1st time 4X4 Buyer.. help me please!

[driftpig]

Hi guys/gals! I'm Danny from Ballarat, i have been into Japanese Import cars all my life and have been through many from 180sx, Celsiors, R33 Skylines to my current car im selling, a toyota Aristo Twin Turbo. Im telling you's this to prove i DO KNOW a bit about cars and love them.......

But when it comes to 4WD i KNOW NOTHING!! haha this is where i need your help! And since finding and browsing this forum you guys seem to be the ones to ask!

With my son Izaak being nearly 2 i thought id better grow up, get out of this modified car scene and get back into things i can do with family and friends.. Camping & Shooting! So im going to get my FIRST 4X4!

I really want a Dual Cab for the simple benefit of putting baby seat in back, and so far I've mainly looked at getting a Hilux. This is because most people tell me they are the best and don't break down too often. My Budget will be around 15k.. It wont be used for crazy 4WD Expeditions of the sort, mainly spotlighting on some pretty rugged terrain, pig shooting trips to NSW and fishing trips etc... SOME fun 4wd trips to the local bush will eventuate once i get confidence, so it must be reasonably good at this.

My main things i would prefer to have are:

Dual Cab Ute
Bull Bar fitted with Winch
Raised with the bigger tyres...
Hard or soft canopy
Manual

The part i need help with is...

Get a Hilux? Or something completely different?
And do i want Diesel, Turbo Diesel or Petrol? Which of these would be best for economical side of things as i may end up using the 4wd as my daily driver if i like it.

Thanks heaps in advance for your responses, and even if you dont respond, thanks for taking the time to read this. ALL help is appreciated and hope you aren't all laughing at me for being such a newbie.

Cheers

[RockyF75]

Turbo Diesel

And there's not too many proper 4x4 Dual cabs, Hilux, and Land Rover Defender are the only two I can think of. You might be able to get a GQ, or Landcruiser chopped into a dual cab (would be stronger than a lux) but might take a while to find one.

I'd go a lux. 15k is also over kill if you want a solid axle model (stronger and generally better offroad). Prolly get a good one for under 8k, then you've got another 7k for mods

[driftpig]

cool, so what year/era are these solid axle ones?

Also to try to put it the best i can, its use will be roughly:

60% Normal city driving
25% Wet, roughish paddock spotlighting
10% Very Wet, Very Rough Paddocks
5% Crazy Puddles, Mad Hills kinda shit! haha

[RockyF75]

cool, so what year/era are these solid axle ones?

Also to try to put it the best i can, its use will be roughly:

60% Normal city driving
25% Wet, roughish paddock spotlighting
10% Very Wet, Very Rough Paddocks
5% Crazy Puddles, Mad Hills kinda shit! haha

Not sure when they changed, prolly mid 90's. Its easy to tell, either ask the seller, and if they dont know, climb under the front. If there's a solid hunk of metal going from one wheel to the other, with a round pumkin shaped thing somewhere in the middle, its solid Basically, it will look similar to the rear. If its IFS will look completely different

You wouldn't consider a single cab with a dickie seat in the middle? Just leave the young tacker at home till he's old enough to sit on a normal car seat

[driftpig]

HAHA, nah dont think it would work out leavin him home... Is it possible to put a baby seat in the front of a single cab? anyone else got kids and a 4X4 ute?

[RockyF75]

HAHA, nah dont think it would work out leavin him home... Is it possible to put a baby seat in the front of a single cab? anyone else got kids and a 4X4 ute?

I think its illegal, baby capsules anyway. I could be wrong though, i dont have kids

[CWBYUP]

A friend has just gone through the baby seat in the front of SC cab thing and from what she has found out its not illegal but is frowned uphon.

The VS utes have an anchor point on the rear shelf.

Nick

[driftpig]

yeah Izaaks safety would definitely come first, then the legal sides of it... i think a dual cab is the best option i have.

[driftpig]

edit.

[driftpig]

another thing, say a hilux is the way i go, which engine is best? 2.4, 2.8 etc etc?

Here's a couple of examples i like:
http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsales ... ort_type=1


http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/pr ... &D=4446066

I really like that white one, but its 2.4 petrol and im wondering if it will have ANY power at all really? lol

[macca81]

With my son Izaak being nearly 2 i thought id better grow up, get out of this modified car scene and get back into things i can do with family and friends.. Camping & Shooting! So im going to get my FIRST 4X4!
Cheers

right, well once you start 4WDing, you will get bitten by a lil bug that will make you start modifying like you have never done so before so you wont be getting outa the modified scene, just jumping to a new catorgory!!!

good luck with it tho.

my 2c, if ya wants a twin cab, go a diesel lux.

[Jeeps]

I'm gonna throw it a different way...

If you're doing a lot of hwy/road klm then a diesel will probably be best due to the fuel economy. However if you're going to be throwing it around a paddock chasing wildlife then a diesel might be a bit slow for that and you'd probably do more damage to the diesel engine than a petrol if you're reving it all over the place.

[driftpig]

Cool, thanks heaps for all your help and opinions guys, its MUCH appreciated.

Which hilux diesel engines are best in the 1980's-2000 range? as in 2.4, 2.8 etc?

[GQ Bear]

Can't help you with specifics on lux's but i'd suggest you really think about where this is really going to go. By the sounds of it you do get bitten easily and go whole hog with mods, performance, etc.

