Offroad-Express

Hey all

I'm a super keen LBG fisherman from the north shore Auckland but currently in the UK til mid September.

Just joined up as am looking to get myself a 4wd to use to tow my IRB to remote spots around coro, the far north and east cape. Alot of these roads are gravel or pretty poor quality seal.

Im looking for something i can use to launch my lil boat off the beach and not get stuck but i shouldnt need to really drive it into the sea given the IRB just about floats in a puddle. The boats pretty light too and only equipped with a 30hp motor. I'm keen for something 93 or newer thats also comfortable to crash out in and something thats reliable and not too thirsty and it will get a fair bit of daily use as well. Oh yeah and looking to spend up to about $6k.

Had a look on trademe and lots of cheap bighorns on there and also a fair few hilux surfs etc but not sure on whats good or not when it comes to 4wds.

What would you knowledgeable folk recommend based on your experiences?

Cheers
JK

being a nissan man , have to say for boat towing , driving around town go the hilux it will do you well

Cheers, is there any particular variants I should be looking out for?

And whats recommended in the hilux range... petrol? deisel?

welcome. I would have to say get a nissan teranno for that sort of money you get a good tow vechile a nice comfy daily driver and you can sleep in them quite comfortably. just my 2c

hadnt really thought about Terranos.

Drove one a few years back and from memory it wasnt too bad

well thats a suprise no toyota guys putting to help , any waya lux crewcab is what i thought about to suit what you have in mind

go for a surf, cheapish, reliable good sized and easy enough for basic mods. i'd stick to the diesel ones but maybe thats personal preferance i have a 3.0 turbo diesel auto and paid about that price

3ltr diesel sounds the go...and a crewcab you say? will look that one up...

edit - just looked up crew cab and dont think they are the ones for me. Need to be able to fit the rods in there and some are 8ft 1 peice etc plus a big kingi bin etc as well which cant really leave on the back when away from the vehicle


Will have alook whats on offer in the 3ltr diesel surfs, i assume these are turbo too? anything to really lookout for on them?


And anyone know why them bighorns are so cheap??

I've got no idea why the bighorns are so cheap, but I reckon they're great value for money. Got a LWB 94 3.1TD for the family wagon - gives good ecomomy - 7 seater (rear seats easy to remove if you want room for gear or sleeping), tows really well - I often haul around a big tandem trailer with 6 cu m of wet wood, and it tows the FJ40 on an A frame with no problems. The brakes are good, & plenty of torque. Get a manual though - the auto kicks down too easy when towing.

Welcome aboard, Nissan safaris are cheap on sold at turners in CHCH for only $2500 the other day

if your looking at the 3.o turbo diesel surfs (which are great ) check out the cooling system make sure its been well serviced they tend to crack heads if they aren't looked after and overheat, i'm sure there's lots more people can tell you but its always a good idea to have someone check it out, people who work on them everyday can often tell you a bit more or the second set of eyes may spot something you haven't.

sorry to ramble on, just one more thing, depending on what you can find for the money you have, don't be suckered into buying a shit surf just because its a surf there is nothing wrong with a bighorn or similar for what your using it for and you might find that for the money you have you can get a really tidy bighorn or a ruff surf, i would be picking on the condition of the vechicle rather than the brand unless you plan on thrashing it or doing lots of mods. sorry if this has confused you even more, just my 2c im sure many will arguee with me

Bighorn's are fine so long as you stay with the standard package, where you get in trouble with these is trying to make it go that bit further costs a lot of money (they do not have a ladder chassis like the bigger (heavier) more popular 4wd's)

if the standard package will do you then go the bighorn if you only want minor tweeks then the same if you want to get to that fishing spot way off track and cant be bothered walking (with the land owners permission) the bighorn may not be the one for you.

Hilux's are worth more because they are Toyota's and just keep going the bighorn etc don't have the same history get a good one diesel turbo 3.2 litre and have a leakdown test done on any diesel you buy.

or go the surf for higher resale value but if you get the bighorn cheap and it gives 3 years good service you can get a new one (just try that with the wife or a toyota!)

Cheers for the responses guys, there is some great info there.

Yep will definately be getting an inspection done before I buy.

Not too fussed on doing alot of off roading in it as long as I can get down to the sea to chuck the IRB in then thats all I need.....can make it to pretty much any fishing spot in that....much easier than walking in!

Thanks for your help

JK

Right guys, finally got back to NZ and picked up a very clean and straight terrano that drives very well.

Its a 94 widebody 2.7 turbo deisel and auto

Any tips for improving performance on these? air filters? cold air boxes? more boost? better exhaust etc?

Cheers for any help you can give

JK