4wd
Submitted by Ash88 on Thu, 2012-05-10 15:14
I know this isn't fishing related but i'm looking at getting a 4wd and i'm looking at 3 possibilities which are the landcruiser, prado and patrol and i'm just wondering what the pro's and con's are for these three
cheers
metroLBfisher
Posts: 457
Date Joined: 08/01/12
if i were you id choose
if i were you id choose between land cruiser and patrol as these are more suited to 4wd then prado's. i have a patrol myself and does the job nicely :) but im sure alot of others can give you a bit of info
Good things come to those who bait
gee man
Posts: 6
Date Joined: 01/05/12
Everyone has their
Everyone has their favourites, for different reasons. Personally I like the Patrols
I have had three patrols, MQ, GQ and a GUIV. Currently driving a Navara but will be going back to a Patrol next year.
The 3l diesel is an awesome engine, reliable, doesnt gulp the fuel like the big petrols, not as much low down grunt as the 4.2litre but it depends if and what your towing. I never bogged any of my patrols, unlike the Jeeps I have had and the Navara. All depends what you are doing with it. two things I dislike about the Patrols which the Landcruiser has going for it is the drop down tailgate, and also the flat floor when the seats are down. Again, it depends what you are going to do with them
Paully
Posts: 3246
Date Joined: 15/08/09
Opinions on towing - 3ltr
Dont mean to hijack your thread Ash - but I am interested in peoples thougths on towing with the Nissan Patrol 3ltr - I think there rated to 3 - 31/2 tonne, is it more trouble than its worth getting to the top end of the rated load? I have a 100 series 4.2 turbo, however the wife would rather a Patrol and as far as finish and options etc go - I dont have a problem moving to the patrol, it's just the whole towing thing that concerns me a bit. Any thoughts appreciated. Cheers
carnarvonite
Posts: 8672
Date Joined: 24/07/07
3 litre turbo
Towed a 22 foot caravan round most of Qld about 7 years back in a 3 litre turbo Patrol. Didn't have a problem with it, even up the Sarina hill, plenty of grunt when needed and very comfortable ride. Cannot remember what mileage we got but it was impressive and not a guzzler by any means.
Pilbra Dave
Posts: 194
Date Joined: 30/09/11
Patrol's Suck at Highway Towing
I own a 3ltr Patrol and while it will tow may boat ok to the local ramp without any issues as soon as I put a bit of weight in the boat (approx 2.5t with trailer, boat and extras)for a long trip I have allot of troble getting to 100 and any sort of head wind or hill and I am down to 80. This makes overtaking road trains and grey nomads a real pain. Because of this my next car will be a cruiser. I have a 3" exhaust and Snorkel to help which does help when not towing but doesn't make enought of a difference when towing. The standard 3ltr patrol also suffers from turbo lag aswell which until I upgraded the exhaust real got on my nerves. It is also lacking in power when on soft sand.
If you ain't Fishin you ain't Livin
Paully
Posts: 3246
Date Joined: 15/08/09
Thanks Carnarvon
Have to say I drove a Patrol and Landy over hundreds of K's of unsealed road for a few years some time ago and I always thought the Patrol was a better ride/suspension - didn't stop me buying a cruiser though - thanks again. There are always those people who tell me the Patrols cant pull a skin of a rice pudding though - food for thought anyway.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8672
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Cruisers
Had 4 different cruisers before going for a ride in a Patrol on a minesite then back on the same track in a cruiser, sold the cruiser and bought a Patrol as soon as I got back home. Since then its been all Patrols except for one Cruiser ute during a brainfade that only lasted half a season on the salmon before getting another Patrol ute.
Something to do with springs being fitted to the Patrols that don't shake your fillings out.
Paully
Posts: 3246
Date Joined: 15/08/09
Thanks again
I believe it is to do with the springs on the Patrols, I think I'm sold, what sort of weight was in the caravan - do you know? Was your Patrol doing the towing a manual or auto?
carnarvonite
Posts: 8672
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Auto
Was the automatic 3.0 turbo diesel and the van without a heap of gear in it went just over 3000kg so when fully loaded we were very close to maximum loading.
