Sold my Rodeo, bought a Jackaroo
Submitted: Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 08:05
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Member - Todd S (QLD)
I have just sold my dear old TF Rodeo to get a Jackaroo so my wife and son can come
camping in a little more comfort and thought I should get online and keep up with whats going on. Not a big 4x4 guy (yet), I actually run an Adventure/Dual Sport motorcycle riding school on my days off, so I come from the 2 wheeled side of the coin and am making the transition. But don't hold that against me, we (adventure riders) are more like Charlie and Ewen than Chad Reed and Co. Just like going
places and seeing the people and the land just like the 4 wheel folk, just on 2. Got stuck out at
Birdsville last year for a week (probably with a few of you guys) with the rain. Had to get Barnsey to come get me and my mate from Providence (about 50 k south of the Developmental Rd) on Cordillo. My mate had snapped his subframe coming into Moomba and we had to hang around in Innaminka 'till Kabong could come into town and run a couple of beads on his XTZ. Did a great job and the rest is history. The link to the ride report is
Birdsville 2010if you're interested.
I am way out of my depth here as far as the Jack goes. Did my homework and got a 97 with the 3.1 and 270K on it so I should be OK but I had the old Rodeo
well kitted out with all the shizzle and now have to start again. We bought a camper trailer to serve as accomodation instead of the Rodeo's tray. Just put a
water tank under it last night and going out on a shakedown run this weekend. Hope it does'nt faa of an end up on the bonnet of a BMW!!
Anyway, have been a active member of ADVRider.com which is our version of this for a number of years and have enjoyed the benfit of the collective wisdom and catching up with members when I have ventured their way on trips or been heading for the same
camp fire, so I hope this will be the same.
See ya out there.
Smithy.
Reply By: Kimba10 - Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 09:14
Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 09:14
Hope you did your home work
well ?? I thought the 3.1L T/D were the engines with heaps of gremlins running around causing issues ?? or was it the earlier models ?? If its the one Im thinking of at least one thing is to keep to the correct oil specs as the oil runs the injector pump and if the wrong oil is used will cause you major headaches. one is not even starting (thats if Im thinking of the write motor, sure some one will say so) Anyway as your a motobike rider you will already know how great it is to get away from it all. You will have to remember now that when going down those narrow
trails with branches wipping you on your way through that your in a wider jack now. you might be hitting reverse more often lol..............................
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Follow Up By: Todd S - Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 10:05
Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 10:05
Kimba10
Did my homework. Did a lot of research into the Rodeo before I purchased. The 2.8 is a very reliable and basic motor, the 3.1 Jack motor is the same basic engine but slightly stretched to 3.1 The injection is Indirect which is a bit of a pain but it does make them quieter. I have read that the 4JG2 (Non turtbo) is used in many industrial application like
fork lifts and is direct ijected. Means that at rebuild time you can turn the ID motor to Direct by using the pistons from the industrial motor and a head from a 2.8.
The reason the Jacks are so cheap (in comparisson) is because of the motor your thinking of The 4JX1!! It is a great motor but way to high tech for its target market at the time. Caterpillar injection system using a second (High pressure) engine oil pump to 'charge' the injectors instead of a traditional pump. Wrong oil used by everyone that has had problem (including Holden I have heard) creates the environment for a slow and un-natural death. Hence a lot of 'broken' 98 on Jacks that gave them a bad name. If serviced properly I would imagine they are a great vehicle. The V6 petrol is also a great runner by all acounts, just a little thirsty if pushed.
As for the off-road shenanigans. I will have to finish my 'apprenticship' which involves having a few goes at everything :-P It's all go fun htough.
See you out there one day.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Kimba10 - Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 10:29
Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 10:29
Mate not knocking the Jack in any way as yes they are a great under rated 4wd, have been off road with a few of them including a member on here who has two of them. I dont know the engine codes or models for the jacks and was really hoping you didnt end up with the diesel model that causes everyone so much gief, which obviously you didnt which is great. You say thirsty but probably less thirsty then the 95 series prado I had (17L per 100 round town). Comfortable, quit and the V6 3.5 is a screamer. Only issue I have ever heard of with the V6 is inlet manifold, causing a rough idle and surging. I know the 2.8 is a ripper of a motor as my cosuin had two of them (still has one of the two) and has covered over 1/2 a mill and still going strong with no major issues at all, only reason I didnt buy the 2.8 rodeo is they rev their nut out at 110 on the freeway which I found annoying but other then that there akso a great vehicle. And to be honest didnt even think of the jack when I first bought the one of 3 prados Iv had, think mainly I bought the prado as my mate is toyota mechanic and knows the prados inside out was one of the reasons. And dont worry prados have their issues two, like the one 1KZ turbo diesel I had which blew a head at 103k and cost me 4k..........
