Offroad-Express

Hi all im wanting to get into 4wding and was wondering what sort of vehical i should get i quite like the Landcruiser FJ40s and was wondering what sort of money i would be looking at for 1 im not worried about a bit of rust or something that needs repairing as im after a project aswell.
So any help on prices ect and things to look out for when buying would be great.
Thanks
Also does any one no what sort of price i would be lookin at for a Suzuki and a series 2 and 3 Land Rover
Thanks

You've probably missed it... but I was looking at this.... but it's too far for me to take a serious look:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Landrover/0001-0268-0306-/auction-7991973.htm

My last landie died fatally on a South Island Tour Last year

anyone?

Probably the best advice is to join a club BEFORE you buy your truck. Often people are happy to take a passenger along a few times and you can ask lots of questions and see different types of trucks in action. You also have to decide what sort of 4WDing you want to do - touring and exploring or hard yakka panel bending stuff.
For a good basic 4WD starter get a book by Ken Sibly called 4WD Tracks of the South Island - or something like that. The front section has a very good basic 4WD introduction in it.
There are lots of articles on the web, try
http://www.bb4wa.com/articles/articles.htm
for some of them.
When you are looking for a vehicle, the prices can vary wildly on old landies, 40's and zooks depending on what has been done to them and what needs doing. If you have a limited budget, I'd look for a truck that has been done up for 4WDing already with decent recovery points, mud tyres and maybe some other modifications. In the South Island a snorkel is a good idea! It will be a lot cheaper than buying all the bits separately. Good luck!

Thanks for that.
Yeah i think ill have to join the Mid-Canterbury 4wd club is any one on here a member?
I want a vehicle that is a good all round vehicle one that can handle the realy ruff stuff and also be a good touring vehicle so i was thinking a landcruiser fj40 as they are short wheel base and a bit bigger and more powerfull than a smaller Suzuki.
Would this be a good choice?

Try asking for a mid canterbury member on the NZ4WD mag forum on
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/nz4wd/

With vehicle choice there is a lot of opinion, the truth is there are a lot of capable 4wds to choose from. If you're keen on cruisers a mid wheelbase 70 series cruiser with a diesel (maybe even a turbo!) and snorkel would be my choice over a 40 series for a mix of touring and play.

How much would i be lookin at for 1 of them?

look in the tradey, one in there for $7.5k, another 2.5 wioth a blown motor...
http://www.trade-exchange.co.nz/TEProje ... ID=4138481

I payed 3500 for my series 3 landy over 3 years ago. It has twin tanks and is diesel with 5 speed so is good (minus the comfort) for touring and is rough on the outside so trees can take their best shot

It runs old SAT tyres which do a good job and don't wear out much. Buying my first ones at the moment in 5 years of owning landrovers.

And the best thing, no one will steal it as it looks like it is on it's last legs

Mike

Yeah i quite like the look of the old series 3 swb landrover but the only problem is i only have about 1500 to spend do u recon i could pick 1 up for that price?

For sure you could, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. Otherwise for 1500 you could be buying a carcass 8O

Post on the nz landrover email list what you are looking for and how much you have to spend and something will turn up. link is on the front page.

Mike

I was thinking that i could buy a Lancruiser or Land rover with no rego and wof or 1 with rego on hold which would be better and tow it to off road trips is this possible or do clubs like the trucks to have wof ect. Also would this be much cheaper as far as buying the vehicle or not much?
Thanks

If you're going on Public tracks, u will need Wof and Reg...

There are clubs that organise private land trips where unregistered vehicles can be used - but this is rarer. You are better off registered and warranted as you get a better range of tracks to use...

Hey dude, I joined Levin 4x4 after purchasing my landcruiser fj40 and 90% of the trucks there were suzuki jeeps ,I got mocked for a little while because I think they thought jeeps were it, but I stuck too me gun's mate. I put 35" General grabbers on her with 15x10" bead locked rims,Locked the rear diff and put fiddle brakes on the front and a PTO winch, I tell ya this truck preforms exceptionally well even out preforming jeeps with front and rear air lockers. If you were thinking of an fj40 I would say go for it, you will how ever have to trialer to events unless you get an air locker on the rear instead of weilding. I paid $1100 for my cruiser in going condition, painted it did heaps of little bits and peices and nearly $7000 later would do it all again Great club truck! for the money.

theres a guy here in tauranga with a fj40 for sale $16000 ot has a 350 chev in it arb lockers all round no rust that i can see bfg mts a good big winch superwinch i think a roll cage looks like a lift kit has been put on it if you want the phone no just ask and ill post it here

if you are going for a landie, invest in a good set of tools and take shares in a spare parts shop i owned a bj40 and fj45 back in oz. the bj was an absolute piece of shit. the fj i drove around oz for 3 years living in it with my trail bike inside as well. very capable vehicle but you need a kidney belt when driving on rough roads.
albundy the mad ozzie.