First Dual Cab 4WD for #1 Son

[weeds]

He has a limited budget.....and not the biggest income.

$15 000.....he’ll have $12k cash.

He is a keen camper and loves fishing on the SEQ beach’s/island

I always thought the Holden Rodeo’s with Isuzu motors were pretty reliable but they probably have a million k’s on them.

He has been researching Navaras as they seem to fit his budget.....

I only know landies....looking for tips on what to research.

[bsperka]

Have a look at Mitsubishi. Just be aware that some Japanese models (inc Mitsubishi, Mazda BT50 UN and Ford equivalent) have a transfer chain, rather than gears in the transfer case. So if you run too long on the beach in 4wd you risk stretching the chain.
Early Mitsubishi diesel fuel pumps (eg around 2004) cost a motza to rebuild ($5k) and are starting to fail due to bearing issue.

[rangieman]

Not the right platform to be asking this question [bigwhistle]
But in my humble opinion on the Rodeo Isuzu thing is most parts are pretty pricey via the growling lion [bigwhistle]
All those jappers have their pros and cons .
If it was me id find one or a few in your price range no matter what brand and go check them out or get someone with mechanical knowledge to check it out .
Then make your decision on what it is for the money[thumbsupbig]

[goingbush]

The Old Navara D22 is bulletproof , IFS and all .

[weeds]

Not the right platform to be asking this question [bigwhistle]
But in my humble opinion on the Rodeo Isuzu thing is most parts are pretty pricey via the growling lion [bigwhistle]
All those jappers have their pros and cons .
If it was me id find one or a few in your price range no matter what brand and go check them out or get someone with mechanical knowledge to check it out .
Then make your decision on what it is for the money[thumbsupbig]

Was hoping I’d get more leveled response from here.....other forums ain’t so friendly.

[bee utey]

I've had a bit to do with Tritons over the years and they're not bad for what you pay for them. The local glazier just got 280K out of his before a tree fell on it. They're kinda soulless but that's what you expect from a japper.

[laney]

My son has a d22 Nissan Navara duel cab once you block the egr off and do the swer mod they go very well his is a 2003 model the Radeos are very good and there are still good ones out there my brother had a Triton the chassis bent behind the cab he wasn't carrying a big load maybe 400kg panel beater said he had seen it before with theses cars.

[bsperka]

Rodeo diesels can rack up a lot of kms very reliably as well.

[Don 130]

x2 Navara 3.0L D22. We have a 2002 model that's done about 460K and has barely been touched aside from servicing.
Don

[AK83]

I'll also give a nod to the Rodeos too.
I got 640K klms out of mine, LPG(V6).
Even tho the valves had all worn(stems) it still went(badly).
Had to do the clutch at 450K.
Power steering went in it's final few days too.
Most expensive bits are proper full service(with the tappet adjustments).

Mine was used from 100K where I took it to it's final 640K racing around Melbourne streets primarily as a courier vehicle.
Had it for 7 years.
Overall feeling of the thing is, horrible to drive(compared to a D1 or RRC or something nice to drive), but honest and reliable, and on petrol very economical for what it was.

[LRJim]

I love rodeo utes for a work horse, I always had 2wd ones. My older diesel one (86) died at around 800k became a paddock bomb and had no oil in it. Only reason I took it off the road was because the roof was rusting through. My v6 petrol one (98) still clicks and clacks at 650k but I've cooked I'd several times. I left it in Sydney to die after hitting a roo I was gonna buy another car, had a blue with the guy I was working for and ended up driving it home to melb on hot the whole way. Still drove it for 6 months after that didn't fix it though, it finally done the bottom end when I tried some head gasket fix. BUT it still starts.
But your son wants a 4x4 so I'd be looking at all the other things that break these days, tritons snapping in half, navaras twisting, hilux's blowing heads. They all have their faults....and all uncomfortable as hell. My FIL swears by his s1 amarok, all the fruit from the factory very comfortable also. Don't know how it will go in the long run but I reckon VW would have got it right. Merc was a swing and a miss with the X class, I was hoping they would model it off the Mog or G not a bloody navara.
Cheers Jim

[Arch]

All of the Jap dual cabs are worthwhile and there is a lot of info (true and untrue) on the internet... It will naturally come down to what is available and the price. I've had older tritons, a navara d22, a couple of rodeos and a few hiluxs as work vehicles. I still drive a hilux but all of the mentioned vehicles are worthwhile if they have a good history. The V6 rodeo was dangerously quick for something that has no weight on its rear wheels - might be worth keeping in mind.

