Mountain Bug
Well-Known Member
It seems to run on just about anything you feed it and lots of it.But will it run on petrol?
Scott
What vehicle do you use for stalking or management?
- Thread starter 308tikka
- Start date
Scott
2010 toyota hilux. Hands down the best vehicle out there in my opinion. 100,000 miles on mine now. Never broken down. Just changed the timing belt, 5his took me 2 hrs. Spares are also reasonable priced. Only downside is they are getting harder to buy now.
^varmints^
Active Member
Subaru forester just put petrol in and the odd service they are excellent offroad
Ronin
Distinguished Member
2011 L200
180 k on clock kept it serviced every 5 k with fresh oil ans filters - hasn’t missed a beat
Reasonable economy on road with A T tyres (36-40) depending how driven
Has MT at moment ans does 30-33 with those
Very good off road without having silly expectations that it will do same as Argo
Manual gear changes (woth stick) no silly electric shift
would have another no issue
Takes all manner of deer in the back and kit
180 k on clock kept it serviced every 5 k with fresh oil ans filters - hasn’t missed a beat
Reasonable economy on road with A T tyres (36-40) depending how driven
Has MT at moment ans does 30-33 with those
Very good off road without having silly expectations that it will do same as Argo
Manual gear changes (woth stick) no silly electric shift
would have another no issue
Takes all manner of deer in the back and kit
StephenToast
Well-Known Member
That's a good point. If you want long life, Regular servicing of any vehicle is so important.
Ronin
Distinguished Member
I think some believe that vehicles will go on forever when th out servicing or new parts for worn items then squeal about costs when they are required
I factor that in - false economy not to do so
Just spent £600 on new (poly) suspension bushes, shocks and rear springs for mine
Once I’ve fitted this, it will drive like new
Also did the UJ’s on the prop a month ago as they were “tight”
I factor that in - false economy not to do so
Just spent £600 on new (poly) suspension bushes, shocks and rear springs for mine
Once I’ve fitted this, it will drive like new
Also did the UJ’s on the prop a month ago as they were “tight”
Rutland lad
Well-Known Member
BearStalker
Well-Known Member
I, personally, find LPCs to be the cheapest, most reliable means of transportation, once I get to the site. I have had mine for over 67 years and they have yet to fail me. Extremally good on fuel and never need a mechanic, only some rest; at times. LPC = Leather Personnel Carriers. 
61 reg Hilux in invincible with auto box. 79k, only work was an alternator and brake cables, new oil and filters every year. It’s got Davanti terratoura AT’s which are capable and wearing well so far. It’s got the high back truckman with side panels which have proven immensely useful for loading beasts (you can drag by the back leg) and bags of wheat. In general it’s brilliant, a tad thirsty but hey-want a economical car don’t buy a 3L auto 2 ton truck!
Jamsie
Well-Known Member
Drove one of these for over eight years in sub-Sahara Africa. Come rain or shine, through rivers and across deserts and despite my very best efforts ... I couldn't kill it. 237000 km on the clock when I left. Bloody marvellous machines.
Jamsie
Yup, me too, in Aus. 2006 120 series Land Cruiser V6 4.0. Known as the Land Cruiser Prado in international markets.
Quick story. In 2015 we turned up at a railway workers camp in NW Queensland, about 100km east of Mt Isa, looking for a place to park up for the night. Friendly fellas, we setup and had a couple of frosties. There were three LC Prados parked side-by-side with the normal roof bars, work lights, beacon, hi-viz, etc, all late model 150s but looking very well used. I was surprised to see they were all V6 4.0 petrols, like mine.
Turns out these vehicles were the daily drivers for the line inspectors. Every day, without fail, these vehicles drove the line, backwards and forwards. The railway road is a rough, corrugated gravel road with seasonal washouts and serious problems with ‘roos, pigs and scrub cattle. What shocked me was the mileage - these Land Cruisers were doing ~500km per day, a full 12hr shift of driving on a 13 day roster with day 14 back in Townsville or Mt Isa for the fortnightly service. Most of the mileage was on the rough as guts railway road, and some of it on the nearby highway. The vehicle I looked at was around 30 months old and already had 427,000 km on the clock. The only work outside of routine servicing these vehicles required was batteries, tyres and suspension replacement every 50,000 km or so. They simply swapped out the front coil spring struts as a unit to make sure the shock absorbers didn’t give up, and chucked new springs and shocks in the back. The vehicles gave the operators zero problems.
The reason they used petrol vehicles was because of the problems maintaining diesel fuel quality in the outback and previous problems with failed injectors due to rust and water ingestion resulting in the dreaded drip on top of the piston crown… That was the death of many a 1KD-FTV motor in Aus in the noughties - shocking diesel quality. The Australian spec Prado comes with a 180L fuel tank, so range was not a problem. I averaged 15.2 L/100km in mine over 3 years, with all the external fruit and a constant load.
The railway company vehicles still sold for pretty good money at the end of the three year service life! I think they were well known in the community as having worked hard but been well looked after. A bit rough, but mechanically very sound. The 1GR-FE motor is bullet proof and a classic design by Toyota, de-tuned and capable of crazy high mileage.
Tough as, these smaller Land Cruisers.
Woodsy
Well-Known Member
2.5 TD
I’ve just sold my Defender 90 
that I have to say has been an excellent vehicle. It never got stuck, never broke down and was thoroughly charismatic. In fact it has been by far the cheapest motoring I have ever experienced due to the 2k appreciation over 5 years even when I sold to a dealer. The only problem with it was the lack of load space. I’m collecting it’s successor on Saturday - a 2018 L200. Whilst it will solve the load space issues and get better MPG and comfort, I will lose on the sheer off road ability of the Defender. I can’t say yet whether I will get the same smile factor as I got with the LR. Here you go, old and new
that I have to say has been an excellent vehicle. It never got stuck, never broke down and was thoroughly charismatic. In fact it has been by far the cheapest motoring I have ever experienced due to the 2k appreciation over 5 years even when I sold to a dealer. The only problem with it was the lack of load space. I’m collecting it’s successor on Saturday - a 2018 L200. Whilst it will solve the load space issues and get better MPG and comfort, I will lose on the sheer off road ability of the Defender. I can’t say yet whether I will get the same smile factor as I got with the LR. Here you go, old and newAttachments
2005 Mitsubishi Shogun Sport V6 Auto, its deathly quiet and easy one handed operation when needed
I don't think you will loose any off road ability my shooting partner has a 2013 L200 and its off road ability is as good as any defender I have travelled in plus so much more comfortableI’ve just sold my Defender 90
The weight of a 90 is more or less the same as the older Japanese pick ups, if you want to look at off road agility you should look at axle articulation, approach, departure and ramp break over angles.
If doing a direct comparison the vehicles must be on the same tyres.
If doing a direct comparison the vehicles must be on the same tyres.
Jon P
Well-Known Member
If I remember correctly, both vehicles were on discovery coopers , I believe the LWB of the pickup did help transfer the weight. The noticeable thing for me was that I did not get the pickup so stuck and I could take it where I could not get to with the 90. It was an old single cab Nissan D22.
Similar threads
