[stone]

Hello Tribby! What year is that early model hilux you periodically explore in? Does it have the manual or auto tranny? What do you regard as a reasonable mud tyre for the toyo hilux?

I have given tread patterns, for mud tyres from various manufacturers a perusal. Basically my offroading style will not be anything hardcore as in dedicated. Some people are fanatical about it but not me. The backroads i explore tend to be more average. Because it will be expensive, the hilux priority is work commitments . During my spare time i enjoy the random long distance cruise on sealed highways. I am not into rock climbing or desert safaris. As an offroad hobby exploring mud tracks is my idea of fun.

So henceforth mudding happens to be my cup of tea. Currently interested in the " Cooper discoverer suretrac tread pattern ." Do not want a full on mud tyre as i am not into it excessively. Basically i need a tyre that is more capable than " All Terrains" and will not struggle too much on sloppy tracks. By the same token it has to be competent on sealed roads.

There is no way i am going to invest in two sets of tyres. For example some people have road tyres for general driving. When they go adventuring a set of full on mud tyres are fitted. Can not afford two different sets of tyres for this scenario. Have noticed that ' Cooper' have a tyre that is in between all terrain and mud terrain.

Not sure if other manufacturers cater for this situation.

 

[Tribby]

Hey Stone how are you?

I've got a 1994 Toyota Hilux with a 2.8L Diesel engine. I have never had an issue with this car in the 1 and a half years i've owned it (knock on wood) It has 300,000kms on the clock and should last another 200,000 before rebuild. It has a 5 speed manual which is still nice and smooth after 300k.

As for tyres i'm not too sure. I have Yokohama Geolander A/T's on it at the moment. They are good on the road, on sand and on dirt tracks. In mud however they aren't too good. I would recomend chatting to a few different tyre places to get an idea of what is the best tyre to suit your situation... aka road & mud.

I've driven the new Hilux's with the 4.0L V6 and the D4-D Turbo Diesel (through work) & they are both great to drive. They arent as nice to drive as the Escape/Tribute though, but they sure are quicker

Have you considered buying a used Hilux? The older style 97-04 Hilux's are great. An SR5 with a 3.0L T/D engine should cost around $22,000ish. They are economical, really easy to get parts, the parts are cheap, many offroad accessories are available for it and they are as tough as the previous model (mine :lol

Have you also looked at the new Prados? They have the same chassis and engine configuations as the Hilux's but have a nicer cabin.

So I take it you have persuaded the wife into letting you get a Hilux? :lol:

Here's a few shots of mine...

 

[stone]

Thanks for your informative reply Tribby. Very kind of you. I can appreciate why you are smiling. My countenance would have a happy expression also, because of the hilux being unbreakable. I have considered the second hand alternative. The prado would be nice but i am partial to the ute. Have never owned a toyota but have followed their engineering philosophy with interest.

Currently not too keen on ford or holden utes. The holden rodeo is not my scene. I checked out the ford ranger and the mazda equivalent of it. Style of them does not appeal to me. The nissan navarra dual cab ute? Definitely not. Hope this is not offending, but i just don't like the navarra design. Yes! I can see it is a ute with the tray bed on rear. Basically i reckon it looks like a toy. :lol: There is a car yard in town. They have a second hand nissan navarra, and the Hilux ute parked next to each other.

The navarra looks like a dinky toy. It is obviously a ute but doesn't quite cut the mustard. The hilux next to it had that new shape grill and a forged bull bar on front. Bloody heck! it is quite a beast. Every time i check out the hilux, it seems to exude a sense of presence. I look at the navarra alongside and laugh. Whats that bloody thing?

Ever since the hilux series were first introduced to australia, they became a nation wide legend. I notice the hilux still has a certain cult status. In adelaide the nissan navara and holden rodeo is driven by every tom, dick and harry. I see quite a few hiluxes being driven but they are not an overly common sighting. Anyway i have no desire to be like all the other conforming sheep out there . This is why i need to be different.