Hey -its time i get my fat dogs out to earn their keep (and fill my freezer). I have been looking on T.M for a while and also the Trade and Exchange, I only want to spend round 3-4 grand at this stage and would like a 4x4 that I can carry dogs, get me around the farm/bush and also to take on a few 4x4 club days. I have seen a few soft top Pajeros (early 90's) for round 2-3 grand, and the occasional suzuki soft top - soft top is so i can seal off the front and use the small rear as a deck for stinkin dogs. Can any body give me any advice/warnings on vehicles - I would really like a 4x4 ute but they seem to be out of my price range. I would like to get/install biger tyres and raised suspension in my budget aswell. Any advice you have got will be appreciated as I would like to get a wagon that's not gonna let me down.
Cheers
BEST 4x4 FOR $$$$$$
Sweet - yeah there is a soft top diesel at a ok price near where i live, are the petrol engines alot better than the diesel reliability wize or is it just the power thing. I have a warn M8000 that i am going to hyro drive, and was looking into the 33's - is there much into fitting them under the guards and lifting suspension, I heard somthing about removing the sway bar??
surfs with independant front suspension are cheap to buy and cheap to mod. the early90's shape are nicer to drive on the road. I have one with a 3L v6 petrol. They are the most powerful motor you could afford in a surf (3L diesel would be better but i dont think you would get one for that money) The petrol is really thirsty but alot more reliable than the 2.4d.
Only disadvantage not soft top though the older ones you can remove the canopy roof but its abit of a pain. oh and ofcoure the ifs is crap but for what you are describing it should be fine and will be alot better on the road. (also you only have to buy springs for the back because you can just wind up the tortion bars to lift the front).
The pajeros are pritty good to. I quite like them but don't know shit about them.
Do a search and you will find heaps of info on how to mod the surfs.
Pete
Only disadvantage not soft top though the older ones you can remove the canopy roof but its abit of a pain. oh and ofcoure the ifs is crap but for what you are describing it should be fine and will be alot better on the road. (also you only have to buy springs for the back because you can just wind up the tortion bars to lift the front).
The pajeros are pritty good to. I quite like them but don't know shit about them.
Do a search and you will find heaps of info on how to mod the surfs.
Pete
The surf you can basically turn into a ute by removing the canopy and making a false cab back.
You will easy get a surf for that money and the IFS is quite capable for what you are doing.
You will easy get a surf for that money and the IFS is quite capable for what you are doing.
Sold my 1985, BJ74 MWB Landcruiser, rear locker, 33" MTs, snorkel, PTO winch, solid bars all round, spotties, AM CB etc.
Now just a 1994, 1kz Surf, pretty standard.
Now just a 1994, 1kz Surf, pretty standard.
how heavy is your right foot? some pajeros tend to have a problem with breaking cvs... i havet tho. for 4k if you look around you will probly find a soft top with 33s and rear locker. id go for a 3ltr v6 as ive heard bad storys about the diesels. had a bad experience myself with one but i brought someone elses problem and it was a parts truck in the end so i cant really shed to much light on the probs. mine is a 3ltr. the power is good and its done well to last as long as it has with my abuse and lack of maintanence.
33s go on easily enough with some lwb springs in the rear or raised springs and winding the torsions up. i had to do some massaging with a hammer at the rear of the front guards, but you cant tell unless you look in the arches.
swaybar disconnects are easy and effective mods. i just removed mine.
fro the price they are good wagons, and well speced.
33s go on easily enough with some lwb springs in the rear or raised springs and winding the torsions up. i had to do some massaging with a hammer at the rear of the front guards, but you cant tell unless you look in the arches.
swaybar disconnects are easy and effective mods. i just removed mine.
fro the price they are good wagons, and well speced.
Hey - thanks guys getting some good advice here. Hey what about a 86 SWB Nissan Safari 2 door with fibreglass top? Its a 3.3l non turbo straight 6, stock standard, would this be a better buy - chuck a set of 35's on???? What are they like on the diesel? Maintainance? Things to look for?? There is one advertised where i live for $3500 so gotta be worth a look??
WACKO - My right foot tends get pretty heavy when the blood is flowing and the knuckles turn white - Or if some pretty girls are watchin if ya no what i mean:wink:
WACKO - My right foot tends get pretty heavy when the blood is flowing and the knuckles turn white - Or if some pretty girls are watchin if ya no what i mean:wink:
I am selling my SWB FJ70 Landcruiser. It would be ideal (I think). Am selling as I need a LWB now for family.
<edit: link removed>
It fits 33s under as is.
R
<edit: link removed>
It fits 33s under as is.
R
Last edited by rowinz on Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Rowan
KZJ78 LWB Prado
KZJ78 LWB Prado
Keep your eyes peeled, you will get a good surf for that coin, Mine an 84 solid front with 33's, 3L, shackels and bits cost me less than what your bottom dollar is.
In CHCH there is another with twin lockers and a 5m all certed for 6k.
On tardme there is a BJ70 with pto, 189km turbo for 4.5k.
Deals are everywhere.
In my opinion, a hilux is the way to go, you could get a LN106 D/C for under 5 if you look hard.
Otherwise, a L/YN60 under 1k and 4k spent on it would be hard to beat...
Hell a dirty SWB Saffy is hard to beat out of the box and you could find one and keep change in your pocket.
