The best of the wee tubs

I'm thinking about another modest 4x4 for accessing the back country, its just too risky sometimes if you only have one vehicle and its essential for your work. I'm thinking it might get a tow up county much of the time behind the BT50. Budget is $5K max and $3K would be better

So of the Escudo/Rav/CRV etc (in the above price range) your thoughts on which offers the best ratio of capability/reliability ??.

I had an Escudo a few years ago and had a great run out of it, but they are getting very long in the tooth now.

Have you considered a SWB 2.8 Pajero that would be in your price range I really rate mine although I drive rather than tow it??

Thanks for the suggestion @mikee I'll take a look at them

Out of those 3 you picked the Escudo is the only ladder chassis and that has a low range 4wd system.
A Paj as mikee has recommended would be a good option, although they're all IFS. Can pick them up pretty cheap though.
Search Manheim or Turners damaged/salvaged vehicles for a few cheap options.

Thanks for the suggestion @mikee I'll take a look at them

The wee Rav I was driving when I met you in town the other day really impresses me, its just simple but light and had a great 4wd system, bloody thing goes anywhere on the farm and we have some pretty steep stuff in places. I like it for its simplicity fulltime 4wd automatic anyone can just jump in it and drive it, has a bit more snot than the suzukis but no low box although im yet to miss that. Im gonna buy a couple more in the next couple of weeks as we have phased out quads and theyre cheaper warrmer and more reliable than any of the side by sides and go just as many places if not more

jimny? or are they too crap in a smash....

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Originally Posted by muzza

jimneys are tiny - there is barely room for two adults to sit side by side without touching shoulders.

Escudos are cool but getting a bit older now

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And they float a bit to easily

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Originally Posted by Tentman

I'm thinking about another modest 4x4 for accessing the back country, its just too risky sometimes if you only have one vehicle and its essential for your work. I'm thinking it might get a tow up county much of the time behind the BT50. Budget is $5K max and $3K would be better

So of the Escudo/Rav/CRV etc (in the above price range) your thoughts on which offers the best ratio of capability/reliability ??.

I had an Escudo a few years ago and had a great run out of it, but they are getting very long in the tooth now.

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I got a great rav4 in auckland if you are keen.
Old man owner, low km's slight panel damage.
cheap

Its my old's, sitting in a garage awaiting sale. (been there for a year.

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Originally Posted by 40mm

I got a great rav4 in auckland if you are keen.
Old man owner, low km's slight panel damage.
cheap

Its my old's, sitting in a garage awaiting sale. (been there for a year.

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Put it up for sale NOW! New dairy season started today and theyre highly sought after as replacements for quadbikes. I've been watching a few on trademe and theyre getting snapped up as fast as they are listed

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Originally Posted by mimms2

Ravs are poo. Assume Hondas are same.
Little suzis are very competent for what they are.

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I think everyone assumes they are "softroaders" as no low box etc but thousands of them getting around as farm hacks so theres something that must be good about them, I know of a few people that have had the same one 6, 7, 8 seasons and theyre still going and still go everywhere and probably arent really maintained as much as a vehicle should be. Our one really impresses me, it always locks up all four wheels when youre in a pickle and due to being so light it goes way more places than I would ever dream of taking my D40 Navara. Im actually considering getting a good one and keeping it as a hunting vehicle and for the wife to use in winter as she worries me hooning about on icy roads in her Mini

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Originally Posted by Mauser308

Cheaper to service, better electrics and also a LOT more comfy. I'm honestly a little unsure what the big buzz with the sxs's are, they are bloody dear for what you get, hungry on fuel, noisy as, leak like sieves and use specialised bits that you can't get from Repco or Supercheap etc.

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Landcorp did a cost analysis on the Side By Sides they put on all their farms when they phased out quads and im not going to quote exact numbers but on some farms it was something along the lines of $21k purchase price $19k cost over three years on parts, servicing, repairs etc

SWB Nissan Mistral if you can find one.
Attachment 141465

Wife has a Rav4 with computer that will engage 4wd when traction is being lost. Good for her. Saw one up top of Old Man Range as we crossed in a proper 4wd. I had a 2.4 petrol SuzukiGrand Vitara manual and that was impressive! It was more than equal to a sons Prado in ATG Waiouru, but a tad thirsty. Love the d-max I currently drive.

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Put it up for sale NOW! New dairy season started today and theyre highly sought after as replacements for quadbikes. I've been watching a few on trademe and theyre getting snapped up as fast as they are listed

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Back off, if there is a good cheap RAV around Auckland I have first dibs :yuush: :D

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/use...db7943bf33-001

What about a cheap terrano

@Tentman Kubota RTV 900 on a trailer behind the ute ( or other side by side off road vehicle )

Dairy farmers must be giving them away down your way.

You know you need one around the estate and at work anyway

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Originally Posted by Chur Bay

What about a cheap terrano

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Don’t think they are cheap now...if you can find one...


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Originally Posted by mimms2

Soft everthing. I've yet to be impressed by one but last time I had a turn would have been mid 90s. They might have improved.
Shyt on road. Arse towing. My old man's front wheel drive could launch his boat better.

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Maybe you got the 2wd version and someone had removed a spark plug lead?

I have owned an escudo and a rav, the rav was more powerful more capable more comfortable and just better in every way except having a low box.
Mine towed great, I MERCILESSLY raped it towing my boat,launching in estuaries, taking it on proper fourwheel drive trips with real 4wds and not needing recovering.
Mine cost me one cv boot for maintaince.
I recommend the auto and drive it like its a rental.

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Originally Posted by Barefoot

Back off, if there is a good cheap RAV around Auckland I have first dibs :yuush: :D

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Yeah, sorry @Barefoot messaged me about this already.

