which 4x4 is the best

[BenDover]

naa, Some of its extreme. But theres alot of fun and tricky obsticals too learn how too overcome. Little things like an extremely steep 3 metre high mud bank that needs a run up. (too the eye it looks like you would never make it up it) But having said that, there are big tyre ruts in it so no chance of coming down sideways or flipping it backwards. Most 4x4's with a half good lsd would make it up that. I thought it would be fun!! Especially with people like you and me spotting them on the uhf.

If any1 wants to practise, theres another fun little 30 metre hill in mt cotton. (not steep but suspension and spotting needed) Its on gramzow rd (off mt cotton rd just after the tip). Next to the police driving training centre. Easily accessable by car aswell. If anyones keen message me and ill come and spot you.

But then people will get the bug and spend tones of money on their trucks .
BD check it out...

[bastard]

Hey poodroo, I ment my new donk mate... We should all take our 4x4's to the local compton rd tracks or even ormeau tracks. (none of this sunday driving stuff)Everybody who's interested can come (especially those who are looking to buy their first 4x4) would be a big eye opener. All 4bies welcome, and put them all through there paces. Make the hills tougher and tougher and see who makes the last extreme hill. But i garantee some trucks wont even make it off the road and over the bolders into the tracks!!! They will be parking and walking
I will be missings a front locker and winch but ill be the official recovery vechile
BD

Im keen to go to ormeau and show the pajeros up.

[BenDover]

Laugh at Bastard... Shhhh your going to start a truck war!!! Round 1 "ding ding" Pajero vs (what ever Bastard is running).
Does any1 know if ormeau tracks are still even accessable? Havent been there in years.
Where are some good gps 4x4 tracks around southside??
So far we have a mild suspension hill (gramzow rd, map 245 b11)and mud pitt rally course (map 245 g12) in mt cotton (some good ground there). I think they will do at first then we have ormeau and compton rd. When people start felling brave...

[donald9826]

thanks guy's you have given me alot to think about, will follow the advice to leave money for modifications for sure.
don

[VADLEM]

The best fourby I've ever own'd was a Daihatsu Rocky it went everywhere and nothin ever could kill it we did the gunshot one year and the snowy's to simpson the next, rough as guts but hey we didn't go rock climing in it..lolol.
We then had a DID NP Pajero..... awsome plunty horeses but not enough clearence for my liking. Our daughter unfortunatley has some very special needs and the Pajero was just to hard to get her and the wheelchair in and out of... SO to fill the gap whilst looking for something we bought this import a L300 4wd van ..... A Delica.. Two years later we still have it and to be honest other than it's a bit down on horsepower, I wouldn't swap it for quids it has better ground clearence than the Pajero, it seats 7 adults not 5 + 2 kids in comfort, it's got dual climate control, Dvd, Twin Batteries, Winch and every modcon you can poke a stick at. And it owes us $12g's.. My brother has a GU that replaced his Prado and we have not ever had to be dragged out of a bogg when we have been way togeather.. Thats draggin the camper as well.. Anyway it wouldn't be everyone's cuppa but hey the come in later models with 3.0-3.5 v6's for similar money.. Well that smy two bobbs worth anyway.. Happy hunting..

[Tangles]

Don,

Mate, when you decide which truck is for you, do your research on the accessories your really going to need first up and set your mod's budget, ask the question do you really need it? Also id look at doing your vehicle in stages maybe,, do the crucial stuff first, drive it around for a bit then decide what else you need. When i got mine i got a couple of things first up, when in hindsight i could of waited a bit for them

Probably an interesting point and Im sure there are many guys with different views on what you need first up, but heres my suggestion for first up ( and in no order)

1: Rated Recovery Gear,, snatch strap and shackles, shovel, also good jacking plate
2: Air Compressor and good guage, (Bushrangers a good brand)
3:Radio, (Uniden or GME) if travelling in a group you need one,, can get a handheld one... Poodroo uses one and it works great. ask him for details
4: Proper Toolkit and some spares ( a basic set of spare hoses/belts/ filters and oils/coolants I have for the Patrol is about 250-300 bucks... as a guide
5: Bullbar and spotties
6: Good tyres.. hopefully the car you buy will have decent 4wd rubber, but if not?
7: Suspension? some will say suspension first up as well with the tyres, but you could leave that till next stage depending on what your using it for,, for beach stuff no immediate need. If your planning climbing rocks and stuff, its the first thing you'd do along with tyres
7: If doing a lot of beach work get some decent floor mats
8: Fishing rod holder, new ones on the market now are removeable, they work well and youll be legal when you dont have rods in them
9: Snorkel if a diesel
10: Rust proofing if doing a lot of beach work,, your choice here.. search the forums here, there is plenty of advice as to pro/cons of various methods, ultimately you have to be satisfied with your choice.

After that basic list mate the skys the limit as to what you can spend. It depends how you want your vehicle setup, ie dual batteries if running a fridge, or can you use an esky for a while? Things like cargo barriers, roof racks.. yep the list goes on.

