First Dual Cab 4WD for #1 Son

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

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.

.............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".

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Arch

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

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~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.

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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

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Fyi: 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.

#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.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.)

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For my reference, which Ranger model are you referring to? The 3.2l 5 cylinder or the 3l 4 cylinder?

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.