Offroad-Express

Hi All

Ok first post I know, have been reading posts on this forum a bit lately, thought I would post and ask the question.
I am looking to get into 4wding a bit, mostly a few mud tracks and semi shiney work to begin with, but in the long run who knows.
My Dad is a 4WDer and a few guys at work are into them.

my requirements are
-Shortwheel base ( Im a young family less guy)
-must be diesel
-Cant be too gutless on the road ( it will be my everyday driver )
- Insurance must not be too hard to get.
-auto or manual, Im normally a manual only guy, but i hear autos are great for getting out there...
- reliability would be a plus!
- some creature comforts ( electrics ) sunroof? would be cool too.

I test drove a 1993 3.0 turbo diesel Hilux Surf in the weekend, but its a tad too expensive for my tastes 10K, a bit too long, and too shiny! usually i would be a toyota guy too.

I have driven a bighorn 3.1 that my dad uses, bit too gutless.. I drove a 1988 Safari 4.2 turbo which has some poke, but very heavy also!

Im seriously considering a 1993/1994 pajero 2.8td SWB, they fit my price range ( about 5-7K), apparently they are well powered, and they look quite decent too. Clubs apparently rave about them and there is a lot of aftermarket parts for them...
I have had Mitsubish cars before and they were a bit rubbishy electric and gearbox wise. Im not sure if I trust Mitsi again...

Can anyone give me some pros and cons? its difficult to find some good opinions on these?

who do you go 4WDing with & what have they got

i have a 4.2 intercooled turbo GQ safari & go with a 2.4L surf & 3.1L MU have just got new tyres & were all pridy standed & i find i normaly will get thro a we bit more but when i do get stuck the surf has a hell of a time getting me out he give me 10+ snaches yesterday & dident move me at all & then ripped his tow point off yet i can pull him no effit point is im 2.6t & i think hes some were arround 1.8t

also like you im normaly a manual or manual guy but i have found for off road i accualy perfer slushie i bought it wth the idear to convert it but am now gona stay auto

also another point is we all left yesterday with a full tank minius about 50k worth from saturdays fun i came back after about 360k yesterday pulled just in to BP as the fule light came on & im a 90L tank were as both of them were between 1/4-1/2 a tank & they both have smaller tanks

altho one bonus with the safari is LSD rear & diff lock front are factory on some

plenty of 93 3.0 td surfs around that price range, always an option..

i would try for a early 60 or 70 series cruiser cheap good around town not to big or heavy, great offroad and lots of room to build up making it a tuff truck

A friend of mine has a 4.2 turbo non intercooled Safari. Another has a 2.8 MU manual, Another has a Suzuki Vitara petrol, potentially a chap with a Terrano and a petrol Hilux?
My Dad runs a 3.1 Bighorn, his is a little more kitted up than I plan to be off the cuff. He posts on these forums it appears.
I havent seen a 3.0 litre Hilux for less than $9-9500 privately, car yards are the same price. Plus that much money I would be nervous about 4WDing it.

There is a 70 series Landcruiser on trademe in my area
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=111033929&key=273665
it kinda fits the bill, but a little older and non turbo diesel. Im not sure how great these are on-road?
it would be fairly cheap and easy to obtain

swb 70 series crusier with the 13bt... good capable truck. i have a pajero j top, but its a petrol, it goes where i want it to and with the lack of maintenance ive given it and very happy it still starts every time. the 2.8 pajeros are supposed to be quite well powereed but its been a while since i drove one. if you look around you may be able to find a 2.8 jtop paj. most jtops have factory lockers in the rear that makes a huge differance. then you get summer roof off fun. the tops do tend to shrink a little tho and streess the zips. but if you want a swb diesel, and a patrol is to heavy for your liking, id go for one of them.

I would go for a 3.0 turbo diesel hilux surf or the Pajero, the pajero is a short wheel base and will do everything you want, it would be worth looking at the Cruisers, they are more agricultural in comfort levels but cheap to mod.

Just don't pull out a Safari or similar in reverse gear, both (actualy most) of these have a weaker reverse gear, spin around and pull in first. that way you wont break the gearbox when murphy is looking.

the Surf is bigger but a larger radiator (for relyability and keep cleaning the mud from it) and tow hooks is all you need to do tho them.

the Pajero does not have the same part swapping ability as a Surf and if you get a cheap surf throw in a locker straight away.

just to put my two cents worth in, i think pajeros suck but i,m a died in the head toyota man .ive had 40s 60s 70s and 80s but for an alrounder its hard to beat a swb 70 with 13bt and manual.solid as a rock ,nice enough to be a commuter and plenty of poke plus economical to boot and pto winchs for them are as common as mud .happy hunting

Im currently looking at a Pajero that is $4500ish manual 2.8 turbo diesel 1994... downside is it does have 200,000kms on it?
Apparently it might be a good option...

Hmm still looking, need to test drive one soon I think.

check out trade me i have a few mates buying trucks at the mo, both looking at similar things a few surfs for 7-7500 which look pretty good its about what i paid for mine and its proving to be great.