Fair Dinkum Four Wheel Drives

Sounds a good rig mate . Why dont they put one on a showroom floor
cheers Axle

Axle,
Even though it would be a great truck, it wouldn't sell enough to warrant them doing it.....that is the cold hard fact of the matter. We have painted ourselves into a corner by buying the plastic rubbish they throw our way and the good old beam-axle 4bys aren't selling as well as they should. Too many of us so-called die-hard 4 wheel drivers are prepared to accept the Toyota IFS landcruiser, cos mum likes it...easy to drive (slush box). However, Toyota have gone all soft and the current Landcruiser is not a patch on the 60 series or even the 80 series; both of which are VERY capable and TOUGH 4bys. (struth, I can't believe I just said that!!!!).
Nissan and Landrover (defender only) have held out thus far, but don't expect to see another beam axle Patrol and as for the Landrover, well who knows.
I'm not slagging off at the likes of the 100 series really, I haven't yet seen or heard of a car salesman holding a gun to anybody's head to force them to buy a new vehicle.
My idea of a REAL 4x4 would be an OKA with a 6.5 Chev motor and with all the other reliability issues ironed out. If you don't want something quite that big, then the Troopy, as outlined above, would be a good option, or (of course) a Patrol DX (cos you don't like too much plastic), similarly optioned up with 6.5 Chev donk/.

Guys,

78/79series TD comes straight off the showroom floor with that stuff. Factory diff locks are an option.

Roachie
I agree with all you have said , its just annoying to see the modern 4by ( all makes ) fail in areas That should have been improoved not made weaker. Plastic bad enought ., But lighter gearbox shafts diffs radiators to small etc etc Bl...dy crazy.
Axle

They are still being made Roachie...called a 78/79series...all you could ever want and without the trimings. Cheers good buddy!!

No one has painted themselves into a corner!
The Govt regulations (here and mainly overseas) have painted the manufacturers into a corner!
ADR compliance, fuel efficiency, safety........
That's why you will soon be getting plastic bodied 78/79 series cruisers, with cardboard axles and composite-hybrid air-foam replacement materials everywhere else!

60 series and MQ's were only being manufactured for so long, because the makers were "allowed" to! Try getting an ADR certificate for something like that nowadays!!
Just looking at the kinds of 4WD's now as the best seller list.....CRV, RAV, Prado???

The way of the future is going to be more recreational areas locked up, soaring fuel prices, stricter safety requirements.........

Your children(grandchildren) will be driving those cardboard axled, foam cell bodied, electric 4WDs on the newly sealed Oodnadatta track to some nice vantage point, to take some very long range photo's of the Rig Road and K-Line, and wonder........"did people really venture out that way disregarding all that danger, in those old death-traps?"

*cynicism hat has now been removed!* :))

Unfortunately the Toorak tractor market is where the sales are$$$$$

" Even the Closest new 4WD to what you talk of, a new 79-series, you are still paying $55,000 for something with leaf-springs, has about as much comfort as a Sherman Tank and around the same acceleration. "

Exploder, go take a 79TD for a drive and it will lay you back in your seat. Mine has a better ride than the Prado I had before because of its longer wheelbase. The leaf springs are a lot longer than the 75series, so the ride is very good, and plenty of room in the cab - its 5 inches longer than the 75.

Yep they cost a lot of money, but must be worth it because the dealers are all out of stock at the moment.

I have taken a ride in one, yes the Turbo Diesel is much better than the N/A diesel (Which is what I was referring to in my comment the non turbo that is), and the ride is still nothing flash but it is better than the 75 . As for room an extra 5-Inch, well I am 6Ft4 so to me the cab is small.

I think I may have given you the impression that I dislike the 79. To clarify, I think they are a good truck and I don’t think they are ugly either in fact I like the shape, if I had to chose between a GXL 100-series and a Turbo 79 I would take the 79!!! Call me crazy but I would, if I spent more time out bush I would love a kitted out turbo 79 Cruiser they are as close as you can get to a true bush machine.

Sam’s gone again
But…
Where too???

Sam,

Spend the extra money on the TD, and you'll get a better donk than the chev, the stronger H150F box that doesn't break, the 14mm 5 studs (vs the 12mm 6 studs). :-)))

Can get them 2nd hand now for about $40k.