In CHCH there is another with twin lockers and a 5m all certed for 6k.
On tardme there is a BJ70 with pto, 189km turbo for 4.5k.
Deals are everywhere.
In my opinion, a hilux is the way to go, you could get a LN106 D/C for under 5 if you look hard.
Otherwise, a L/YN60 under 1k and 4k spent on it would be hard to beat...
Hell a dirty SWB Saffy is hard to beat out of the box and you could find one and keep change in your pocket.
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Disco-Blue
- Hard Yaka
- Posts: 238
- Joined: Sat Feb 24, 2007 12:00 pm
- Location: Christchurch
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Really depends what you want, Petrol or diesel, LWB or SWB and if you want a ute or something to carry the whole family in. Id work out what you want to do with it and then go from there. Once you have the make and model you think you are looking for im sure if you have any questions on the pros and cons that people will be eager to help you out.
Hey guys - thanks for your thoughts - I need to keep the cost of running down so at this stage am leaning toward diesel. I am not worried bout family or carting people, (nice to have someone to hook the winch on tho)
It would be nice (but not essential) to be seperated from dogs etc specially when they covered in shit, blood and anything esle they can find to roll in but this could be done with a tarp or mesh grill etc. I will be using it as my transport to and from work (about 10km round trip) and for the usual running around town and doing what a guy does in his truck (sneaking off to his mates to have a beer and watch the footy) I was using a lada niva - which is advertised on here and for what it was it did the job well.
I dont have alot of money to put into it, and have a three month old baby taking her fair share of the earnings too.
A hilux ute would be the obvious choice but I find them to be mostly out of my price range, or with hang ups with rust etc. I was looking at the pajero's etc but have found out they can be time bombs and the petrol version too expensive for me to run as much as i would like. Suzukis are too expensive and Toyota's are getting right up there too. As far as surfs go I am taking your advise and looking into them as we speak. Leading the race at this point though is the nissan safari i mentioned above as I can remove the rear section and turn it into a ute, it is on leaf springs front and rear (i think) which makes lifting it cheaper and easier, and hopefully will provide a good platform on which to build and grow into 4x4ing. It is 3.3 non turbo and although i realise it wont be the most powerful i think it will be enough for me (I used to drive a Lada remember) the owner has told me it is pretty economical and been well looked after - from the photos ive seen it looks pretty mint. I am hoping to get it for under or close to 3 grand and have 1000 - 1500 left in my budget to put into 35 inch tyres be it new or second hand. I will veiw it with my mechanic mate this weekend.
I want to join the local 4x4 club (manawatu) and at this stage get out on the "sight seeing" drives to begin with - moving on to the more challenging later as I cant afford to be wrecking stuff just yet!
Your comments have been all read through many times and I am considering all options. Im on Trade Me more than my bloody wife these days! It has been totally worth while starting this thread and it has saved me from rushing in and potentially making the wrong decision - and hopefully other newbies can find useful info in it as I have.
Cheers Boys
It would be nice (but not essential) to be seperated from dogs etc specially when they covered in shit, blood and anything esle they can find to roll in but this could be done with a tarp or mesh grill etc. I will be using it as my transport to and from work (about 10km round trip) and for the usual running around town and doing what a guy does in his truck (sneaking off to his mates to have a beer and watch the footy) I was using a lada niva - which is advertised on here and for what it was it did the job well.
I dont have alot of money to put into it, and have a three month old baby taking her fair share of the earnings too.
A hilux ute would be the obvious choice but I find them to be mostly out of my price range, or with hang ups with rust etc. I was looking at the pajero's etc but have found out they can be time bombs and the petrol version too expensive for me to run as much as i would like. Suzukis are too expensive and Toyota's are getting right up there too. As far as surfs go I am taking your advise and looking into them as we speak. Leading the race at this point though is the nissan safari i mentioned above as I can remove the rear section and turn it into a ute, it is on leaf springs front and rear (i think) which makes lifting it cheaper and easier, and hopefully will provide a good platform on which to build and grow into 4x4ing. It is 3.3 non turbo and although i realise it wont be the most powerful i think it will be enough for me (I used to drive a Lada remember) the owner has told me it is pretty economical and been well looked after - from the photos ive seen it looks pretty mint. I am hoping to get it for under or close to 3 grand and have 1000 - 1500 left in my budget to put into 35 inch tyres be it new or second hand. I will veiw it with my mechanic mate this weekend.
I want to join the local 4x4 club (manawatu) and at this stage get out on the "sight seeing" drives to begin with - moving on to the more challenging later as I cant afford to be wrecking stuff just yet!
Your comments have been all read through many times and I am considering all options. Im on Trade Me more than my bloody wife these days! It has been totally worth while starting this thread and it has saved me from rushing in and potentially making the wrong decision - and hopefully other newbies can find useful info in it as I have.
Cheers Boys
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Disco-Blue
- Hard Yaka
- Posts: 238
- Joined: Sat Feb 24, 2007 12:00 pm
- Location: Christchurch
- Contact:
Good luck with your search however 35's might be a bit of an over kill to start off with, 31's or 33's would be a good starting point as most 4wd's need a bit more modding to run 35's. Nissans are good 4wd's and they normally have good strong engines. Surf's are a nice truck as well but the diesel engines aren't always the best mainly the 2.4 turbo diesel.