Toyo Kluger - the thoughts
Submitted by crasny1 on Wed, 2012-06-20 08:08
Hi guys
Trying to het some informed opinion on this for z colleague of mine. Had a RAV4 and want to slightly venture more bush. Not serious stuff but at least 4x4 ability.
I have a Landcruiser and happy as larry, and I think I have heard some negatives from people on the Kluger.
I suggested he looks at a Prado instead, but stuck on this.
Any responsible comments, not the war Make vs Make, because he is stuck on Toyo.
Cheers
Neels
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"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
tommo77
Posts: 461
Date Joined: 20/06/08
Klugers
will scrub their underbody on most terrain apart from dirt roads, power wise it will probably be fine in the sand, better off getting himself in a landcruiser though if not then a prado would be better then a kluger.
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
We have used Klugers at work
We have used Klugers at work for on road and offroad duties and so far have found anywhere the stock new Hilux's(without any lift and stock tyres) have gone we have got the Klugers in aswell. This is over gravel tracks with many many bumps and slight ruts and washouts(nothing extreme) as well as over very very soft sand to which we just let the tyres down it it went fine. being a petrol you have heaps of power to gain momentum over sand. But the downside is they arent too high so in a deep rutted beach they may belly out a bit. In saying that my friends have followed me onto a fair few beachs with Hyundai Santa Fe's and they arent too high either.
So in saying that for 4x4ing a Landcruiser would be the better option. Or even his current Rav4 would bet better being lighter. But like all 4x4ing carry the right tools like a shovel, jack(high lift or air/exhaust), compressor, snatch strap, maxtrax, let the tyres down, travel with another more capable 4x4 and there should be no reason you cant take a Kluger for some softer 4x4ing.
Dan
Posts: 168
Date Joined: 23/02/06
low range
the klugers not having low range can put a lot of pressure on the gearbox - could cause issues with transmissions overheating, or worse
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Shouldnt be a problem not
Shouldnt be a problem not having a Low Range gear for 'most' sand drving. I never use low range in my Hilux in sand only ever use High range 1st or 2nd. I find i really only use Low Range for when drving over rocky, deep rutted terrain. But yes they arent a true 4wd the Klugers , they're an All Wheel Drive. And as such there is no Lower Gearing only the same gearing as what you drive on road, though having traction control is a big plus when offroading, plus all the other whiz bang stuff for better onroad handling, ESC, EBD, ABS, VSC etc......
With the Transmission they are an auto but have a Manual Mode. If hes worried about the Auto Transmission Overheating(which can happen, after prolonged towing or sand driving) he can fit a better aftermarket Auto Transmission Cooler.
But as said before a Prado or even better a Landcruiser would be a far better option for 4wding applications, as that is what they are designed to do, are built stronger, and you will have to do less modifying to make them an even more capable offroader.
Guess it depends HOW MUCH offroading he really plans to do, and what sort of locations or what beaches he plans to do it. Some beaches are softer than others, some beaches are only soft at certain times of the year. All stuff to consider.
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
Horses for Courses
IMO low range and diff locking are an essential component of any off-road vehicle. Particularly in sand and on hills. Going down sandy hills in high range can be dangerous as you are soley reliant on brakes. Klugers were built as SUVs. Indications are he doesn't intend doing a lot of off-road but I think after a while he will want to do more and wish he had purchased a true 4x4. Each to their own I guess.
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Diff locks definitly help in
Diff locks definitly help in some 4x4ing(and when you may be stuck haha) but dont really make a difference when driving on a flat sandy beach. Its all tyre pressure and momentum/power(hence petrols usually going better on sand though thirstier other fuel).
"Going down sandy hills in high range can be dangerous as you are soley reliant on brakes" Depnds if you have hill decent control. The top model Kluger does. Or if the base model just flick it into manual mode and keep it in the lowest gear and use a combination of the engine braking and brake. Should never just rely on engine braking. Need a combination of both.
Often in sand driving you'll find that with tyres deflated correctly you wont pickup too much speed going down even the steepest sand hills if you apply only a little braking and using the engine braking a little. This is a problem when decending a steep solid/rock hills though as there is little resistance on your tyres even if deflated and where engine braking(hill decent control) is the best, as you dont want to find your brake suddenly gone spongy or not working as you are going down.