Paully
Posts: 3246
Date Joined: 15/08/09
cheers
appreciate your advice Carnarvon, can see a trade happening I think.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18054
Date Joined: 11/03/08
have a look at the 4x4's used
have a look at the 4x4's used by the grey nomads, most are the patrol 3ltr td. i personally go the patrol over the cruiser as i have been in both and as mentioned the ride is better but again it depends on what you want it for.the cruisers seem to have a bit more standard ground clearance than the patrol
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Ash88
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 17/04/12
Thats ok Paully and what i'd
Thats ok Paully and what i'd be using it for is going on the beach and eventually towing a camper trailer and/or boat. The reason i chose these three are i know that both the patrol and cruiser are reliable but the missus wants a prado but i'll talk her round to either a patrol or cruiser lol plus the extra seats are going to be needed carting the ankle biters around lol. Thanks for the advice guys i'll be on every so often to check the thread.
Paully
Posts: 3246
Date Joined: 15/08/09
Cheers mate
I figured since you were asking about both - knowledge of towing might come in handy.
Vander72
Posts: 433
Date Joined: 20/10/06
go a landcruiser
they go forever (4.2 diesel) and you can tow 3.5 t with a std one with no fruit.....mine has done across australia 5 times and every time towing my boat and worldly possessions.... didnt miss a beat and it cost $700 to do 4500 ks each time.......the beauty of it as well is that you can service them yourself or work on them easily enough.......but then its up to you
ive never driven a patrol so i cant comment on them but they do seem like a good car but i prefer the grunt of a 4.2 l without a turbo but extractors do help a bit too and give it a nice note hehehe
carnarvonite
Posts: 8672
Date Joined: 24/07/07
4.2
I've got a 4.2 Patrol diesel with extractors and the 3.0 turbo would suck the door handles off it when it went passed, no comparison.
Paully
Posts: 3246
Date Joined: 15/08/09
I had an 80 series
standard 4.2 - reliable for sure Vander - however i dont doubt what your saying at all either Carnarvon about sucking the door handles off in comparison. I originally thought if I got a Ptrol - I'd like the 4.2 version, however they seem as rare as the proverbial.
Ash88
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 17/04/12
Sound like 3.0 ltr patrol is
Sound like 3.0 ltr patrol is the go, I've had a quick look on carsales and another question/s would be petrol or diesel ? and how many k's is too much cos like evryone don't wanna hand over money for something thats only gonna get a few k's out of it before shittin itself lol
carnarvonite
Posts: 8672
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Diesel
Diesel is the only way to go, less maintenance and more reliable plus if you go right in the outback you can always obtain diesel
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18054
Date Joined: 11/03/08
def go diesel. even at 200k
def go diesel. even at 200k the motor hasnt long been run in. as long as they are maintained they will go on and on also the economy is better than petrol especially when towing
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Paully
Posts: 3246
Date Joined: 15/08/09
Interesting - I have
just been looking at Patrols online too, it seems that an auto 3ltr diesel is only rated to just over 2 tonne - manual is 3 and change.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18054
Date Joined: 11/03/08
noticed the same thing a
noticed the same thing a while back. imo the manual is the only way to go
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Ash88
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 17/04/12
Ah cool so diesel with around
Ah cool so diesel with around the 200k's on the clock thats alright thanks again guys for the info
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
i've had 2 cruisers , a
i've had 2 cruisers , a troopy and now a 100 series , both 4.2 diesel non turbo's , both reliable tractors , both gutless as farq.
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.
allrounder
Posts: 1853
Date Joined: 10/11/08
You have seen my cruiser Grayzeee
A mate has a top of the line 4,2 turbo patrol with the full upgrade on the turbo and exhaust.It cost him $60000 and he is now selling it because he is sick of mine kicking his ass.The only thing he does me on is from 0 to 80 and then he only beat me by 3/4 of a car length. Another thing i noticed when towing my boat is that his struggled when starting on the ramp/ any hill.His had to spool up before you started moving were as mine is straight on to the job.So in my opinion a gutless 100 kicks a turbo 4.2 patrol to the curb.If my motor dies i may look at other options but at the moment she is running strong with 475000kms so it will be no time soon.
So tell me have you got your info from years on the water or hours on the internet?
Carry
Posts: 657
Date Joined: 22/04/09
cruiser
i got a 200 series twin turbo diesel
Awesome
We feel nothing but a certain difficulty in continuing to stand
Pilbra Dave
Posts: 194
Date Joined: 30/09/11
Water?
I hear your 200 Seris likes a bit of water? Thats Outrageous!!!!
