Toyspeed.org.nz Message Board

by **TRD Man** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:56 am

Realistically you can tow with anything of adequate size.
We've towed rally cars the length of NZ, up hill & down dale, with a 2 litre non turbo diesel Datsun Ute.
It was cheap to run but gutless on the hills.

As others have stated, the best wagon we ever had was our 80 series 4.4 DT landcruiser. With enough tyres, fuel & tools for a 2 day event plus 4 passengers you wouldn't even know the car/trailer were on the back.
300k's & never missed a beat.

by **mjrstar** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:13 am

[/quote]

You went from bad to worse....[/quote]

:lol:

what would you suggest for under $3000?
I'm listening....

by **strx7** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:51 am

when a bighorns engine lets go, which they do with great frequency, you're looking at over that for an engine.......

They are sh1tters because of the lemon motor, nice vehicle apart from that

by **Stu-** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:07 pm

I know what you mean in that they're expensive to rebuilt/replace - I've heard of some nightmare stories from a mate who owns a big deisel workshop on the shore of how big the repair bills can be. But I think servicing makes a huge difference to the longevity of the engines - in fact most deisel engines regardless of make. Just speaking from experience the 1993 3.1TD Irmsher engines with the mechanical injection (not sure if they vary from the spam model ones) are not really all that much of a lemon - our one was purchased at 40,000km and since then has spent more time than not towing either big boats, car trailers or building materials - sometimes seriously loaded up too - and has never skipped a beat. Its done on the high side of 228km now and the only thing we done appart from servicing and cambelts, was the replacement of the clutch. Maybe its a freak, but its definitly gets its fair share of punishment - this weekend was a perfect example, Sat towing a car trailer to Meremere from AKL and Sunday towing a trailered 1934 Chevy back from Taupo (probably way over the weight I'm allowed on my licence too now I think about it).

What is the legal weight on car licence? 4000kg all up?

by **strx7** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:59 pm

i guy in the local 4wd club has a bighorn, had it for a number of years, serviced regularily etc. shat itself with 118k on the clock.

by **xsspeed** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:06 pm

agree with strx7 about bighorn, rubbish engines and they seem to let go without any warning, perhaps newer models are better? i dont know but our one was rubbish, required complete rebuild

by **barryogen** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:35 pm

mjrstar wrote::lol: what would you suggest for under $3000?
I'm listening....

Old Falcon/Commadore of some sort.

by **Mr Revhead** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:38 pm

the bighorns also leak like nothing else
you'd think they were running a total loss oil system!!
and the filters in a $%# of a place on the turbo ones

by **mjrstar** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:36 pm

Mr Revhead wrote:the bighorns also leak like nothing else
!!
and the filters in a $%# of a place on the turbo ones

i think that's the reason they leak the filter is too hard to get to..... i tightened the filter on mine with an oil filter wrench ( and a couple of swivel joints and extensions etc..).. hey presto, no more leaks. i also believe people tend to run the motors with WAY too much oil in them.
it clearly states do not run them above 1/2 fill on the dipstick. i think that is too much so personally i run mine showing empty on the dipstick, ( still holds 6 litres) and it doesn't leak or burn oil and it has good oil pressure (6 bar in the cruise).
but hey i'll be the one ranting and raving when it does die.

i have also heard the horror stories of the chrome bore bighorn engines being a bit of a B*tch.

but in the mean time i'm ejoying the efi diesel with it's decent fuel economy and i nice smooth idle even when it's cold.

my mate has a lwb 93 bighorn with 298,000k's and has had no issues other than a bit of diff whine..

i guess i have oficiall jinxed my truck now.. oh well :evil:

by **Mr Revhead** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:09 pm

its not the filter that leaks though!!

by **Stu-** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:10 pm

Well I'm really surprised by the stories of them shitting themselves and leaking. The 4 or 5 of them that family and friends drive have never had any problems - maybe they're just lucky.

by **Mr Revhead** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:16 pm

when i was the lube guy in nelson, we had a few regulars with them.
and they honestly were very leaky underneath!

by **RedMist** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:27 pm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 7.htm?p=20

Built on a light truck chassis. Very strong, good workhorses, take a tonne of spares and or passengers. If I could afford a good race trailer, I'd own a Dyna rather than the Hino.

by **WCKWGN** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:36 pm

mum got a bighorn three years ago. one replacement engine and another rebuild with genuine parts she has nearly paid in repairs what she paid for the truck. all is going well in it now.... so they are selling it for a land cruiser, they where towing duel horse float etc did ok, but for realiability they suck. dont buy a lemon and get a sour experience from one

i would look for a older nissan patrol ( under 3k ) or if you want to spend a little more get into a SWB/LWB Nissan Safari ( turb or non turb ) my mate has a LWB and you can stack heaps of hunting gear in them and a couple of dogs no problems. And they go most places in the mud and snow!!

by **xsspeed** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:07 pm

cant speak higher of the patrols and safari's, the motor is about as reliable as the come, with torque to boot, easy to forget you have a trailer with an entire vehicle on the back, and for the price difference between a patrol and a land cruiser i'd be picking up a patrol for towing.

i've only driven a LWB non-turbo diesel (y60 model iirc) , the straight 6 motor, think its around 3.6 - 4.0 l cant remember to tell the truth. havent experienced the turbos so cant speak for them on reliability/performance.

by **hsmidy** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:52 pm

Snoozin wrote:VN Commie wagon!!!!!!! )

id never buy one as a towing vehicle, tryed pulling a VERY large furniture trailer with my vr manual and i pretty much could hook 5th on the flat.....was not impressed

by **hsmidy** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:55 pm

well looks like im after a navara,landcrusier or safari,

now ive just got to keep my eye out for a goody,

thanks guys

OMG so shiny! · by **Dell'Orto** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:06 pm

Stu- wrote:Well I'm really surprised by the stories of them shitting themselves and leaking. The 4 or 5 of them that family and friends drive have never had any problems - maybe they're just lucky.

Ditto, my Mum has one, and has had for some years....its done well over 220k's, and apart from having a head rebuild at around 160 its been trouble free. It is starting to show its age a bit, but then its not been all that well maintained either.
I agree on the oil filters being in possibly the worst spot ever though!

by **strx7** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:53 pm

xsspeed wrote:agree with strx7 about bighorn, rubbish engines and they seem to let go without any warning, perhaps newer models are better? i dont know but our one was rubbish, required complete rebuild

97/98 model bighorns and wizards seem to be the lastest lot wanting engines. Not as bad as the 4M40 in the mitsi challengers. I have supplied engines for ones as late as 2004 build dates.

Cruisers and Safari's are where its as far as a big 4wd tow vehicle goes. Keep an eye on the front wheel bearings and the brake calipers (pitting pistons/seizing them) apart from that, if its auto, stick a dirty great transcooler on the beastie then TOW HARD.

by **fangsport** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:41 pm

hsmidy wrote:
Snoozin wrote:VN Commie wagon!!!!!!! )

id never buy one as a towing vehicle, tryed pulling a VERY large furniture trailer with my vr manual and i pretty much could hook 5th on the flat.....was not impressed

best towcar around, as long as the suspension isn't baggy.
was running late to a rally, doing 80km at bottom of Kilmog, 130 at top passing cars, car and trailer still there!!

wouldn't touch a bighorn for the fact they are crap.
awsome engine in the utes, but for some reason they die rapidly in the wagons.

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