Touring 4wd, what would you buy?

I made the comment about the Mog if money was not the issue if you read I said that it can tow the G Wagen as well.

Now regarding reliability of the Toyota this are your comments in THIS thread


Quote:
Originally Posted by harlie View Post
the owners will still stand in front of you and tell you how c**p your landrover (or anything else) is. I had a guy at work tell me that "you need to buy a toyota, nothing is as reliable and nothing is anywhere near as comfortable". mmm
He's obviously either never sat in a commercial toyota, or never sat in anything other than a commercial toyota. Don't get me wrong, I really do like the Toyotas, but that comment is sooooo wrong its not funny.
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It is strange that you are selecting the Toyota after your comment, but then again perhaps you have changes your mind after few weeks :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by willem

According to a Toyota dealer principal I was talking to the excessive oil consumption problem has been fixed by a new seal in the turbo. Coolant leakage problems on the turbos can be an expensive and time consuming repair. Otherwise reliability wise they are OK.

Performance wise I was in a Troopie with the V8 diesel on several occasions while on the Tiwi Islands and they pull like a train. Great performance! This was the single turbo version that is in the Troopies. The 200 series has a twin turbo version.

But repair one out in the field? Just take one look under that bonnet and you will forget the idea real quick! It is a very big and complex motor and it fills the engine bay like no motor I have seen since the V12 Jag. I wouldn't want to repair that in the field either.

The dealer mentioned above said that if the top coolant outlet on the turbo started to leak the repair involved removing the turbo itself and that is an engine out job! That is a workshop job only, especially with this engine.

I can quite seriously say that working on my P38 in the field would be a much less daunting proposition than working on the Toyota V8 diesel!

Willem

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Does not look like that it is a GOOD expedition vehicle :angel:

so, money no problem
you want reliability
comfort
4x4 performance
the ability to be able to fix it McGyver style
Load space


well as a tourer go diesel, smaller tanks and heres more actual places you can go, ( petrol vehicles band)
reliability well in theory thats any thing that is new or rebuilt.
comfort = coils over leaf
$X$ performance, ok there is a lot of options there.
Load space

ok so working up the list, load space ( weight) leaves us with Defender land cruser and Patrol.

defender comes out on top for 4x4 performance stock ( for arguments sake)
comfort, all about the same
reliability, well dump the electrics and that leaves us with older vehicles.
so apply the above to the older models, but only the coil sprung one = defender.

so a rebuilt defeater either 110 or 130, probably best to get the isuzu with and turbo.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chucaro

I made the comment about the Mog if money was not the issue if you read I said that it can tow the G Wagen as well.

Now regarding reliability of the Toyota this are your comments in THIS thread


Quote:
Originally Posted by harlie View Post
the owners will still stand in front of you and tell you how c**p your landrover (or anything else) is. I had a guy at work tell me that "you need to buy a toyota, nothing is as reliable and nothing is anywhere near as comfortable". mmm
He's obviously either never sat in a commercial toyota, or never sat in anything other than a commercial toyota. Don't get me wrong, I really do like the Toyotas, but that comment is sooooo wrong its not funny.
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It is strange that you are selecting the Toyota after your comment, but then again perhaps you have changes your mind after few weeks :)

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Grave digging - its like plugging holes in a sinking ship. :p

The blue stuff is a quote from Harlie, the red stuff is what I have written. My first sentance is about the perspectives of the person Harlie is quoting and highlighting his bias and probably perspectives from what appear to be a fairly limited experience.

The second comment sentance says that I disagree that Toyota are the most reliable or the most comfortable 4WD on the market. To me, a reliable vehicle is a 4.2 Nissan GU Patrol. To me the most comfortable would be something like a RRS/D3 with comfy seats and ergonomics. The Toyota commercials are generally sprung stiff, though if anything this is a good thing for a tourer.

You don't have to be the best at all or any of these points to be the best tourer though.