ATM you may be mainly spotting, etc. but what about when Zac's older and says "hey Dad, let's go up that hill where that Patrol just went."

how will you feel when you have to tell him you can't cos you bought a lux

Nah, seriously. Lux is probably best option for dual cab. If you can find one, a chopped dual cab Patrol would be ideal for heavier stuff. But scarce and expensive.

personally i reckon it'd be uncomfortable with child seat in front of ute. Would limit driver's space and you'd probably end up elbowing Zac in the nose on a rough hill.

[Brainless]

in my opinion 2.8D is the way to go on the Lux

[blkmav]

Why a ute? Personally I'd go a GQ wagon. As for the lux engines, they say 'always late in a 2.8'

[driftpig]

yeah ute mainly to throw people on the back for spotlighting, and also so i can throw crap in it easily from rubbish to camping gear.

[tommyk]

Hilux's went independant front suspension in 1997, so if you want a solid axle go for a model older than 97, i'd definitely go a turbo diesel or NA diesel if you have to, the economy is awesome. if you want a hilux dual cab that isnt really old it will be a 2.8 so mid 90's. There are a few second hand 2.8's getting around with a turbo kits aswell so these are good if you find them, they will save you big money down the track.

[moorey]

Ballarat boy, huh. Me too, you've probably seen my 130 dual cab defender around town (white, lifted, bigtyres )
I was in same boat as you exactly, 22month old sprog to get in the 4by. And I need a big tray for payload and big pulling capacity
Hilux isn't a REAL 4x4 (that's get me in trouble)
For all the landy's 'idiosyncracies', it is the only dual cab, big trayed, genuinely 4x4 capable bus around straight out of the box. I looked at all the options, and couldn't go past the Landy.....as long as you're not too tall, and can give up a few creature comforts for the prestige of a defender
PM me for a look/drive of mine if interested

[ISUZUROVER]

Turbo Diesel

And there's not too many proper 4x4 Dual cabs, Hilux, and Land Rover Defender are the only two I can think of.

Exactly, not much choice apart from those 2.

AFAIK, solid axles stayed in base spec hilux dual cabs until 1998. They are good solid trucks, but not the most comfortable (or capable offroad) in stock form. All the sheeple have one though.

The Land-rover Defender 130 duel cab is a great truck, and has more room and load capacity than the hilux, and better performance (stock). They put a weaker rear axle in it in 2002 - so get one with the big (salisbury) rear axle. Pre 2000 they had a non-efi diesel (the 300TDi), which is generally very reliable, and can easily be tweaked for more power and torque (just by adjusting boost and fuelling). They run about 17psi boost in stock form (which is actually low for a modern diesel).

Driftpig - with your past contacts in the ricer world, can you get hold of a good second hand turbo from a C18DET??? (Garrett T25).

[chimpboy]

What about a Navara?

I don't think camping and hunting require a solid front; in fact most 4WDing doesn't either.

[moorey]

What about a Navara?

I don't think camping and hunting require a solid front; in fact most 4WDing doesn't either.

Bhahahahah, 4x4ing Navara...Just Kidding

[chimpboy]

What about a Navara?

I don't think camping and hunting require a solid front; in fact most 4WDing doesn't either.

Bhahahahah, 4x4ing Navara...Just Kidding

Well, this is a context where the leading candidate seems to be a hilux... at least I didn't suggest a rodeo.

[moorey]

What about a Navara?

I don't think camping and hunting require a solid front; in fact most 4WDing doesn't either.

Bhahahahah, 4x4ing Navara...Just Kidding

Well, this is a context where the leading candidate seems to be a hilux... at least I didn't suggest a rodeo.

...or a bravo
That you didn't..but it IS sad the puslux is winning when clearly the boy should look at a 130 fender

[chimpboy]

...or a bravo
That you didn't..but it IS sad the puslux is winning when clearly the boy should look at a 130 fender

Would a gigantic defender come within the budget? I thought they were a bit pricier than that.

[moorey]

...or a bravo
That you didn't..but it IS sad the puslux is winning when clearly the boy should look at a 130 fender

Would a gigantic defender come within the budget? I thought they were a bit pricier than that.

Hell no, you'll find a sweet 1990's model for under $15k if looking hard.

[driftpig]

ISUZUROVER: I'll have a ask around for ya, see how i go...

As for the rest of the comments, as stated before, i cant thank you all enough for the help! Its really appreciated. My brother bought a dual cab rodeo, and trust me, i know to NOT get one of those! haha

I think i will narrow my search for a 2.8D pre 97 hilux dual cab..... Should give me a solid starting point by the sounds of it!

And also i DO get bitten by the modifying bug easily, thats why im gunna try get one already complete with the mods i want.

[dogbreath_48]

A later model IFS lux would do the job if your just hunting/camping etc - you could even get a better motor if the budget stretches that far.

But if you get bitten badly enough you could soon be finding the limits of the IFS (it's strength/artic and mod-ability), which would be quite frustrating.

[ISUZUROVER]

Would a gigantic defender come within the budget? I thought they were a bit pricier than that.

Depends on year and condition. $15k should be possible if you aren't worried about it being cosmetically perfect.

edit - here you go: http://www.autotrader.com.au/iteminfo/a ... Used+Cars_

130's really aren't that "gigantic" compared to the others. They have a 127" wheelbase. A (current model) hilux dual cab is 122", a GU patrol single cab is 117".

ISUZUROVER: I'll have a ask around for ya, see how i go...

I think i will narrow my search for a 2.8D pre 97 hilux dual cab..... Should give me a solid starting point by the sounds of it!

Thanks mate.

Oh - and don't rule out the 130 based on what your mates tell you - lots of people say bad things about landies - but 99% of them don't know what they are talking about.

[Loanrangie]

Go the Landy and stand out from the sheep crowd !