Im pretty sure i missed some stuff in the list and hopefully others will chime in and add to it.

Also if you have a better half you need to explain your spending money on the car, always use the 'safety' angle, works everytime, ( even if there are other good reasons to get it. like you just want it )


cheers
Mike

[bastard]

Laugh at Bastard... Shhhh your going to start a truck war!!! Round 1 "ding ding" Pajero vs (what ever Bastard is running).
Does any1 know if ormeau tracks are still even accessable? Havent been there in years.
Where are some good gps 4x4 tracks around southside??
So far we have a mild suspension hill (gramzow rd, map 245 b11)and mud pitt rally course (map 245 g12) in mt cotton (some good ground there). I think they will do at first then we have ormeau and compton rd. When people start felling brave...

Nearlly all of ormeau is still open ,there is a lot of good stuff in there if you know were to look,i reckon ormeau has more challenging stuff than cruiser park,ive layed of the 4wd a bit lately and been concentrating more on fishing.

[Brett1907]

Hi Don, Ian is correct about the front suspension to a point. A live front axle does give you advantages over an IFS setup, but for most people it won't matter. I have a new Hilux with suspension, bigger wheels/tyres and Lockers. I have yet to get caught up, but it will happen one day.

IMO your best option would be, in orde of best to worst

[Brett1907]

Hi Don, Ian is correct about the front suspension to a point. A live front axle does give you advantages over an IFS setup, but for most people it won't matter. I have a new Hilux with suspension, bigger wheels/tyres and Lockers. I have yet to get caught up, but it will happen one day.

IMO your best option would be, in orde of best to worst - 80 series, patrol, jeep wrangler/renegade?, prado, pajero. I wouldn't go a Landrover as thay do have reliability issues and are expensive to repair. The vehicles I have listed have all proven reliable (steer clear of the early patrol 3.0TD) and have a plethora (I've read a dictionary! LOL) of aftermarket goodies available.

As anyone who knows I am a definate fan of Toyotas, I've been driving them since I was about 4 or 5yo up in Arnhem Land and Kakadu. I leaebt to drive in shorty cruisers stripped for buffalo catching. The only vehicle they would use was landcruisers. And my Father-in-law has had Pajeros for many years and has spent almost every Christmas on North Straddy for the past 15 years, towing a 1.5 tonne trailer (no mods and HT tyres on the Paj).

Good luck in looking around and I hope the addiction bites as hard as it has for some of us.

Brett

[BenDover]

Landcruiser has the strongest chassi out of all of them. But their biggest problem and always has been is the rear off centred diff. Doesnt distribute the power evenly to both wheels. Thats why cruiser lsd's are crap!! And as soon as you put lockers and big tyres on them they spit the short drivers side shaft at will. Even after i put 6 high tensile dowl pins and the strongest bolts and cone washers you can get. (and welded the bastard up). So in my books patrol is king. But cruiser has way more power.
BD

[bastard]

Landcruiser has the strongest chassi out of all of them. But their biggest problem and always has been is the rear off centred diff. Doesnt distribute the power evenly to both wheels. Thats why cruiser lsd's are crap!! And as soon as you put lockers and big tyres on them they spit the short drivers side shaft at will. Even after i put 6 high tensile dowl pins and the strongest bolts and cone washers you can get. (and welded the bastard up). So in my books patrol is king. But cruiser has way more power.
BD

Ive never seen a capable leaf sprung cruiser,there is to much to hang up in the front,pretty hard to go past a coil cab gu patrol though,the missus just brought a new wrangler and apart from being a girly car it doesnt do to bad,plenty of go,i was also on logan 4wd clubs last night run and there was another very capable wrangler,but we all no you need a hilux to play hard.(with lots of chromoly bits added.)

[Horse]

If you really want off road capability, ease of cleaning and corrosion resistance for on the beach etc consider a Defender but otherwise the Disco will do everything you want. Landrovers cost about the same as any other 4X to repair if you stay away from places like Southside etc.
I got 275 000km out of my last County with no major repairs in 17 years. My current Disco (1998 TDI) has had a few oil changes and no other repairs in the two years and 60 000 km I have had it.
Landies, Cruisers and Patrols are a much higher level of capability than most of the others but they will still get you almost anywhere you want to go to wet a line

Cheers

Neil

Cheers

Neil

[BenDover]

Hey bastard,
Yeah mate my cruiser was very capable. I got together with carroll springs and got extra long custom leafs and long greasable shackles. I even made my own reverse drop down shackles brackets for the front. To make for a much smoother ride and to stop the shackles inverting. I could go 950 cm high on a suspenson ramp. But unfortunately the shackle reversal made my wheel base longer so I didnt score well.
But arent coil spring patrols good...
BD

[Chimo]

Hey bastard,

But arent coil spring patrols good...

BD

Yes indeed!!!

Chimo

[Tangles]

love the patrols

Mike