Thread: Touring 4wd, what would you buy?

Originally Posted by Slunnie

To be honest.

I think that the ultimate touring vehicle is the Toyota Troop Carrier.



What would I buy?

I would wait for the new airbag dash which is now in the country and just about to be released by Toyota and I would buy the 76 series GXL.

I unfortunately have to agree 100%,after another cape trip in the D2,which has never let me down,i have been wondering what to replace it with for touring,& have come to the same conclusion.
Or maybe a 76 series trayback with canopy & rooftop tent.

But they are damm expensive......

Umm & with the optional diff locks

Originally Posted by Slunnie

I made no comment about the Tdi and if you think that a vintage car is more reliable than a new vehicle then thats fine. IF you really think that the tdi is a better motor than the TDV8 then you are seriously bias or you haven't gotten out and driven a TDV8.

Likewise if you think the performance of the Tdi is satisfactory then thats also fine, but from everything I have seen and what I have driven, the tdi does not meet any of my performance requirements except fuel consumption. Admittedly it does for some, but I'm not one of them.

If you think that you could live with the benchmark NVH levels of an Isuzu then thats also fine, I most certainly can not live with the outrageous vibrations or having absolutely everything in the vehicle rattling like crazy because of it. Again, some may find this acceptable, but I'm not one of them.

If you think that the TDV8 is a poor motor,

then you need to drive one. Performance wise it totally blows away the Tdi, Td5 and Isuzu. The Turbo diesel 6 I haven't driven and the NA 6 is a dog. If talking about reliability, then the tdi is definately no saint either, a quick look at the timing belts will verify that.

isn't it this motor that is having seriously reliability issues?

Originally Posted by dullbird

isn't it this motor that is having seriously reliability issues?

I think according to the internet every 2nd one blows up. I think in the real world that this isn't the case at all.

Its a little bit like this how this forum would lead you to believe that every single TD5 explodes with cracked heads, spun oil pump bolts and failed injector harnesses like its going out of style and if anything at all on the motor faults then it can't be fixed in the bush. Its clearly not the case, but thats what you would believe.

But doesn't PAT work with them? he is for ever saying how bad the new ones are

Well Clarkie,,,

I've tried to post a pic up here for you 3 times now, and every time my comp crashes,,

But,, I'll tell you anyway,, (why,, cause I can )

A guy called Rob Gray, (has his own site you can check it out later,,) well, he built an awesome rig based on an old Inter fire tender 6x6,, he stretched it and turned it into a motor home.
Its only slow, but its got everything you need, including the million views from its rear platform/balcony,,

This is my kinda rig,,, (but I'll still have to tow around a Landy so I can play )

http://www.robgray.com/graynomad/wot...wot1/index.php

Originally Posted by Slunnie

I made no comment about the Tdi and if you think that a vintage car is more reliable than a new vehicle then thats fine. IF you really think that the tdi is a better motor than the TDV8 then you are seriously bias or you haven't gotten out and driven a TDV8.

Likewise if you think the performance of the Tdi is satisfactory then thats also fine, but from everything I have seen and what I have driven, the tdi does not meet any of my performance requirements except fuel consumption. Admittedly it does for some, but I'm not one of them.

If you think that you could live with the benchmark NVH levels of an Isuzu then thats also fine, I most certainly can not live with the outrageous vibrations or having absolutely everything in the vehicle rattling like crazy because of it. Again, some may find this acceptable, but I'm not one of them.

If you think that the TDV8 is a poor motor, then you need to drive one. Performance wise it totally blows away the Tdi, Td5 and Isuzu. The Turbo diesel 6 I haven't driven and the NA 6 is a dog. If talking about reliability, then the tdi is definately no saint either, a quick look at the timing belts will verify that.

The original question it is a bit contradicting

Quote:
If you had a super payout or won the lottery or just had a few hundred laying around...

What would you buy to Tour with??

Remember it has to be able to be fixed if need be in the bush, so sadly a RR Sport and anything over Electric and over the top in modern crap, is no good...
End of Quote

The Toyota that you like does not meet the criteria, it cannot be fixed by a non Toyota dealer

It has to be capable off road and be reliable and good on fuel.
The Toyota drinks by the gallon, we are not 100% sure about if it is reliable

So if we are going to dream the Unimog is the best by far

You have tons of money so a bit of fuel does not matter
The vehicle have the best warranty and service available world wide so you only need a sat phone to call

Ok, it is bulky, the get a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen EDITION30 Special Edition
as you only vehilcle or tow it behind the Unimog
The G Wagen alone is a very capable vehicle and if I have the money I buy it before the Toyo

Now if we ignore a bit the original questions and we speculate that we blow all the money in the vehicle, then a old vehilce with a simple rebuilt engine which any tractor/diesel mechanic in the bush can repair then we have to go back to the isuzu, Tdi300, perkins, old 4.2 T Toyotas ,etc.
Why a Defender? because the payload of this vehicle it is not match by the other common 4x4
Why I like the Tdi 300? because the economyis fantastic and the performance of the engine is good enough for the purpose for wich the vehicle was built.
If it is good for the UK army have to be good for a tourer vehicle as well
The Puma, New Toyo, etc do not meet the criteria

This is question that I ponder over alot.
My main choice of a base vehicle is either: 1) Chevy Suburban 2) Unimog 3) Oka or 4) MAN

Originally Posted by dullbird

isn't it this motor that is having seriously reliability issues?

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