Best 4x4 pickup for offroading?
Discussion
I want to get back into greenlaning, I've had more than my fair share of Land Rovers, so none of that green oval nonsense. I want something which is going to cost me the least in the long run, so nothing really thirsty, nothing old which is going to need a big spend on every MoT. Realistically, most of the miles will be on the road, but I figure on the road they're all about the same, except for power/fuel consumption, so really after the engine, I'm splitting them on offroad ability.
I want something a bit more substancial than a Jimny/Duster/Terios/Panda 4x4/Yeti etc. I don't need to tow anything, or carry anything particularly big and heavy, but it's inevitable that my green oval inclined friends will get stuck and break down, and need rescuing. I've looked at Shoguns, they seem very thirsty (big 3.2L engine and only 5 gears), Patrols and Land Cruisers in my budget are old and rusty.
I've no idea how to drive an automatic offroad, so manuals only. Low range is a must, and a locking diff would be nice. Ideally, if I had the budget I'd got for a 2021+ Dmax, with the 1.9L engine, but I'm quite a long way off the budget.
That brings us nicely onto the vulgar topic of money. I'd say my budget would be 10k, but after tax/insurance/service and a set of nice AT tyres and a winch, I'm looking more at a maximum of 7k, and ideally less than that, but obviously I'd rather spend 7k on a good one than 5k on a crap one which breaks down, needs welding, etc etc.
On my radar at the moment are the following:
2012ish Hilux, 2.5L or 3.0L, some have a locking diff, only 5 gears.
2015ish Dmax, 2.5L twin turbo, 6 gears but no diff lock
2012ish L200, 2.5L, some have a diff lock, but only 5 gears. Apparently the low range isn't that low on these.
2015ish Amarok, 2.0L twin turbo, 6 gears, and a diff lock
2016ish L200/Fullback, 2.4L, 6 gears and a few have diff lock.
I'd consider some others, but let's cut a few out straight away:
- Nissan Navara D40, seen too many with bent chassis, etc. Not for me.
- Ford Ranger, 2.2L and 3.2L engines are the only ones in my budget with a 6 speed and a diff lock, and I've heard they are best avoided
- Land Rover anything, just no. I know they're brilliant, I love them too, but I've personally lit fire to over £5000 by buying a £2000 Land Rover.
- Anything really old. I know Fourtraks will run forever, but they're rotten, they're really slow, and I know none of these are rockets, but I do occasionally need to overtake a bus/tractor/etc. Old stuff also drinks fuel, and will kill you in a crash.
Okay, so now to the meat of the question, how do these pickups (and any others suggested) compare offroad? Are they all pretty much the same, or are there night and day differences between them?
Thanks!
I want something a bit more substancial than a Jimny/Duster/Terios/Panda 4x4/Yeti etc. I don't need to tow anything, or carry anything particularly big and heavy, but it's inevitable that my green oval inclined friends will get stuck and break down, and need rescuing. I've looked at Shoguns, they seem very thirsty (big 3.2L engine and only 5 gears), Patrols and Land Cruisers in my budget are old and rusty.
I've no idea how to drive an automatic offroad, so manuals only. Low range is a must, and a locking diff would be nice. Ideally, if I had the budget I'd got for a 2021+ Dmax, with the 1.9L engine, but I'm quite a long way off the budget.
That brings us nicely onto the vulgar topic of money. I'd say my budget would be 10k, but after tax/insurance/service and a set of nice AT tyres and a winch, I'm looking more at a maximum of 7k, and ideally less than that, but obviously I'd rather spend 7k on a good one than 5k on a crap one which breaks down, needs welding, etc etc.
On my radar at the moment are the following:
2012ish Hilux, 2.5L or 3.0L, some have a locking diff, only 5 gears.
2015ish Dmax, 2.5L twin turbo, 6 gears but no diff lock
2012ish L200, 2.5L, some have a diff lock, but only 5 gears. Apparently the low range isn't that low on these.
2015ish Amarok, 2.0L twin turbo, 6 gears, and a diff lock
2016ish L200/Fullback, 2.4L, 6 gears and a few have diff lock.
I'd consider some others, but let's cut a few out straight away:
- Nissan Navara D40, seen too many with bent chassis, etc. Not for me.
- Ford Ranger, 2.2L and 3.2L engines are the only ones in my budget with a 6 speed and a diff lock, and I've heard they are best avoided
- Land Rover anything, just no. I know they're brilliant, I love them too, but I've personally lit fire to over £5000 by buying a £2000 Land Rover.
- Anything really old. I know Fourtraks will run forever, but they're rotten, they're really slow, and I know none of these are rockets, but I do occasionally need to overtake a bus/tractor/etc. Old stuff also drinks fuel, and will kill you in a crash.
Okay, so now to the meat of the question, how do these pickups (and any others suggested) compare offroad? Are they all pretty much the same, or are there night and day differences between them?
Thanks!
LotsOfLaughs said:
- Land Rover anything, just no. I know they're brilliant, I love them too, but I've personally lit fire to over £5000 by buying a £2000 Land Rover.
I take your point, but my £2000 landrover (1500 and 500 quid for a new engine off ebay at the time) is the only car I've ever bought that's gone up in value.Arnold Cunningham said:
I take your point, but my £2000 landrover (1500 and 500 quid for a new engine off ebay at the time) is the only car I've ever bought that's gone up in value.
Sure, but I'm not trying to play the "spot what's at the bottom of it's depreciation curve and might go up" game, I'm trying to play the "not crawling around on the floor getting a face full of rust" game.If you do look for a Hilux make sure it's got A-TRC - very very capable off road biased traction control system that operates in 4H and 4L.
