Richard replied:

Got a 2005 100TD purchased April with only 15,000K on the clock. It's done 60/40 4WD/City work. Standard apart from alloy bull bar, X9 winch, and spots (rest to come). Have done a small amount of rock hopping and gave it a work out on a recent Simpson crossing. No sign of lower control arm problems yet.

Most problems seem to be in moded vehicles where either the tosion bar is wound up or a lift has been done.

Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

Chris,

You can get the same 1HD-FTE motor in the 78series Troopie and 79series traytop (minus intercooler). Same 3,500kg towing capacity. Max torque is 380 at 1400rpm. They have the rigid front end and are part-time 4wd. But only available with manual transmission.

Cheers
Phil

Bonz (Vic) replied:

F250 without a shadow of a doubt

Member - Roachie (SA) replied:

Everyone here knows I wear my heart on my sleeve, so it will come as no surprise that I am pleased to make the following statement.

Here in Kadina (SA), the local Police Detective is the husband of a woman who works with me. I know him well enough to have a decent chat. The SA Police have, for some time, been supplying him 4.2 T/D Patrols. He has been getting a new one every year or so. They spare no expense fitting them out with all manner of radios, bullbar etc. He is NOT a 4 wheel driver as you or I would class ourselves.

Imagine my shock the other day when he pulled up out front of the Bank in a new TD 100 series (with all the same fruit as he used to have on the Patrol). I asked him what the hell happened. He said that SAPOL had had a falling out with Nissan over warranty issues (Nissan refused to fix certain faults cos the coppers had done far too many electrical mods to the Patrols). Anyway, I figured here was a great chance to seek an unbiased opinion on just how much better he thought his new Toyota is than his previous TDi Patrol. Guess what, he said that the Patrol "felt" more torquie and tougher. The yota is easier to drive (ie: slicker gearshifting etc), corners better, is HEAPS quieter than the Patrol. He reckons the seats are wider which he says is actually a "negative" factor as you tend to roll across the seat, whereas the Patrol tended to hug ya bum.

Overall he says he is disappointed and would much prefer to have his Patrol back!!!

I just HAD to get that off my chest. ;-))

Roachie

Old Johno [NSW] replied:

ChrisO,
I changed from a 2000 Nissan GU 3.0 Auto to a 2004 GU 4.2 intercooled & added a 3" mandrel bent exhaust system with through flow muffler, plus a 3" turbo dropper.

I have just returned from a trip up north towing a tandem pop top caravan & the patrol loaded up for a Simpson Desert crossing. Did 15,000Km's over a 10 week perioid & was more than happy with the total vehicle. Towing was easy & on outback roads sat on 100k's in overdrive and the GU ate the miles up.

Redback replied:

100 series 4.2TD or supercharged V8, or the F250 7.3ltr TD or F150 4.2ltr TD, no others come close, all of these vehicles have 155Kw or more!!!!!!!

Baz.

Member - Tim replied:

Hang on there, he's only talking about 2000kg fully loaded. There are a lot of 4wds that will handle that. About the best would be the DiD Pajero. Much better economy than you could ever get out of a cruiser or patrol and heaps of torque for the towing. No I don't own one, I still have a petrol but I have been on trips with a friend who was towing with one and it's pretty impressive.

Tim.

peterseaford replied:

I have an nm pajero exceed and an off road van- down ball 220k gross 1900k . 9 lt per 100 without the van max 14 lt per 100 with van and head wind at speed limit for 12 hours drive The Entrance to Seaford.
much better than most i believe.
regards peter