rodeo

Thanks Pete will do a bit more of a search. Thought of going back to whacking a turbo on the old lux as was told it will go just as well as a rodeo but have read issues on here with overheating problems so didnt go down that track. Would love to as I love the old lux but with 300k on her now bit worried it might go bang and dont want heating issues pulling the camper on hot days with air con running. Regards Steve M

Hay madfisher, first i've heard about the hotspots, thanks for the info I better check my sons 96 model out it has 285000ks on the clock and seems to go better than when i got it at 42000ks.
Hay steve, i've passed mine onto my son now but prior to that i did two trips to the cape in ours and the only issue i had was alternator problems which i believe happens because of its location.
Over the years i spent a lot of Ks towing a car trailer with it (fair bit over weight i might add) and i still believe it towed it better than the 80ser L/C that i have now.
Ground clearance was never an issue when off road it all comes back to how you drive the vehicle your driving.
Apart from the alternator issue the earlier dual cab models were a bit weak in the chasis just in front of the rear wheels.
Other than that, I still reckon they are the pick of the dual cabs, especially up to about the 99 models, not in a position to give an opinion after that.
Am looking for a 93 to 97 model tray for my youngest son, thats what i think of them.

Hope thats been of help
Cheers with Beers
Franga

Hi there Franga what you think of the sound of these
1998 HOLDEN RODEO TF R7 LX Crew Cab
$10,500
230,000
4 door 5 seat UTILITY
White
Grey
5 speed Manual
4X4
4 cylinder Diesel Turbo 2.8L (2771cc)
JAN-2008
Well maintained, excellent condition.
2 door lockable canopy back. 4 speaker Panasonic CD stereo. 2 child seat anchor points.

Holden Rodeo 4x4 Diesel turbo dual cab 2001 model, manual, air, steer, with canopy, only $12990,
Doesnt say how many klms wil ring tomorrow.
Regards Steve M

I didnt see that option- though it was reserved for the 'sport models'

OR

perhaps i have always had it and its never worked ;)

Hi there 666toy, dont know about you but have you ever driven a 2.8 hilux diesel, mate surely the 2.8 turbo rodeo has more grunt than a hilux 2.8 which wouldnt pull a sailor of your sister if your life depended on it. I know of the cracks in front of the rear wheels as my mates 2000 model was cracked both sides but he did buy it second hand and it did have a hydraulic tipper on the back which at some stage probably had some serious weight in it but his is the I think 3.2V6 defiantely not diesel. He reckons it flies and so far no problems ( bought it 2 years ago about 160k on for memory) but is a bit thirsty especially when he's towing or on the sandy stuff.Dont know anybody with the 2.8 so cant comment, surely their not all that bad not saying your bullshi@ing but maybe you got a lemmon although if your a mechanic then you would see your fair share of them. Man trying to make my mind up on a second hand vehicle is harder then when I spent 150k on buying my house. Regards Steve M

Sounds like you got a lemon 666TOY....300 000km in my ISUZU MU heaps of fun and every track you can think of....just got a 99 Rodeo DC with 150k km for $11000 and its a little gem too.

But each to their own.... I would recommend them to anyone but all makes have faults and can be abused in their life...just make sure you get it checked out before purchase.

Matt.

There are good & bad in all vehicles Stephen but these rodeo's really are a problem.
Yes i admit not all are probably as bad as the one i once owned but i have seen quite a few since then (& worked on !) to know it was not just isolated to just mine .
That 2.8td does go better than a 2.8 roll lux donk but has terrible turbo lag.
Buy one if you must but believe me you will be better served if you find a different vehicle.
Remember a unladen vehicle does not tell the full story on a test drive. Try taking off in 2nd gear or deliberately "lug" the donk buy short shifting the gears & you will see what i mean.
Forgot about them cracking on the chassis & they dont have to be abused for this to happen although mine was ok.

G,day 666. You certainly seem to have attracted more than your fair share of the re-badged but well camouflaged Hilux pretenders.
'toy, what era do you speak of?
Isuzus with perennial problems? hahahaha.(copyright belong Gramps)

Speaking as an ignorant user, NOT as a hard man/mechanic, the diesel Rodeos of the 90s creamed the opposition. No question.(Yes, turbo lag was a problem; NO.! Incorrect; it was BLOODY DANGEROUS in urban settings). 666 mentioned a 2nd gear standing start. (hmpffh)
Forget it. No way.Don't even try.[[as an aside, our 2002 rodeo can tolerate that sort of abuse. I just 'feel' it's more a show pony than a working horse]].
(Apologies to current owners. Hope I'm wrong.)
But to return to the original post . Unless you're prepared to drop the clutch at the Green Light, 1st gear will see you flogged by a one winged locust.
Similarly, you shall travel , as do locusts, to far and exotic places, trouble free and on minimal energy intakes.
(Don't even try 666 you devil, or I'll chuck in another one.)
May Thai built [Jap designed? dunno] Rodeos soon resurface to Isuzu standards.
Jeff. H.

Comparing the TF and the RA is like apples and oranges.

the TF is a proven workhorse that has been running largely the same equipment and driveline since the early 80's. The RA was really isuzus first attempt at the utility market since their financial issues. As with all first editions, problems and bugs galore

I myself have not been overly impressed with what I have seen of the RA's, but hopefully the new model to be released in the coming months will have these problems rectified.

The reviews are scathing! I had a reasonably good run from my TF and thought the RA would be just as good. Well how wrong could I have been?

Leroy

Brand new model due to be released in the coming months, Hopefully the RA bugs and giches have been eradicated, and isuzu can goe back to making quality workhorse vehicles. I just wished they came without the push button 4wd, scares me a little...

