Disco 1 days are numbered - which dual cab ute?

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Originally Posted by edddo

...drum roll.....and?

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I had the very dubious pleasure of being asked to accompany a newbie to sand driving, on Moreton Island recently.
He showed up in a new Nav and while it performed OK, after about 10 mins, I wanted to get out. I now know what a cat in a washing machine feels like.
p.s. ..and I happily drive to fishing spots on the island in my '92 'cruiser tilly, which is ergonomically challenged.[smilebigeye]

Honestly, there isn't a 'Really Good' dual cab to be had out there, in my opinion. Not like the 'Really Good Wagons'. Yes, there are some dual cabs that are better, in some way, then others, but being a bit better than mediocre, isn't too flash either.
My niece and her hubby have a current Ranger. It's OK, although it is his 2nd one, as Ford had to replace the original.
A friend, who tours a lot of the year, towing her small van, has an Isuzu, which she's happy with, but has had issues.
A Mt. Isa nephew had to leave his Hilux in Toowoomba last week, for unforeseen warranty work and borrow a vehicle to get the family back home, as no parts were available.
(And still not, at time of printing)

On another note, while a few here have mentioned the cheaper Chinese dual cabs, have you had a look at Mahindra?

I wish you luck in your quest.

Edit: Would pay to check delivery time, too.

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Originally Posted by Saitch

I had the very dubious pleasure of being asked to accompany a newbie to sand driving, on Moreton Island recently.
He showed up in a new Nav and while it performed OK, after about 10 mins, I wanted to get out. I now know what a cat in a washing machine feels like.

p.s. ..and I happily drive to fishing spots on the island in my '92 'cruiser tilly, which is ergonomically challenged.[smilebigeye]

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That's pro'ly because the tilly's leaf springs are nice and soft after 30 years. I noticed something similar when my mates and I took our Disco's to a 4wd park, and where the two D2's were getting cross axled with traction control having to kick in, the old D1 just walked diagonally across wheel ruts, without a wheel leaving the ground.

There are 2 coil rear DC utes:
The Ssangyong - may be good 'value' but cant see how that could ever be reasonable off road with that rear overhang..mod options limited?
The Navara - looks as good as any of them but no one here has had anything good to say about them. Plenty of suspension upgrades and mods available for them.
Surely with a decent suspension kit it could be made into something reasonable? The 'Tyler Thompson' off road vids ( the 2020-21 ones) on youtube show him using his without mercy. Seems well kitted and very good rear travel ( and the usual pathetic front IFS travel). With factory rear locker and 33s though, it seems like it has potential?
There are plenty of cart suspension variety utes about with all sorts of kit available..but I dont think I can tolerate a cart ride for long trips...it would bring me to tears and remind me of my FJ40 days :-(

It may be that I need to consider the MUX or similar coil rear trucks ( Everest/Prado/Pajero/Colarado etc) if none of the DC utes are tolerable.
What ever I get it needs to be a comfortable long distance tourer, be able to run 33s and be well set up for remote trips.

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Originally Posted by edddo

There are 2 coil rear DC utes:
The Ssangyong - may be good 'value' but cant see how that could ever be reasonable off road with that rear overhang..mod options limited?
The Navara - looks as good as any of them but no one here has had anything good to say about them. Plenty of suspension upgrades and mods available for them.
Surely with a decent suspension kit it could be made into something reasonable? The 'Tyler Thompson' off road vids ( the 2020-21 ones) on youtube show him using his without mercy. Seems well kitted and very good rear travel ( and the usual pathetic front IFS travel). With factory rear locker and 33s though, it seems like it has potential?
There are plenty of cart suspension variety utes about with all sorts of kit available..but I dont think I can tolerate a cart ride for long trips...it would bring me to tears and remind me of my FJ40 days :-(

It may be that I need to consider the MUX or similar coil rear trucks ( Everest/Prado/Pajero/Colarado etc) if none of the DC utes are tolerable.
What ever I get it needs to be a comfortable long distance tourer, be able to run 33s and be well set up for remote trips.

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I would probably stay away from Ssangyong until their financial situation becomes clearly otherwise you may end up with an orphan.

I have a couple of mates that improved the ride on their DC utes by replacing springs and dampers. Elliptical springs are recommended on the rear for more compliance.

