Toyota 79 Series and GU Tray Back Specs

Land Rover Defender.
Look at and compare the specs.
Doesnt suffer overheating problems (Nissan gu)
Doesnt cost nearly $70000 (Toyota 70)
Better payload then both previous.
A vehicle much better than most of this forum subscrbers would have you believe.
furph

2006 79 series
power 122/1400
torque 380/1400
kerb mass 1970-2050
gvm 3300
tow 3300
fuel 90l x 2

Norm you could also consider F250 single cab or the super cab.The single cab has a payload of 1398kg & the super cab is 1207kg.GVM for the single is4219 as is the Super & both have Gcm including a braked trailer of 9071kg these are both the XL model.Problem being no new one's around.
Bob.

Norm,
The big difference between the GU and 79series is the strength of the chassis. The GU - both leaf and coil versions continue to have problems with cracked chassis and coil towers. The 79series does not.

And the 6 cyl factory TD (1HD-FTE) is a sweet motor, with max torque at 1400rpm, and better fuel consumption than the GU, and oil changes can be done at 10,000k intervals. You can also upgrade the power very simply by plugging in a Dtronic +/- exhaust +/- intercooler. This will give you specs that are equal to or greater than the V8. This motor has the much stronger H150F gearbox.

Also you can increase the GVM of the 79series by an extra 400kg to 3,700kg, with a simple spring upgrade and some paperwork at your Dept of Transport. Many of the ex-govt vehicles here in SA have had this done. That works out to a legal payload of 1700kg! And the towing capacity is 3,500kg.

Simple decision really. Hardest thing is trying to find one secondhand.Mine is 5 years old and sells in the dealers for best part of $40,000. They were released in 2001.

The websites have spec sheets.
www.toyota.com.au and www.nissan.com.au

G'day Norm

You are exactly where we were in mid November last year....uncanny how similar.....we have had had 5 or it might be 6 dual cab hilux's over the years...always towing an off camper trailer...cannot fault them at all consider where have taken them

time for us to upgrade...need more room for a decent load...extended off road trips planned....maybe an off road Bushtraker or Kedron in a few years...... and the kids now dont come with us....so there is no need for the back seat as much (although my wife has some issues with losing it.... but not for the reasons it may have been before we married ..lol...back to the subject!).........(in fact we are keeping the Hilux)

The positives of the Nissan were as you mentioned......the interior lay out of the dash and cab.....the safety air bags.....coil springs = better ride and the toughness of the drive train.........BUT that STUPID (to me ) decision to only offer the CC with the unproven 3L was a significant negative

Add to that the many, many unfortunate Nissan owners who have had trouble with the old 3L ...(Yes I know it is not the same motor in this new one)...Reading all the posts here and elsewhere over the years what struck me more than anything was the Nissan ATTITUDE over it all. Some struck it lucky, with Nissan meeting some costs.....others didnt have a hope in hell........it seems Nissan ranged from denial to some assistance... depending how lucky you got getting through to the right decision maker...to how much of a fuss you kicked up.

back to the current 3L on offer with the new cc. I am convinced that it will only be a matter of time before they do away with this motor and revamp the 4.2 or go the Toyota way with a bigger / new motor all together...either way I dont think it has a long life (no pun intended) before it is history...if this happens dont hold you breath for spare parts in years to come

The Toyota TDV8......yes a bit of a bone shaker in comparison I guess.......certainly no frills in the cab ( in fact old fashioned)....a BIG negative without safety air bags.....an uncertainity re the difference in wheel base......and a new motor....BUT what a motor.... 4.5L ....tow anything... anywhere.... all day and backed by Toyotas ATTITUDE....significantly different to Nissans

had the Nissan still offered the proven 4.2L then I would have given it serious consideration........BUT with their track record of ATTITUDE over the old 3L and a new motor yet to be proven I simply could not rest easy heading bush and waiting for the bang...yes it may never happen.......part of the fun outback is to be able to relax not be aprehensive ...so their past history towards their customers......and me not relaxing over the possibilities (yes it may be very unfair....but its my money)......Toyota won very comfortably......Put simply I am backing Toyotas judgement on the wheel base thing and the new motor...Toyota has always got me home so far......it gets delivered next week !

I am fitting BOSS air bags this time (had Firestone previously...one leaks)...some reasons for the change...half the price....lifetime guarantee...can be run on no pressure when unloaded...leaving the springs to do the work....firestone need a minium pressure at all times = harder ride when empty

I never considered the 2nd hand models simply because as farmers the taxation benefits for new are there for me.....

Now watch some Nissan owners crank up!

Regards

Regarding the aluminium canopy - we had the shell custom made from 3mm aluminium by a motor body builder in Adelaide. Its bolted to the rails of the tray. I have an aluminium tray to keep the weight down; I shaved 50mm off each side of the tray so it kept the narrow profile of the vehicle for bush tracks, and improved rearward vision down each side, so mine is 1750wide. A friend did the same and his is 1770.

We have lift up side doors that provide good shelter - they lift up high, so we don't hit our heads.
No windows, so prying eyes can't see in, and sun reflects out.
We have no back door, so no dust can get in. It also allows spare wheels and HF to mount on the back with just a bolt type arrangement.
We fitted out the inside - made up our own drawers on hettich slides both sides. Our fridges sit side by side and are simply strapped to the floor - no need for a slide IMO.
I have space for at least 10 extra jerries inside, and up forward. We have a 75litre Goughs undertray water tank, that simply pipes to a tap behind the cab.
The roof is a 100mm mesh roofrack - can strap anything anywhere.

No matter what, you'll want to upgrade the standard springs if you want the vehicle to sit level with extra clearance. Given the rampover angle is big, a little lift is good if you want to do the harder trips.

I have a 2005 G.U ST 4.2 Patrol ... in hindsight I should have got the DX with leaf springs and fully floating rear axle -these are a superior load carrying vehicle (over the coil springs)... I have added aftermarket springs and Polyair bags to mine (we are quite heavy when we go away - with 6.0 metre off rd van in tow ).
The only Patrols that I know that have cracked chassis were grossly overloaded - the only leaf spring model I know that cracked in half had done 340K with 4.3 tonnes on its back (most of its life).
I think the Tojo is a better tow vehicle (have to dodge the gearbox and front diff problems ) - am not sure it is worth the extras dollars though .... cheers

Thanks for the replys and info guys. Very helpful.
Looks like it is a 79 Series TD with 1HD - FTE motor and H150F gearbox. I think that just means make sure I get a 79 Series with a factory turbo.

Looking around on the web, they are VERY expensive. Clearly hold their value well.

Heading off on a fishing trip to the Gulf soon with the Hilux (if the floods ever abate) and will start some serious looking when we return. Just hope I can find a good one at the right price.

Norm C