just wanting to know your thoughts on the trucks below any information would be handy, and to any mechanics out there i would like to know how many more ks i would get out of them before i have to do anything serious i.e. engine rebuilds
i want to be able to take it shooting, 4x4n (of course) and i also want to be able to chuck the mountain bikes on the back, so a bit of everything and i dont want to have to spend too much money on a shot truck
My brother and his GF do a lot of outdoor stuff (mtbiking, skiing, kayak, tramping, orienteering etc) and it comes down to the amount of driving you do and what you want it to do. I have a Hilux (two in fact) and forgive its onroad issues for its offroad ability, my brother and Father hate it and have had their own hilux's but both have gone to or are going to coil sprung, road friendly with better engine performance, better cornering and towing ratings.
Both stayed with toyota and stayed with Diesels, Brother has gone to the 1kz surf (With IFS) and he just leaves the back seats down and has a old section of carpet cut to size and in the back to pickup the dirt from the bikes boots and climbing stuff. Dad has gone to a cruiser (towing and a little more rugged (stronger) out of the box).
Both the cruiser and surf on road are such a nice drive and go quite a way offroad but not as far and with as little damage as all three Hilux's can, but a Hilux onroad is hard work they are all under powered, until you get to the newer or current models you just dont relax when driving them and can be quite tired at the end of a long trip but they are very simple.
If you want to get further up a valley go the Hilux, if you want something a little more all round and comfortable go the surf and at the end of the day you can always modify the surf like Hosehussler has and get the best of both worlds. Would I sell the Hilux? No but it suits me as I don't need or own a trailer and for the offroading I do it is an older truck and a knock or three doesnt matter too much it will need painted if/when i sell it but it does what i want.
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1) Any diesel get a leak down test done 2) Check the rain gutters above the doors and down the pillars (rust) 3) Check the drivers and Passengers footwells (the farmers gumboots, Rust) 4) Have a look at the seals around the front hubs it is a fun job to do the kingpin bearings the first time, but not expencive if you do the work.
That is about it for what I can remember
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