Patrol vs f-truck

Old f trucks don’t fit in the wheel tracks of every other car and will drive you mental.

I'd fix the Rodeo up unless you need to spend money on a bigger vehicle

Go with the old Patrol. An F-truck will keep you poor.

You have no idea what a total rip-off F-truck parts costs are, they make Mercedes and BMW parts look cheap.

I bought a new 4WD F100 a long time ago, wore it out and totally rebuilt it (no, it wasn't a rebuild, it was nearly a ground-up restoration. I even converted it to 4 wheel disc brakes, using XB Falcon rear discs).

It was a very competent vehicle on rough ground, with the ability to swallow up metre-deep holes with ease.

But it used fuel like it was going out of fashion. The old saying that it couldn't pass a servo without stopping, was true.

It was absolute beast to control on rough, deep corrugations on dirt roads.
The long radius-rod front end design, transferred front axle shocks to the centre of the chassis, and sent the empty Effie sideways in milliseconds at 110kmh - making for some pretty hairy "Speedway-style" driving response.

The later Effies went to a short front-end radius-rod design, because of this major front-end design fault, in the earlier Effies.

All the bolt holes in the Effies chassis are punched bigger than the bolts that go in them. As a result, loose bolts were a constant problem.
The brackets holding the radius-rods came loose, and the Effie started ducking and diving all over the road, like a steering component had come off.

When I restored her, I drilled all the chassis bolt holes to a precise larger size, and fitted larger diameter bolts that were a tight fit in the holes.

The chassis cracked in the curve over the rear axle, due to Ford bean-counters cutting back on metal thickness and frame depth in that area. Had to plate that area to strengthen it.

The first fuel injected F-150's were nothing but a POS, with endless electrical problems and rear diffs that fell apart, often under warranty.

But the part that kills the Effies is the need to carry a vary large jar of anal lube anytime you buy any part that fits any Effie. I paid $600 just for an Effie grille in 1980, and $600 in 1980 was like $1600 today.

The Nissans are a lot better built and they are everywhere, and the parts aren't such a ripoff as American-sourced Ford parts.
Ford parts are always dearer than any other manufacturers parts, and Effie parts at right at the stratospheric level.

Forget about the V8 burble, it sure sounds nice, but its the most expensive sound you'll ever hear.

Cheers, Ron.

Should do the trick

If the sound of a V8 is what you desire then an audio track of one is far cheaper. Since you have been using a 4 cyl 4wd which easily does beach and mud work, a heavier vehicle needs to have significant increase in ability to overcome it’s weight to be worth it or an advantage to you. A 2 wheel drive F model ford is going to be a liability in mud and on the beach too. How would it be an advantage to you?

Spending the required amount on a repair of what you own may be the best option if $$$’s are tight. ANY VEHICLE you purchase will immediately cost more through hidden costs above the purchase price.

If the vehicle you buy has hidden problems or needs tyres then the $10,000 is now climbing.
Dreaming and practicality should be carefully weighed against each other.

I had the experience of using F100s with the 351 V8 petrol as a work vehicle. We got 6.5 mpg. We were having motors fail at about 40,000 kms. They were comfortable to drive in a straight line. You needed an oval to do a U-turn and were terrible on dirt roads. Worst, most unreliable vehicle, that I have had the misfortune to drive.

I has also driven Rodeo's as a work vehicle. They were okay but I would not buy one. Cramped for a person of my size and the handling is poor.

4.2 TD patrol. I have owned one and had it for years. Underpowered by todays standards but they have a motor that is almost indestructible. Nothing unusual for someone to get over one million kms out of a 4.2 motor. Very good drive line, including gearbox and diffs. Better vehicle than the Rodeo. Both of them are mush better vehicles than the Found On Rubbish Dump.

Go the patrol as long as you can put up with a vehicle that does not accelerate like a sports car. Once you get up to speed it just cruises.


Regards

What about an old V8 Disco or Rangie?