4WD around oz tips and hints!

[crumpet1313]

Hey everyone,

My partner and I are both leaving our jobs next year around May to take the long journey around oz via 4WD!! (yeah we are to soft to do it via motorbikes haha)

Was wondering if anyone had done it before, and if they have, could share some experiences they had, or even better some great little spots to visit

The one problem I have at the moment is choosing which type of 4WD i want to take. I dont have a great deal of $$ to spend on the vehicle, MAX 12k. Was wondering if anyone knew of some top brands and types of 4WD's to stick to, which ones to stay away from.. especially seeing i will be buying a earlier 90's model probably.

Im also tossing up weather to go Diseal or Petrol.. as you get more km's from Diseal, but im unsure if it is easily accessable when out on the open road and in the bush (from servo's).

Any gestures would be great !!!!

Thanks
CRUMPET AND SUE

[Cath]

Haven't done it, but have talked about doing it for a long time.

How far off-road / remote are you planning on going? For example, you can't do the Canning Stock Route with petrol - you'll need diesel. But almost everywhere else you should be fine with petrol and with a big tank, plus spare. Since you've only got 12K, you'll get more car for your money with petrol and servicing will be cheaper, but on the other hand diesels don't stop - they just keep going and going (slowly).

You'll find Landcruiser and Patrol parts everywhere around Australia should anything break - in some regions one is more popular than the other, but you'll be fine with either.

[crumpet1313]

Haven't done it, but have talked about doing it for a long time.

How far off-road / remote are you planning on going? For example, you can't do the Canning Stock Route with petrol - you'll need diesel. But almost everywhere else you should be fine with petrol and with a big tank, plus spare. Since you've only got 12K, you'll get more car for your money with petrol and servicing will be cheaper, but on the other hand diesels don't stop - they just keep going and going (slowly).

You'll find Landcruiser and Patrol parts everywhere around Australia should anything break - in some regions one is more popular than the other, but you'll be fine with either.

Hey,

Im not planning on going hardcore 4WDing, Im only planning on taking it onto beaches and maybe through a few well known national parks. We want to follow the coast, and only go in, when we get to NT, to see the big red rock

I always thought diseal would be cheaper to run, because you get more km's out of a tank.. 400km with petrol, 800+ with diseal?? Or has someone been lying to me !!!!!

I also want to stop along the way and do farm work, fruit picking.. all that jazz to help fund our trip as we go !! So if anyone knows some places which have constant work, please share

[Cath]

Kms per litre = diesel is cheaper
Initial purchasing = petrol is cheaper
Servicing = petrol is cheaper
(this only applies to big 4WD diesels BTW, not the new eco/diesel small cars)

So, which one is cheaper overall depends on a lot of factors.
From the trip you just described it doesn't sound like a diesel would be a necessity (i.e, no extreme remote, no serious water crossings, etc), so then it comes down to other factors (how many kms you plan on doing, what condition vehicle you can get, what driving you'll be doing, etc)


There's a few 4WDers on the forum - hopefully they'll chime in, as they are pretty knowledgeable (but they also have jobs where they don't surf ksrc during the day!)

[fireyrob]

I know when we were in NT alot of places you couldn't stay overnight in National Parks / wildlife areas with a petrol vehicle due to the high occurence of having petrol fuel lines cut hence we hired a diesel. Apart from that I can't offer more advice than to maybe plan where your going, think about where you may want to stay then decide on the right vehicle from there!

[ducati_paul]

When you get too far out "Bush" don't they only have Opal fuel in the way of petrol? this is an 86 octane and I imagine a 4wd would run crap on it! my KTM has a switch on it that I flick and it allows it to run on Opal, but that's 'cos the guy I bought it off had done a bit of desert riding

[Nelso]

You will get diesel everywhere you want to go. There is a reason they are more popular and therefore dearer to purchase. My advise for the dollars you are talking would be a 4.2 litre diesel 80 series Landcruiser or GQ Patrol/Ford Maverick. I would hunt around and find one already set up for touring with a winch, draws, cargo barrier etc if you can, and if you do get a diesel make sure it is turboed. There are plenty of other vehicles that suit this trip but these two models are very common and will be easy to sort parts etc if need be.

