Thread: Urgent Advice - Would you buy this 4WD?

As others have said the dmax is worth a look. Got a few mates with the 2015 5 speed manuals between 40000-150000kms on them with no dramas. I brought a 2016 manual last year on their advice and stoked with it. Can't believe how much they have gone up in price. One mate picked his 2015 up with 90000 on it in 2019 for 33k and I got my one with 45000 just over a year ago for the same.

Originally Posted by Mitcho

Thanks Mauser.

The plan re living out of it is to go the tent on the ground… but will be setti g it uo with full solar, hot water etc. Regarding the Delica… hiw capable would they be with the right mods? We want to be able to go off road where others cant… if necessary. Not all the time, but we want to know we have the guts to do it when the mood/need strikes.

Cheers,
Mitch

A bit left-field, but here goes ; buy something that ticks most of the boxes, with a blown motor, repower with a nissan LD28, it will outlast everyone on this forum. I run two, ones done over 400k and doesnt look like its ever going to die, the other is younger. I've had 4 over the years, the other two's bodies disintegrated (Rover V8, Volvo V6) but those motors still live-on in something else.

Originally Posted by Mitcho

Hey guys,

This is urgent because I am about to settle on a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 3L Diesel. Want it to basically live from and tour the South Island… want it to take us everywhere and be 100% reliable.

It is in mint condition, one lady owner from 50k kms, who never towed with it, and has now done only 125k km’s. It is a great truck… looks and goes great, but is more than we wanted to pay. We are about to pay 27k for it from the dealer who originally traded it to the lady owner.

Thoughts?

I lost a few hours sleep last night, worrying I might be about to do something stupid.

Im going to get an AA check done on it today first… but yeah… keen to hear your thoughts guys.


Cheers,
Mitch

I think the prado in question is overpriced for its age. I have the same model but a 98. Great on road and fine for soft / easy off road but not a patch on a VX Cruiser of the same era. I also have 4x4 Dyna and BJ45 trucks, these are proper off road vehicles.
For an off road live out of wagon I would buy a flat deck Hilux and build a canopy with solar panels, water supply etc etc. Seen it done very well

Originally Posted by mimms2

I was going by the OP, saying it was a 3L. Right there at the beginning of the thread if you want to check.
Also if you follow along that wiki link it does say, right there:
"Applications:

Land Cruiser Prado (LJ95)"
Which would be exactly the vehicle in question, no?

No.
OP originally asked re a KZJ95, with a 3L (three litre) 1KZ-TE motor, 2,982cc coz we are being pedantic. He isn't knowledgeable in regards to these vehicles or motors hence his questions, good on him for asking.
Yes a Toyota 3L designated motor is a 2800cc, again actually only 2,779cc

I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on this purchase and the trip reports.
offroadexpress.co.nz is a valuable resource of info, sadly not very lively now.

1990 Prado LJ78, 2L-TE motor from factory, (2,446cc) Can fit 3L motor (2,779cc) but need to retro fit a sensor or run a manual injector pump, better to go for a 5L-Eas all electrics can be swapped to new motor.
1994 Prado KZJ78, 1KZ-TE motor from factory (2,982cc)
I own one of each of these at present.

1KZ-TE motor first went into production in 1993
1997 Prado KZJ95 1KZ-TE motor from factory

To be honest you do not need a grunty big climb the side of the mountain vehicle for the majority of tripping/hunting.
Most road ends now are as far as you will get.
The 4wd boys if they have gone further have buggered it for the rest making trenches etc that would slow up/stop anything.
We have a 40 series cruiser and have wandered around a bit.
Molesworth, Nevis and the likes.
Never out of 2wd high.
Most you can do in a car just entry exit small creeks you would have to spade for a car but most utes wont blink at.
Where 4wd is good is on wet grass with a bit of slope type stuff.
If you are going where you have water going over the bonnet type scenario you shouldn't be on your own.
You want a mate to go first and test it.

Thanks guys appreciate all the advice. I went in to Ironman 4x4 to price up a few things to add to the Prado (or whatever we end up going for… trying to slow down and make the right choice now) … boy it adds up fast!

From what I can gather Ironman stuff is higher priced but higher quality. Any of you had experiences with that? I was going to prioritise a suspension upgrade, roof cage (as I need to add solar panel and hold some lighter bulkier camping gear) and bullbar and winch. Would love to hear thoughts around that side of things.


