Thread: 4WD Advice

G'day all. I want to trade my Outback for a 4WD so I can get deeper into country faster to hunt.

Looking at older Surf or Prado Diesel.

As a family man though, I'd prefer something more comfortable and modern inside.

Is the 4L petrol Prado worth looking at? Or any other thoughts?

How much should I be looking to spend? I know there's a threshold below which it's wasted money, but don't think I'll have above $20k.

Thanks in advance.



Sent from phone - forgive typos etc

Originally Posted by Mauser308

OK, you want get into country 'faster', but you can get yourself further into country and also further into the crap...

What you want is good ground clearance, lightweight, small external dimensions combined with stability and cheap purchase price with something that isn't abused, used for heavy towing and 4x4-ing and not a lot of value if the morons attack it in the back blocks. i.e. unicorn turds...

4L petrol prado is a target vehicle in the back parking areas in my view, what you want to look at is something like a good order xtrail or the like in terms of size and brand and as a second vehicle to the outback retaining that as your 'daily driver'.

Others will chime in to what they use and find good for your area...

My old '96 Prado 3Lt turbo diesel fits this bill perfectly for me.

It does all the hunting duties plus does the school run every day, my wife drives the nice family SUV ��

4wd Hiace.

Hi/lo range

Basically a hilux.

2.8Liter diesel. Bullet proof engine (engine code 3L)

Slow, but cooler than a ute any day (unless you want to chuck half a dozen bloody carcases in the back, on top of the mattress......)

Should find one for 6-10k if you look around and are patient.

A minter is rare, but worth the dosh.

Might be stink if some asshole pinched it from the carpark though.


Here is a picture of a nice one...
Toyota Hiace 4x4 Photo Gallery #8/10

Beaten up Suzuki vitara

Have a '96 SWB 3L diesel Prado coming up for sale shortly.
Been a good solid performer for the last 10 years, but replaced as the wife wanted a vehicle with 5 star safety.
Sing out if you are interested. Probably in the wrong island tho.

Originally Posted by quentin

Have a '96 SWB 3L diesel Prado coming up for sale shortly.
Been a good solid performer for the last 10 years, but replaced as the wife wanted a vehicle with 5 star safety.
Sing out if you are interested. Probably in the wrong island tho.

ah, the classic safety story from the wife!

My missus brought a cruiser, the seller had to sell it for the same reason.

I reckon they are as safe as the driver feels like being.

Originally Posted by 40mm

ah, the classic safety story from the wife!

My missus brought a cruiser, the seller had to sell it for the same reason.

I reckon they are as safe as the driver feels like being.

And a portion of the rating relates to pedestrian safety


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Best bet would be to talk to the Ashburton 4wd club if your in Christchurch. From experience you don't want anything flash it will get scraped and scratched its the mechanical or toughness bit your after if proper off roading like driving up the rakia or a bit of bush bashing you are going to need about a 2inch suspension lift and 2 inch body lift with 33 inch or bigger 15inch tyres for a surf or safari mu or hilux and if going with a suzuki 31's will do the job. Diff breathers a snorkel and winch won't go astray either.

^this with the winch idea, would do something similar with 2" receivers mounted front and back

Originally Posted by Mauser308

You have TWO SUV's? My god man, how do you sleep at night?

Like a baby!

After all its only those filthy polluting utes that Aunty Cindy doesnt like......at this point

I run a 2007 ford ranger i paid 20k for it has 2 inch lift arb bars, winch and a snorkel. You wont even need all that stuff but it gets me as far as i need to go has done few river beds and plenty of tracks. Also is nice enough on the road. I have 2 kids they fit in fine. So plenty of options around that price range for sure.

we have cheap run around car...and a older td28 powered terrano (or should that be underpowered?) and it does all Ive ever asked of it...tows loads of firewood,doesnt get stuck with half decent tyres on it and has done a heck of a lot of on road KMs with chunky off road tyres and they still have plenty of life left in them.
I park on funky angle if I can at road ends,if some prick want to try jacking it up to pinch wheels ,good luck to them.
a good family wagon and a crappy old 4wd is a good way to go for us...I can abuse the crap out of terrano and not worry about it...first three things you NEED to do with 4wd if the thing is to be used properly,scratch it ,ding it and get it stuck.....if you treat it like a rolls royce and too scared to plant foot to get through sticky spot,or bounce it through matagouri rather than through mud hole...you will be getting stuck often.
if you use you top two inches you can go a long way in simple 4wd without all the add ons. knowing when not to go there is just as important.

Whatever you get, go hard on light bars

Suzuki vitara five door and a basic set of muds tires and snorkel. they are a lighter suv and do float. Not a tuff truck by any means.
All depends how off road you want to go.
The likes of a suzuki will take you up your mud tracks, river beds etc but your high flow rivers and big boulder bouncing you will need a heavier truck.

Dont buy a 12valve 80series.