I think only later mk7s had it but I would say it's every bit as useful as the rear axle locker on my mk8.
Obviously keep an eye out for rust, some will have had a new chassis as part of a Toyota service campaign.
I think only later mk7s had it but I would say it's every bit as useful as the rear axle locker on my mk8.
Obviously keep an eye out for rust, some will have had a new chassis as part of a Toyota service campaign.
Mk7 Hilux are dirt cheap due to the recall on the chassis, but find one that’s either good , or an easy fix and the are a proper bargain
Toyota have started trying to buy them back now to avoid the £10 k bill for the chassis so a few are appearing for sale to try and beat the Toyota offer, and some are well worth it. Mk7 is one of the best models made.
Toyota have started trying to buy them back now to avoid the £10 k bill for the chassis so a few are appearing for sale to try and beat the Toyota offer, and some are well worth it. Mk7 is one of the best models made.
Courser said:
Buy a hilux, and buy an automatic. There is no learning required, the car does the work. Better off-road than the manual in every situation.
I don't want an automatic. I've got quite good at driving a manual, and I can't see how an auto will work going downhill as well as a manual. Maybe the very modern ones (laters stuff from LR, Ineos, etc) work fine, but those are too expensive. I want a manual.Courser said:
Mk7 Hilux are dirt cheap due to the recall on the chassis, but find one that s either good , or an easy fix and the are a proper bargain
Toyota have started trying to buy them back now to avoid the £10 k bill for the chassis so a few are appearing for sale to try and beat the Toyota offer, and some are well worth it. Mk7 is one of the best models made.
That's interesting, how much are Toyota offering for them?Toyota have started trying to buy them back now to avoid the £10 k bill for the chassis so a few are appearing for sale to try and beat the Toyota offer, and some are well worth it. Mk7 is one of the best models made.
Bill said:
Simple. Lock into first and it's the same effect. Or use HDC. Even my 2011 Yeti has HDC.
Hill decent control was a tool of Satan, invented by Land Rover when BMW owned them, so they could make the Freelander, and kickstart the whole non-offroad pointless SUV thing.If you really want to go offroad, a manual with a proper low range transfer box is what you need, not a computer. I don't even trust this laptop right now to work tomorrow, no way would I trust a computer to pilot a 2-ton 4x4 down a steep hill without low range.
LotsOfLaughs said:
Hill decent control was a tool of Satan, invented by Land Rover when BMW owned them, so they could make the Freelander, and kickstart the whole non-offroad pointless SUV thing.
If you really want to go offroad, a manual with a proper low range transfer box is what you need, not a computer. I don't even trust this laptop right now to work tomorrow, no way would I trust a computer to pilot a 2-ton 4x4 down a steep hill without low range.
Nope, computer works perfectly If you really want to go offroad, a manual with a proper low range transfer box is what you need, not a computer. I don't even trust this laptop right now to work tomorrow, no way would I trust a computer to pilot a 2-ton 4x4 down a steep hill without low range.
And they have low range as well.
If you want a manual, fine, but the auto is better offroad.
Courser said:
Mk7 Hilux are dirt cheap due to the recall on the chassis, but find one that s either good , or an easy fix and the are a proper bargain
Toyota have started trying to buy them back now to avoid the £10 k bill for the chassis so a few are appearing for sale to try and beat the Toyota offer, and some are well worth it. Mk7 is one of the best models made.
Toyota aren’t buying them back, they are treating or replacing chassis of specific age range cars. Toyota have started trying to buy them back now to avoid the £10 k bill for the chassis so a few are appearing for sale to try and beat the Toyota offer, and some are well worth it. Mk7 is one of the best models made.
Rust is the issue on any of these.
Honestly, for green laning i imagine they are all as capable as each other if they're on the same tyres. L200 (or the fiat) gives the benefit of FT 4x4 on wet roads though.
My personal choice would be a hilux for parts availability (and parts prices). Plus, they hold their value. I saw a mk7 for sale recently for £12k that had a new chassis from toyota - now that would be a great thing if you could find another.
I prefer the mk6 tbh, a simpler vehicle.
Honestly, for green laning i imagine they are all as capable as each other if they're on the same tyres. L200 (or the fiat) gives the benefit of FT 4x4 on wet roads though.
My personal choice would be a hilux for parts availability (and parts prices). Plus, they hold their value. I saw a mk7 for sale recently for £12k that had a new chassis from toyota - now that would be a great thing if you could find another.
I prefer the mk6 tbh, a simpler vehicle.
Edited by Lefty on Thursday 17th September 07:25
I had previously only seen the Navara D40s snap due to corrosion. I've been looking at these again recently (not as off road vehicle) and have seen the L200 and Hilux having the same failure.
I'm considering a D23 Navara or 2.2 Ranger at the moment. The 3.2 Ranger engines seem a bit flakey.
I'm considering a D23 Navara or 2.2 Ranger at the moment. The 3.2 Ranger engines seem a bit flakey.
Rangers rust badly too.
Honestly they all do unless owners look after them - unfortunately there’s an attitude of “it’s a pickup it’s tough, it’ll be fine” that’s just complete crap. Number of Hiluxes I’ve seen that are completely ducked people think they can just abuse them“because it’s a Hilux”. Mechanically yeah they’re great but rust is rust.
Honestly they all do unless owners look after them - unfortunately there’s an attitude of “it’s a pickup it’s tough, it’ll be fine” that’s just complete crap. Number of Hiluxes I’ve seen that are completely ducked people think they can just abuse them“because it’s a Hilux”. Mechanically yeah they’re great but rust is rust.
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