After 5 months on the road again this year, we have decided that an update of the van is needed.
We are looking at about 20', with ensuite.
We therefore need to upgrade our Territory to something stronger.
We have been investigating 'The Discovery' or "The Landcruiser'. Second hand. Cruiser probably 100 series.
Do any of our fellow travellers have any comparisons?

definately go for the cruiser. I have nothing against landrovers, but when the going get tough, cruisers are the go. They are also easier to fix.Ask any farmer

-- Edited by bill12 on Wednesday 24th of November 2010 08:23:44 PM

If you are planning to travel inland go for diesel toyota as every 2nd vehicle you come across will be the same therefore parts and a mechanic who knows them are  easier to find.

Yeh,ditto the above.Once again I have no probs with the Landy as a vehicle,but a mate of mine did have some mechanical problems on a big trip and found getting parts in the outback very difficult.
I run and Landcruiser deisel and wherever I am there is someone who knows the vehicle and parts are seldom a problem...not that I've had any major concerns to date(touch wood and all that)
Tojo's the Go!!
Cheers
David

Go the tojoe Landys are good highway vehicle but still designed to be a little soft for serious off road sightseeing .

Wombat 280 wrote:

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Go the tojoe Landys are good highway vehicle but still designed to be a little soft for serious off road sightseeing .

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you are joking aint you. There is only realy one off road 4x4 made now and thats a defender (by the way, havnt got one and dont want one)
cheers
blaze

 

This year we went to Darwin from NSW, did the Gibb River Road, went to Mitchell Falls, over to Broome and down through Birdsville. The echo in all those regions is Toyota.

For all the reasons stated above, mostly they are a lot easier to get parts for mate.

Let's face it guys, the Landrover originated in England.  Made for English conditions.

Unless I'm way out here, Tojo was designed for this country, specifically.

As every-one else has already said, parts are no problem, where-ever you are, and diesel motors run for-ever. 

Diesel fuel used to be all you could get in out of the way places.  Things may have changed there by now.  I'm not sure.

Anyway, my vehicle is a Diesel Tojo Campervan, not 4x4 unfortunately, but still a very reliable unit, and I don't have to worry about parts, or fuel, or breaking down unexpectedly.

Cheers,
Sheba.

If you listen to the stories of people stuck in remote areas these days I believe there is no bias toward any vehicle. Parts that are going to stop any late model vehicle most often are not available outside city centres and need to be frieghted in for any make of car. Dont get to hung up on vehicle manufacure but find one that has a good service history and has been well maintained. For me for a remote travel vehicle it needs to have the KISS priniple, least amont of electronics to let me down. So for me that means no late model vehicles. cheers blaze

Hi Well you can see what We drive, My thinking would be Have a drive and think could you sit in it for hours at a time ..Dose it drive like a truck , what about the road noise. dose it take a foot ball field to turn around.. Is it old tecty. can i fix it at a push, dose it have ALL the safty bits .Dose the lady like a little comfy. dose it have, Cont.4wheel drive ,abs, tc. anti sway. 2 air bags, cd stacker. air that works. NO road noise or gear noise..Whats the over hang from wheel to tow ball. I have had both , and 120 thou. with out any drammers.. And it rides like a limo. because it has air spings and self level. I for got the best bit FUEL econ. that you can live with....Smile , They are all good if you look after them...good luck with it.....

I have a mate who tows a twin axle van with a petrol Land Cruiser.  I asked why he chose petrol over diesel (I prefer diesel) and he said that he would have chosen diesel too, except that he was buying second hand, and petrol models were thousands of dollars cheaper (his comments, not mine) and, to quote him...."I can buy an awful lot of petrol with the money saved".

Price a few similar spare parts for both vehicles- that should give you an easy decision

Di

There is nothing wrong with the Discovery they're a reliable vehicle, but I wouldn't consider one for the fact that Land Rover prohibit the use of a WDH with their vehicles whilst Toyota recommed the use of a WDH.
To me the question on which vehicle is a 'No brainer", the Toyota wins hands down.
ozjohn.

Thanks for all your imput. Will keep looking and hopefully will eventually find a vehicle to take us further afield for more happy exploring. Jimricho you make a very pertinent comment. Thanks All

pricey43 wrote:

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Thanks for all your imput. Will keep looking and hopefully will eventually find a vehicle to take us further afield for more happy exploring.
Jimricho you make a very pertinent comment.

Thanks All

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Yes, it's an interesting aspect of the petrol versus diesel debate.  Like me, his preference was for diesel but the economics just didn't stack up.  Spending thousands to have hundreds doesn't make a lot of sense.   That said the advantages of diesel go beyond fuel economy when it comes to towing.

This whole exercise implies that if buying new, the diesel must be holding its resale value much better then the petrol.  In that instance the diesel makes a lot of sense.

Another friend who owns a Disco (circa 2002/3 I think) recently upgraded to a twin axle van from a camper trailer and found that towing without a WDH "scary".  He replaced the rear suspension with coil springs, fitted a WDH and the rig now tows very well.

 

We did a lot of research Pricey when we were looking for a vehicle to tow our van, and we continually got told either the Toyota Landcruiser or the Nissan Patrol, which we were led to believe was the 'work horse' of the two, so hence we purchased (pre-loved) a GU Nissan Patrol Turbo Diesel 3Lt - couldn't be happier!

Cruiser

4.2 turbo diesel 100 series cruiser love mine. Every town has somebody who can fix em hundreds of farmers can't be wrong. Plenty of parts you will get sea sick in a Disco if it keeps going

T/D Land cruiser without a doubt if the money allows. I bought one 3 years ago after having a petrol 100 series and could not believe the difference in towing performance. Economy wise I now get around17/18Lpr100km towing 2.5 tonne. Petrol was generally 23+, as high as 30. recently running around on a few trips(not towing) I have average 10lp100km. Unfortunately being like Tim the toolman (more power) I hope in the next 6 months to be owning a 200 series. As for holding value. From my research at this point it seems that mine has devalued very little from my original purchase price. whilst the petrol equivalent is valued at substantially less now. Paul

Thanks guys. We had thought either cruiser or patrol but then looking at the tow limit on the discovery thought this might be the go. The petrol are certainly easier to find than the diesel. Have got a few months home now so will get more serious with our searching. :)