Off road capabilities of Izuzu

Submitted: Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 13:57
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Hello everyone, does anyone know the offroad capabilities of the Izuzu Max am referring to handling sand and corrugations ect.

thanks in advance Maureen and John
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Reply By: Notso - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 14:09

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 14:09
Got two mates with the Colorado, which is an Isuzu clone. They reckon they are great.

Like all twin cabs they are a bit of a compromise as far as off road goes with hard rear ends and independent front suspension.

They would take you 99% of the places a standard Patrol or cruiser would go as long as you put decent tyres on them.
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 21:08

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 21:08
Notso,

The current model Isuzu D-Max is made under licence by the GM plant in Thailand, where the Colorado is also made on the same production line.

Therefore,
THE ISUZU D-MAX IS A COLORADO CLONE, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.


Bill.
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Follow Up By: Notso - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 21:12

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 21:12
Nope, you are incorrect there.

The Holden Colorado/Rodeo is and always has been a rebadged Isuzu.

Holden will shortly stop buying them from Isuzu and go to a South american sourced GM vehicle.

The reson why holden went to the colorado name is because the name was owned by Isuzu and the removed the right of GM to use it.
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 21:27

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 21:27
No I'm not mate. I suggest you get your facts right.
I used to work at GM Holden and my wife still does. Her previous Boss has moved to Thailand as the Plant Manager at the Rayon Plant where the Colorado and D-Max are made, so I'm sure of my information.

The reason Holden (GM) went to the Colorado name is because Isuzu "owned" the Rodeo registered name.

Anything else I can help you with?


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Follow Up By: Notso - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 21:46

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 21:46
Mate, it has an Isuzu motor, it is designed by Isuzu. I dunno about you but if it looks like a rose, smells like a rose then to me that's what it is.

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Follow Up By: Member - Jeremy W (SA) - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 23:29

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 23:29
Re: The reson why holden went to the colorado name is because the name was owned by Isuzu and the removed the right of GM to use it

Actually Isuzu is now owned by Mitsubishi ( NOT Mitsubishi Motors ). Apparently GM lawyers messed up the handover and the Rodeo brand name is owned by Mitsubishi who will not allow GM to use it.
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Follow Up By: Tonyfish#58 - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 18:14

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 18:14
Im with Notso - My Rodeo has all Isusu parts with a bit of Holden thrown in -

My lift Kit is an Isusu lift kit etc

But !!!!!
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Follow Up By: Notso - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 19:02

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 19:02
Yeah mate, she's an Isuzu alright.

There are a number of "Assembly" plants in Thailand, one of em makes the Toyota Hilux, side by side with bitsamissin Tritons, so who owns what.

Same applies to Isuzu and Holdens I would think. The only twin cab of the big 5 not made in Thailand is the Navarra D40.
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 20:15

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 20:15
I'll try one last time to educate you guys.

The Holden Rodeo was a rebadged Isuzu, as was the Jackaroo. No argument there.
In early 2009, GM and Isuzu decided to cease their joint venture partnership and as Isuzu had naming rights to the Rodeo badge, GM could not use it for their new model.
In the US they already had a vehicle called the GM Colorado and decided to use the same badge for their new 4WD vehicle.
A decision was made by GM to release a right hand drive vehicle for the non-US market and the manufacturing was to be done at the GM Rayong Plant in Thailand.
Thus the RHD Colorado was born.

As Isuzu no longer had a manufacturing plant building a chassis cab type vehicle (they had already scrapped the Jackaroo platform a few years previously) they approached GM and entered into a contractual agreement for the GM Plant at Rayong, Thailand to supply a rebadged Colorado which Isuzu named the D-Max.

Now, it may be that GM source some components from Isuzu as well as a myriad of other suppliers. The source of engines, drive trains, suspension, etc. would come from many suppliers that GM have contractual agreements with.
I am not aware of the source of the petrol and diesel engines in the Colorado range. They may be "in-house", or provided by another supplier. (such as Isuzu)

The overriding fact though, is that the Holden Colorado is manufactured by GM Thailand and The Isuzu D-Max is a re-badged version of this vehicle, with possibly some cosmetic changes.

