7 seat diesel options

[muddymatt1973]

Hi All,

Hopefully I will be in the market for a new/old wagon soon. It MUST have the following.....

7 seat
Diesel
Able to tow double horse float (2500kgs ish)
4x4

Budget is 6-9K

Finding a half decent Cruiser for that isn't going to happen.
Don't really like Pajeros.
Don't really like Bigho's

What other options????

Was perving Trade-Me and saw Hyundai Terracan - 2.9CDTi. Looks pretty good so far. Has anyone got any experiance of them? Good or bad feedback really appreciated.

Thanks!

[zukmeista]

Should get a reasonable GQ Safari for that coin, yes they aren't the fastest off the line but a turbo would fix that. If you're towing 2.5T then IMO that rules out most of the smaller trucks eg pajero bighorn etc as they really aren't heavy enough to stop the tail (trailer) wagging the dog (truck).

[muddymatt1973]

Should get a reasonable GQ Safari for that coin, yes they aren't the fastest off the line but a turbo would fix that. If you're towing 2.5T then IMO that rules out most of the smaller trucks eg pajero bighorn etc as they really aren't heavy enough to stop the tail (trailer) wagging the dog (truck).

Hmm possible, whats the fuel use like on them? With or W/O a snail fitted?

[Suza]

I went a Safari 4.2na manual from a Bighorn. The Safari is great. Fuel wise I usually sit around 12 to 14 litres per 100km.
As a tow wagon they are not to bad I regularly haul 2-3ton with it from Nelson and it only ends up taking an extra 15 to 20 mins to get home a trip of about 100km

[derk]

x2 or x3 on the Saf mate that's the only thing you'll get for that price that'll tick all those boxes (still not sure where the other 2 people sit though ) they will tow all day long with 2-3 ton hanging off the back but just don't think you'll be heading up any hills at a notable speed if you want to climb shit fast buy a dodge ram

[muddymatt1973]

I went a Safari 4.2na manual from a Bighorn. The Safari is great. Fuel wise I usually sit around 12 to 14 litres per 100km.
As a tow wagon they are not to bad I regularly haul 2-3ton with it from Nelson and it only ends up taking an extra 15 to 20 mins to get home a trip of about 100km

Thanks for that. Is that a towing fuel figure or a general use?

[Ant]

Fuel wise I usually sit around 12 to 14 litres per 100km.

plus one for safari, you will never own anything else
I get 10-11 L/100km with 33s. Non Turbo and not towing.
Dont think turbo will add to much difference fuel wise, might even be better when towing. Can tow 3 tonnes with our non turbo (with 31s) as long as you not in to much rush and dont mind slow hill climbs. Still sits at 90-100kph happily.

[zukmeista]

(still not sure where the other 2 people sit though )

Thought they had a 3rd row option?

if you want to climb shit fast buy a dodge ram

The only thing you could tow with one of those at speed is a fuel tanker...

[lax2wlg]

Or 13.6 ton (30,00lb) while carrying a payload of 2.9 ton (6500lb) averaging 18-20mpg if you get the Cummins powered 3500 HD model.

[muddymatt1973]

Or 13.6 ton (30,00lb) while carrying a payload of 2.9 ton (6500lb) averaging 18-20mpg if you get the Cummins powered 3500 HD model.

Nice but a little overbudget I fear

[Suza]

I went a Safari 4.2na manual from a Bighorn. The Safari is great. Fuel wise I usually sit around 12 to 14 litres per 100km.
As a tow wagon they are not to bad I regularly haul 2-3ton with it from Nelson and it only ends up taking an extra 15 to 20 mins to get home a trip of about 100km

Thanks for that. Is that a towing fuel figure or a general use?

Thats towing. I run 33's and don't try and drive it like its a race car

[tweake]

If you're towing 2.5T then IMO that rules out most of the smaller trucks eg pajero bighorn etc as they really aren't heavy enough to stop the tail (trailer) wagging the dog (truck).

thats a trailer problem not a tow vehicle problem.
plenty of horsey crowds use falcon/commodore to tow 2t plus horse floats.

7 seats is the hard bit.
range rover?

[NJV6]

Was perving Trade-Me and saw Hyundai Terracan - 2.9CDTi. Looks pretty good so far. Has anyone got any experiance of them? Good or bad feedback really appreciated.

If you don't like Pajero's then rule these out, they are basically an ugly Pajero, the chassis & running gear (apart from the engine) is all Pajero.

There is no reason you couldn't tow 2 ton + with a small turbo Diesel, they actually do it very well.

[BlakeNZ]

If you are towing on flat ground,and short trips,perhaps look at a 1997 onwards (intercooled) nissan mistral 7 seater.
Cheaper to run, within budget, 7 seats.Plenty available. But put a trans cooler on it.
Someone will jump in soon and say a Disco has seven seats. Though the V8 ones are easy to find, the diesel ones are not on the market as often.

[keithal]

LWB bighorns are a good option
Have plenty of power for towing and reasonably strong running gear


Main thing with most diesels is to make sure it's been regularly serviced

[niblik]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/737793047

[muddymatt1973]

If you're towing 2.5T then IMO that rules out most of the smaller trucks eg pajero bighorn etc as they really aren't heavy enough to stop the tail (trailer) wagging the dog (truck).

thats a trailer problem not a tow vehicle problem.
plenty of horsey crowds use falcon/commodore to tow 2t plus horse floats.

7 seats is the hard bit.
range rover?

Commonwhore is not gonna cut it on our very steep drive way.
Rangies are not 7 seat - Discos are tho

[muddymatt1973]

Was perving Trade-Me and saw Hyundai Terracan - 2.9CDTi. Looks pretty good so far. Has anyone got any experiance of them? Good or bad feedback really appreciated.

