Thread: Budget Family 4WD

90s 3.1 Bighorns are pretty sound old girls. They are a value vehicle - very underpriced for what you get. Quite good motor though not as good as the earlier excellent 87-91 Bighorn 2.8T. Good manual and auto boxes - the auto is an Aisin-Warner box and aisin supplies autos to huge number of vehicle manufacturers including Toyota. 3.1 drivetrain same as in earlier 2.8 Isuzus and it is strong. Did many hundred offroad tracks in my earlier modified 2.8 Isuzus ( front and rear lockers, 2" body and 2" suspension lifts, motor tune etc) and they were very tough. Alot more so than my prado. Isuzu stronger truck offroad.

These days for hunting and occasional 4WD I run a 96 3.1 Isuzu Bighorn and they are a very comfortable ride on and offroad. This one has a tight LSD, 2" lift, 32" muds, snorkel, motor tune, breathers etc and its great for hunting and up to moderate club spec. They are not bad on diesel either at about 9.6L per 100ks on open road (27-29mpg). Not many manuals around now, and you don't need it. After near 2 decades running manual trucks for offroading, myself and 3-4 older clubbies now all run autos. You can still lock them in low 1 or 2 as you wish, but pop them in D and that auto on or offroad drive is alot easier. Never thought we'd say that..

90s 3.1 Bighorn a good option if say under 300ks - mine runs well but needed swap gearbox at 317ks. Just make sure you do full mechanical checkover by someone who knows 4wds well - I can refer you to mate who runs Diesel Services here in Chch.

PS - might sell mine before too long - good sound condition and good setup for Canterbury 4wd conditions. After I find a bloody intermittent electrical glitch.....