Forget about your 4b..look at this

Jus for a short moment, I though big Al had said, "bugger the 100 series, we'll take the Old's" Nah!!! some blokes will do anything for peace and quiet.Dare to Lead not to Follow

The Chrysler doesn't have spotties for a night run....not a fair contest :) BEAM ME UP SCOTTY


Hooroo
Ray

Agreed night time driving is a pain...but...our olds is now run with a 12volt battery rather than a 6v battery..maybe we could rig some spotties on the front...ahahaha...Life - Live it , Love it !

Couldn't agree more, my feelings exactly with your closing statement.
I've had 4wd's since early 1974 and they have got progressively more comfortable but at the expense of 'toughness'. We went from a 1970 model 40 seires to a 1979 4wd hilux. After two years it was stuffed and we couldn't get rid of it quick enough. Went back to 40 series troopies from 81 through till 89, they got progressively lighter in panel thickness but still stood up to the use/abuse as Toyota ironed out the problems and weaknesses. Then in 89 we bought a 2 y/o 75 series. By the time we swapped it for a 90 75 series in 93 it was stuffed, the body had more cracks in it than a dam wall, the transfer had been rebuilt twice, the A pillars and top of the firewall had separated from the rest of the body, engine was good though (older technology the 2H). We kept the 90 model (1hz powered) till 2002 when it had only done 180k. It was mostly used for long touring trips, no city use but the transfer and gearbox had to be rebuilt at 120k, radiator needed repairs just about every long trip, bottom of the A pillars had started to crack off the body, engine was starting to use oil, transmission was getting noisy again, been through about 4 rear pinion bearings (air locker may have had something to do with that). I felt that a vehicle with such light use should have lasted longer especially in the drive train. Looking at later models didn't inspire me to buy another as the body seemed to be of even thinner metal, chassis seemed lighter, much more plastic around, plastic radiator(which get brittle with age).
I guess we should remind ourselves that while it may be possible to build a vehicle to last the manufacturers don't sell many vehicles if they never wear out.
So we took a step back to a more basic vehicle and bought a 15 year old Humvee. After 8 months of spare time work to convert it to RHD and do the mods required for ADR compliance I know it intimately and reckon it will survive much longer than a newer vehicle.

Diesel,

If you are really that worried about it, buy yourself a series 3 landrover and re-power it with a holden red motor 6, fit it with an overdrive.

Then enjoy (?)

Diesel, I couldn't resist,

1966 LANDROVER 4WD WAGON
HOLDEN 186 MOTOR (NOT GOING), 4 SPEED PLUS OVERDRIVE KIT, 3 FUEL TANKS, ONE 80LT STAINLESS STEEL WATER TANK, FALSE FLOOR IN BACK, 12 & 24 VOLT BATTERY SYSTEM, ATTATCHMENTS FOR SHOWER, 4 NEW TYRES ON RIMS (16X7.5) WITH 2 SPARES. WILL SELL WHOLE OR SEPERATELY
PRICE: BEST OFFER
CONTACT DAVE
HOME PH: *****
WORK PH: 33327452

Thanks for the offer Dennis.

My perfect truck - darn, if only it had a diesel.
+ gps + cup holders + automatic traction control + colour tv + dvd + reversing camera + rain sensing wipers.

I'm not really worried about the direction of 4wd design because the market dictates what is made, so 'worried' is a bit of an overstatement.

It does seem to me that we might be asking for more than we really need - and getting it. And paying for it. Look at those enormous SUV's in the US, and the Euro 4wd's that cost the earth. Beautiful machines alright, and the Japs are doing their best to match the features - but would you want to use them out in the bush?

I really don't think these vehicles are designed for our environment, and I have a bit of strife trying to figure out just what they ARE designed for.

Any ideas?

No I'm with you on that, my manual dual cab petrol rodeo does me fine.

A/C & P/S are about the extent of its 'luxury' features, it even has a vinyl floor.