Hi there madfisher, ive even had myn booked in for a turbo and pulled the pin 2 days before as I have heard of overheating issues, thought of a V6 commodore transplant but not worth the headache, the 5L hilux motor will drop straight in but only 5kw differance between what I'v got so dont see the point. I already have extractors and 2 1/2 sports system on it to give it a bit more go but stuff all. The 1kz turbo hilux motor requires some major modifications, my mate has done it and yes it goes like the clappers but he is still having trouble setting up the front drive shaft been an ongoing project now for 12 months. I really like the articulation of the old girl and have not had any major repairs in 298,000klms, same gear box,tranfer case, diffs etc not a single problem and believe me its done some pretty hard 4wdriving but lack the grunt for towing the camper or even keeping up with traffic on hills really starting to annoy me, but have heard of front diff issues with the 97/04 model hilux's not that I really intend to do what I have done with the old one. But $$$ is also what I dont want to spend a lot of. Really only want to spend around 15k but I think I'm going to have to throw in another 5k. The hilux's hold there value so bloody well which is good for me when I sell mine but bad if I want to get later model. Even for 20k is still only going to get me a standard hilux with the 5L in it so really not gaining anything power wise or comfort wise. Thats the main reason for looking at another brand or the only option is to go an 80 series cruiser 4.5 petrol but get 20L per 100klms.Am going to look at a 99 hilux tomorrow with the 2.7 petrol in it and see how that goes. Have just been on one of the links from above and boy there is some negatives with the rodeos big time. I know ther is good and bad with all vehicles and they all have some issues minor or major but I think the bloody disco's got better rating than what I just read now I'm totally confused. Think I will go to bed and get it out of my head for a night or two and start reading again tommorow, was easier buying a house for 150k. Regards Steve M

Wow you Steve you do soound like this is all getting to much for you.

The old Lux are a great rig but we all know the 2.8 was woeful in the power stakes(great in reliability though). It is an old engine but you sound like you have a solid platform so if you are interested in my opinion......

Ok, personaly I would stick with the Lux but only because you know what you have got. The Rodeo is a great truck but you are starting from scratch with an unknown product and the sheer numbers of these sold means that if you do your sums, there are bound to be abused examples and lemons out there. (ie if you are a diesel mech you only usually see the bad ones, no-one brings good examples in just to SHOW you???)

So if you are sticking with the Lux and keeping in mind the engine is nearly 300k km old I would still be looking at a turbo option but keep it in perspective....

Without an engine rebuild and just a mild turbo install you should get a reasonable improvement in performance. Try and screw the output up and you will find that it will start to show, ie overheating, increased wear and maybe even destruction.(these engines are not designed for turbo even through they cope there are no under piston cooling nozzles etc)

If you are happy with that and can factor into the future that if you do freshen up with pistons and liners and then look at upping the ant, you should have a good and reliable truck.

Lastly...the rest of your drivetrain has done 300k km with a nice steady old workhorse engine....accept that as a concequence of repower you might see some significant failures in the future. You dont get something for nothing, there are always concequences.!

Good luck with it mate.

Matt.

>got better rating than what I just read now I'm totally confused

dont be, the link previously related to the RA's which is a completly different vehicle to the 90's model rodeo.

Dont take the word of just one or two people, search a few other forums, ask more questions and make sure you have, in your mind, it set out straight what it is you are after. Im sure if you search hard enough, you will find people who have had problems with hilux, discos, patrols, cruisers, etc the list goes on.

> if you are a diesel mech you only usually see the bad ones, no-one brings good examples in just to SHOW you???)

I think Matt Mu has touched on a good point. Check out the history of each vehicle, what sort of work it has done, where its been located etc. My current rodeo I purchased from an inland dealer (Collie,- dont any of you start ;)), it had log books, dealer servcie histroy etc etc. Sure it ha the usual second hand attributes (occasional dent blah blah, mind you its got a fewe more now), but mechanically it has been fantastic. The only major components that I have repaired is a starter motor at 150,000 (due to self abuse and ingress of water) and a set of injectors, which was due to wrongful diagnosis by a diesel mechanic, where emptying the tank of the water and crap would have fixed it :()

Personally I have heard more first account stories of rodeos being a great vehicle (not so many as the new RA, but thats a whole new issue) and almost all that have owned them have been happy with them and had faultless performance.

Steve Hi again,
I have only ever heard of two rodeos blowing up in 15 years. My brother put a turbo on a 2.8 hilux at 240000ks but used the lowest boost possible, and has been running successfully for two years. If you dropped in a 5l when funds became available you could then turbo it. My brother has two hiluxs the sr5 dcab and a single tray which use to be a 3y but now has a 4y with extractoprs etc.
The petrol still has more acceration but the turbo hangs on hills much better
Cheers Pete

AJB, ours was a '94 model. Apart from turbo lag (as stressed above), [and our kids learned to drive in the baby 2.4L(Isuzu) ute, NOT the 2.8], it was a true friend. "Sold" it at 280000, having had one fault: blown steering hose.
Our third (and probably last) Rodeo is the 3L with bonnet scoop. Much better response/performance wise, and the last with manual hubs. Shame it's so thirsty (up to 10l/100km, cf 8.7 for the old worker.)**
I feel that the current product is a little 'suburbanised', so which of the current crop aren't?

** Worst fuel on 2.8 was 14L/100, towing a laden trailer Bne to Cairns at 115ks.
Worst on the 3L is around 12L/100, no towed vehicle, av 105ks. Got me stuffed why the new, improved ,intercooled is so pathetic on fuel:
That's my tuppence in: next please. JH.
ps .AJB, your last line: "no hi tech stuff". YES!!