Thread: Thinking about a change - Safari or something else?

Originally Posted by gimp

Never actually seen any evidence of these weak diffs etc

I have.

I have never said the Nissan is perfect, there are quite a few things I'd change, but it is a very serious contender for the Cruiser and worth a serious look. There are quite a few things that the Safari will do that the Cruiser will struggle with, and also a number on things that the Cruiser does better that the Safari. Look at the features that will suit what you want to do and decide which is the best fit for you! I have not bagged the Cruiser but I have pointed out a few areas that the Safari has over the Cruiser and a few of the faults I know of with the Safari. I believe in an objective approach.

As I stated earlier I am a big fan of Toyotas and have been driving them commercially since 1977 and done quite a few 100,000km in them. If I was buying a new 4x4 now I would buy a Cruiser as I don't like the current model Nissan. However fir the vehicle meeting the criteria of this thread it would be the Nissan or Isuzu before the Cruiser for me.

Its not really relevant to this thread though unless you can find me one sub-10k thats worth having. Its not like I'll be using it for 10 hours a day of technical off-roading anyway.

Originally Posted by puku

What about a ?

Don't think a doublecab will really suit me to be honest - I prefer keeping gear safe and dry inside a vehicle and don't do enough spotlighting etc to really use the advantage of a ute. Cheers though.

This guy has one for $6k I think
FS: BJ73 Landcruiser MWB turbo - reduced to $6000 | New Zealand 4wd Forums Offroad Express

Will keep an eye on those ones, ta. Had only really been looking at South Island listings as I'm keen to avoid adding a flight, a ferry and 900+ km of driving to the cost of a new car this time round - have to be an exceptional bargain to be worth it.

As far as the old 70-series go, how agricultural do they feel with leaves all round, and how gutless is the 3.4?

Originally Posted by GravelBen

As far as the old 70-series go, how agricultural do they feel with leaves all round, and how gutless is the 3.4?

Not too bad actually. It has no top end but plenty down low. I was in the market for a ~10k ute before my cruiser turned up. I was looking at the Mazda B series and Tritons, all with about 250k on the clock.... A half decent Safari goes for about 7k...

Funny how the one Tussock linked to has has the diffs redone and the one wildman linked to has had major engine surgery. Go the Nissan, its engine is only just run in at 200,000km. I've heard first hand reports of the cross hatching still being in the bores of the TD42's after 450,000km.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

Funny how the one Tussock linked to has has the diffs redone and the one wildman linked to has had major engine surgery. Go the Nissan, its engine is only just run in at 200,000km. I've heard first hand reports of the cross hatching still being in the bores of the TD42's after 450,000km.

You would be a twat to fit a locker and not rebuild the diff at the same time would you not?

Work mates safari had complete rebuild at 240k it was fucked from top to bottom, but what caused it to come apart was cracking and dropping the precomp chamber on top of the piston and rattling around in there.

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Also had a front diff housing come undone on that unfortunate 100 series, didn't sound good and pissed oil everywhere, worked fine when bolted up again though


Had a new V8 that didn't get the oil changed for 50,000 km then a female geo busted the radiator and drove it around with no coolant, that didn't end well


Only bought it up because there's a guy here at work who keeps going on about Nissans and the various supposed flaws of Toyotas which made me think about the fact that I've never actually seen them

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

You would be a twat to fit a locker and not rebuild the diff at the same time would you not?

Indeed, and when the old ones fail and you have to do something is probably a good time to fit the lockers too. Would it be prudent to change ratios going to 33's on such a vehicle?

I know someone that did some open heart surgery on a Rocky and ignored many who advised doing the clutch at the same time, ... you guessed it, a week later he was back in doing the clutch.

Originally Posted by gimp

Also had a front diff housing come undone on that unfortunate 100 series, didn't sound good and pissed oil everywhere, worked fine when bolted up again though


Had a new V8 that didn't get the oil changed for 50,000 km then a female geo busted the radiator and drove it around with no coolant, that didn't end well


Only bought it up because there's a guy here at work who keeps going on about Nissans and the various supposed flaws of Toyotas which made me think about the fact that I've never actually seen them

My old Toyota van was pretty bomb proof. I did try to kill it and ran it for a year with no oil in the engine. Never over heated, never made any odd noises. Pulling the bung out of the sump nothing came out, but when I stuck my finger in and ran it around there was this thick tarry chewing gum stuff. I gave up trying to kill it. Don't get me wrong, I love Toyotas, have always had them and likely always will.

If you are not after a ute, then try and get something with coil springs under it. This will tend to give you better articulation which keeps the wheels on the surface, which gives you traction. They also tend to give you a nicer ride. Leaf springs are great for load carrying.

Dunno about prudent. Generally speaking a lower geared diff(higher ratio) is weaker due to the smaller pinion.
I changed ratios on my hilux cos it was guttless before superchargeing.
Haven't bothered on my 80 series its got plenty of tourque and it dropped 200rpm off open road speed.

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Originally Posted by Tussock

If you don't replace the gears, a diff rebuild (as in bearings) for a Landcruiser is about $200.

And if the gears go?

Originally Posted by gadgetman

And if the gears go?

You will never wear out the gears(in the lifetime of the vehicle) in a well serviced properly set up diff if oils and bearings are maintained.
However if you break em doing something stupid around 500 bucks Im guessing for decent aftermarket.

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If the nissans were any good the cockies around here would be buying them. Their not. They are however going back to the cruiser.