Offroad-Express

Hi. I'm looking at getting a new truck after I sell my surf (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =591222521) and want to know about your thoughts on Safaris/Patrols (TD42) and 80's (1HD), pref manual.
Interested in knowing some pros/cons about them, including:

-Fuel consumption
-Offroad capability
-Reliability (engine, gbox, drive train etc)

etc etc

Thinking for a start I would do a 2 inch spring lift and put 33s on it once I got it.

I'm leaning towards the Safari because I really like the look of them, but info about both would be helpful in deciding.

Anyone know this truck? I'm keen on it: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =589673632

Cheers.

Safari's are cheaper but a bit slower unless they have a turbo fitted.

safari big heavy, near unbreakable , love mine, and 80 cruiser guys will say the same about theirs

If you want something that isBig, solid, over engineered and reliable go the Safari. the TD42 is an industrial motor and although without a turbo some folks find them slow the reality is they aren't that bad.

I've run both, and gone back to a Safari. 80 series was much nicer to drive, and had good power, but was too unreliable, and costing too much to keep on the road, although this was in a 300km vehicle.
If I found a good LC, I'd be tempted to give one another go.

Having done extensive work on both these are my opinions ,

Safari , Turbo 94 to 97 ,
Rust almost everywhere !!
Unless you can afford a 98 on , turbo , (avoid the non turbo they are slower than a push bike towing a car trailer ,
Bonuses
No cam belt ,
Part time 4wd
7 seaters (some)
Can handle big boost (mine ran close to 2 bar for 4 years (28 psi )
diffs and gearboxes bullet proof (cast iron g box case )

80 series down sides
Full time 4wd
cambelt has to be done every 150
injectors very expensive to do (twin spring )
hand brakes inside rear discs crap out all the time from mud contamination off road ,
Big end bearings , (grenaides , ) the big ends were of alloy style construction and are very shit and generally fucked by 200 max km , , however you can replace them with acl copper nickle ones and renewing rod bolts ,
(i have done 5 trucks in the last 6 months (all were driving mint , ) however all but one were within a couple of months of death , 1 of them required a new crank and rods !!!
* 80 series bonuses
Some models have tripple diff lock !
more comfortable interior
4 pot front callipers ,
hold value well ,

In conclusion ,
If buying a 80 series , try and get the 24 valve model as the motors are better and far more fuel economic , And plan on doing a part time 4wd kit or the bearings and rod bolts on a 12 valve ,

If buying a safari ,
Make sure it has been garaged or check fro rust in firewall , rear quarters , roof gutters , inner body mounts / sills etc , or go to the early newer shape ones 98 -2000 with the) non electronic injector pump ,
AND AVOID THE 3l turbo Grenaids ,
THEY ARE THE CRAPEST ENGINE EVER like aids or the plauge or rabies

also fuel consuption wise , these are the AVERIGE that my customers get
sme have std some have 32'ss etc
12v 450 - 500km 4wd , closer to 600 with part time kit ,
24v 700km std , 800 part time , closer to 550 with 35's and big lifts as you can amagine ,
With safari
our auto lwb gives 600 raping it 700 on trips ,
I have got a customers swb one which i tuned to get 880/900 running higher boost / free exhaust on a long trip ,
Keeping in mind my off roader on simex's and big turbo high boost barely makes a trip on the tank but tyres never
These are only my opinions , others may differ i dont want to start a war ,

Trundle wrote:also fuel consuption wise , these are the AVERIGE that my customers get
sme have std some have 32'ss etc
12v 450 - 500km 4wd , closer to 600 with part time kit ,
24v 700km std , 800 part time , closer to 550 with 35's and big lifts as you can amagine ,
With safari
our auto lwb gives 600 raping it 700 on trips ,
I have got a customers swb one which i tuned to get 880/900 running higher boost / free exhaust on a long trip ,
Keeping in mind my off roader on simex's and big turbo high boost barely makes a trip on the tank but tyres never
These are only my opinions , others may differ i dont want to start a war ,

No war, but you reckon 450-500 km on the 12v........? I'm getting WELL over 600km (on 3/4ish tank)on 33's.
There's just been a conversation about this, including the difference in consumption between 12 and 24v.(http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/ ... 22&t=35586)

Unfortunatly most my friends that own 12v drive like / are meat heads , so its probably not the best example for fuel economy but thats what they tell me they are getting,

Cheers for the replies guys. Still thinking safari at this stage due to reliability and toughness

Interesting topic.

Trundle wrote:Unfortunatly most my friends that own 12v drive like / are meat heads , so its probably not the best example for fuel economy but thats what they tell me they are getting,

lol, I drive mine hard

did wellington to putaruru a while back towing trials truck behind me on trailer which combined was probably 1500-1700kg

filled up about 2 days before leaving welly and drove to a couple places before heading up country and filled it again at putaruru

500kms to putaruru with maybe 100kms of running around in welly

FYI

My VX manual would get about 350 k's towing my 40 on a car trailer all up about 1900 kgs. Not towing it would get about 600 ks on a trip. I've done a lot of towing. Interestingly my coaster bus (same motor) gets about 300 ks towing and only 420 not towing. (It only has a 75 ltr tank.)

reddog40 wrote:My VX manual would get about 350 k's towing my 40 on a car trailer all up about 1900 kgs. Not towing it would get about 600 ks on a trip. I've done a lot of towing. Interestingly my coaster bus (same motor) gets about 300 ks towing and only 420 not towing. (It only has a 75 ltr tank.)