I've been looking at the utes as a replacement for my RRS in the future but I'm not impressed by the value or features. While the new Defender appeals the attitude of LRA does not and the warranty needs to improve. The payload of the wagons is pretty abysmal so it rules out most of them. This thread has just reminded me to check out the new Isuzu MUX specs. that are released today.

What about a.........flame suit on............... Jeep Gladiator. I know some people hate them but I think as L-R took over from Jeep, now things have gone full circle and back to Jeep if you don't want a SUV.

Or maybe a Mahindra dual cab. A workmate has one a couple of years old and he swears by it. He compares it to an updated (basic interior and driving position) old school Defender. I think a couple of guys on AULRO have them too.

Lots of good opinions coming forward which is great. Before I comment too much the question of what your normal daily driving circumstances are arises. A couple of kays to work and back each day, mums taxi sort of thing? Why I ask this is because all the diesel utes have a DPF. The [costly] enemy of the DPF is short trips. Another consideration is that there are 3 different types of DPF aka closed, passive and hybrid. Then rather than a DPF there is the AdBlu type of anti pollution gear fitted. I'd suggest that you do your homework about the anti pollution gear on the diesels and their relevance to your driving routine.

Lots has been said here about harsh riding utes here but golly gee whiz there are some softies behind the wheel these days. [smilebigeye] Yeah this is an old fella reminiscing about the good old days in which I drove all over Victoria and southern NSW chasing fish and deer and all done in a Suzuki LJ 50 [3 cylinder 2 stroke] which was followed by an '89 2.8 diesel dual cab Hilux. Both cars were leaf sprung and neither had power steering. The thought of them being hard riding units just never came up. Ride is all about your perception of what they are like. I've driven a few of the newer utes including Chinese and to me they were all limos.

Wish you good luck. [biggrin]

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Originally Posted by Grumbles

Lots of good opinions coming forward which is great. Before I comment too much the question of what your normal daily driving circumstances are arises. A couple of kays to work and back each day, mums taxi sort of thing? Why I ask this is because all the diesel utes have a DPF. The [costly] enemy of the DPF is short trips. Another consideration is that there are 3 different types of DPF aka closed, passive and hybrid. Then rather than a DPF there is the AdBlu type of anti pollution gear fitted. I'd suggest that you do your homework about the anti pollution gear on the diesels and their relevance to your driving routine.

Lots has been said here about harsh riding utes here but golly gee whiz there are some softies behind the wheel these days. [smilebigeye] Yeah this is an old fella reminiscing about the good old days in which I drove all over Victoria and southern NSW chasing fish and deer and all done in a Suzuki LJ 50 [3 cylinder 2 stroke] which was followed by an '89 2.8 diesel dual cab Hilux. Both cars were leaf sprung and neither had power steering. The thought of them being hard riding units just never came up. Ride is all about your perception of what they are like. I've driven a few of the newer utes including Chinese and to me they were all limos.

Wish you good luck. [biggrin]

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The drive to work is about 30km each way. Covid has meant less commuting but that will change at some point. There is the occasional trip to Melbourne for family reasons then there are recreational trips - of which I plan to do more than ever over the coming years. These include road trips with the camper, remote desert trips ( eg A Beadell/Centre type of thing) and high country weekends. That should give you an idea. My last leaf sprung car was an FJ40 - that thing hit bumps I couldn't even see - really was tempted to drive it into a tree at times. I went from that to a classic Rangie and never looked back.

I thought the NAV went back to cart springs as they couldn't get the coils right ?

A mate of mine had a D2 td5 manual which he really liked, but needed a DC ute for work / fun.

Bought an amorok tray and kitted it out with a custom gull wing aly canopy for doing deliveries, going camping.

He came to the conclusion that it might be a bit fragile (a few have blown motors around here).

Bought an Isuzu and is generally loving it for work purposes.

Ranger and BT were out of the question (old BT, this was before the latest one which is really a re-badged Isuzu) because there were bad old BT blown motor / trans combos around here that took months to sort out under warranty, owned by mutual friends.

He is missing his D2 now because the rok and the Isuzu are nowhere near as enjoyable off road.

The point I'm making is that all the dc utes are really work vehicles and will never have the luxo off road ride of a RRC, D1 or D2 (whose chassis / suspensions are closely related).

Depends on your priorities. DL