Offroad-Express

hi just need some opinions we are looking at buying a 5 door bighorn for a second 4x4 (i have double cab hilux) and bighorn is for the missus to use for work,groceries,and if we want to get away on holiday would use it....are they any good

What year are you looking at, and if it's a late one, is it petrol or a diesel?

I'm probably biased as I have an 89 Bighorn and other than the WW2 Jeep, and my Chev Quad, have not really sampled to many other 4x4's, so will sing their praises.

Let us know the year and I might be able to point out a few things to look out for!

looking for something around 1995ish for around $6-7000,think 3.1 diesel turbo,we use hilux for most offroad stuff so this will be mainly on road but maybe some tracks if we go on holiday and any information would be great

Good truck... go a 92-on model with the 3.1 but get it checked out thoroughly first.

The turbo's are prone to fail at around 130000km's and a whistling winding-down sound from the turbo when you shut the engine off is a bad sign.

The heads have a tendency to go on them at the first sign of any overheating. If that happens get the head gasket replaced and the head crack tested and planed before refitting or you could toast the engine (don't a$k me how I know )

Other than that they are pretty good... comfy, quick and relatively capable offroad despite the fact it sounds like its going to be a glorified shopping cart... they handle well on road too...

Just spend the money and have it tested first by a reputable diesel service centre.

Steve

what are they like on diesel,would they be on a par to run as a 2.8 hilux

As usual it depends on how you drive them, my 2.8 1989 is ultra economical and the 95 3.1d I was driving last week seemed to be pretty good, can’t quote MPG though.

SupraLux wrote:The turbo's are prone to fail at around 130000km's and a whistling winding-down sound from the turbo when you shut the engine off is a bad sign.
Steve

Uh oh... that's what my one is doing... this doesn't sound good.

I have a 93 SWB and it handles fine. can get around 600-700 k's from a tank etc.

RJT wrote:

SupraLux wrote:The turbo's are prone to fail at around 130000km's and a whistling winding-down sound from the turbo when you shut the engine off is a bad sign.
Steve

Uh oh... that's what my one is doing... this doesn't sound good.

I have a 93 SWB and it handles fine. can get around 600-700 k's from a tank etc.

I'm just doing some work on a 95 3.1D 5 door at the moment and Turbo is one of the jobs I have to price.

Got some info on what the turbo will need, so armed with this I am off to see the turbo guy tomorrow, and will let you know what the outcome is!

Oki doki cheers. Wish i had known that when i bought the darned thing but hey.. you listen, you learn!

Im looking at a 1994 SWB Bighorn with 3.1TD, has done 140000k's and asking $7000..

Do they handle offroading well? This one will mostly be used for onroad driving but I am wanting to take it off road, beach runs etc..

Would look to fit a snorkel, bigger exhaust, modest lift and big wheels as the budget allows..

Also is there a diesel service centre in Auckland / West you guys would recommend to have a pre-purchase inspection done?

Cheers

I really like the 3.1td engines, apart from the things Steve mentioned, they pull really well and I find are really good on fuel.

Heres a place in chch that does the isuzu turbo replacement for those with whinning turbos http://www.turbocare.co.nz/light-commercial#isuzu

In christchurch, ring "One Stop Turbo Shop", he's the cheapest around, works from home, really good guy. You take him the turbo though, he doesn't remove/refit. But a third the price quoted at a "professional" turbo outfit He laughed when I told him, then asked me "Who do you think they bring them to to be re-conditioned?"........

54 Truman ave, Ph 351-7445

I bought my wife a Honda Horizon which is a Honda badged Bighorny. It's a 94, done just under 100k and has already had the turbo replaced with a brand spanker by the prev owner.

Have noticed though that the last service it had before I bought it was at DSL ( Diesel Specialist Ltd ) and they had teh oil filled to the max busting a the seams line. There is a sticker under teh hood that clearly says to fill it half way between the two marks. Anyone know whether you're supposed to fill all the way or half?

Good truck though, but it would need an immense amount of work to get it off road.

I have a 94 LWB Bighorn which we've used for a few shiny trips. Definitely not a hardcore truck! The auto transmission hangs pretty low (not sure about hte manual), and the speedo connection is electrical which doesn't like getting wet. I've found that after a dunking, the gear changing can get a bit erratic, and it won't go into overdrive. On the plus side - you can wire a switch into the speedo so you can turn it off - only when offroad of course - it would be illegal to avoid RUC on the road! Like others have said - it's economical, nice to drive & pretty good value for the price the go for.

SupraLux wrote:The turbo's are prone to fail at around 130000km's and a whistling winding-down sound from the turbo when you shut the engine off is a bad sign.

Steve

What's the consequences of ignoring it? Will it just gradually reduce the boost, or is there a risk of the turbo flying apart & sending bits into the inlet manifold?

Thanx

Bloody good trucks in my opinion my mate got one (3.1td) Wound the boost up to 23psi goes wicked!!

I know a guy with one,, shit his turbo wines down when you shut it off
They are very capeable off road in the right hands.

muddy wrote:

SupraLux wrote:The turbo's are prone to fail at around 130000km's and a whistling winding-down sound from the turbo when you shut the engine off is a bad sign.

Steve

What's the consequences of ignoring it? Will it just gradually reduce the boost, or is there a risk of the turbo flying apart & sending bits into the inlet manifold?

Thanx

Heres an extract from another site

When it fails completly it will either sieze suddenly with a substantial loss of power and noise or it will loose a seal on the exhaust side causeing major oil smoke. They have been known to break off blades causeing engine damage or loose a seal on the intake side resulting in the engine running on oil which results in an uncontrolable engine but these are very rare.

My turbo is on it's way out, the past week it has been bloody noisy. Apart from the cost, it's a good excuse to fit a better turbo

Well, having read the discussion, it's time I put my big foot in.

I have 3 Bighorns. My first one is a 1995 LWB 3.1 Auto Irmscher (Black Thunder as my niece named it). I bought it for the 7 seats as my kids always wanted to take friends when we went away! My kids then grew up and it was no longer cool to be with mum and dad. So, what to do with a really nice and seemingly capable 4WD? Simple answer, make it really nice and really capable. Over the last couple of years I have: Lifted the suspension by 50mm, lifted the body by 50mm, fitted a winch bar, fitted a winch, fixed the rear lsd (after driving 100k with a broken axle), fitted a front ARB air locker. Now it goes like it should have out of the factory. You hear all this s..t about IFS v's floating axle articulation and the simple fact it is all s..t. Driver ability and wheel placement sorts it all out! Anyway, I knew that one day something catastrophic would happen to Black Thunder. So I purchaced a grey SWB Auto as a brides maid to receive all the stuff when BT dies. Then I found the vehicle of my wifes dreams! An Isuzu Bighorn 3.1TD SWB Irmscher with manual transmission coloured Blue! I couldn't pass it up. Hence I have 3.

However, they do have some issues.

Black Thunder went from 120K to 180K with a screaming turbo before it seized (all the friends thought the wind down noise was cool).
They are prone to exhaust manifold warps (needs planing), the drum brake handbrake is annoying to adjust but not much else in my experience.

In summary, I like my Bighorns. The driving style is more relaxed (you simply can't have an aggressive driving attitude in these vehicles). On the road you can see forever as you are up so high, you know you are well protected in the unlikely event of an accident. Off road they are awesome with the right footwear. When off road Big Thunder wears 32x10.5x16 Simex Extreme Trekkers. I had to cut away some of the front guard to make them fit.

So, that's my two cents worth.

Dave