4x4 recommendations

[RevNuts]

I'm about to begin a tree surgery career and am in need of a suitable second-hand 4x4. I've never owned a 4x4 before, so am pretty much in the dark.

Desired features:

- Not too large. Rear seats and a boot big enough for chainsaw equipment will do.
- Reasonable fuel consumption.
- Not too large an engine, although big enough to haul a trailer without struggling too much.
- Ability to switch between 4 wheel drive and 2 wheel drive, plus low ratio.
- Cheap(ish) to maintain and easy to work on.
- Dependable.
- Budget: £5,000

I'm considering the Land Rover Defender, but the fuel consumption is lacklustre and appears sluggish. I hear the Nissan Patrol GR's are dependable, but are pricey to run. Sigh, I wonder if the features above are too much to ask.

Any suggestions?

[Liquid Knight]

Fiat Panda 4x4.

[1A]

RevNuts said:

- Ability to switch between 4 wheel drive and 2 wheel drive

Why do you want to be able to do this?

[ChrisRS]

Defender everytime

[SmokinV8]

I'd second a Defender, and make it a commercial one and better against your books too!

[jbi]

Toyota Land Cruiser
Nissan Patrol
Jeep Cherokee
Land Rover Defender
Land Rover discovery

I'm assuming you want a proper 4x4?

[schmalex]

Personally, I'd go for a Discovery Td5, as they are a sight more comfortable than a Defender if you're using it a lot. You can get a commercial variant to make it friendly on the books.

ETA. Can you get a Navara at that price yet? (although I am aware of some engine issues in the early ones)

Edited by schmalex on Sunday 16th January 21:58

[Gretchen]

ChrisRS said:

Defender everytime

I live next to a small farm, the son is an Arborist and has exactly this. A 'proper' one. He had his daughter in a car seat in the front the other day so it's also being used as a family vehicle

[General Price]

A Terrano Commercial would fit the bill.Should get a tidy 4 or 5 yr old for 5k.

[dowahdiddyman]

Earlier Toyota Landcruiser. 4.2 TD enough grunt to pull trees out the ground so you can save money on the chainsaw. Will pull big weights and not to heavy on juice when you think it`s a 4.2 compared to others which are mostly 2.5.

[wackojacko]

Landy Defender
Landy Disco
or abit of posh you may just get an ML 270cdi for 5k would need a tart up but would look atleast 10k's worth if tarted up properly

[thinfourth2]

Defender comes with a free platform for standing on.

Also the transfer box has a place to fit a PTO

[geeteeaye]

Why switchable 2wd/4wd?

I'd suggest a pickup for versatility, can chuck a few logs in the back/fencing/barbed wire etc without having to worry about fouling up the interior of the cabin.

Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi L200.

ETA: I know you say tree surgery but you never know what odd jobs/foreigners you may be offered

Edited by geeteeaye on Sunday 16th January 22:44

[RevNuts]

geeteeaye said:

Why switchable 2wd/4wd?

I assumed, perhaps mistakenly, that being able to switch to 2wd would save fuel on long journeys.

[RevNuts]

SmokinV8 said:

I'd second a Defender, and make it a commercial one and better against your books too!

What do you mean by 'commercial' exactly? Thanks.

[RevNuts]

jbi said:

Toyota Land Cruiser
Nissan Patrol
Jeep Cherokee
Land Rover Defender
Land Rover discovery

I'm assuming you want a proper 4x4?

Yes, a proper 4x4 will be needed. I live in the Welsh countryside and will have to navigate some hilly terrain around here.

Ref the Nissan Patrol, nice:

I recently saw an old Defender that had all the offroad trimmings i.e. raised suspension, roof cage, bull bar, front winch etc. But for the life of me I cannot find the link.

[RevNuts]

thinfourth2 said:

Defender comes with a free platform for standing on.

Also the transfer box has a place to fit a PTO

Ah, I didn't consider the PTO. I'm buying a tipping trailer and that might come in useful.

[Zad]

Land Rover Discovery Commercial. What's commercial? Well they are usually 3 door versions, with the rear windows blanked out and protective wood panelling installed. You also pay commercial vehicle tax rather than car tax, which can make a fair old difference!

e.g.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[JVaughan]

My Father-in-law does this sort of thing .. he has a Defender 90, and it serves him well.
N bells and whistlaes, just chunky tyres, winch and a towbar to pull his trailer

Edited by JVaughan on Monday 17th January 09:23

[SmokinV8]

RevNuts said:

SmokinV8 said:

I'd second a Defender, and make it a commercial one and better against your books too!

What do you mean by 'commercial' exactly? Thanks.

One without windows in the sides, then (assuming im correct?)it will go against your tax as a company commercial vehicle and not as a company car which you would pay a higher rate of tax on. There are lots of other variants too like maybe a high-cap pickup or a truck cab that might be better for your purpose.

Others have suggested double cab pickups like, Navara, L200 etc, these are good vehicles too but MPG in the real world isnt that different to my 90. Ive had all three and they all do on avaerage about 27/28mpg. So 2wd compared to permanant 4wd I cant see any improvement.