Looking for a 4x4 - have no idea what I'm looking at. Help!

[Flip]

Tank. What sort of shooting are you interested in doing? My Landy is set up for spotlighting, but it has taken its fair share of bigger game out of the bush. But if you need a 4wd ute a 40 series criser flat deck with LD28 diesel would be a brillant vehicle for hunting.

Keep in mind the bigger the vehicle the more difficult it is to pull out when it gets stuck.

From time to time I have to water blast the Landy out because it gets full of mud, blood and guts, so a shiny is going to get buggered pretty quickly.

You are not in the south island are you? You are welcome to come out with us one night if you are.

[spajohn]

What's your budget?

I drive a SWB Toyota Prado...modded with bars, custom side protection, Old Man Emu suspension, winch, snorkel. Very expensive way to go but like you it is my only car for when I'm not on two wheels.

What's your budget? If I was to do it again I would probably pickup an older Landcruiser. Like a lot of the other guys say the Suzuki's are pretty awesome too and will be better on fuel that a lot of others. From what I have heard Land Rovers break lots and are expensive to fix.

Have you checked out Offroad Express, and also some of the local clubs? Check out: http://www.nzfwda.org.nz/

My advise if get your head around 4x4 setup's, IFS, diff locks etc before you buy.

[cynna]

i recently brought a surf with a 3.8 commodore engine. first 4wd ive had and it suits me so far. dont intend to do any serious offroading just needed it take the familly and dogs out and about

need to get a roof rack, tow hooks and snorkel - more $$$ so maybe its a good idea to buy one with everything you need. mine was a spur of the moment trademe decision so didnt really look into it before i brought one

[sil3nt]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-283065757.htm

[jim.cox]

7My advise if get your head around 4x4 setup's, IFS, diff locks etc before you buy.

Or just buy cheap, with the expectation that it will be a learning experience and that you may not keep it long

For me the main requirement is that it has to be a manual with hi & lo ratios - and I think a separate chasis is an advantage

I'm a Land Rover fan myself (yes, yes I know I know ) - but I'd prefer a Landcruiser or Patrol if I could afford one

As others have said a Lada Niva is a very capable vehicle

But for a smaller 4wd the Suzukis are hard to beat

[RDjase]

From my mechanic mates ,the 2.8's are shit loads worse..
at least the 2.5's are cheap to rebuild(he actually owned one??).Was told never to venture foot in his workshop if i bought a 2.8..

Mitsi 4D56/2.5 are crap but at least bits are cheap(ish) and there aesy to work on. 4M40/2.8 are terrible engines. Try doing anything to one in a L400....................Thats one of the reasons why I arnt a mechanic anymore, and after 20 years of it I HATE fixing cars

[Edbear]

Or just buy cheap, with the expectation that it will be a learning experience and that you may not keep it long

For me the main requirement is that it has to be a manual with hi & lo ratios - and I think a separate chasis is an advantage

I'm a Land Rover fan myself (yes, yes I know I know ) - but I'd prefer a Landcruiser or Patrol if I could afford one

As others have said a Lada Niva is a very capable vehicle

But for a smaller 4wd the Suzukis are hard to beat

Pretty good in mud, but a literal pain to drive on the road.

We used to regularly break the axles in the Landy's in the bush, but you'd be horrified at the places you could get one into of you knew what you were doing, (or is that if you didn't know...?)

[Motu]

Mitsi 4D56/2.5 are crap

Mitsi still make the 4D56 - now it's the most powerful engine in it's class...408 n/m torque.More hp and torque than a 3.0 Toyota.It's really got some stomp,and so far no problems with the common rail 4D56.After 40 years as a mechanic I'm still loving it...they'll have to prise the spanners from my cold dead hands.

[neels]

I can do you a deal on a slightly used landy if you're interested

[Winston001]

Landcruiser 70 Series.

I have a Toyota Prado myself but that's too flash for what you want. One of these days I'll get an old 70 series flat deck for hacking around.

Or as others have said, if you can find a cheap ute, buy it and drive it into the ground.

Dif lock is worth having plus there are various things you should carry such as a highlift jack, a tow strop, and say 12m of high tensile chain. You can use the chain and jack to winch yourself or anyone else out of a tough spot.