Thread: 4wd vs ATV vs SXS

right so just about to start looking for an outdoor vehicle. Based in Canterbury so looking for something to tackle the riverbeds and 4wd tracks of the area along with options further south. This will not be a daily driver but will be my hunting, fishing, adventure vehicle

Once sorted (a month or two away yet) budget will be 10-12k. Question is what to get? am I crazy to consider anything other than an older 4wd? If I go to ATV or SXS I'll need a trailer and lowball fitted to the daily so it can be transported. What advice do you have?

If going for a 4wd my current thoughts are an older 4wd such as Pajero, Prado, Wizard, ranger, bounty, Cherokee. Due to it not being a daily I'm not to phased between petrol and diesel.

Throw some advice at me, what to get, what to avoid, SWB vs LWB, offroad ability ATV/SXS vs 4wd.

cheers
Liam

ATV/SXS means much cheaper to run, no wof or rego and generally better on gas plus a lot more offroad-capable as a general rule. Also not as comfortable than the more comfortable and more modern 4wd vehicles - maybe even the older ones too as a full-size 4wd has a heater haha.

Against that, you're having to trailer the thing to where you want to use it which means a suitable trailer and abandoning your main vehicle on a road end...

The Mazda Bounty and Ford Courier of post 2000 are very hard to beat for the ratio of reliability and capability versus cost. Far from a first choice in terms of "cool" but I've seen them driven (quietly and in a very considered manner) into astounding places way beyond what most people would consider tackling with a fully tricked out off road vehicle. Two mates have them and use them for less arduous activities than above but man have they done a lot of KMs for very little in workshop costs.

There was a "high country" spec in the Courier XLT - it was 4x4, extra cab with the little suicide doors at the back, and slightly higher ground clearance. Also had the extra safety features airbags side intrusion etc etc. That was an excellent package, I had one as a work vehicle for a time and at one stage made a cock up that had serious potential to be a major accident. I went up to the top water tank to unstick the ball arm and check out why the water was low at the lower tank. This was on the top of a series of hillocks with a fairly abrupt drop on the southern side with a lot of cattle tracks across it which were like steps effectively.

I got my hill mixed up and dropped over onto what I thought was the track - ahhh fark me, no one hill early. I'd driven the near new work ute straight over the edge of the hill at a 45deg angle to the left onto a 60deg slope with bloody great steps on it from cow hooves. I couldn't stop and get out to try and get the thing back up onto the hill, reverse was an unfunny joke and the only way was either stay put and cry to myself or work my way down. Straightened up to straight down, took it real easy and rolled over each step in a very controlled fashion and took the 75m direct way down... I could have stood up on the windscreen, I was expecting the arse of the ute to pass me on it's way down the hill every time I rolled over one of the sidling cattle track steps - but in reality the ute handled it fine not a problem at all. It really opened my eyes to what those light little utes can do, really very respectable and much better than the current series Rangers, Hiluxes and the like which are near double the weight.

Do you remember what year that Courier was @No.3 ?

I think big difference between our hunting in Naki and Wanganui and those big South Island Rivers - for me up here a side by side the bees knees - but rivers not an expert at all but the two best 4x4 by far ever used 2.8 Hilux with beam front axle and the earlier Landcruiser SWB with the 3.4 diesel - Uni mog would be good - my 6125 Johnny Tractor with a front and rear tray now that would go well

Originally Posted by No good names left

Do you remember what year that Courier was @No.3 ?

We had one of those as well was a great farm ute 2004?

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Originally Posted by No good names left

Do you remember what year that Courier was @No.3 ?

Yep, 2006. I think they rolled over to the pk ranger in 08? So last of the model run basically, everything earlier with the extra cab was either a two door without the little rear doors or didn't have the airbags, abs etc etc.

I started with a Suzuki King quad back in 2004 then moved up to a UTV (factory roll cage) from 2015. Now have moved into a SXS 570 from 2024 but has a small footprint compared to full blown SXS's - $15200.00 brand new in a clearance sale. Mate brought one too. Trailer is 8'x5' NZ made. Best thing is that it's not your daily drive so your tow vehicle not affected by off road mishaps. Being in Canterbury I found UTV's better at crossing rivers as they sit on the bottom for better stability than the smaller quads which often tend to float a bit due to big tyres & lighter in weight overall. Also SXS's or my other single seat ATV can carry more gear than a standard quad bike and have a steering wheel which is easy to handle on ruts than handle bars which can rip the steering out of your hands. But people use quads/UTV for different reasons - mine are for hunting not farm work. Currently selling my single seat ATV with heaps of extra's. About 3500 kms. Pic of my current SXS - love it.


Fu.k knows why 2 pics?

If you buy a Cherekee you will need deep pockets

How do the sxs go fording rivers?

Nothing will beat 2.5 tonnes pushing down on 4 big wheels in deep water. But they won't float as quickly as quads do. Have to remember with most SxS's that they run on a rubber V belt transmission: get that wet and you are going nowhere. They are reasonably well waterproofed, but that's not forever. Had a mate's Yamaha Grizzly stop moving halfway across the Moawhango river, and she was very happy we had a fully waterproofed 4x4 (horse) to come to her aid

Consider part availability and ease of bush repairs.... Sometimes things don't go to plan and I like to know I have more than a few tricks up my sleeve to get me home..

I used to have an 1989 Polaris ATV with the belt drive (like a CVT). As XR500 said water is a killer, I waterproofed mine so it could handle 600mm depth but any splash over that would stop you dead, fitting a self draining valve helped but for reliability manual would be best if you're frequently in deep water.