your wife to the impending unmentioned ownership of a Diamond T tank transporter.
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