Competition vehicles - why so many Nissans?

Because they're expendable....

Mate,

I have only been told this from a few guy's with comp trucks but they believe the Nissan running gear (Diffs. etc) is far stronger than the Cruiser and cheaper if it fails. Plus I think second hand Patrols are generally cheaper than it Cruiser version. Just proves Patrols are a better serious 4wd....VTIC

patrols much stronger in the running gear, and cheaper.

But did you see that a hilux won the extreme winch challenge round 2 !!!!!

Go The yotas

You really need to ask?

TONKA TUFF even if it does drive like a concrete slab........nissnut

I'm not that knowledgable on matters Nissan but here's a thought that I'll provide bias free!

Before the 80 Series, cruisers were leaf sprung I think, but if I'm right I think the Trols were coming out with coils all around long before this. Am I right? Not many people will use a brand new truck for a comp rig - they'll go 2nd hand. So when the 2nd hand trols are cheaper and prob come with coils on - why not?

For the record I'm a Tojo man! ;-)

Cheers
Scoey!

You can also get parts anywhere and everwhere for the Toyota.
Just about every one-horse town in Australia has a Toyota Dealer of sorts.

Also, I have yet to see Nissans in a mining co's fleet.

And yes I am a 'Yota Owner

Stu

Stupid blo@dy question in the first place. It's blo@dy obvious to any fool. They (Nissans) are better!!!!!!!

These comp vehicles have most of the mods done to suspension and body work, relatively little to engines and running gear. So you look at the one that's strongest in this area and without a doubt it's the Patrol. Just look at the size difference between the gearboxes in the GQ compared to the 80 series and argument's over.

The 80 series would be a better outback tourer than the GQ because of better comfort, interior space and ride.

Barnesy

I think it's simply that the datsun's are cheaper.

And the toyo's don't have rear coil springs on the landcruiser utes.

I have a 80 series, but if I wanted a comp truck I would use a datsun GQ ute as a starter, it's cheaper and gives me more money to spend on the truck after purchase.

I have to admit, A fair few comp 80's have datsun diff's under them. Other than that they stay yota.

let's look at the majority of Comp trucks and see just what are some of the common denominators for the front running vehicles.
Probably the biggest reason is the comparitively cheap way to build a comp Nissan compared to a Yota, it's cheaper to get one 2nd hand and cut it to bits to get exactly what you want.
Next is wheelbase and weight, most comp Patrols are shorties or cut back LWB's with cab chassis configuration and their wheelbase is just about perfect for stability both fore and aft and side to side. The ramp angle and approach and departure are better as well.
Nearly all the front running comp trucks use GU diffs front and rear and that includes many of the Yota runners. Breaking GU CV's is much harder to do than a Yota one. Very rarely do you hear of Patrol diff stripping teeth off the crown wheel but the Yota's do regularly.
Gearboxes are another case in point the Patrol manual one is huge and can handle big horsepower the Yota one is marginal. With auto's though, the Yota auto is a little better than the Patrol but not by the same margin as the manuals. If a V8 is used and an auto then a turbo 400 is usually the weapon of choice.
Transfer cases again the Nissan comes out in front the Yota one isn't up to the task.
Steering boxes, again the GU one is the weapon of choice.
Diesel engines, the Yota's are better no doubt about it but the Nissan ones are cheaper and with the right pump internals (Yota actually) will produce good reliable horsepower. If cost were no option then you would see all the diesel competitors using the Yota 1HdFt engine but they are very pricey so scratch them.
Same with petrol engines, a TB42 is very cheap compared to the Yota 4.5 and the TB42/45 responds really well to turbocharging, so well in fact it has started to eat into the number of competitors who used diesel engines in the past.
When you consider a GQ is so cheap to buy and the stronger GU bits just bolt up with few if any problems that's the reason most comp trucks are Nissans
Regards Andrew.

!MPG:8!

If the 60 had been coil sprung I reckon that would have evend up numbers. Toyotas are better engineered vehicles - there arnt to many parts that interchange coz they are all built for there porpose. Rather than grab existing stuff and build a vehicle around it. The downside for comps is the yota is built for the porpose it was desighned - which isnt comps. It is this same reason yota N/A diesals have neer liked turbos - coz they are a porpose built motor not desighned to run a turbo

Bit like the Holden vs Ford at Bathurst,, no way are the trolls & yotas in the comps anything like the same on the roads , serious modifications and $ do not make it a true Nissan or a true Toyota , just like the yanks and the "all American " Harley Davidson ,,wheels made in Australia, brakes from Germany ,wiring loom from Italy ,"but she,s a genuine all American Harley " and big pink pigs fly thru the air at midnight on brooms. lol.