New Landcruisers weak as **** ,dont bother

[OLDFORDNUT]

our workshop wont buy any for Frazer Island rentals as one of the biggest hire mobs here in Hervey Bay brought 10 last year and are having no end of trouble, to show me how week they are he (cant tell you his name)but he is mechanic in their workshop, got two boxes side by side with transfer case attached and i could not lift the old HJ75 from 1999 model, but i could lift the 2004 model.he said thats because everything inside is inferior quality metal thats just not up to the job,they cant get gearboxes as no wreckers have anything in stock as they are sold the moment they hit the floor as used box's are over $3500 without transfer case.i told them they should go to a current affair and expose the new Toyotas for the lemons they are.

[Walkinshaw]

So beacue something is lighter than a previous model and because a BRAND NEW auto box is $3500 the car is a lemon? Price up a 6speed F6 box from ford. You may find the Cruiser box is VERY reasonable.

[Outbackjack]

The numbers out here in the REAL 4 wd country. Nissan patrols are getting around at 2 to 1 compared to cruisers. And it is not a price thing. If you need to go off road, dont buy a cruiser (troopy excluded).

[Des]

Originally Posted by Walkinshaw

So beacue something is lighter than a previous model and because a BRAND NEW auto box is $3500 the car is a lemon? Price up a 6speed F6 box from ford. You may find the Cruiser box is VERY reasonable.

I think he means that the new boxes are lightduty POS's. Mind you, Toyota has been eroding the "toughness" of the 'Cruiser slightly over the last couple of models in the name of Euro/USA sales. My Old Man does a lot of offroad driving and this conversation always irks him....

[OLDFORDNUT]

sorry i meant used box's are worth over that as they are in such great demand, and please dont treat me as a fool, these gearbox's are falling apart internally with very weak cogs and shafts, looking like failed gearboxs from 7 -10 years service instead of these at 1 year old.and actually snapping parts where as the older box's would just wear out from hard use.

[Outbackjack]

Originally Posted by nicholas

sorry i meant used box's are worth over that as they are in such great demand, and please dont treat me as a fool, these gearbox's are falling apart internally with very weak cogs and shafts, looking like failed gearboxs from 7 -10 years service instead of these at 1 year old.and actually snapping parts where as the older box's would just wear out from hard use.

Front suspension has a habit of breaking too. OME will sell you a kit to toughen up ya cruiser. I dont think they make toughen up kits for anything else.....

[HOON69]

i'd never buy a current or even model before in the landy's
the best landy to off road imho is 99-98 back to 1990
as for getting cheaper on parts well someone hit it on the head,with sales overseas they are just taking more short cuts and i'd be worried if a transfer case or gbox failed on nothing more then a few dunes and abit of sand :(

[dansedgli]

My gearbox weighs in at 185kgs apparantly :( My clutch died on the weekend :( :(

All of these new 4wds look much softer than the older ones. They are getting more city driving friendly by the looks of things to encourage more sales.

I hate city 4wd drivers!!! :

[ON_DUBS]

Originally Posted by dansedgli

I hate city 4wd drivers!!! :

with you there. especially the ones the drive in crowded carparks and you have to brake for them becuase they barge around

[OLDFORDNUT]

oh yeah i forgot the other problem,when going over small drop offs the front chassis rails bend in with not enough support on new independant front ends on the troopies(so i assume all models) which writes off the LC so its not just the drivelines that are now built for city driving.

[bprint xr8]

Originally Posted by nicholas

oh yeah i forgot the other problem,when going over small drop offs the front chassis rails bend in with not enough support on new independant front ends on the troopies(so i assume all models) which writes off the LC so its not just the drivelines that are now built for city driving.

I thought that the 100 series was the only cruiser with IFS - the 78 & 79 series (ute and troopie) still has live front axle according to the toyota website.

Have seen photos of the issue with the control arms on the 100 IFS though, some tough 4wdriving and they break - result front wheel on ground!