[red_dave]

Can't realy add anything here...

My 4WD is tooo pretty to take bush.

[Gosling1]

.....You will get diesel everywhere you want to go. There is a reason they are more popular and therefore dearer to purchase. My advise for the dollars you are talking would be a 4.2 litre diesel 80 series Landcruiser or GQ Patrol/Ford Maverick. I would hunt around and find one already set up for touring with a winch, draws, cargo barrier etc if you can, and if you do get a diesel make sure it is turboed. There are plenty of other vehicles that suit this trip but these two models are very common and will be easy to sort parts etc if need be.....

Everything you need to know about touring in outback Oz is contained in this post !!

80-series landies are one of the most reliable and easily-serviced big old oilers on the continent. Diesel is easier to get and the quality is more consistent once you get off the beaten track. A GQ or GU Patrol is also a great rig for a trip like this.

If this is your first time off-road - do a good 4WD course before you go. Get an EPIRB. Learn basic first-aid. Even though you intend to stay close to the beaten track - it can still be a big lonely old place out there, especially at night......

[dave#3]

I agree with Nelso, but I reckon you might struggle to get a 4.2 turbo that's worth a pinch of piss for under $12k. Actually, if you find one (either a GQ or an 80 series 'cruiser 4.2turbo) that's decent for under $12K I'll buy it (for me). If it was me I'd be looking for a cheaper model, maybe a mid-late 90's Hilux. The 2.8 diesel hilux is asthmatic and under-powered but it's an honest truck and probably OK for the sort of work you're doing.

Good luck though, I'd love to be doing this trip myself.

[Wattie]

Go the hilux's Good old beast/

but as Dave3 says, they go like a whale on a beach...

but best value for money for bangin out kms at licence safe speeds and going off road with.

Take a map and spare tyres (yes plural) oh and water

[crumpet1313]

Thanks so much guys for your help.. ill have a look at some of the vehicles you have all mentioned!!! See what I can find for a good $$$!!!

Keep the info coming if anyone else would like to share anything, im taking it all into account!!!

crum and sue

[crumpet1313]

ANOTHER QUESTION...

If im looking at the Toyota Landcruiser, probably late 80's models, early 90's models.. How many kilometers should i stick with. I know there is quite a few which have done more then 300 000... is this normal or is their a limit i should try stick below (eg stay below 300km's)

I only ask because i would never buy a normal car if its done more then 150,000... I know the motors are different, condition of motors will be different depending on how well looked after they have been kept.. etc etc.. but im just wondering on a rough average??

[IsleofNinja]

ANOTHER QUESTION...

If im looking at the Toyota Landcruiser, probably late 80's models, early 90's models.. How many kilometers should i stick with. I know there is quite a few which have done more then 300 000... is this normal or is their a limit i should try stick below (eg stay below 300km's)

I only ask because i would never buy a normal car if its done more then 150,000... I know the motors are different, condition of motors will be different depending on how well looked after they have been kept.. etc etc.. but im just wondering on a rough average??

Depends a lot on it's service history / how fussy the previous owner/s were .
a mate of mine just sold his turbo diesel 60 series cruiser (88 odd) with over 460,000km on the clock!! The motor and running gear in that thing are superb mainly coz it gets serviced every 5k and by now everything bar the engine has been rebuilt. These go from around $4500 through $7000 approx depending on km/cond

I would pay particular attention to the service history , how many prev owners , general condition (ie underneath in particular)
>>> My rec; is late 60 or an 80 series cruiser pref 12HT(60) or 1HD-T(80) engine ie turbo diesel particularly if you are towing. In my exp' the turbo's make more usable power than either the petrol (mega thirsty!!) or the non turbo diesel.

Expect to pay a little over $10K for something half decent.


Hope it helps

[IsleofNinja]

^^ Turbo diesels are also more economical than either NA diesel and defo petrol!!.

Service costs?? service yourself - $120.00 per 20lt Castrol RXSuper @ BP servo's (2 x services worth)