Originally Posted by
jonesy61
I spent four years in seismic crews living in 45 and 47series 1 tonners and hated every minute of the most uncomfortable truck you could ever put on the road. Chassis was too thin, if you are looking at one check the round tube just behind the cab to ensure it isn't cracked or re-welded, nasty habit there as well as above the rear diff. These things were terrible in the bush lift a wheel or pickup a diagonal and your stopped, stearing components in front of front diff so extra care needed not to turn it pidgeon toed. 2H was very gutless on the road but was excellent in slow going, actualy drove one around the Chevoit ranges without brakes after the master cylinder developed a problem induced by dumb surveyors (us) We spent a week without brakes and managed to survive so good marks for allowing dumb drivers to do silly things without killing themselves.
Useless in the desert, landies killed em in the Simpson...more driver ability tho. After a solid month and the knack of the right tyre pressures we were driving around in2wd more often on tracks that were really cut up from solid use, read dry and loose.
Ergonomicly speaking, Too narrow, too short, couldn't sleep in it, handled terribly, two cuts of the wheel to avoid wandering stock and you are on your roof. We had a crew who rolled a cruiser every month for a year. (Instant dismissal until a party manager did it.) After driving 70s and 80series wagons they didn't get better until they got a coil rear end....bloody trucks. Compared to my Disco, they do not hold a candle to a landie. Juggies managed to turn brand new cruisers into junk in less than three years. Driver abuse, smashed trannie cases was the weakest link in the driveline yet I never had one leave me in the lurch.
If you see a 45/47 series just walk away if you discover it ever worked for a seismic crew:D
I vowed I would NEVER own a Landcruiser as a drive car. It actually turned me off 4WDs for years after that job.