If you don't like Pajero's then rule these out, they are basically an ugly Pajero, the chassis & running gear (apart from the engine) is all Pajero.

There is no reason you couldn't tow 2 ton + with a small turbo Diesel, they actually do it very well.

Didn't know that about the Terracans - thanks where is the motor from? Hyundai own?

[muddymatt1973]

If you are towing on flat ground,and short trips,perhaps look at a 1997 onwards (intercooled) nissan mistral 7 seater.
Cheaper to run, within budget, 7 seats.Plenty available. But put a trans cooler on it.
Someone will jump in soon and say a Disco has seven seats. Though the V8 ones are easy to find, the diesel ones are not on the market as often.

HaHa there is nothing flat about northland! Mentstral is not gonna do what we need.

[zukmeista]

Hence the suggestion of a Safari, with all the hills around a 4 cylinder truck is going to be working pretty hard to get up some of the hills whereas the Safari being a 6 should have the torque to deal with it, I would assume the brakes on a Safari would pull it up a bit better than a lighter truck too. Don't like the idea of the trailer being heavier than the tow vehicle myself but up to the individual I guess. Have towed 1.5T behind my Rugger before with a braked trailer, balanced perfectly and even that felt pretty dodgy especially going down steep hills.

[tweake]

2.5t no problem even down hill. northland dosn't have big hills anyway.
however long wheel base vehicle is far better than shorties.
we tow 2.5t (and probably more ) with the navaras day after day for months each year. what helps a lot is decent trailer brakes.
mind you we had no problems with the hired trailers and the brakes never worked on them.

safari is a fairly good choice and you can turbo it later on.

otherwise an awd like a Territory ?? (enough to make any 4x4er spew but it might fit your needs)

[zukmeista]

northland dosn't have big hills anyway.

Dunno about that the hill on the northern side of Moerewa is pretty steep
Yes would agree LWB is better but I think it was the weight more than anything, truck trying to go in a different direction but trailer just wanted to go straight ahead.

[tweake]

northland dosn't have big hills anyway.

Dunno about that the hill on the northern side of Moerewa is pretty steep
Yes would agree LWB is better but I think it was the weight more than anything, truck trying to go in a different direction but trailer just wanted to go straight ahead.

with brakes the amount of push on the tow vehicle is minimal. with override brakes the more the trailer pushes the more the brakes are pushed on and it balances so the brakes take almost all the push of the load.
granted i'm usually only going down the Brynderwyn but you don't use brakes anymore than without a trailer.

[slidenyo]

I had the front driveshaft let go on the tractor heading down brynderwyn on the northside with a tandem lowboy behind full of posts.
Needless to say it was all good till then and the bloody thing would hardly pull up on the rear brakes alone empty let alone full (I shat ).
safari granroad normally does 7 seat option (I'm about to pull mine out),
have you considered a 4x4 hiace or l400 delica van?
the old mans had a 3L hiace and currently has a 4m40 delica,
albeit ugly the engines pretty snappy with factory turbo and intercooler.
Think he paid $3k but there was another similar with new tires and tidier condition for $5K at the waro/hikurangi turn off a fortnight ago

[zukmeista]

have you considered a 4x4 hiace or l400 delica van?
the old mans had a 3L hiace and currently has a 4m40 delica,
albeit ugly the engines pretty snappy with factory turbo and intercooler.
Think he paid $3k but there was another similar with new tires and tidier condition for $5K at the waro/hikurangi turn off a fortnight ago

Not a bad idea actually, they have a bit of a nose so your legs aren't the crumple zone, the back seats are pretty comfy and a lot easier to get to the back seats than a 5 door wagon only downsides I can think of is that motor access would be a complete bitch and the 4M40t has a habit of snapping timing chains.

[NJV6]

the 4M40t has a habit of snapping timing chains.

Not really, The guides get worn and should be replaced as a matter of course, much like timing belts. If not, they will jump or break, much like timing belts.

[tweake]

not sure if the vans would be any good. but i don't know much on the delica.
vans are lighter than the other 4x4's, smaller tires, really light in the rear end and front heavy which will make towing, especially in paddocks, a pain.

theres no nose to them so some sort of front bar is preferred.

tho a 1kz hiace would have the seating and room for all the horse gear they cart around with moderate power.

[mazdamike]

td5 discoverys pull all day, traction control,active cornering. nice to drive all for f**k all coin nids truck is not a bad deal better than a big old saf bus.

[slidenyo]

both those vans tow good I've had a 1.5ton digger behind each although ten years apart,
the hiace was slow as all buggery but climbed exceptionally well even dragging the digger up a wet paddock in low box,
the l400 is an auto so towing was easy just leave the overdrive off and feed it the boot also the l400 has a centre diff lock and an lsd I'm pretty sure as I tried to bog that also an it just walked out.

[zed]

If you are talking about this TerrorCan:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =742228823

I went and inspected it for a friend who had the same requirements as you. I felt the performance was lazy (noticibly slower than my old tech surf), but when I spoke to the people who did the last service on it, they said it had a miss/stall which was incurable. Apparently some of them do it and some dont, and high-and-dry dont know why...

So I bought her a Prado simple technology (relatively), cheap n easy cambelt changes, good performance and a good ride. Not to mention decent resale value being a Toy. Only thing is to keep your egts down if it's a tow wagon, so intercooled and bigger dump pipe/exhaust. Oh and absolutely fit an egt gauge if you go mitsi/toyota, so you know if you are in the head-crack zone and can lift off the jandal appropriately...

Personally for a 7 seat tow horse I'd want an 80 series turbo cruiser...but a tad outside the budget