Tow vehicle/daily driver

[hosehustler]

I have a 1995 Isuzu Bighorn 3.1 lotus done just under 200K, had it for four years and done 70,000K.
Has been a brilliant truck and still super shiny and tidy (never been offroad )....has a head or head gasket fault and i'm at a loss for what to do so thought i'd chuck up a post and get some other likeminded folks thoughts
It is possibly just a head gasket....running fine but pressurising the radiator and blowing bubbles but no water in oil..Should I bother to rebuild the engine and then keep it, I estimate 3-5G doing it myself bar the machining(that would include a new turbo)
or do I just flick it on and cut my losses, I have the trailer queen to tow about and I guess it's about 2 tonne incl trailer.
I'm not really into expensive cars so will keep under 10K I think...daily driver is just a necessary evil
been tardme interested in these
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =415550632
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =415837791
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =414765333
Any ideas??
cheers
Tim

[Jerry]

90 series playdo?

[Sawdoc]

I am biassed Tim as i have an HZJ73 Cruiser and love it, great solid truck just chuck a turbo on and you an awesome tow wagon

[Taz]

Is your trailer braked? If it isn't I'd be going for a 4 door so you don't get pushed around as much, but that would probably burn a little more fuel as a daily.

[gimmemud]

Would go with the surf out of those IMO. Since you wont be taking it off road it'll be the most comfortable out of the lot, and the 3.8 in it should tow the toy fine. Is there a reason you want a 4x4? You say you haven't taken the bighorn offroad so guessing a new one wouldn't either? You can pick up a nice wagon for that price that'll happily tow, wont use as much gas round town, and be more comfortable.

[hosehustler]

yeah trailer has falcon disc brakes
I like the height of trucks and 4x4's (thats all I drive)....I feel like i'm sitting on the ground in a car
and yeah it won't see any offroading except to tow a boat off the beach

[mud_slinger]

the 3.1's can crack heads but in saying that if you have the know how you can rebuild the 3.1 for round 2k. i rebuilt my 2.8 for round 1500. there are complete rebuild kits on trade me for a good price. the hardest part is getting the bore liners out and getting them back in without crinkling them. a new head is round 600 i think for a bare one.

[badnuz]

after seeing where we towed the queens with rok and tus when i was down def stick to a 4x4 tow wagon! but if you can get the rebuild done cheap then its a 4x4 you know a good chunk of history with, as apposed to buying someones hand me down rubbish??

[muddyhilux]

its a 4x4 you know a good chunk of history with, as apposed to buying someones hand me down rubbish??

id agree with this and think along the same lines,although sometimes it costs a little more to fix a particular item u know the history of the rest of the vehicle and by just buying something else your just trading your vehicles problems for another set

[rokhound]

I wouldn't be looking at the middy's if it was my money, as the longer wheel base is a no brainer for towing more comfortably (not that mids don't tow, it's just that LWB tows nicer)and the 90 series is right on the limit of towing a trailer queen 'lux (ask me how I know ).
The 4.2 (Toy or that other brand ) drizzle is probasbly where I would be looking with budget you are suggesting (80 series or GQ). The other option is to sell the trailer and look at a dedicated flat deck transporter, but that is then Reg, COF, etc, and you still need a DD.

If I was to get rid of my Playdoh, I would be looking at either one of the new Utes on the market (probably a Ranger (3.5t towing) ) or a 100 or 200 series Crusier. The GU pootrol with the 4.2dt is not all bad either.....

[turoa]

Dont buy an 80 series. You will regret it

[rmavtar80]

muddyhilux, it's good reply

[rokhound]

Dont buy an 80 series AND FARK WITH IT BEYOND IT'S AGE ETC You will regret it

Fixed it for you Tu's

[turoa]

Dont buy an 80 series AND FARK WITH IT BEYOND IT'S AGE ETC You will regret it

Fixed it for you Tu's

Hey mine was bog stock the first time it crapped out

[PR]

Dont buy an 80 series AND FARK WITH IT BEYOND IT'S AGE ETC You will regret it

Fixed it for you Tu's

Hey mine was bog stock the first time it crapped out

And what about the 2nd 3rd 4th and 5th times

[niblik]

disco 2 that shiat...

[hosehustler]

disco 2 that shiat...

cheers for all the replies (except the above )

I reckon I could do with another Hilux something like this

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 119282.htm



Garage need's 1 more lux (got Dad's double cab at mo till I sort out a DD)

[SMOKEY]

That Lux would compliment your HiLux collection Tim, YOU CAN'T HAVE TO MANY VEEEEE88888888'S, FITZY.