If you ain't Fishin you ain't Livin
Vander72
Posts: 433
Date Joined: 20/10/06
well mine just keeps going
and will cruise @ 100 all day every day...no need to go faster..you waste too much fuel over a 100 anyway....as for havin a turbo i think that there is something else that can go wrong... only need a turbo for towing up hills anyway. so you can keep the speed up .. but thats just my opinion.... at the end of the day whatever you buy , as long as its a diesel and you can tow a boat its all good and you'll be happy.....
KEN_DOG
Posts: 80
Date Joined: 21/04/11
Turbos definitely have more
Turbos definitely have more benefits than just towing up hill, for a start the better fuel economy as your engine need not "work" as hard. Hence the reason you can't even buy a new naturally aspirated diesel 4x4 in this country any more......
allrounder
Posts: 1853
Date Joined: 10/11/08
Mine is natural and will tow a 6.7 commodore
Too exmouth using just under 20 litres a 100 with the car and boat loaded.That was before the injectors and pump were done.The same style of boat (Makos ) behind the 4.2 turbo patrol was running low 20s and he said that when he left Gero he was crapping himself that they may come in short to make it to northhampton.That was both of his tanks with a head wind.I am leaving tonight to run north so it will be interesting to see if the work i had done makes a difference.
So tell me have you got your info from years on the water or hours on the internet?
Vander72
Posts: 433
Date Joined: 20/10/06
oh and it does
17 secs over the 1/4 mile hehehehehe not bad i thought for a 3.5 tonne beast
West Coast
Posts: 332
Date Joined: 10/12/07
Prado or Landcruiser
There is no comparison. The only people that drive Patrols are those that cannot afford a Prado or Landcruiser.
pelagicyachts
Posts: 1322
Date Joined: 23/02/11
not bashing Patrols -but my
not bashing Patrols -but my dad used to work for Nissan up until about 4 years ago and i remember him saying they had a lot of the 3 lt turbos dropping no 3 piston - used to come in a fair bit for rebuilds (under warranty) cant remember the exact cause but might be worth asking before purchasing if this has occured (to the particular vehicle)
DTrain
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 10/02/12
This guy here has a pretty
This guy here has a pretty good write up of the problems with the 3L turbo deisel patrol engine:
http://www.chaz.yellowfoot.org/zd30_engine_problems.htm
fishnut
Posts: 255
Date Joined: 22/09/10
ZD30
the 3l GU Patrol has a ZD30 engine - google it and you'll never buy one! They have a reputation for pistons that like to pop out and say hello! Great trucks, but I would not be prepared to risk it.
Ash88
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 17/04/12
Yer my dad mentioned the same
Yer my dad mentioned the same thing about them blowing a piston so i'll be very cautious when buying
flexn
Posts: 232
Date Joined: 19/03/12
Yeah if you buy a 3.0 litre
Yeah if you buy a 3.0 litre stay away from the zd30, at least in the early models. They are known as the "hand grenade" they sometimes get a boost spike that will cook a piston. On the other hand i have a mate that rebuilds gearboxes and transmissions and said if it weren't for landcruisers he wouldn't be in business. I like both patrols and cruisers but they both have there down sides. I would try get a 4.2 turbo diesel patrol or a late model 3.0 litre. I have a 2.8 litre 6 cylinder, its no rocket by any means but performs well off road and tows well. 4.2 litre will be my next. How much are you spending ?
Ash88
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 17/04/12
anywhere between 15-20k is
anywhere between 15-20k is what i'll be looking at spending
Beanz
Posts: 12
Date Joined: 21/03/12
Hi Ash, i have a 07 3L patrol
Hi Ash, i have a 07 3L patrol and as some have said stay away from the early models. pretty sure it the 03 and early GU's. i have a fair bit of fruit and havent had any trouble off road anywhere. i can can keep up on the highway with the 4.2TD with out to much trouble. i would probably recommend havin a poke around on some 4wd forums for advice aslo for models in your budget
Ash88
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 17/04/12
cheers beanz i might do that
cheers beanz i might do that
dodgy
Posts: 4578
Date Joined: 01/02/10
200 series Sahara will be my
200 series Sahara will be my next tow rig.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
Ash88
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 17/04/12
just had a quick look at a
just had a quick look at a couple of 4wd forums and pretty much they both are pretty reliable and if i keep the servicing up i should have a solid rig but in saying that i'll keep looking and i've always wondered why the minesite i work on has all land cruises and i know for a fact they cop some punishment lol and once again thanks guys for the info
Vander72
Posts: 433
Date Joined: 20/10/06
there's your answer there
they cop a flogging on minesites