Whats the difference? Safari, Patrol, Maverick?

[Phil_LN106]

Im a toyota guy but would like to learn a bit about nissans as i am thinking of buying a manual 4.2t SWB safari as my next 4wd.

I have done some research but google and wikipedia always comes up with the same results and do not answer my questions comprehensively so...

What i would like to know is...

What is the difference between a safari, patrol and maverick?

What is the difference between there codes? eg GQ, GU etc

Which is the best engine for fuel economy/power etc?

What is the top of the range model?

Which ones have factory diff locks and what other special features do the top of the range modles offer?

Sorry its a lot of questions but i just want to spend my money wisely, and this could clear up a few querys that other people on ORE have aswell

Cheers

[coxsy]

patrol, mav, saf, badge engineering, gu have stronger front diff, grand road have power windows, aircon, diff lock depends on who brought it first if you get one or not, the petrols are strong but fuel suckers, 4.2 diesels can last 500,000+ kms if mantained , can be turboed with little trouble , pull like a school boy some have PTO winch some have factory warn winch , heavy strong truck lwb can climb better than a swb, swb can get around tighter tracks
as before granroad has the toys

[DaveM]

Maverick was a Ford badged Nissan in OZ, Safari's are imports, Patrols are NZ/OZ new (as well as many other countries)

Earlier Safari's had weak front panhard mounts which were prone to cracking, pre '93 were better suited to turboing, due to heavier internals, about '91 on had the updated grey interior with wide rear seat, and the later models (92 on I think) had better water channels around the rear slide windows so had less rust problems there.

[flyingbrick]

GQ is the old square shape. GU is the newer nicer shape. Chassis is virtually identical with exception of the front axle as mentioned.

[tgaguy1]

Everything you need to know is here http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/
You can waste days on this site so be warned.

[doby]

GQ is the old square shape. GU is the newer nicer shape.

No way! The old square GQ looks way tuffer than the new GU

The SWB grandroad GQ is the one to go for as most of them have all the good 4x4 options, PTO, diff lock, disconecterble sway bar ect and there are heaps of off the shelf aftermarket parts for them. Go for the TD42 (diesel option) as there are good(ish) on fuel and can be turboed easerly.

[GQ grannie]

Badging in Aus came down to tarriff imports etc
Patrols have specifically built chassis
4.2 diesels--you have a hard time killing them
top of the range GQs-Gus are called TI
both come in coil over and leaf, depending on body
from approx 2002 GQs came out with the "bubble" front guards
Let down is the tyre/wheel width you can go legally
GU built from new reprocessed steel which is softer than the original steel
Earlier MQs very prone to rusting out.
weak point is seat mount area of floor pans, need to be plated from underside BEFORE there is movement in front seat rails.
We drive approx 2000ks per week, hauling 3x 2t load ,7 days a week in a 2003 GQ f/tray Patrol coil ,which we have modified to suit our needs, for about 5 months of the year.
Winch better with a hi- mount

[Phil_LN106]

So what is the difference between a Kingsroad and Granroad? are there any others? also with the PTO winch what does the PTO stand for?

If you were to buy the best Safari from standard what would you buy?

[coxsy]

PTO power Take Off winch rated at 3,360kg by memory

[doby]

PTO is a power take off winch, wich means it runs off a drive sharft from the gearbox and is controled by a leaver in the cabin by the gear stick (insted of electric) The kingroad is the top of the line model, I don't think there is much difference between the kingroad and the grandroad, the kingroad had a leather interior and a few other interior options. As far as engin, chassis and body go, I think they are the same.

[tgaguy1]

The Safari trim levels are as follows:
Kingsroad is the high end level truck. Front/rear a/c for the LWB, leather interior, all the bells and whistles.
Grandroad is a level down, i.e. cloth interior, single a/c unit on LWB, but still with a lot of options like power windows etc.
AD is the base model. Still has a/c as standard (I think) and manual windows.

PTO winch is only available on manual transmission Safari's.

I would (and did) buy a LWB manual Patrol. As standard you get 12 volt electrics, most have factory rear diff lock and a fuse box that you can read the label of.
Manual transmission has the drive gear for the PTO in the box with a blanking plate on the mount pad. A PTO winch system bolts straight on and is around the same price as a secondhand Warn winch. In my opinion and experience the Warn winch is too small for serious winching on a LWB Patrol.
Get a pre August 1993 non turbo one and because they are cheaper than the turbo ones you will have spare coin to spend on after market turbo system. The factory turbo and manifold are adquate on a good day and highly inferior to after market systems. After August 1993 the non turbo engine was made a little lighter duty than the turbo engine and can not handle very high boost from turboing.
The extra length of the LWB is as much an advantage as it is a disadvantage. But you do have so much room that you can take all your recovery gear and camping gear without having to compromise on the creature comforts.

Everyone has their opinion of what is the best truck, that is why no trucks are the same. You need to get out and ask evryone why they choose the truck they did and apply what is relivent to your demands and style of 4X4ing.

hope that helps

[Phil_LN106]

Everyone has their opinion of what is the best truck, that is why no trucks are the same. You need to get out and ask evryone why they choose the truck they did and apply what is relivent to your demands and style of 4X4ing

That is what i am trying to do buy starting this thread.

So are you saying that i should buy a pre august 1993 non turbo deisel truck and put an aftermarket turbo kit of my own preference on the engine? is this not costly? What is wrong with the factory turbo trucks? Are all of the SWB trucks 4 seater or are the wider rear seat models 5 seater?

[coxsy]

turbo's can be from $2500 up a real pissoff for me is a mate did his for $250 and intercooled as he had connections other wise put higher gears in it so you can spin 35's without a turbo
mine has storage bins in the rear so sits two some without the bins sit 3

[darinz]

Everyone has their opinion of what is the best truck, that is why no trucks are the same. You need to get out and ask evryone why they choose the truck they did and apply what is relivent to your demands and style of 4X4ing

That is what i am trying to do buy starting this thread.

