Offroad-Express

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=125245188

I read a few threads on here about the 2L-T's having issues with overheating and this one has a new head so no prizes there..

Has apparently had approx $2K spent on the engine by previous owner.

This will be a first 4wd for me but keen to do a few mods to whichever vehicle I end up (also looking at a '96 swb safari) with such as snorkel, exhaust, 2" lift, big wheels and possible turbo / intercooler upgrades.

Any suggestions / recommendations etc would be much appreciated.

And if this turns out to be unintended advertising for the seller, so be it !

This truck does not have a 2lt it has a 3.4 turbo which i think is a 13b turbo. Thay are a good engine. This would be a good reliable truck. Dare i say it though the safari would probably have a better suspension set up to allow for better flex and with the turbo would easily keep up the the cruiser. What is the price of the safari? This is a pretty good price for the cruiser and seems the safari has already been modified you really want to have a good look at its condition.

4wd's aren't designed for 4wding lol it introduces alot of maintainance

Pete

Petemcc wrote:This truck does not have a 2lt it has a 3.4 turbo which i think is a 13b turbo. Thay are a good engine. This would be a good reliable truck. Dare i say it though the safari would probably have a better suspension set up to allow for better flex and with the turbo would easily keep up the the cruiser. What is the price of the safari? This is a pretty good price for the cruiser and seems the safari has already been modified you really want to have a good look at its condition.

4wd's aren't designed for 4wding lol it introduces alot of maintainance

Pete

Ah ok, thanks for that, re 13b put it down to newbie confusion, haha

Yeh I am keen to have a go! Not so bad spending $$ if your enjoying yourself aye

Safari is pretty straight, is from a 4wd specialist yard, has new Hankook road tyres on standard rims, standard airbox, has done 197000km's and has had cam belts done quite recently. Is a 1996 RD28-T powered GQ Spirit and asking $8000.

Whichever vehicle I will look to get a VTNZ pre-purchase inspection before handing the cash over..

its ok to get a vtnz cheak before buying but a word of advice dont go there for a warrent took me four go's as the cruiser breaks would not ballance on there machine.even though the drums were machined new cylinders and shoes .good luck on what you get (from a diehard toyota man )

That cruiser is a very good price for what it is. The engine (13BT) is a good motor.

The whole thing will certainly be trucky rather than performance but havea drive and see what you like. I like mine!

Safari do SEEM like a good machine and have the coil springs (as opposed to the leaves in the Cruiser), but the Cruiser is a more compact machine.

Depends on your budget too. The Cruiser is a good truck standard and this has the bonus of the PTO winch and you can work on improving it as you have time and cash. The Nissan has more mods to start with but are they the mods you need for your type of driving?

Don't go there with the RD28T motor... you're pushing a huge heavy truck with a small motor and if you start to get into more serious 4WDing and want to go bigger tyres etc you'll have the devils own time trying to turn them...

If you are going to get a Safari, get a turbo'd 4.2 - thats my advice having never owned one... but I've worked on a few, and I know how sluggish they get even with that big motor when you start to tyre them up a bit...

The 13BT is a great motor for reliability but certainly no powerhouse. The cruiser is a good basic truck, and capable.

At the end of the day, drive both - then weigh up what you want the truck to do and what you want in a truck and buy the one that suits you best.

Steve

from a totally unbiased and completely neutral standing point, i say go the cruiser.

SupraLux wrote:
The 13BT is a great motor for reliability but certainly no powerhouse. The cruiser is a good basic truck, and capable.

Yep - what he said - very capable standard and really capable with suspension lift and 33 or 35 inch tyres - see my avatar

niblik wrote:from a totally unbiased and completely neutral standing point, i say go the cruiser.

Although the chances of you suggesting a Nissan are somewhat akin to the chance of the pope recommending Buhddism as a wonderful lifelong religious commitment

SupraLux wrote:

niblik wrote:from a totally unbiased and completely neutral standing point, i say go the cruiser.

Although the chances of you suggesting a Nissan are somewhat akin to the chance of the pope recommending Buhddism as a wonderful lifelong religious commitment

exactly...

niblik wrote:

SupraLux wrote:

niblik wrote:from a totally unbiased and completely neutral standing point, i say go the cruiser.

Although the chances of you suggesting a Nissan are somewhat akin to the chance of the pope recommending Buhddism as a wonderful lifelong religious commitment

exactly...

And just to bat for the other side "BUY THE NISSAN" its newer more comfortable.............. the list goes on and on and on

If the cruiser is actually in good condition thaI recommend definately go for it. I bought one just like it a few months ago and i love it. The PTO winch is brilliant and very helpful for all sorts of things (winching deer off the ground with a snatch block tied up a tree to easily skin them ) and everything about the tuck seems very reliable and ridged. Getting into really rough bouldery river beds makes the truck feel at home. Few practical mods and ur set mate!

Can't beat a good cruiser mate. My 13bt has given me a great run. My mates got one that has 430,000 on the clock and still going strong!

Sounding good for the cruiser then, a big thanks for the advice, Im keen to make a sound decision now so Ive got something I can work with for a few years..

A couple of questions:

What sort of money is needed to get the cruiser lifted 2 inches and on stiffened leaves? A similar cost to working coil spring suspension?

Is the auto trans a 4 or 5 stage?

Cheers

...

Have gone off the SWB Safari idea after taking a few around the block but may further offend those Toyota diehards by saying I am looking at a SWB 1994 Isuzu Bighorn with 3.1TD later tonight..

A bit more of a shiny truck but it will be used for quite a bit of motorway and open road driving as well as offroad, beach runs etc so I am considering it as an option.

The cruiser sounds like its more than capable of the sort of offroading Id like to be doing with the added bonus of perhaps having a bit of coin left over to do a few mods to it from the get-go

Now I just need a buyer for the sedan!

Im not too sure about the auto transmission.. But if i was to buy another truck it would either be a safari (probably a 1990 with a pto winch and 4.2 litre motor 5 speed) or a 70 series like the one on trademe, but in manual. Both very capable, reliable trucks, parts are very easy to find, both are (in my view) the best way to go, out of any of the trucks on the market.

rolling_deep wrote:What sort of money is needed to get the cruiser lifted 2 inches and on stiffened leaves? A similar cost to working coil spring suspension?

Why do you want to stiffen the springs? You are most likely best to stick with nice soft supple ones to get more travel and softer ride.

You have two lift option, body lift or suspension lift.

[quote="rolling_deepA bit more of a shiny truck but it will be used for quite a bit of motorway and open road driving as well as offroad, beach runs etc so I am considering it as an option.

The cruiser sounds like its more than capable of the sort of offroading Id like to be doing with the added bonus of perhaps having a bit of coin left over to do a few mods to it from the get-go [/quote]

It sounds like you have set your heart on a crusier (DAMM TOYOTAS) but I think if your going that way and do alot of open road/highway driving with the capabiltys of going off road you should go for an 80 series like this one
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Toyota/auction-126366836.htm?key=726971
it all ready has diff locks and a winch

or heres an already kited 70 series
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=127650753