[SMOKEY]

Since when did a 92 Surf have ABS brakes and drivers and passengers AIR BAGS ???, my one didn't. FITZY.

[rokhound]

The thing with a tow wagon is that the power is only one factor. Wheelbase and weight also make up for a massive amount of driveability. LR's are a classic example, just because it is rated to tow 3.5t braked, deosn't mean it does it well. I towed mine with the old mans 4.2td GU pootrol and it made the job a whole lot easier than the Playdoh does it. Power was not drasticlly different, but the way it handled was.
Of course you have to be happy driving it as well (as it is a DD). Just something else to think about before you spend $$$ on a new wagon, or fixing the one you have. Do you know anyone who can lend you a bigger wagon for a couple of hours so you can try it?

[hosehustler]

Yep you're on the button Rok, i've sifted though aussie sites, and of course the info on here.
I've decided it will be a long wheel base turbo'd cruiser or safari, I think spending a bit more for something good quality may be a better option for long term motoring, just don't know if I can bring myself to spending too much .
I will sell the Bighorn as is, wreck it, or pull apart and repair head when I have a bit more time.
Thanks again for input
Now to find a good one

[safaripete]

after owning both a gq and now 80 series criuser id be inclined to look at the 80

mine has done 400000 ks and is still going strong i picked it up for 8500

[crazyclark31]

The old mans got an 80 and i've got a gq lwb.Both autos. have driven both when towing the 1 1/2t digger on his tandem. The gq pulls off the line WAY better(beats most manual off the line) but the 80 is better on the hills due to turbo. but have found both miles better than anything else i.e. prado,pajero,surfs,commadore,hiace,hilux(man that was scary on gravel road ).for towing a decent weight. Wife prefers to drive the gq as well.(Its our dd)

One thing i'd deffinatly do is put a better spring/shock kit in as the stanard stuff is crap for towing.And fit the biggest extenal trans cooler you can find if you get an auto
Personally i'd get a gq,turbo it(tdo5) and new susp kit. garentteed to get(trouble free) years out of it.And room to boot

[pruggerdore]

For towing I believe having something big and heavy on the front is the only way to go. you need to make sure the weight in front is comparable to whats on the trailer so it remains in control and as we generaly have a vehicle and cargo your talking 2500kg so a safari lwb or 80series .
I have a lwb turbo safari, factory turbo so not real grunty but enough.
mate has a 12valve 80 series.. I have towed with both long long distance and would have to say the 80 series did it slightly better due to having a bit more power and constant 4wd probably dosnt hurt too. that said I have alot more confidence that the safari will go the distance with out issues. we all know some of the issues 80s have so I wont go there other than to say my mates 80 owes him 25g due to not getting a good one, whereas my gq owes me 10 and has had no issues in 4 yrs. many 80's owners have had a bloody good run wheras others have had nothing but trouble so I say the smart money is on the qg. never meet anybody that has said they regret buying a gq. when I think about upgrading my safari the question is to what. Gu nothing really gained. 80 no way. 100series maybe but too much money. maybe 100 series v8 on lpg. again lotsa dollars... dont really need to think about too much theres half a million ks left in my safari lol

[juz]

Hey hosehustler, Im sure you would have searched Tardme already but this one seems not a bad price, possibly turbo it for the $$?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=415845778
also a few guys I know use the GUs for towing/DDs and find them great.Bit nicer to drive than the old GQs now,but jesus there still expensive!
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=418192328

[hosehustler]

Yep looking hard the Safari / patrol turbo's are (not necessarily better vehicles) but without a doubt better value for money...most of us love Toyota's and that's why they have that extra value
I'm not too keen on those high roof Safari's but a low roof LWB tubo especially if it's manual will be snapped up pretty quick by me if it's a good tidy one that hasn't been molestered

[juz]

Yeh thort you'd prefer an 80series Yota having a garage full of them, I looked for months a couple of years ago for a LWB low roof Safari to ute chop but they were all 10K+, the odd one comes up resonably priced though. Good luck, awesome truck to tow an awesome Lux!

[rokhound]

Yep, a 100 series or 4.2TD GU would be my pick, but for $30k you are still looking at ones that have almost been to the moon and back and they are over 10 yrs old, that sucks

[NJV6]

My 2c....

Having towed the same vehicle (2.4ton Hilux) with a 80 series, a 2009 Kia Sorrento, a 1KZ manual 90 series Prado and a 2001 NM 3.2 Manual Pajero, both the Prado and Pajero left the 80 for dead, they are great tow wagons. The Kia left them all for dead for power

Bang for your Buck I'd be getting a 2000+ Pajero but not everyone is keen on that

[Jerry]

what about this?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 293583.htm