Best mainstream 4x4 pickup for towing 3.5t

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

It's the same with everything: boats, diggers, plant in general, automobiles. All raising bmep in the hope of poke without smoke. Mazda being one exception... good on em...

 

Most 8 tonne excavators have gone from ~4 litre engines to 3 and lower. CASE gone down to 2.2, Volvo 2.6...

[njc110381]

Now Landrovers are no longer maybe Toyota might look to bring LC into the UK?

 

Unfortunately, from what I can make of it anyway, the new 4.5l Diesel in the 79 Land Cruiser does not meet European emissions standards, so it won't be coming here any time soon I don't expect.

 

It seems the options are left hand drive 4.2 non turbo models or a 4l V6 petrol engine in RHD, which actually doesn't show bad economy figures considering what it is.

 

The tax is what kills them. 22% on import, added to the vehicle value, then 20% VAT on the total. All in all, an over 40% increase on the initial purchase value. I would pay £20k for one but I sure as hell won't pay £40k.... Used! I can kill four good second hand Rangers for that money and they're solid enough that I don't think a 79 LC will outlive them all.

 

I'd love one, but they're just not viable for me right now.

 

Edit... I should add that the chaps at Overlander have been extremely helpful in giving me information about them. If I ever do spend my money on one it will most likely be from them. I can't fault their communication.

Edited December 5, 2016 by njc110381

[gensetsteve]

Unfortunately, from what I can make of it anyway, the new 4.5l Diesel in the 79 Land Cruiser does not meet European emissions standards, so it won't be coming here any time soon I don't expect.

 

It seems the options are left hand drive 4.2 non turbo models or a 4l V6 petrol engine in RHD, which actually doesn't show bad economy figures considering what it is.

 

The tax is what kills them. 22% on import, added to the vehicle value, then 20% VAT on the total. All in all, an over 40% increase on the initial purchase value. I would pay £20k for one but I sure as hell won't pay £40k.... Used! I can kill four good second hand Rangers for that money and they're solid enough that I don't think a 79 LC will outlive them all.

 

I'd love one, but they're just not viable for me right now.

 

Edit... I should add that the chaps at Overlander have been extremely helpful in giving me information about them. If I ever do spend my money on one it will most likely be from them. I can't fault their communication.

 

A good way to look at it and I would imagine the ranger is a better drive and easier to get spares for. My 100 series LC are long lived but not without their problems and the price of parts is often 5 times as much as discovery especially if you run the new v8 landcrusier no easy answer and much comes down to luck.

[Matthew Storrs]

A good way to look at it and I would imagine the ranger is a better drive and easier to get spares for. My 100 series LC are long lived but not without their problems and the price of parts is often 5 times as much as discovery especially if you run the new v8 landcrusier no easy answer and much comes down to luck.

 

This is what I love about my defender, if I need a part it's down to my local Land Rover parts place and they have it on the shelf, it doesn't usually cost the earth and I can nearly alwAys fit it myself and I don't consider myself a mechanical whizz. The LC no doubt has a fantastic engine but when I looked under one at the APF I didn't really think the chassis or running gear looked any heavier duty really than my defender. So it would have to last at least twice as long as a defender to justify the price tag and the rust would get to it even if it could.

[richy_B]

Have you considered just trading in your old defender for a 14/15 plate defender? Might be hard to find a 130 but there seem to be quite a few 110 single cab pickups about.

[Stubby]

What about a Cummins engine . I always understood them to be good .

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

when I looked under one at the APF I didn't really think the chassis or running gear looked any heavier duty really than my defender.

 

Hmmm, I thought the LC looked 1/3 beefier in important areas...

 

Have you considered just trading in your old defender for a 14/15 plate defender? Might be hard to find a 130 but there seem to be quite a few 110 single cab pickups about.

 

Puma engine? 2.2? 2.2 is pints of milk, not what should be in a truck.

 

What about a Cummins engine . I always understood them to be good .

 

More like it.

[Matthew Storrs]

Have you considered just trading in your old defender for a 14/15 plate defender? Might be hard to find a 130 but there seem to be quite a few 110 single cab pickups about.

 

Not keen on the new defenders really, it's not just that they have a small engine, but IMO the new defenders are almost the worst of both worlds, they still have all the dated land Rover 'features' and no improvement in fit and finish yet they have added a modern electrickery engine which I won't be able to work on myself. Plus if I'm getting something that new I must as well get new and get the benefits of having warranty and I can look after it from new etc.

 

Jon, which areas did you think the LC was beefier? I really couldn't see much in it when looking at axles/propshafts steering rods etc. The back end was better than Landys dreadful rot attracting rear crossmember.

 

A new land cruiser is 200kg heavier than equivalent single cab 110 defender. Considering the LC has bigger engine and steel bodywork as opposed to aluminium, there can't be much more metal to it than the defender?

[Joel77]

Why don't you just refurb an old defender ? Galv chassis, new suspension, wheel, paint, pick an engine n gear box of your choice spurse the interior up and you could even wack ARB,s in it job done you've built a truck exact the way you want it !!

 

Or just plonk a defender cab on a LC 80 series chassis ?

[Matthew Storrs]

Ok, so new line of thought, I'll keep my current defender for general rough and tough pickup work etc, towing 1.5t digger. Then have a seperate vehicle for towing my 3 tonner, but also that is more family friendly too.

Plenty on hear seem to be running discos but what about the Range Rover, looking on eBay and the like you can pick up a mid 2000's RR vogues with V8 lump for quite keen money, that'd be good for towing 3.5t right?

 

I know they are thirsty but as I said before most of the time it's 10 mile journeys to work so shouldn't be too much of a killer if it only does 10 MPG?

 

Cheers for all your input- all helpful