No-one makes a proper basic rough and ready 4x4
Discussion
I work in construction and over the years there have always been rufty tufty basic competent 4/5 seat 4x4s that could bounce about rough sites pulling a little piling rig for soil investigation work or a water bowser for decontaminating plant then when finished be used by the operative as a company car.
Over the years there have been plenty of vehicles up for the task: Daihatsu Fourtracks, Isuzu Troopers, Hyundai Terracans, Mitsubishi Shogun Sports, Land Rover Defenders and Nissan Pathfinders all did the job well and none broke the bank. There are no doubt quite a few that also fit the same bill that have been around over the years.
Now? Not one vehicle is around that fits this bill. Not one. If you don't want to drive a pick-up nothing is available.
Surely to God there is a market for a cheap, basic, off-road capable 4x4 that can tow a reasonable weight.
Over the years there have been plenty of vehicles up for the task: Daihatsu Fourtracks, Isuzu Troopers, Hyundai Terracans, Mitsubishi Shogun Sports, Land Rover Defenders and Nissan Pathfinders all did the job well and none broke the bank. There are no doubt quite a few that also fit the same bill that have been around over the years.
Now? Not one vehicle is around that fits this bill. Not one. If you don't want to drive a pick-up nothing is available.
Surely to God there is a market for a cheap, basic, off-road capable 4x4 that can tow a reasonable weight.
There's loads of people that need what you describe, OP, but all there seems to be is pickups now and most of these are fairly blinged up.
Personally I think the current crop of pickups are crap. They're too high to make putting things in the back easy and nothing is secure. I constantly baffles me that no body has jumped into the market that the Defender left.
The Dark Lord nails it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loZwcFrQASE
Personally I think the current crop of pickups are crap. They're too high to make putting things in the back easy and nothing is secure. I constantly baffles me that no body has jumped into the market that the Defender left.
The Dark Lord nails it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loZwcFrQASE
Both the Dacia and RAV are just jacked up hatchback monocoques with VC diffs shoehorned onto them.
OP is looking for something tough, box frame, proper locking centre diff and actual suspension travel etc.
To be honest I agree with his statement, nobody makes them anymore, a Disco might fit the bill but they are really going too upmarket, a Jimny is properly built but too small for more practical purposes.
Imo get a pickup with a bed cap. All the major manufacturers are good, all produce stripped out '4work' style models with hardy interior and no chrome tat.
OP is looking for something tough, box frame, proper locking centre diff and actual suspension travel etc.
To be honest I agree with his statement, nobody makes them anymore, a Disco might fit the bill but they are really going too upmarket, a Jimny is properly built but too small for more practical purposes.
Imo get a pickup with a bed cap. All the major manufacturers are good, all produce stripped out '4work' style models with hardy interior and no chrome tat.
Edited by caelite on Thursday 22 June 19:31
snoopy25 said:
ambuletz said:
Suzuki Jimny?
Wouldn't want to tow that kind of weight on it every day mind, only legally rated for 1300kg and you'll need a clutch every oil change
ambuletz said:
Suzuki Jimny?
We worked with a fencer who did a lot of work with stables re-configuring fencing to grass fields. His works vehicle was a little old Jimny that had the back chopped off and then converted into a tiny off-road flatbed truck to carry his tools, posts and wire. It was also fitted with wide wheels massive oversized balloon tyres to spread the weight and save the grass he was driving on from damage.To date it is my favourite 4x4.
Once I was doing some work as a student for a company where my mate worked. We needed 4x4's for loads of miles and offroading. They don't make proper ones anymore, but if you buy a box on the pickup you can use it just as well. the fleet was the following: Navarra, 2x L200 and an Amarok, all rough and tough capable off roaders and capable on the motorway as well.
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