Please, feel free to keep digging. :lol2:

Do not worry I would not digg just to show you that if you trying to be sarcastic about my comments make sure that you are consistent with your arguments :D

At the end of the day I do not care less if you like Toyotas of what ever vehicle you have selected :lol:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chucaro

Do not worry I would not digg just to show you that if you trying to be sarcastic about my comments make sure that you are consistent with your arguments :D

At the end of the day I do not care less if you like Toyotas of what ever vehicle you have selected :lol:

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Actually I thought that was pretty uncalled for on my part. Sorry. :(

I do still think that the 76 is the go as a touring vehicle, but at the same time my vehicle is a D2 and not looking like it will change for a while.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chops

Is there a reason why you couldn't put one in, even if you have to have it engineered,, its probably not hard to do, I've seen it done on other vehicles, but I dont know if they had to be engineer passed,,:confused:

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If you think that the window at the back of the Defender Cab is large enough to climb through you don't need an engineering certificate. For most people however there is not enough height and the crossbar as well as the bottom panel need to be cut - which would require an engineering certificate. If you properly reinforce the cut out section you have not problems in getting the certificate.

Cheers,
Daniel

Just one point I'd like to make about outback travelling is any vehicle
planning on travelling should be in top mechainical order regardless of
wheather it's petrol or dieso.

Im yet to see an outback posts that Petrol Vehicles are BANNED.

Members of out own club have travelled extensively through outback of australia
and never had any problems finding Fuel stations or outposts that sells petrol.
Yeah sure Deserts are renownwed for burnt out petrol vehicles due to Spinifex igniting.
but there are things you can do to ensure this doesn't happen.

Long-range tanks are essential. If you don't have them you can always carry
more fuel in jerry cans, but places like canningstock you'll still need Fuel drop
off possibly even for diso.
And If you're planning on travelling thru outback you should be travelling in
a convoy anyway unless you've planned it carefully to travel on your own.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Disco_owner

Im yet to see an outback posts that Petrol Vehicles are BANNED.

.

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there are quite a few areas where you are either not allowed to enter in a petrol Vehicle. or you will not get a Permit if you are in a petrol Vehicle.
add to that in some communities\ areas, petrol can and will attract a but of the wrong sort of attention.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Disco_owner

Just one point I'd like to make about outback travelling is any vehicle
planning on travelling should be in top mechainical order regardless of
wheather it's petrol or dieso.

Im yet to see an outback posts that Petrol Vehicles are BANNED.

Members of out own club have travelled extensively through outback of australia
and never had any problems finding Fuel stations or outposts that sells petrol.
Yeah sure Deserts are renownwed for burnt out petrol vehicles due to Spinifex igniting.
but there are things you can do to ensure this doesn't happen.

Long-range tanks are essential. If you don't have them you can always carry
more fuel in jerry cans, but places like canningstock you'll still need Fuel drop
off possibly even for diso.
And If you're planning on travelling thru outback you should be travelling in
a convoy anyway unless you've planned it carefully to travel on your own.

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You make some very valid points here.

1/. A properly maintained and prepared vehicle is essential though unfortunately some don't know what this means or are blaze about the risks, sometime resulting in death.

2/. How soon we all forget that prior to the Landcruiser H engine diesel 4WD's were as rare as 'rocking horse tarpit'. Len Beadell never had a diesel and he did OK.
Last year I took a 4.5 litre petrol/gas troopy from Victoria through the centre and up the Tanami Track, across to Broome, along the GRR, up to Mitchell Falls and Kalumburu and back home down the bitumen. Apart from trashing a totally unsuitable battery and breaking a radiator bracket it performed brilliantly. 13000 Km in 8 weeks and although it used nearly double the volume of fuel (LPG & Petrol) as my mates LPG over diesel GU it was considerably cheaper to run.
All up cheap to buy, the Government paid for the gas conversion (damm decent of them I thought), cheap to maintain and cheap as chips to run. Perfect around Australia touring choice.

3/. Petrol isn't always available in the outback for various reasons. Some operators couldn't be bothered stocking it due to low sales volumes or other reasons, Hells Gate up north or Imintji on the Gibb River Road for example . Realistically if your'e on petrol its a good idea to carry enough fuel to get you to the fuel stop after the next one. Not a major inconvenience if you've done your homework.

4/. Dunno about LR tanks though. I've seen a number of vehicles stuck with leaking tanks in my travels. Always aftermarket jobs. Never come across a failed factory tank. Jerrys mightn't be as convenient but are a lot more reliable. One hole doesn't mean you lose the lot.

5/. Only in the rarest of circumstances is convoy driving a neccessity. In remote or rugged areas it may be prudent to travel with another vehicle(s) sometimes but a convoy; only if its your preference. Whatever rows your boat. Though in all fairness preparation, planning and execution are totally different when travelling solo. Best way to go in my view but definitely not for the inexperienced or unprepared.

Deano