[Gambit]

Originally Posted by bprint xr8

I thought that the 100 series was the only cruiser with IFS - the 78 & 79 series (ute and troopie) still has live front axle according to the toyota website.

Have seen photos of the issue with the control arms on the 100 IFS though, some tough 4wdriving and they break - result front wheel on ground!

The turbo & v8 100 series cruisers have the IFS while the std diesel has the rigid front end.

The 75 series has a rigid front with leaf springs while the 78 troopy & 79 c/c has a rigid front with coil springs.

The 75 series has a stronger gearbox than the 78/9 series cruisers with at least one mine here changing the gearbox's in their 78/9 back to the 75 g/box.

When I worked at Toyota we used to keep a gearbox & transfer for the 78/9 & the std diesel 100 series in stock.

[Dave_au]

The NSW Rural Fire Service has had no major problems with it's Cruiser (both 100 series and troopie) fleet as yet.

The patrol was eliminated originally from the preferred light vehicle list due to the low rear diff having clearance issues with the raised centre corrigation on many fire trails.

I would be interested in what 4wd Monthly would say in relation to such allegations, I was under the impression that both the Cruisers and the Patrols were awesome off road vehicles, closely followed by Pajero, which biggest downfall is fuel consumption and range.

[Walkinshaw]

bring back the FJ40

[csv8]

Originally Posted by Walkinshaw

bring back the FJ40

This is the new FJ40. But its not coming to Australia.
www.toyota.com follow links.

[gravelrash]

the 100series gbox & 78,79 series boxes are the same. i will sell you a BRAND NEW gearbox for $2900 inc GST = freight if you are serious.
The boxes are ok to rebuild so long as you dont need to replace the input or mainshaft or any gears. its then cheaper to come and buy a complete box off me.

[dansedgli]

My mate bought a house recently. They found an FJ40 in the backyard beside the shed holding up the fence. It was over grown with grass and weeds and looked like it had been there for years. They put in some fuel and a battery and it started straight away :O

[Dazza XLT]

Big stations in the NT with 15-20 78 Series Utes, keep at least 4 Gearboxes on Hand on the property as they just keep blowing up!
But everyone on the stations prefer the 100 series to the Patrol Wagon. Always have.

[OLDFORDNUT]

bprintxr8 i mean the ones with coil springs instead of the old style leaf springs.

[turboute]

I have been waiting for this to happen - how long till all vehicles that used to be made to go off road cannot anymore?

The weights of all the Landcruisers / patrols keep going up the ground clearances seem lower (judging by the ones I see on the road). All in a bid to keep the city drivers happy.

[chevypower]

seen plenty of examples and heard plenty of stories where Toyota is not living up to this "Most reliable and toughest" brand image it has going for it, where Navaras do better than Hiluxes in towing, reliability, off-road ability etc, and same as Patrol vs Land Cruiser I just think Nissan should get rid of the old Dinosaur 4.8 petrol motor which uses 25L/100 + around town and up to 50L per 100km off road - lack of range is useless off road anyway

[BA_Turbs]

I love the way the answer to any problem is "go to A Current Affair".

Its a shame about Toyotas. Land Rovers lost the edge in the 60-70s (through being unreliable and **** pot engines, not through not being tough), now maybe Toyota is losing it in the late 90s - 00s. Problem is, who builds a tough 4WD drive now? I know I'm keen as to sell the Turbo and get back into a fourbie.

[EL_futuraistic]

Ever since the introduction of the 100 series, the IFS has been a constant cause of criticism in many 4wd magazines.

All 75 and 78 and prob 79 if it exists are the old style "real" 4wd's no IFS and Correct me if im wrong but the Patrol is the same, no IFS.


The original post stated they are Rentals for Frazer Island. Well i work for a rental company in melb. and rental cars get thrashed by both staff and customers, so I have no doubt your 4wd's get thrashed twice as bad and then some.


