Late model (Bushranger??) 6x6

[Silenceisgolden]

Hello,
I understand that the later (1995 on) 6x6 Perenties were known as Bushrangers. Do they have many differences from the late eighties models? Is there anything in particular that makes these better or worse than the early ones?
In particular, I have been told that they actually had some sound shielding. If so, is it effective?
Thanks for any info,
Cheers

[Bearman]

Hello,
I understand that the later (1995 on) 6x6 Perenties were known as Bushrangers. Do they have many differences from the late eighties models? Is there anything in particular that makes these better or worse than the early ones?
In particular, I have been told that they actually had some sound shielding. If so, is it effective?
Thanks for any info,
Cheers

Not really, mine has some differences like no roof hatch, later sealed type indicator and side lights, later cable handbrake, no interior cab lining. Don't know where the extra sound shielding is! - I haven't found it yet.
But I added heaps to mine and made it a lot quieter.

[Silenceisgolden]

Not really, mine has some differences like no roof hatch, later sealed type indicator and side lights, later cable handbrake, no interior cab lining. Don't know where the extra sound shielding is! - I haven't found it yet.
But I added heaps to mine and made it a lot quieter.

Thanks Bearman, Have you been able to make it quiet, or just quieter? I know I am being a bit hopeful, wanting to have a nice, quiet vehicle and a Perentie all at the same time!

Do the 6x6's have power steering? I imagine they could be a handful without.

Cheers, Paul

[Mick_Marsh]

Yes, they have power steering.

I went for a five hour drive in mine. To collect a car. John was passenger for the trip. He fell asleep.
It was comfortable enough for him.

[Bearman]

All the 6x6's have power steering as standard equipment Paul. They would be literally a handful without it[bigsmile][bigsmile]
The insulation/carpet made it a lot quieter and I also changed the diff ratios to 3.54 so that gets the engine noise down a lot as well. Totally different vehicle to drive now - I often forget I am driving a 6x6.

[Silenceisgolden]

Thanks gents, I am pretty keen to get one of these 6x6's. Not many 4x4's are big enough to carry a reasonably sized motorhome - great though it is, my 130 single cab is too small, and not enough load capacity. Tempted by the current Grays auction, but probably wiser to buy privately. At least a private one can be checked out more completely.
Are there any particular weaknesses that I should look out for?
Cheers.

[Bearman]

Not really, Mechanical condition particularly gearbox/transfer case and rear axle drive shaft (the carrier bearing) are the main things to check out. Check the transfer case in high and low ranges - with wear and abuse some tend to jump out of gear and can cost your first born to rectify!!. And also check the fuel tank switch to make sure it works on both tanks. Apart from that not much else gives any trouble. The front end CV's and diff carrier are strong although the standard crown wheel and pinion are a weak spot and the rear Salisbury diffs are bulletproof.

[donh54]

If you want some really good info, send a PM to Barefoot Dave on this forum. He has written a brilliant guide to buying Perenties. It's not free, but it is very well worth the small price, for the info it contains.

[nismine01]

The 'Bushranger' was a replacement for the Armoured Personnel Carriers. It was Australian designed and built, nothing like a Land Rover at all. The military vehicles (Land Rovers) became known as Perenties. They are not like Land Rovers either Australian designed and built, wider bodys, 6X6, and Mazda powered etc. Bloody good vehicle.

[weeds]

The 'Bushranger' was a replacement for the Armoured Personnel Carriers. It was Australian designed and built, nothing like a Land Rover at all. The military vehicles (Land Rovers) became known as Perenties. They are not like Land Rovers either Australian designed and built, wider bodys, 6X6, and Mazda powered etc. Bloody good vehicle.

Stretching my memory...as I never really cared about project names.....

Bushranger could very well been the project name for the 6x6 Land Rover rolled out which was an interim while they worked on an armoured solution. I wasn't part of this project but was at one the initial 2? units that received the bushranger 6x6's first. The mass roll out of the new 6x6's were not referred to as perenties

I cannot remember if the bushmaster and tiapan armoured project was under the same project name, could have been. Either way the bush master complemented the other armoires vehicles in the fleet. I think the APC's were are end of life and no longer suited to operations.

I was lucky enough to be involved the the bushmaster/taipan trails.

[101RRS]

The 'Bushranger' was a replacement for the Armoured Personnel Carriers. It was Australian designed and built, nothing like a Land Rover at all. The military vehicles (Land Rovers) became known as Perenties. They are not like Land Rovers either Australian designed and built, wider bodys, 6X6, and Mazda powered etc. Bloody good vehicle.

The Bushranger Project has two phases - the first in the 90s was uprated Lr 6x6s. The original order under Project Perentie was for 2,500 4 x 4 and 400 6 x 6 vehicles between 1987 and 1990, while further vehicles 6x6 vehicles were later added under Project Bushranger.

You are thinking of Bushranger Project Part 2 which was later in the 2000s was the acquisition of Infantry Mobility Vehicles which I think became the Bushmaster and you are correct this second phase had nothing to do with the LR 6x6.

garry

[LR V8]

What Garry said.... for some reason I couldn’t see his post...

Cheers

[Silenceisgolden]

The Bushranger Project has two phases - the first in the 90s was uprated Lr 6x6s. The original order under Project Perentie was for 2,500 4 x 4 and 400 6 x 6 vehicles between 1987 and 1990, while further vehicles 6x6 vehicles were later added under Project Bushranger.



garry

Could you tell me please in what way they were uprated? Any other changes? Should I be looking for a late model?

Thanks, Paul

[weeds]

They come with rear disc brakes as standard.....

Other than that bull bar and cosmetic things.

I only really drove GVM's and they had drums to start with than got upgraded.

[Silenceisgolden]

They come with rear disc brakes as standard.....

Other than that bull bar and cosmetic things.

I only really drove GVM's and they had drums to start with than got upgraded.

Thank you, disc brakes I much prefer - drums always seem to need more maintenance. Not a deal-maker, but it helps!
Cheers, Paul

[Mick_Marsh]

I thought they were all upgraded to discs in service.
Mine was.

[weeds]

I thought they were all upgraded to discs in service.
Mine was.

Yes the originals were upgraded and pretty sure the bushranger ones come standard with disc brakes.

[Bearman]

Yes and yes.

[Sixby]

The Bushrangers (only 6x6) were introduced in 1995 to accommodate the implementation of a motorised Infantry battalion where the role changed from 'humping' to 'hauling.' These new Bushrangers were produced in Adelaide. An easy way to spot the difference between the two is by comparing the rear tray. The Bushranger's have ovals cut out of the lower section of the tray/wheel arches. The purpose of these 'ovals' was to enable soldiers to use them as a footwell when climbing back up into the rear.