Gold Hound Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Hi Steve I think your 4runner is the same as what we aussies call a hilux but yours is a sedan and ours is a utility. I run a 2004 model hilux as my prospecting rig, and its served me well! Like you say its narrow width is handy in some areas, and its chassis flex helps a lot in climbing up rugged hills. They are easily one of the most competent 4x4 available, but they do not tow or carry over 1 tonne very well. Tremain runs a landcruser and it carries the weight a lot better but they are not as capable as the hilux in very rugged terrain or sand. Because we spend so long living out of the car carrying weight is a major priority for us and after seeing how Tremain's cruiser handles the weight I am going to get a diesel cruiser next. I thought that you guys might all use some ford or gm or somthing we don't get over here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Herschbach Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Here is my old 4-Runner in Alaska. It was a 2005 but after years of Alaska wet weather and salted roads was getting some body rust, so I sold it when I moved south with 170,000 miles on it. Upgraded to a used 2008 6 cyl with "only" 75,000 miles on it. I have towed 3000 lbs with it and it does ok but but it cuts the gas mileage in half. I sleep in the front seat a lot. There are many places where camping is not allowed, but in the U.S. sleeping in the front seat of your rig is "resting" not "camping". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norvic Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 Yes the 4 Runner was an OZ model few years back, taken off the OZ market before the Prado was introduced. Had a top rep as all Toyotas do here in OZ, in fact you drive down any highway in OZ, Toyotas would have to be the most popular by far and every second in the bush or better. I went down from the larger Toyota to the Hilux for its lightness and narrowness and nimbleness as Steve has found, but think it appears they may be now made for lighter duty than the bush bashing we require. I`ll report back on this after I take it up with Toyota, because it is relevant to our fever. See if they answer my emails or are like Minelab in that dept.(gotta have a shot at Minelab at every opportunity ) Thinking back my first Toyota was a Stout back in early 70`s. The Stout was the forerunner to the Hilux but only in 2WD and 30cwt. I love my Toyotas and rely on them as much as my Minelabs. The theme to the Toyota TV ads in OZ is "Oh what a feeling" not sure I agree with it at the moment. Strange the diesel Toyotas aren`t everywhere in US, reckon that`d have something to do with your big manufactures influencing the Govt. We have very few locally produced 4WDs, well even cars too in OZ. Not sure but think sleeping in front seat downunder is "resting" too, well it`ll do. My Hilux with its turbo direct injected diesel pulls a mates 19ft boat surprisingly easy up and down the great divide. Toyota have progressed a lot with that little diesel, Dale yours would be the indirect injected I suspect as in Missus Prado. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathray Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Best 4×4 here probably the tacomas, fourunners and Jeeps. And yes, I would give my left nut for a diesel fj40! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rc62burke Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Hi All This is my Rig, IMHO Toyota made a big mistake moving away from the rugged build of these 90's model Hi-Lux's, these things are tough as!!!! mine has 590000 k's on it 1990 model which I have had since 1994. cheers Lee 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norvic Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 That machine with todays zippy Hilux diesel motor would be the bees knees for gold hunters, but the market has turned Toyota away from that. Comes down to supply and demand I guess. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Hound Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Here is my old 4-Runner in Alaska. It was a 2005 but after years of Alaska wet weather and salted roads was getting some body rust, so I sold it when I moved south with 170,000 miles on it. Upgraded to a used 2008 6 cyl with "only" 75,000 miles on it. I have towed 3000 lbs with it and it does ok but but it cuts the gas mileage in half. I sleep in the front seat a lot. There are many places where camping is not allowed, but in the U.S. sleeping in the front seat of your rig is "resting" not "camping". Thanks Steve. They do appear to be the same chassis. That no camping rule must suck! I never listern to what the stupid government says when it comes to stupid laws like that. I had the cops try bother and move me on when I stopped on the side of the road in between country towns on a long commute between Sydney and the central Australian desert. I just said that I got sleepy all of a sudden. Then asked if I should drive when I was at high risk of falling asleep at the wheel? They said that I should not! Then they just left me alone as they have a duty of care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Hound Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Yes the 4 Runner was an OZ model few years back, taken off the OZ market before the Prado was introduced. Had a top rep as all Toyotas do here in OZ, in fact you drive down any highway in OZ, Toyotas would have to be the most popular by far and every second in the bush or better. I went down from the larger Toyota to the Hilux for its lightness and narrowness and nimbleness as Steve has found, but think it appears they may be now made for lighter duty than the bush bashing we require. I`ll report back on this after I take it up with Toyota, because it is relevant to our fever. See if they answer my emails or are like Minelab in that dept.(gotta have a shot at Minelab at every opportunity ) Thinking back my first Toyota was a Stout back in early 70`s. The Stout was the forerunner to the Hilux but only in 2WD and 30cwt. I love my Toyotas and rely on them as much as my Minelabs. The theme to the Toyota TV ads in OZ is "Oh what a feeling" not sure I agree with it at the moment. Strange the diesel Toyotas aren`t everywhere in US, reckon that`d have something to do with your big manufactures influencing the Govt. We have very few locally produced 4WDs, well even cars too in OZ. Not sure but think sleeping in front seat downunder is "resting" too, well it`ll do. My Hilux with its turbo direct injected diesel pulls a mates 19ft boat surprisingly easy up and down the great divide. Toyota have progressed a lot with that little diesel, Dale yours would be the indirect injected I suspect as in Missus Prado. Its not that it wont pull the weight its the handling and stopping is adversly affected once you go over the tonne. Im not talking about in a road towing situation, I'm talking about on rough bush tracks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddmk6 Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Mate you cannot get a better 4x4 for prospecting than a toyota Land cruiser diesel. How about a cruiser with a 327 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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