Hopefully I will convince the majority of folk reading this reply into ignoring non-factual "guesswork" from one or two individuals that simply don't know what they are talking about.

Bill.
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Follow Up By: Notso - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 21:13

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 21:13
Hmm,

I don't quite know what it is that makes me want to disagree with one so knowledgeable as you, just maybe it is something to do with the attitude, not sure but just maybe.

Anyhow they have also fooled The Motoring Report as well so I don't feel too bad.

Quote????

"And what about Colorado? Yup, it's also an Isuzu, supplied under agreement to GM Holden, but with four cylinder and alloytec V6 petrol variants. And IUA? To further complicate the family picture, IUA is owned by Mitsubishi Corp, but not Mitsubishi Motors. All clear now…? (Didn't think so.)"
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Follow Up By: get outmore - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 22:23

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 22:23
I can assure you they wont go where 99% of places a real 4by will without some suspension mods

I observed one trying to get up a mild section of the powerlines where all manor of vehicles had made it

I had to winch it and jusdging by somer of the hits it took trying it also took some underbody damage

just before it failed to proceed
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Follow Up By: Notso - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 22:25

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 22:25
Yep, well I guess you'd have to put that in the 1% of places you shouldn't take em EH
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Follow Up By: Member - Jeremy W (SA) - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 22:26

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 22:26
Bill please dis-spell my ignorance and tell me who owns Isuzu.

Jeremy

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Follow Up By: Notso - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 22:26

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 22:26
I always found that 4Wding was about 90% driver and 10% vehicle
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 22:56

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 22:56
Jeremy,

I can honestly say I have no idea who "owns" Isuzu.
Isuzu is (was?) a large Japanese manufacturer producing a range of smaller commercial and recreational vehicles as well as their primary role as producer of larger trucks.

My understanding is that they wanted to focus on the more lucrative truck range as their prime business model and stopped manufacturer of the "niche" vehicles, such as The Jackaroo, then the Rodeo and contract to another manufacturer to supply their needs in the smaller niche market. (ie D-Max)

I may be slightly askew of my perception of Isuzu as I have no contact with the Company, but I am sure of my facts on the GM side.


Bill.
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Follow Up By: Member - Jeremy W (SA) - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 at 00:09

Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 at 00:09
No Worries.

Jeremy.
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Follow Up By: Tonyfish#58 - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 at 18:18

Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 at 18:18
Get outmore - Your real 4 x 4's are nothing but modified vehicles anyway - A Standard Rodeo will do anything another standard 4 x 4 will do.

As stated above 10% vehicle 90% driver - See below

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Follow Up By: Tonyfish#58 - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 at 18:23

Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 at 18:23
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Follow Up By: get outmore - Thursday, Apr 01, 2010 at 04:04

Thursday, Apr 01, 2010 at 04:04
no chance
sure my vehicle isnt standard
it now weighs over 1/2 a tonne more and the old springs are sagged well below standard hieght but it still made it up there no worries despite running alot less power than a colarado

the colarado didnt because it was too low (you can see where it had bellied out before making this atempt and it had very little wheeltravel

I see your ute has a 3 inch lift and a locker
- could be a reason for that
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Reply By: Mandrake's Solar Power- Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 14:57

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 14:57
Member ISUZUMU might be a good place to start .. send him a PM ..

Cheers

Steve
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Follow Up By: Isuzumu - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 18:06

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 18:06
I have two Isuzus, but not a D-Max one day though.
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Reply By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 15:30

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 15:30
I was in a gorup one that did a Simpson crossing last year. It was very heavily loaded and sagged a bit in the back end, but it did the dunes and corrugations effortlessly.
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Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 15:31

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 15:31
Let me correct that. Should have read " I was in a group with one that did .....
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Reply By: R&J Batteries - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 16:28

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 16:28
I have a 2003 model Rodeo, which I believe is the same driveline as the DMax (3ltr TD). Love it and can't recommend it highly enough. It has an Ironman "C" suspension kit and 30" tyres. Been across the Simpson, up Cape York, a lot of Central Oz, most of Tassie. 305,000ks so far without a spanner on it (other than a new starter motor).