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Follow Up By: Madfisher - Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 21:22
Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 21:22
Hi Guys, the 3.1 is one diesel I am sorry I have not owned, have heard of some doing 600000ks, but not imune to the dreaded cracked heads. Although I am now wondering if a lot are caused by owners changing coolant and not bleeding the system correctly.
Steve I have found one other v6 fault fuel pumps. For two years every time I go on a long trip I seemed to get blocked filters. for two years my son has been telling me the fuel pump is playing up when hot and bothered .Turns out he was right all along lol.
Cheers Pete
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Follow Up By: Kimba10 - Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 21:42
Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 21:42
Hi Pete, actually it was only today that I was reading about fuel pumps after reading this post by Todd. this was the website I was checking out
http://www.motorsm.com/complaints/category-posting.asp?cls=581
Was wondering wether you saw this post or not lol Was you I was referring to in my above reply to Todd...Hope all is
well and the wifes jack going ok as
well......................Regards Steve
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Follow Up By: Madfisher - Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 22:28
Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 22:28
Sals has not missed a beat in nearly three years. The fuel pump problem can be hard to track down because it feels like a blocked filter and when you change it always goes better because the pump can push the fuel thru easier. It was only when I changed it and blew back thru the old one and it was clean the penny dropped. New pump and no issues since. Just got back from the snowy towing tjhe boat and no problems.
Cheers Pete
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Reply By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 09:30
Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 09:30
G'day Smithy, welcome to the elite group of Happy Jack owners on EO. Best value
4WD on the market for those on a constrained budget or with an eye for value.
Strange thing is every other brand driver thinks theirs is too. I have no knowledge of
the 3.1, but hear that is the pick of the diesel variants. I would tell you of the trouble
free run my 3.5 has given, but folks get a bit irritable hearing about a standard, cheap
,old wagon touring Oz, towing a C/t, for an all up cost under $20k...so I will refrain :)))...good luck with it..may see you on the road........oldbaz.
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Follow Up By: Todd S - Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 10:11
Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 10:11
Here here mate.
Pretty much summed that up in my reply to Kimba10. They are a fantastic vehicle for the money. My 'rig' (Is that correct expression?) cost me about 13K all up. The Jack, Bar/Winch, Fridge,
Water Tank, Second Battery,
Driving Lights and the Camper. I dare say I'll be up for a clutch in the next 12 months or so but thats par for the course with a high 200k vehicle.
Going out to Sandy Ck this weekend for a 3 day stay to find out what needs to be added, delete, changed. Heading off to Albury via the western side of the divide in January for a 3 week trip. Should have it all sorted by then I hope.
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Follow Up By: Madfisher - Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 21:24
Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 21:24
Bas take note of my thread re fuel pumps above, could save you a lot of time mucking around.
Cheers Pete
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Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 15:05
Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 15:05
The Jack is indeed a robust vehicle - the 3.1L was quite ok I'm told - its the 3.0L TD motor (Oct. 98 and on) that caused financial grief for many owners. I had one and survived happily for 8 years - over-serviced it myself throughout but - then traded it for a bigger caravan tug. Collective wisdom suggests after 98, petrol was the smart buy.
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Reply By: Member - Kevin S (QLD) - Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 17:25
Friday, Nov 11, 2011 at 17:25
Good on you Smithy. I have a 2001 3.0L TD Jack. 160,000 trouble free kms. Brother in law just back from towing a van around Australia with an identical model. Almost 200,000 trouble free kms. We are both fastidious about oil, filters and 5,000 km service intervals. I have never seen a Jackaroo broken down road side. I can't say that for Rolls Royces and Toyotas.
Should I have put "LOL" after Toyotas?
Kevin
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