Which 4x4 for a trip around Oz?

I need a 4x4 for towing the boat in Tasmania as well. Many of the boat ramps here are treacherous to say the least!

I agree with Muz.

For those ramps, 4WDs also have trouble, reach down with a rope or chain. We did it so why can't you. And then you can have a trip around the world in comfort with the savings on the purchase, rego, tyres and insurance and still come out ahead. Even a Mazda CX7 AWD. Take the rear seats out and you could fit all the comfort and "stuff and camping gear in the back. Much more room than even our 100 series. Maybe use airconditioned cabins instead of tents etc.

A bloke took me fishing just north of Townsville. We launched the boat okay, but when we came back at low tide he used a drag chain to let the trailer down to the water, put the boat on it and then used the chain to pull it all up to dry land. Just too slippery. Didn't even bother trying.

Sometimes it is worth looking outside the 4WD box.

But your choice. I wish you well.

Phil

can you explain 'reach down with a rope and chain'? I have a 5 meter Stabicraft, not heavy but not a car topper!

You connect a rope between the car and the boat trailer and allow it to go down to the water. Get the boat on the trailer and pull it up without having to go down the slippery or muddy launching ramp or beach with the car. I don't know your boat so this may not be an option.

This is what we did years ago before some people all of a sudden "had to have a 4wd".

Phil

Oh okay. I understand. Thanks

Sorry thought I did! $10K to spend, but less is better!

Which model, engine? Thought they were all gas hogs!

You should get the turbodiesel for that sort of money, but if you want to spend a lot less, you should be able to pick up the 3 litre V6 petrol for very little money. Chances are that the V6's have done very little work and are usually lower mileage. They were good reliable honest 4wds, but like any old 4wd, you need to give them a good check over. Repairs on 4wds can cost more than fuel, and the difference in running costs for medium size 4wds of that era are not a lot different - the V6 petrols require less maintenance and are cheaper to fix than the diesels.

Just go on carsales and see what you get for your money:
Pajeros for sale in Tasmania
May as well throw Petrol Prados (Pre-2002) in there too - both the 2.7 and 3.4L petrol motors were OK and comfort was OK - maybe not as good as the Pajeros.
Also if you back is bad, might be worth factoring in the cost of a second hand Recaro drivers seat. Worked well for my back on my traytop Landcruiser.

Carsales link wouldn't work - just go to http://www.carsales.com.au/. There was a diesel Pajero there in Tassie for $10k and a couple of petrols

Thanks, hadn't thought of gas. I 've read to stay away from the 3.0 diesels, the 4.2 are too expensive and the 4500 too expensive to run. Is gas available in northern WA etc? And what is the liters per 100 K's?

Gas is generally available right round Aussie land but off the beaten track gets hard to find , its not an issue really , just something you plan for, you could expect to be using gas around 80% of the time and a lot more in Tassie land.

The 4500 GU is a bit thirster but 20-22lt/100km is about what you could expect giving a gas range of 350-400km (most have 90 useable liters).

We have 3 1/2 GU's here at the moment and the Gas 4800 one can actually deliver 19lt/100km at 100kmh as it has a free flowing exhaust system and uses injected gas.
Earlier verisons used mixers and are not as good.

With a typical gas/diesel price ratio of 2.3 to 1 here then its by far the cheapset fuel - but I repeat that gas is only as good as its installers and car must be checked for gas related issues up front.



The Adventra we used went all the way to Lake Eyre from Melb and it only had a 50lt useable tank , towing a big yacht we only had a range of 250km which meant for frequent stops and I hate this but as you get older you need the more frequent Loo stops .

where is the one for $13K!? Can't find one for under $15.

thanks for the post. At a guess what percentage did you run on LPG and what was the cost and lLts per 100K's on the Cruiser with gas?

Johnny, The figures that Robin quoted are pretty close to the mark for my cruiser as well, not towing of course. My old GQ 4.2 dual fuel returned the same figures that Robin quoted as well. I filled up with gas a every opportunity I had, even if I still had half a tank. It was my cheapest option . All the best.

no engine is bullet proff. We helped a guy at Stockton on the weekend with a blown head gasket in his 2.8 rodeo

yes good advice. I have done some treks in my life starting with one in 1970 from London to India in a VW bus!

This trip I probably would like to do it in a BMW X5. But I daren't post that. The Toyota and Pajero lovers would have coniptions!