PM me if you want to know more.

Dave
AnswerID: 410917

Follow Up By: Doncow - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 09:37

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 09:37
I have a new D-Max and had to transverse some sand dunes recently - pleasantly suprised - didn't even drop the tyre pressures!
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Reply By: Outback Gazz - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 18:06

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 18:06
Howdy Maureen & John - Check out thread ID 77170 reply 5 ( 25th March )

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Reply By: D200Dug- Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 19:31

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 19:31
A lift kit and upgrade of the suspension helps a lot but the same could be said for most standard 4x4s these days.

I have no complaints about my 2008 rodeo
AnswerID: 410934

Reply By: Tonyfish#58 - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 20:02

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 20:02
Done 70k on all types of terrain with my 07 Rodeo - It has the same motor and Running Gear. It does all I want it too and some more :-)

But I have added the mods - 3" Lift kit with another 1" with the tyres Front lokka and free wheeling hubs & load assist kit.

It performs as well if not better than any 4 x 4 I have owned, these mods do help.

It eats the sand hills as most of the 4x4's do these days - they all have ample power which is needed to scale the face.

Balance your load to the conditions and once again they all perform well - Without the lift kit it was very ordinary in the sand though. It wold belly out and bog.

Cheers Tony
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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 21:22

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 21:22
Maureen,

As far as the off road capabilities of either the Colorado, the D-Max, or the earlier model Rodeo (made by Isuzu), they are as good as any other production 4WD vehicle for normal off road purposes.

Any of these vehicles can be further improved by adding diff locks or increasing suspension height to gain more ground clearance, if desired.

So it depends on what sort of off road functionality required. For general off road driving, no additions or modifications are required IMO.

As far as sand driving is concerned, I believe an automatic transmission gives a distinct advantage over a manual gearbox. Generally, lowering of tyre pressures is all that is required, plus changing into 4WD before driving on sand.

My Colorado is still relatively new and I have yet to drive on a severely corrugated road. Standard suspension should be able to handle corrugations reasonably well when newish. Over time shock absorbers may deteriorate and become hot over severe corrugated roads This will reduce the damping effect than shock absorbers are designed to achieve and if this happens, an upgrade to an after market brand of shock absorber such as Old Man Emu, Bilsteins, XGS, etc will improve the ride.


Bill.
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Reply By: Bob of KAOS - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 21:27

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 21:27
I've heard that the Frontera has Isuzu underpinnings too. Any truth in that?
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Follow Up By: mikehzz - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 22:52

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 22:52
I thought the 6 cylinder Frontera was built in the US. Maybe the 4 cylinder had Isuzu genes?
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Reply By: Member - Jeremy W (SA) - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 23:52

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 23:52
I owned a Rodeo ('97) for 12 years - you couldn't kill it with 2 bricks. Ran flawlessly for 12 years (300K). So on that I bought a 2009 Colorado on 30/12/2009 and have done 6500KM since waiting to reach 10,000KM before I give it a work out. Fuel consumption is amazing (12 to 13 KM/L.

Only drawback with the old Rodeo was the departure angle the Colorado seems much better at about 20 degrees - a 20 degree slope is really steep for me but the bus climbs it well.

Jeremy,

AnswerID: 410991

Follow Up By: Member - Jeremy W (SA) - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 00:04

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 00:04
What happened to the old Rodeo you ask. I traded it in for the Colorado. Didn't get much for it - just enough to fund the accessories on the Colorado. Bugger!
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 23:02

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 23:02
Me too Jeremy.

I traded up from the 3.5 petrol Jackaroo to the Colorado turbo diesel, but it was a "no brainer" for me with the GM staff discount I received:-)

Bill.
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Follow Up By: Member - Jeremy W (SA) - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 at 00:06

Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 at 00:06
You got the GM discount also!! wow!

I ordered mine last November and received it on Dec-30. The price with discount was amazing. Boy you must have got it cheap.

Jeremy.
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