SWB Nissan Patrol

Mate! How long is a piece of string? Here goes = Petrols are very thirsty and that is why they end up on gas. They don't like it unless expensive hardened valves/seats have been done with the conversion. The LPG tank, therefore limits your petrol fuel capacity too. Ride can be choppy in some situations, due to the short wheel base and, obviously, load area is limited too. Whilst they are more manouverable than the wagon, they are not as stable in climbs and the rear end trys to overtake the front end on steep decents. Mechanically, just the usual Nissan/Maveric faults and cures, nothing of great concern. SWB is no longer made, so panels aft of the wheels are becoming scarse. Try to get the youngest you can find.

you would be better of getting a turbo diesal, dual fuel can give many head ackes, the heads dont like gas and crack very exspensive, diesal would be better for what you intend to do, from experience.Col

http://www.gqpatrol.com/has a list of things to look for when buying GQ/Mavericks.

Dual fuel is common as petrol 4.2s are deadly on fuel. Heads fail on LPG GQ's also which is $1000 repair IF you can find a good head to work with.

Depending what you want to do with it, get serious, or just as you say play on weekends in the high country, depends on what motor, gearbox combo, and etc..

Any combo will do you. Pet/Die Aut/Man etc..

GQ 4wding personal preference is Diesel 4.2 and an aftermarket turbo. The TD42 Diesel is good for 400-500,000klms IF looked after well.

Autos have it over manuals offroad except for downhills as autos have no engine braking. But a set of Rockhopper(www.bigballsoffroad.com) low range gears fixes that in a flash.

If you want it for towing, Diesel, as you have better torque and longer fuel range...

Hi

I had Mavrick XLT 4.2 petrol (no gas) back in 95, basically was a good thing, very manouverable, plenty of get up and go, but drink the juice, no room in the back
and a bit unpredictable in the back end, I would look at a LWB GQ diesel, but thats
only my opinion.

Hi, my shorty did 470,000k before i removed it & stuck a rebuilt one in with Dynamic turbo, different camshaft, ported head, comp. was dropped slightly and an injection pump from a rally spec truck. was stuck on.140hp at the wheels on the dyno, not bad.
I thrashed the living crap out of the old donk, stuck a supercharger on it, and has now been rebuilt and stuck in our tuff truck, fully worked, going on the dyno soon.
The worst thing i ever regret in this world is selling my shorty, as someone offered me a good price.
Get a shorty, check out which trucks win the outback challenges as there usually shorties.

Go with the shortie. I own a 88 XLT SWB Maverick on Duel Fuel. Unstopable off road and pretty good road handling. My only grime is with it is that it is petrol and it is very thirsty on fuel . I looked around for a long time for a good diesel but only found one decent one but the guy wanted way to much for it. I give mine hell offroad and i have never had any issues with the rear end. Yeah so go out and get yourself one and enjoy!

Chris