New Hilux Off Road

Submitted: Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 09:43

ThreadID: 22680 Views:6412 Replies:7 FollowUps:14

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Griddo

Just for a bit of general information. I had the companies new hilux out off the blacktop yesterday

We have set this TD Dual Cab up with a toyota factory winch bar and Superwinch 9000 up front, also getting rid of the standard tyres and going for Cooper ST 225/75.

Off road it really wasn't too bad. The front sump guard scrapped a lot in comparison to the old hilux (2002 straight diesel with 100000 km's, very well used). Places where the old one would not touch anything on the bottom the new one hit everything. The suspension has good travel, only lifted a wheel occasionally, whereas the old one would have done it very frequentley. Power from the new motor was great but getting down in the real low revs had it struggling a bit. The old one would still pull up from about 600 rpm. The new one would but it really felt like it was going to stall. I drive a 2001 TD Cruiser and i know they don't like the low rev range, might just be something with turbos. Overall it felt like a stronger vehicle and soaked up the bumps better than the old hilux's.

As a quick note, if anyone is going to get one, get rid of the factory side steps. They lower ( I think ) the ground clearance a fair bit, and don't look like they can support bugger all weight. They wiil be the first things to go at the 1000km service with the optional toyota side bars and steps replacing the originals

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Reply By: hound - Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 14:14

Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 14:14

Getting mine tonight. Have cooper mud tyres ready to go on tonight and will take off the side steps. I have a single cab chassis which going by Toyota's figures has the best ground clearence of all the new model hilux's, they must have tuned the suspension different to other models. The 31-10.5 tyres will raise it a bit more.

Going offroad this weekend to see how it goes.

Griddo
- Did the winch and bar drop the front of the car as it did with all the previous models or did the coils spring hold the weight up?

AnswerID: 109835

Follow Up By: Griddo - Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 14:22

Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 14:22

Hound

I don't think it dropped it by much but i will have to check. It probably has affected the rebound of the front springs a bit though. When the old one gets back i will check it out

I forgot to add the most annoying thing of this vehicle is if you leave the keys in the ignition with the engine offand open the door a real annoying beep sounds constantly. No good if you want to listen to stereo during smoko. Another thing is the seatbelt warning buzzer. I do some fist gear low range crawing throught some bush sections and it is handy to have the belt off. That bleeping buzzer just keeps going off

I am haing some rear protection bars made up to go around the back corners off the ute well to protect the rear lights. Some of the people have a nasty habit of dropping the rear onto things or reversing into stuff. I would really hate to see the cost of one of the replacemnet lenses.

FollowupID: 366393

Follow Up By: Outnabout David (SA) - Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 15:40

Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 15:40

I think you will find the suspension would drop 20-30mm. It uses the same front suspension as the 120 Prado and that certainly was affected by a winch & Bar on the diesels (100Kg heavier than petrol to start off with)

I think Go_offroad who frequents this site could help you more with both advixce and a suspension replacement. He supplied a beutifull set up for my old 120 Prado and think he has Hilux ready to go.

FollowupID: 366403

Follow Up By: Griddo - Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 15:50

Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 15:50

Outnabout

One major problem is the vehicle is a lease car and we are very limited with the mods we can do. Also upper mangement are a little shy opn spending money on doing up vehicles eg suspension , dual batts , air locker. Generally has to a safety, regulatory or environmental issue before they will consider anything

FollowupID: 366407

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 15:56

Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 15:56

Ahhh, the good old key beep hey... Somthing that's beenbleepsurf owners of for 15 years!! LOL

There are plenty of mods on the surf forums of how to disable it, personally I just put a switch on the dash that turns the stereo on continuously off the aux bat. That way the keys don't have to be in when camped up etc.

Can't see how a turbo would effect low revs, probally more likley the whiz bang computer variable valve timing or somthing like that causing the dramas. I don't have any low rev problems with my older TD, but then again mines an auto so I don't really ever get low revs...

FollowupID: 366410

Follow Up By: Griddo - Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 16:04

Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 16:04

Jeff

The problem is i am no expert , and jumping in from the old 3.0 l straight diesel to this is like going from a moped to a ducatti. Two differant beasts but do the job that are required to do. The one thing i have found in my 100 series td is that when taking off on hills if you don't get the revs up it is slow to go, but get into the rev range it is off like a shot

FollowupID: 366412

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 16:13

Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 16:13

Yeah I'm not too well versed in all the whiz bang electronics of these new yota motors either, I know the little Echo I drive for work with a VVTI motor (variable valve timing) is like that, it's like driving a two stroke with a power band! ;-)

Dunno if these new diesels even have VVTI and/or if that's the cause.

DING DING DING DING DING, are you getting cross eyed yet!! LOL

The worst thing about the "ding" in the surf was that it was connected to the drivers door AND the tailgate! So even if you closed the drivers door but had the tailgate down to sit on and enjoy your sandwhich.... DING DING DING ARRRRGGHH!

FollowupID: 366414

Follow Up By: Griddo - Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 16:46

Thursday, May 05, 2005 at 16:46

Jeff

just think these new tailgates have an inbuilt stop lamp in themjust above the release handle

Good place to have something when you are reversing in the bush.

The other thing is storage in the cabin . Have only been able to store under the seat one tree truck protector, two medium shackles and one pulley block. The old one used to have behind the seats two snatch traps a tree trunck protector, two pulley blocks, six shackles, one very big first aid kit, air line, small tool box and some other odds and sods.

Will have to go buy a new space case for all the gear. I can see another justification to the boss coming up

FollowupID: 366423

Follow Up By: D-Jack - Friday, May 06, 2005 at 01:16

Friday, May 06, 2005 at 01:16

Can only help with the seat belt buzz - at work we carry around a small piece of cardboard which we insert into the female part of the seat belt - stops the buzz. That is with holdens but may be the same for toyotas