Offroad-Express

Hi, I’ve been reading this forum for a while now but I’m still just as confused as ever….

I’m looking for a 4wd for a family of four. It needs to be able to tow a 1500kg ‘van, it also needs to be used as a second car during the week and be suitable for offroad newbies

I have so far narrowed it down to the following so far:

Nissan GQ SWB

For: Known off road performance, not too expensive.

Against: Not much room for stuff with four onboard.

Landcruiser 80

For: Not much bad said about these but...
Against: Hard to obtain used parts. Expensive new parts (I spoke to someone who just spent $13000 reconditioning their engine). Maybe thirsty?

And finally:-

Landcruiser 90

For: Ticks most boxes.

Against: Maybe too soft for club trips in standard form? Unlikely to find one that already has upgrades so may be an expensive proposition to buy a standard one and fit upgrades. Looking at trip pictures in NZ 4x4 magazines you don’t seem to see many of these actually used off road?

I have searched back over the forums regarding the Chch clubs – the general advice is to approach all the clubs and see which one suits. Can it be narrowed done a bit though? Do any cater for family type trips in basically stock trucks or are they all more hard cored than this?

Thanks for your advice in advance…

Hi
I spent 4 years using a '96 Prado on "easy" club trips. Great family wagon. Heaps of space. Good fuel consumption. Nice to drive on the road and with a set of good mud tyres it suprised a few people where it could get to with a bit of careful pointing. Later in the piece I raised the suspension 50mm (just a new set of springs and a wheel alignment, the ex shocks were long enough. Was perfectly fine as a light duty club truck but (as with anything IFS) limited in off road modification ability.
Land Rover club is good family club (so long as you like lots of tea breaks ). Strong safety focus and plenty of Gr 2/3 trips.

Canterbury Recreational Club very family orieented
http://www.cr4wd.org.nz/ check this out

Sawdoc wrote:Canterbury Recreational Club very family orieented
http://www.cr4wd.org.nz/ check this out

Been out with this club before and more a family club and easier trips.

My advice go round a couple meeting see what trips they are doing see if you like the people, most clubs let you do one or two trips before having to be a member so just have a look round.