[Saitch]

.............and then you have Mahindra. My wife's niece and her hubby towed a pop top camper all over Oz with one with no more problems than any other make. They traded it on a new Ranger for a bit more oomph, after going up in weight by getting a caravan, about 8 months ago and all I am willing to state here, to keep the thread on topic, is that they're "Not Happy".

[loanrangie]

Not a fan of the D22, ride is atrocious and interior ergonomics are as bad as a defender.
Forget rear seat passengers unless they are midgets, drive line is good though even the ZD30 gets along and the gearbox is smooth.

[AK83]

.... The V6 rodeo was dangerously quick for something that has no weight on its rear wheels - might be worth keeping in mind.

~60k/h, 4th gear, 1500rpm, in the wet: feels more like an F1 car .. very twitchy, slidey rear end. [biggrin]

'Dangerous' doesn't half explain it accurately!

minimum requirement was a set of 10.5 15's instead of the old skinny 205 r 16's it had.

[Piddler]

If budget limited V6 Triton 2001 onwards, GLS model has the extra comfort fruit.
Petrol a bit dearer but cheaper to service and less long term issues.

Cheers

[bsperka]

If budget limited V6 Triton 2001 onwards, GLS model has the extra comfort fruit.
Petrol a bit dearer but cheaper to service and less long term issues.

CheersFyi: I've found that the seats in my 03 MK Triton aren't very comfortable after about 1/2 hr of driving. MN (?) onwards have better seats.

[superquag]

#3 Son's (Mechanic, would you believe) diesel Ranger is a disaster. OK, he bought privately, $14k and ex-mining vehicle... Viscous radiator fan died which cooked head, and long-story/shrt, appears to have taken out the block as well.
Awaiting another 2nd hand engine or new block, whichever is cheapest.

the Ford diesels (his vintage) have the oil cooler embedded in the block's water jacket, with all the problems that portends... Would not suggest that series engine. Co$t too many hundreds to have Exchanger properly tested. (Was not ok, after new head...then re-build said "new" head, overheating and black/green stuff still mixing.)

[bsperka]

#3 Son's (Mechanic, would you believe) diesel Ranger is a disaster. OK, he bought privately, $14k and ex-mining vehicle... Viscous radiator fan died which cooked head, and long-story/shrt, appears to have taken out the block as well.
Awaiting another 2nd hand engine or new block, whichever is cheapest.

the Ford diesels (his vintage) have the oil cooler embedded in the block's water jacket, with all the problems that portends... Would not suggest that series engine. Co$t too many hundreds to have Exchanger properly tested. (Was not ok, after new head...then re-build said "new" head, overheating and black/green stuff still mixing.)For my reference, which Ranger model are you referring to? The 3.2l 5 cylinder or the 3l 4 cylinder?

[Homestar]

In-laws have a D22 Navara as well - not the most comfortable vehicle IMO but they’ve done a ****load of KM towing their van with it and never had an issue. They love it though.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Whatever,,,


he buys will be rat**** after 3-4 years of fishing up the beach,,
did you explain that to him Weeds? [bighmmm]

[RANDLOVER]

I do know of a Land-Rover mechanic who bought his son a much vaunted Hilux, after seeming to do a good deal of research into all the major brands, Nissan, Mitsi, etc. I trust his judgement so that is what I'd get.

[bsperka]

I do know of a Land-Rover mechanic who bought his son a much vaunted Hilux, after seeming to do a good deal of research into all the major brands, Nissan, Mitsi, etc. I trust his judgement so that is what I'd get.Hilux (+Prado) D4D engines have an issue with carboning up the oil pickup and blocking the oil pickup (leaking injector seals are the cause). I've been told that at Toyota dealerships the oil pickup is visually checked each service for any signs of this.
In overseas markets (inc NZ) Toyota recommends that the seals are replaced every 50k or so (as part of the valve adjustment service).
The factory injectors fail with regular monotony. (Mate had his replaced at around 100k due to issues). $2500 to $3000. CEM claims that their CRD fuel enhancer will help avoid this issue. If you ignore the issue the top of the piston may get melted /fail.
Both known problems and well documented on forums.
Apparently you can change the timing belt on these engines in under an hour. That's a good bit of design if it's true.

[bob10]

I think the Mahindra Pik -Up is a least worth a look. All the rage with farmers, you can pick up a good used on in the Toowoomba area. Alan Whiting's review;


Mahindra Pik-Up (https://www.outbacktravelaustralia.com.au/buyers-guide-utes-and-cab-chassis/mahindra-pikup)