"Indications are he doesn't intend doing a lot of off-road but I think after a while he will want to do more and wish he had purchased a true 4x4". On the flipside he could purchase a true 4x4 then find he doesnt really use it all for 4x4ing and/or doesnt really get into, and could have got away with a cheaper AWD(even though Klugers arent that cheap anyway)?
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
Not too many flat sandy beaches
Not where I go anyway. The entrances to and exits can be tricky and in some instances the down side of a sloping beach can be softer than the upside, hence the need for diff lockers. I spend 80% of my time onroad but I do like the 4x4 options up my sleeve when I do get off-road. I chose a 2004 Land Rover Discovery bacause it drives like a car onroad, has all the luxuries such as leather seats etc AND it comes with diif lockers, high and low range, Hill decent, traction control, ABS etc. Not to mention it only chews 10 litres per 100kms. Not bad for a vehicle which everyone bags me for LOL.
I agree totally that tyre pressure is everything in sand. I still think the Kluger is not high enough off the ground and they look like quite a heavy vehicle. Not that I have ever owned or driven one.
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Yeah totally agree on alot of
Yeah totally agree on alot of beaches entrances and exits being very challenging, can even bring the most extreme of 4x4's unstuck sometimes. Diff lockers are awesome bits of kit, and hey if they come with your 4x4 fro factory even better. Just i dont think for most of the 4x4ing here in W.A that the cost of aftermarket Diff locks can be justified unless you are wanting to do some hardcore 4x4ing or 4x4ing alone(of which a winch would probably bea good option too).
I very rarely take my car onto the actual beach i usually stick to tracks in the dunes just up from the beach if i can(had a close call on a beach near Horrocks, sunk so deep i had to get out the window!). Exception to that is Yeagarup and Wagoe and a few other places like the mouth of rivers.
Nearly everywhere i have 4x4 on my fishing trips there has always been an easier route or option to every bad looking route, track or beach. For example up at Wilbinga we got a Kluger all the way to flat rocks no problems with tyres down, just didnt dare take it onto the actual beach hahaha. Stuck to the dune tracks.
Your Rover definitly sound like a very capable 4x4, didnt realise they came with factory lockers and all the hill decent and traction contral extras. Maybe Crasny should tell his mate to have a look at some second hand Rovers. Could probably pick one up for not to much they do seem to drop in value pretty quickly once they leave the show room and with all the feature on them they would definitly fit the bill.
Brucesta
Posts: 1721
Date Joined: 29/05/09
hy not a hilux with a canopy
hy not a hilux with a canopy if they need the storage instead of a Kluger?
Las Vegas - Rolling the dice and trying your luck. 1M+ Barra summer target. 100kg Black Marlin winter target
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Cheers all
Will pass this on to martin.
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
low range
I agree with Vince on the low range, I wouldnt dream on driving the beaches we go without low range. if your really getting stuck going back and forward etc a sure way to get the clutch heating up is leave it in high range......... just ask herbie 2 clutches in 6 months lol
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
LOL
And Herbie has low range fitted! He only knows one gear and that's "D" for drag! LOL
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
D for
Drongo
Browny
Posts: 316
Date Joined: 04/01/11
Kluger's
I've had a klugger grande as a work vehicle for the past 2 years, and like all vehicles they have good points and bad.
I've had no probs entering into and out of beaches as mentioned above, obviously with tyres at relevant pressures.
I have taken mine up Cape Peron track at tip of Shark Bay, where there is some very soft (dry) sands. It went thru no probs but clearance WAS a factor, with bottoming out on the sand a regular thing!
Towing my boat into Ningaloo Station was another adventure, with no probs, but again clearance being an issue.
Power in the Grande model is not a problem.....its actually the same motor they use in the Lexus, so it is a superb drive! (I would actually rate it better to drive on the road than many cars I've had!)
The power for pulling, and even overtaking with my boat n trailer hitched is no hassle!! (6.8m Ali)
With above said, although we beach-launched at Ningaloo, we used a mates cruiser for pullout. Reason.....just to be sure! And I reckon that sums it up......If you want to be sure for 4x4'ing, go the cruiser! As good as the klugger is to drive on the road, the cruiser is better off the road!
Cheers.
Browny.
I just love Exmouth: Its a quaint little drinking town with a fishing problem!