HIACE 4wd

I would think that all the 4wd vans are grey imports and most if not all would be autos. Unless you go for an older aussie sold mitsi express, they came in manual and had low range.
What about a troopie?

Cheers
Dave

I would have thought a LWB Delica would have been long enough. Maybe not I suppose.

Gday Keith
There is a car yard in White st Mordialloc that sells 4x4 High Ace vans. Might help to try him.
Murray

The Hiace 4wd is available in manual and auto, I've driven both...the manual has heaps better performance than the auto, but is much harder to find in good nick, as they were almost all used as commercial vehicles in Japan.
Pre 1996 they came with free wheeling hubs and Hi/Lo range, but only in a 3L 2.8 there are a few 2.8 turbos getting around in the early part time models, but they have a soggy coil sprung rear end that craps itself on rough roads.
Post 1995 they had the 3L for a while then a 5L with a constant 4wd system and no low range. It was the same deal with the turbo on those too.

The running gear is a mix of Hiace and Hilux IFS, front CVs/ brakes are Hilux, rear axle is Hiace. They are as tough as old boots, with a set of Mud Duelers on them you'd be amazed at where they'll go if ground clearance isn't an issue. I used them up in PNG to go to the Goldie River (past the southern end of the Kokoda Track) I'd often go past Landcruisers struggling to get up steep muddy hills. I think the engine and transfer box being so far back made for a good weight balance...at least until it got high centered on the front axle. They'd do it with 5 drums of diesel and some guys in the back too! That was with the pre '95 models with part time 4wd. The full time ones aren't too bad either, I think they have a viscous center coupling because you can get across a ditch even if one of the back wheels is off the ground, so power is still going to the front diff. They are great on the gravel however. They do use more fuel and are slower than the part time jobbies.

So all in all they are a good thing. If you could find a pre '95 manual you'd be a lucky man. I'm looking to buy one at the moment to replace my LH66V which was the early model 2.4L 4x4.