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Originally Posted by mimms2

Commonly referred to as the menstrual. Absolute waste of a TD27. Don't know how (same running gear, maybe different ratio diffs?) but Terrano much better all round.

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The diff on the Mistral looks like it has come off a truck. I've had mine for nearly 10 years and my only complaint is the fueling off idle is rubbish. Very hard to crawl along smoothly without using brake. Bought it for $4.5k and done about 80k kms in it so pretty cheap motoring.

if you can do it yourself and ive cotemplated it an escudo with a toyota 4afe would almost be the perfect lightweight 4wd

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Originally Posted by Tentman

I'm thinking about another modest 4x4 for accessing the back country, its just too risky sometimes if you only have one vehicle and its essential for your work. I'm thinking it might get a tow up county much of the time behind the BT50. Budget is $5K max and $3K would be better

So of the Escudo/Rav/CRV etc (in the above price range) your thoughts on which offers the best ratio of capability/reliability ??.

I had an Escudo a few years ago and had a great run out of it, but they are getting very long in the tooth now.

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The Zuks are great off road. I have repowered mine with a late model Vitara motor. ( so I can drive to a hunt rather than get towed!!)

Attachment 141525

I had a Daihatsu Feroza in Port Hedland went bloody everywhere, shooting Roo,s and Camels, towing the tinnie in and out of Finucane island boat ramp, never got bogged I think they ran a Toyota 1600 cc motor, should have bought it back to N.Z. probably unobtainable now.

Another vote for the Zook, I love mine goes anywhere I point it.
what they lack in power they make up for in low range gearing and lightweightedness.
Mine is a LWB Escudo the only real down side is also there biggest advantage the lightness can make deep water crossings a bit twitchy as they tend to float, but said lightness also means they don't sink in the mud and shingle either.
good ones are getting hard to find now I paid $500 for mine and now you'd probably stuggle to find one under $2k that wasn't rooted.
most on here have seen my pic crossing the main flow of the Rangitata at 102 cumecs so don't discount the zook if you can find a good one :thumbsup:

Had Daihatsu Rocky for 4 years great little 4x4 and petrol to boot , sold that for the money I payed for it and bought a 2 door swb nissan mistral ,an extra 20hp claimed with the intercooler supposedly ,made in spain , only replaced fan belt and aternator after 60k, reliable old school 2.7 tdi dont knock em 4x4 on a budget

Most of the 90's Japanese stuff is pretty reliable and cheap as chips.

Was impressed with the Mistral climbing hills with 3 big guys and little me in it. They have a trow-away diesel pump, but the replacement is about the same cost as getting the seals replaced on the serviceable ones of the Terrano.

The first gen RAV is a 90's Toyota, it'll go forever and reasonably peppy. The newer models just seemed to lose the plot with what they came up with initially and just ended up as a bloated car.

Have been in the wee Toyota/Daihatsu models and they were pretty good.

Have been in a few Suzuki's and they seemed a bit low on go on the road but very capable off road.

The Pajeros are pretty good off and on road too. Also reliable.

In a similar vein to the Pajero would be a shorty Bighorn.

Trailering can be a pain. You need lots of space. Tow vehicle, trailer, ramps, space to line up load vehicle. Also increased fuel consumption, though would probably come out about even with the lower fuel economy of the older 4x4's compared to the newer tow vehicle.

I've heard the Jimnys are meant to be quite capable off-road. Short wheelbase and good approach / departure angles. But looks a bit small for my liking and the lack of a diesel powered option's also a negative in my books.

Of the medium SUV's I would suggest the Subaru Forester, 2.5, manual, Duel range box. Son sold a 2006 one last year for about $5k, it was great for shooting on the cut over forestry blocks, could cope with a rough and climbed well. If you where going to drive it to site it's a good option. (No Diff Locks and limited traction control)

If it's something you are looking at towing behind the BT50 then one of these
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Lis...?id=2374813374
https://www.impactoffroad.co.nz/edit...0c0pcenter.jpg
Basically a side by side but using automotive parts not motor bike parts.

Z

+1 on the zook needing to be repowered, my old 1300cc jimny used to struggle to sit on 100k in a head wind, yet chuck a set of chains on it in low box and it would put the shits up me with the places it would get me.


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Nissan Mistrals go quite cheap if you need low range. They do tend to rust though.

Go hard or go home!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE166UG-R8c

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Originally Posted by Hayden

+1 on the zook needing to be repowered, my old 1300cc jimny used to struggle to sit on 100k in a head wind, yet chuck a set of chains on it in low box and it would put the shits up me with the places it would get me.


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My brother has had a few jimneys, 413s and vitaras. The pick would be the 1600 5speed vitaras and he still regrets selling his 96 when he was offered a 2004 for the same money....The newer jimneys (up until the latest shape came out) have proved to be not lacking on power. Suzuki did their fuel injection magic and it has more go than the 1600 and 2.0l Vitaras. However he set this up as an off roader from one he picked up cheap.....They never come up cheap when I am looking. this is his firewood wheel barrow so that he does not have to push...The window behind the seats is one of the side windows removed from the back and it does still swing open.

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I've got a 98 V6 Vitara. Its been a bloody good little vehicle, and is plenty capable off road, Getting long in the tooth, and rusty from beach launching the boat, Only complaint, is seats are uncomfortable, on a long road trip, 4-5 hrs plus. Piss all over my bighorn off road, but the bighorn carries more and I can sleep in the back.
I've now got a diesel Rav4, 2015 in NZ, if its half as capable as the Vitara, I be happy.

FWIW, I have a Suzuki snorkel kit lurking in my shed. I was going to fit it to my (ex) 2.4 petrol Grand Vitara, but obviously never did. Ultra cheap, like make a cheeky offer and it could be yours. Right hand side fitting and I think suitable for years 2005 to 2017