So are you saying that i should buy a pre august 1993 non turbo deisel truck and put an aftermarket turbo kit of my own preference on the engine? is this not costly? What is wrong with the factory turbo trucks? Are all of the SWB trucks 4 seater or are the wider rear seat models 5 seater?

You want ot get a series 11 (92 to 97) as they have a stronger chassis. The series 1 (88 to 92) had a weakness around the panhard rod / steering box mount. There is a braket that should be in place to fix this otherwise the chassis cracks.
94 on have a bigger steering box as the early one is small and prone to blowing apart if you push it offroad. (If you haven't broken one then you don't drive hard!)
When guys talk about the earlier TD42's being better for turboing they are talking about higher end performance. If you are going to run 15psi or less then it doesn't matter which one you have. So in that case the later the model the better.
I would say the best option is to get a factory turbo model, rip the turbo off and fit an aftermarket kit. The TD42T has a few advantages over TD42 so is a better option (but dearer). The factory turbo (TD42T) is a good motor but has a very small turbo so don't expect it to be a rocket ship! You will struggle to get 14psi out of one.

As for spec. I have a Kingsroad that has the fake wooden interior and cloth seats etc. aparently Kingsroads have leather. I have had 2 Grandroads and they have very similar interior and spec levels.
IMO the best option is a late model 94 on TD42T with an auto! The auto is very strong and will put the power onto the ground better than the manual. It is also a lot lighter. Disadvantage is no PTO with auto.
You can take you rear diff locks as I'm pulling mine out and going back to the LSD.
The rest is opinion. What spec, SWB vs LWB, low roof high roof etc.
So just buy the newest, best spec you can afford and go from there.

[gary_in_nz]

hey darrin, why are you going back to the rear lsd?? they are good lsd's i know that, are you just running front locker? i guess with the lsd you dont have to stop or slow down to engage/disengage.

[PR]

rip the turbo off and fit an aftermarket kit.

What kit would you use

[flyingbrick]

From what I have heard so far- I don't think Darin would slow down for anything- especially locking or unlocking his diffs.

[Phil_LN106]

Are there any exterior visual differences? and are there 12 and 24 volt models?

[tgaguy1]

Are there any exterior visual differences? and are there 12 and 24 volt models?

Only minor differences like wing mirrors on some Patrols are different (aussie ones I think), tail lights in the patrol rear bumper 91 and on, Safari has little wing mirror on the front corner of LH front guard. Patrols are 12 volt and earlier Safaris are 24 volt. I have a 90 patrol (12 volt) and a 95 Safari which is also 12 volts. I don't know what year the Safari's changed from 24 to 12 volt though.
I think Petrol Safari's are 12 volt too. 24 volt only on the diesels.

[Taz]

Are there any exterior visual differences? and are there 12 and 24 volt models?

Only minor differences like wing mirrors on some Patrols are different (aussie ones I think), tail lights in the patrol rear bumper 91 and on, Safari has little wing mirror on the front corner of LH front guard. Patrols are 12 volt and earlier Safaris are 24 volt. I have a 90 patrol (12 volt) and a 95 Safari which is also 12 volts. I don't know what year the Safari's changed from 24 to 12 volt though.
I think Petrol Safari's are 12 volt too. 24 volt only on the diesels.

My 94 Safari was 24v so if yours is a 95 and 12v...

[darinz]

hey darrin, why are you going back to the rear lsd?? they are good lsd's i know that, are you just running front locker? i guess with the lsd you dont have to stop or slow down to engage/disengage.

I don't like the way it handles with the rear locker in. Without it I have no traction at all as it just lights up one wheel and with it in it either slides out side ways or pushes straight ahead. With the locker in it is very twichty and i find it difficult to predict what it will do.
I have custom switching on it so I can engage / disengage at any speed and I don't really think the speed of that has any major impact when you coey is doing controlling it.
With the LSD and front locker then I have found (from the past 5 years) that it is predicable and the only real disadvantage is when going slow on hard stuff. As that is something we hardly ever do I'd rather have control at high speed.
You have to understand I have a bit more power than most so the requirements are a bit different.
In the wet I have found that a locker gives virtually no advantage over a good LSD. (with plenty of power that is)

[Safari Swb]

Are there any exterior visual differences? and are there 12 and 24 volt models?

Only minor differences like wing mirrors on some Patrols are different (aussie ones I think), tail lights in the patrol rear bumper 91 and on, Safari has little wing mirror on the front corner of LH front guard. Patrols are 12 volt and earlier Safaris are 24 volt. I have a 90 patrol (12 volt) and a 95 Safari which is also 12 volts. I don't know what year the Safari's changed from 24 to 12 volt though.
I think Petrol Safari's are 12 volt too. 24 volt only on the diesels.

is your 95 a 2.8?? mines 95 and 12 volt aswell (2.8 tho)

[tgaguy1]

Are there any exterior visual differences? and are there 12 and 24 volt models?

Only minor differences like wing mirrors on some Patrols are different (aussie ones I think), tail lights in the patrol rear bumper 91 and on, Safari has little wing mirror on the front corner of LH front guard. Patrols are 12 volt and earlier Safaris are 24 volt. I have a 90 patrol (12 volt) and a 95 Safari which is also 12 volts. I don't know what year the Safari's changed from 24 to 12 volt though.
I think Petrol Safari's are 12 volt too. 24 volt only on the diesels.

is your 95 a 2.8?? mines 95 and 12 volt aswell (2.8 tho)

No. It is a LWB, high roof kingsroad, TD42T.