Cheers,
Mitch

https://www.winch.co.nz/categories/r...0Winches&gp=16
With a winch comes the need for a pulley or two, rated shackles, tree trunk protectors, cable dampener of some sort, a Bush shirt works here.
Before driving anything that may end up with you requiring a winch to recover yourself, check out winch anchoring points, exits etc. Make a recovery plan FIRST, before driving an obstacle. Remember a winch bolted on the front of your 4WD can only tow you forward further into the sh*t. (unless you own $$$ of gear and can execute a rear pull).

Brass monkey fridges from Jaycar etc are good value.

Consider recovery tracks and a good spade and mattock, hand winch/tirfor
Good tool kit, spare parts, belts, CVs, oils and fluids
puncture repair kit.
So much more

Originally Posted by ROKTOY

https://www.winch.co.nz/categories/r...0Winches&gp=16
With a winch comes the need for a pulley or two, rated shackles, tree trunk protectors, cable dampener of some sort, a Bush shirt works here.
Before driving anything that may end up with you requiring a winch to recover yourself, check out winch anchoring points, exits etc. Make a recovery plan FIRST, before driving an obstacle. Remember a winch bolted on the front of your 4WD can only tow you forward further into the sh*t. (unless you own $$$ of gear and can execute a rear pull).

Brass monkey fridges from Jaycar etc are good value.

Consider recovery tracks and a good spade and mattock, hand winch/tirfor
Good tool kit, spare parts, belts, CVs, oils and fluids
puncture repair kit.
So much more

Thanks for that… homework to be done. It’s all pretty daunting, having no mechanical expertise. But everything can be learned!! Good points about the concept of the winch in general… makes me think we just need to have our heads on straight about where we should be going… and where we should NOT be going more importantly.

Cheers,
Mitch

I’ve gotta put my cents worth in here and accept I may be shot down. We park our caravan and go exploring in the d-max - now mu-x. With the former, I carried high lift jack that doubled as a winch when used on horizontal, ex Army unimog towing strops, wheel ‘claw’ to lift sunken wheel and a few other bits. None was ever used. I suspect as oldies we did the ‘yeah/nah’ thing and never went places we could not drive out of.

I reckon many 4 wd-ers buy stuff either to look cool or to explore places they should never venture. Recently at Picton ferry terminal I admired two lifted newish 4wd vehicles with fat wheels, enough spotlights for Dresden, bars, roof tent, boxes, fuel caddies etc. in speaking with owners, they had circumnavigated the South Island on tar seal; never ventured off it!

I’d consider doing a proper 4wd course before investing in a lot of kit, unless you have have experienced real off-road driving. I’ve seen one muppet lose his vehicle trying to be staunch by attempting deep water crossing. We have found that AT tyres on a spare set of rims take us most places we venture.

I seen two similar newish trucks in our town last week.Guys having coffee,trucks lit kitted, had enough lights to light up a small town.Roof tents,extra fuel containers,bull bars winchs.One truck was towing a heavy duty small camper trailor.Everything thing was covered in mud,like they had a real deal mud trip.

Renta mud?

Very true and factual statement there @Ingrid51.
We only take one hi lift jack on a group trip, more often used as a winch for moving rear of 4wd, moving logs rocks etc. Without a solid mounting point (side bards, bull bar or rim/tyre mount to from they are pointless as a jack. We too have come across many 'offroaders' carrying a hi lift that when asked have no idea how to actually use it.
I wouldn't fit my 4wd down a lot of the tracks we drive if I had a roof top tent.

https://www.turners.co.nz/Cars/Used-...prado/21940175

I would buy this...they go lots of places...and don't blow up. Cost 600 to ship this down https://www.turners.co.nz/Cars/Used-...ester/19170732

Originally Posted by Trout

I seen two similar newish trucks in our town last week.Guys having coffee,trucks lit kitted, had enough lights to light up a small town.Roof tents,extra fuel containers,bull bars winchs.One truck was towing a heavy duty small camper trailor.Everything thing was covered in mud,like they had a real deal mud trip.

Believe it or not, spray cans of mud is a real thing....for those that have to look the part but don't have the wherewithal to actually have the terrain apply it for them

Not saying that these dudes were that type though.