Iveco Daily Dual Cab 4x4

I was quoted $85k about a year ago when the first 9 arrived in Australia. As a 4x4 they are well reported overseas and a quick look underneath one convinced me they should do the business.

Iza

Hi Paul
Thank you for your information, I've just had a revised quote from the Sydney dealer which has come in at $98K which includes the upgrades tyres, uhf radio, heavy duty aluminium tray, vertical exhaust which is now a more attractive price.
As with you my 4.2 GU Patrol is a fantastic vehicle it struggles in carry my camper. I have just fitted air bag suspension and King adjustable shockers all round which carries the camper much better although I am yet to give it a test off road.
The Iveco attracted me for many reasons and it could be a very good vehicle to replace both my 4wd's. Unfortunately these vehicles are in very good, like new condition and like most people become attacted to them.
Although the Iveco has a few short falls like the fuel tank etc. I see these as minimal and can be easy upgraded to a vehicle that will cater for all my needs.
If I consider the money that I have spent on all the fruit for both the 100 series and the Nissan to make them the vehicles they are I see a far lesser amount needed to be spent on the Iveco to become a good touring vehicle with excellent off road capabilities.
Going from a V8 & 4.2 litre engine back to a 3 litre engine in a heavier vehicle has been my concern although the Iveco seems to compensate this in its gearing.
Fuel is not a concern as it couldn't be any worse than the 100 series V8 and I also own 2 boats that consume approx. 6000 litres every 2 days. I have always been of the view that there is no replacement for cubic inches as I see many people towing large vans with 3 litre engines and wonder how long will these last.
I see the Iveco as a vehicle that can be set up like you are doing that will suit my needs. I just wish Isuzu would bring out a similar vehicle.
Thank you again for your information and good luck with your vehicle.
Regards
John

Going Bush

Thanks for your reply.
That is what I was looking for in regards to the suspension and ride.
I believe the price is very good for what the vehicle provides and how it can be set up.
Larger fuel tanks is not a problem and there is plenty of space for water tanks, storage boxes etc that we all fit to smaller vehicles.
How do you find the stability of the vehicle and what is the main purpose of your vehicle ie. carrying a camper or towing a van or both.
I have found that vehicles once loaded become very different from the vehicle in the flesh and this is where the money needs to be spent when we want to use them for what they were supposedly built. Wouldn't it be great to buy a 1 tonner that actually carried 1 tonne like it is supposedly advertised.
I hope the Iveco still keeps the smile on your face for many more thousands of kilometres.
Regards
John

Hey John, quite the opposite infact, overseas the iveco is rated at 5500kg, here it is optional 5200kg gvm on a truck licence or 4495kg gvm on a car license, so no fear of overloading or over stressing, you know it has another 1000kg of ability even when you are at the car licence GVM. the more you load it up the smoother it gets, you can not feel any difference in power empty to loaded except when towing as well you need to change back on the hills , but there are plenty of gears to play with as well as the under drive that you can swap into and out of on the fly.

ours is the one on the blog www.goingbush.com/iveco.html

a youtube vid of corrugations and sandy section,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u85o1-ZyILY

I don't own one or have driven one...but one matter that must be understood.....its a truck and is designed to perform fully loaded.
Commercial buyers of trucks expect to load them to capacity..if not they would have baught a smaller truck.

ALL of the pasenger derived light commercials are designed to barely tolerate being loaded to their maximum legal capacity.

The other thing is the air suspended seats.....there are plenty of people who would realy like air suspended seats in their 4wd utes.

You would have a hard time buying a real truck without at least an air suspended drivers seat.....you would have a harder time getting someone to drive it.

The number of gears will also be a big help.
having the right gear for the job and beeing able to keep the engine right on the power band makes a very big difference.

a few years ago I drove a heavy tipper for a while....mine only had 6 forward gears...we had an almost identical truck with a 15 speed road ranger......he left me for dead everywhere especially fuly loaded on hills.

Need a truck..buy a truck.

cheers

Eric
where can you get them in Australia?

"Towing a caravan defeats the purpose of having an off road vehicle "

how so ??

the idea is your tow the caravan to a caravan park or bush camp use it as a base, then go 4WD touring / exploring .

The Mercedes Sprinter does not have low range, and is IFS , more an AWD than a real 4x4 so can't be compared to the Iveco.

Fuso Canter and Isuzu NPS 4x4 are the closest things. The Canter has the same engine as the Iveco , the Isuzu engine is a lot bigger, neither have as good gearing , parabolics, difflocks or super singles so more money needs to be spent to get them 'capable'.

One thing the Iveco misses out on is it lacks an exhaust brake. The others including Sprinter have one as standard.

I understand that mitsubishi, hino and isuzu all do 4wd trucks too, but you may have to step up into the medium rigid 6 to 12 ish tonne range.

One thing with those that currently is not with the IVECO is that they do come up second hand....ocasionaly.

I recently met a bloke who baught an Isuzu 4wd medium rigid to tow his boat..it was an ex fire truck.

cheers

Adrian.
You can order them from any Mercedes commercial dealer. Don't expect them to have one in stock. The combinations of motor transfer case and wheel base are almost endless so the vehicle is built to your order.

Gone bush.
You should get your facts rite before giving a spray. The sprinter can be ordered with low range and diff locks. The suspension is superb with parabolics all round. The idea of dumping a van and then coming back for it is a dumb idea, We have tried every combination of vehicles and the Sprinter is by far the best for exploring except the most chopped out tracks, we are prepared to walk the last 100 metres or so as a trade of for the comfort safety and economy. Eric

Eric Experience

to quote page 16 "get a grip"

http://www.mercedes-benz.com.au/content/media_library/australia/mpc_australia/rep_vansng/brochures/sprinter.object-Single-MEDIA.download.tmp/Mercedes-Benz-Sprinter_2013.pdf

Eric Experience
Regarding: getting facts right……the Sprinter has no diff locks and parabolic springs only on the rear.

This video should clear things up a bit!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO8zt8byDiI

Yes would like to see your Sprinter, do you have any photos, It sounds fantastisch

Of course you can get any vehicle you like optioned up by Aftermarket vendors…… if you have enough money.

Any Sprinter I have ever looked at have independent front suspension with wishbones and Macpherson struts, they have never had front leaf suspension.

Herr Expreience, I am not giving them a 'spray' at all, Indeed they are a great vehicle but its you who needs to get you facts 'rite'

http://www.around-oz.com/innovations_mh/sprinter_suspension.htm

Going bush.
I suggest you look a bit harder at the front suspension, they all use a leaf spring. Which particular part do you want a photo of? Eric