How many litres are the 80 series tanks ? the safari ones are 80L
My 7m civilian bus is crap economy if im towing the race car or not im going to turbo it next month and see if that helps , (does 300km on 60l)

95L

As a panelbeater that did rust work for years i only recall doing rust in safaris 2 maybe 3 times and each time LWB models and in the roof gutters. In saying that look out for rust in both models and especially the roof gutters on a safari. Havent owned a 80 but have owned a safari great trucks, very heavy well built, would happily exchange my 70 for one again. (Got told the UN would get a million kms out of there patrols without doing any major engine work.)

My 1991 Safari, TD42 (non turbo) manual on 33's goes 14lt per 100km on average. The worst I have had is 19lt per 100km, that was towing 3.5tons back from town just over 100km with an altitude gain of 700m and only took 15mins longer than usual

So what are Safaris really like for power without a turbo? My plan is 2inch lift and 33s when I get one, should a turbo be on my list as well? I mainly do driving round chch to and from work etc. and get out in the weekend.

reddog40 wrote:My VX manual would get about 350 k's towing my 40 on a car trailer all up about 1900 kgs. Not towing it would get about 600 ks on a trip. I've done a lot of towing. Interestingly my coaster bus (same motor) gets about 300 ks towing and only 420 not towing. (It only has a 75 ltr tank.)

My manual 1993 80 12v has a 90L tank.
Towing my 30ft caravan behind it I can get over 450kms out of tank.
When my partner and I went on a trip round the south island last year not towing anything, I got 900kms out of a tank. Bare in mind, the motor is pretty fresh.
It's for sale too.

luxsurf wrote:So what are Safaris really like for power without a turbo? My plan is 2inch lift and 33s when I get one, should a turbo be on my list as well? I mainly do driving round chch to and from work etc. and get out in the weekend.

If you aren't in a rush, or towing heavy loads, they are fine. I get a little frustrated at times on longer trips, (80mm lift, 33's) so will eventually turbo, or buy a GU or 80 series again

They are fine mate! Like DaveM said if you ain't in a rush and drive in such a way that you are using peak torque in the right gear (1800-2200rpm) then they pull well. I spent 5 years working in an area with hills pulling a builders trailer around so know what i'm talking about. Just have to watch your overtaking distances etc.

They are fine if you want to break land speed records and go fast buy a car. I run 33's on mine and it goes well (no turbo) tried 35's and it lost a heap of grunt. On 33's there is a surprisingly big gap between 2nd and 3rd but nothing that really bothers me.

Agree with the last two posts. Use mine(33s, 2in lift auto) for towing all the time and is fine till you hit the hills. Imo a turbo on a td42 is a must have but isn't something that is needed straight away.
Thing I like about the safari is once you change the stupid flares for some conveyor belt there isn't much that can be pulled or fall off. And the wheels hep hold the body away from damage in the tight stuff. And imo they handle waayyyy better than an 80

Bang a turbo on it !! i have a std setup and a axt setup for sale !

Be interested to know if other 80 owners find that keeping their cruiser on the road is expensive or is it just luck of the draw whether or not you get a good one..

luxsurf wrote:Be interested to know if other 80 owners find that keeping their cruiser on the road is expensive or is it just luck of the draw whether or not you get a good one..

Stick with the nissan, the auto will crap out on the 80, the windows won't go up or down & a whole lot of other things will keep you spending money.

I drive with 3 guys who all drive 80's on semi regular basis and they experience a lot more mechanical issues, it's almost like having landrovers along . Main things seem to be auto gear box and electric stuff

Suza wrote:I drive with 3 guys who all drive 80's on semi regular basis and they experience a lot more mechanical issues, it's almost like having landrovers along . Main things seem to be auto gear box and electric stuff

Ive got a GX 80 series,no electrics and most of them are manual
Only other truck id consider is a saf

Got myself a manual 80. Love it

Interesting thread and just what I'm looking for.

I had an '89 LWB low roof auto Safari for 13 years and now am looking for a replacement as it got stolen about a week and a half ago. This was a solid vehicle but had a few faults; rust, the window regulators crapping out, small 65l tank, lack of ground clearance and lack of power. On the positive side The drive train and engine were solid, the diffs phenomenal and the fuel economy on a trip wearing AT tyres was crazy if I took it quietly. One time I managed Chch-Nelson-Chch plus some running around on a tank of diesel, roughly 1000km on 64l with real nana driving.

So I do a lot of heavy towing, a bit of hunting and a little fun off roading and I've decided the best candidates in my price range will be an 80 series cruiser with about 400,000 on the clock or another GQ Safari with 200,000 on the clock. I found the auto Safari didn't hold well on long descents even in low range and held in 1st gear so think I will go for a manual. Also the acceleration from 0-60 was great but from 60-100 was shocking though this could probably have been rectified by rotating the throttle position sensor.

My mind was set on the Toyota but after a quick look through the Toyota section and this thread I think I would be best sticking with the Nissan. Just have to improve security.