Thread: 1999 MITSUBISHI L200 4WD 2.8D - yeah or nah?

Looking for a cheap 4x4 as a second vehicle able to handle some light off-roading for hunting trips and towing a light trailer/boat around. Anyone got any experience with these utes?

Comparing with similar era bighorns…

Cheers in advance.

its got to be better than a bighorn...older brother had good run out of the mitsis...the rust gets them in the end

Bighorn for better ride, Mitzi ute more practical for carting wood etc. Had both, probably preferred bighorn.

Mitsi 4x4's are very under rated. I would not trade my 93 SWB 2.8 for anything. Goes literally anywhere and no crying when it gets scratched. Cost me 3/8s of bugger all over last 6 years. Just the usual stuff like tyres + usual stuff you would expect for 30 year old 4x4.

I've had a few.
Better LSD than Hilux.
4wd system works well.
Gearboxes are made of butter. You will need to rebuild or replace. The layshaft bearings collapse and cause catastrophic damage if left too long....trust me.
Motors are reliable enough if maintained.
Not the most powerful donkey but they get the job done. You can do a few tweaks to improve. More boost and fuel, fit a pajero intercooler. 2.5" straight thru exhaust.
Very limited what suspension upgrades you can do for lift etc.
Bodies tend to rust.
Cheap 4wds though.

Cheers team good to know what to beware of.

The later models suffered from electrical gremlins so that era was a much better option.

thought about a prado?

@useraccounts only looked at them in passing, pricing is comparatively high compared with other options - not sure how much this is due to demand for anything with a Toyota badge vs better performance? Happy to be educated if there some particular years/models to look out for.

If it's like the pajeros and challengers with the electronic pump, the fueling is pretty good already.
Block off egr, clean manifold out and if it's done between 200 and 300000 ks save the money and do the headmaster if it hasn't been done already.
Probably huck a decent timing set in it and if you were really flush throw a kiwi cylinder head at it.
They do pretty good kits just make sure you get a proper head gasket.
Go through the cooling system with a fine tooth comb but that would apply to any Japanese diesel of that era with 200+ks

Double post

If you just want a pretty basic no frills 4wd they are pretty good. Ran an old pajero as a bush hack for years. Body ended up rusting off it but pretty much what youd expect from an old bush hack..