Take it to ACA

[RAREV8]

Originally Posted by BA_Turbs

I love the way the answer to any problem is "go to A Current Affair".

Its a shame about Toyotas. Land Rovers lost the edge in the 60-70s (through being unreliable and **** pot engines, not through not being tough), now maybe Toyota is losing it in the late 90s - 00s. Problem is, who builds a tough 4WD drive now? I know I'm keen as to sell the Turbo and get back into a fourbie.

Landrover in all fairness, had hardly been around long enough to lose the edge in the 60's- 12 years to be exact and their engines were no smaller than the Willys Jeep and these are both the most ground-breaking 4wds ever.
I would have a look at what the armed forces use as these are bound to be tough and reliable; US loves its Hummers of course!!
Any one know what the Aussie forces use?
The old Cruisers FJ 40 etc were great- love 'em but transfer cases didnt last as well in semi suburban areas...first hand experience!

[Shonky]

Originally Posted by scottishxc

Landrover in all fairness, had hardly been around long enough to lose the edge in the 60's- 12 years to be exact and their engines were no smaller than the Willys Jeep and these are both the most ground-breaking 4wds ever.
I would have a look at what the armed forces use as these are bound to be tough and reliable; US loves its Hummers of course!!
Any one know what the Aussie forces use?

Australian forces use a variation on the Landrover Defender. It is built under licence by JRA Moorebank Ltd in South Australia, and is powered by an Isuzu BD1 3.5L Turbo Diesel. (Gasp! a Japanese engine in a British car! ...which is built in Australia... :togo: )

The body styles differ greatly from civilian 'Rovers too, with most of the fleet being soft tops with inward facing bench seats ala Troopie. There are a few 5 door Station Wagons getting around too.

Additional to this, there is also another version called the "Perentie" basically a 6WD version of the above. Often in trayback form, but there are a few versions called LRPVs (Long Range Patrol Vehicles) which are used predominantly by the SAS.

Awesome looking trucks... especially the Perentie LRPVs! Bullet proof too! (pun not intended)

Talk later y'all... all this rover talk is making me want to drive my Series II.

None of this IFS / Airbag / Ashtray rubbish. They built 'em real in 1958... :P

[Wokkas]

Originally Posted by nicholas

New Landcruisers weak as **** ,dont bother

The name "Landcruiser" is a bit broad... Which one are you talking about, as the running gear varies in each model.

SWB- ie, Prado

LWB- 100 series, or

'79 Tray top??

Running gear/chassis/suspension in the '79 is virtually the same as 10 years ago I thought.....

[Barry_v]

we have more trouble with the hilux boxes flogging out than landcruisers. We certainly arent doing a lot of them. rental cars are notorious for requiring gearbox rebuilds though.

I'd be interested to see how much trouble you have with other vehicles given the same conditions. You arent specifying how long the gearboxes are lasting either.

[Fairlane]

Any one know what the Aussie forces use?

Good old Landrover Series/Defender.

As for the Landcruiser thing, i think their gearbox woes have been around for a while. My old man killed a manual gearbox in a 60 series after about 150,000klms. Im still a big cruiser man though; never really liked the Patrols.

Furthermore i was under the impression that the base model 100 series still had the live axle front end.

[Iphido]

Nissans are looking better every day. These issues with landcruisers (another other issues, changing wheel hub bolt pattern, IRS etc etc) and the new hilux looking like a gaybar on wheels have annoyed people.

The Nissan patrol is used by the UN and several defence forces (spain?) and the Nissan Navara is more than a match for the Hilux.

I have more faith in nissans engineering too. My R31 cops a hammering, and is approaching 400,000 km and still tags the limiter nearly every day. Toyota charges heaps more for parts too. Nissan hasn't economised their engineering. Nissan diesels are well regarded in truck land too.

[Ghiadude]

Originally Posted by Iphido

My R31 cops a hammering, and is approaching 400,000 km and still tags the limiter nearly every day.

LOL . Taking it easy on her in her old age are we??