79 Series or SR5

DWWood

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Jun 26, 2016
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Won't hold that against ya @WHHEMI !

@Matty4 not really a car person so don't care what I drive as long as it tows the van! In saying that, the service history has improved since he changed from Nissan to Toyota so I'd probably buy a Toyota if I was playing with my own money.
 

Hubble80

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Nov 22, 2012
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Personally I'd go the Hilux, depending on what you are towing of course. Yes they both tow 3.5T and the 79 will seem to do it "easier", but for touring and day to day living comfort I think the Hilux will be the better option.

The 79 doesn't come with a lot of "fruit" like cruise control and all the trinkets that the Hilux will. My neighbour just bought a new SR5 and it is a great truck. He has now troubles towing his 5.5M boat with it.
 
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mark&courtney

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Sep 2, 2015
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Picking up a new 79 series dual can next week we own a 20.64 Expanda and have been assured it will tow it but apparently they can be remapped and it improves towing again if there are issues. Can let you know how it tows our van after next week we'll be taking the van to the coast to test it all out.
 

PhilW

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Jul 12, 2015
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Build quality?
Hilux.....Thailand.
Land cruiser.....Japan.
Mate at work has just got a 79 series dual cab with an Old Man Emu 3780kg GVM upgrade. That is a fair dinkum ute.
He tows an AOR Ecplise and does it with ease......the V8 just ticks along.
4cyl vs V8?
The 79 series has a stronger backbone (chassis size)than the Hilux.
The Cruiser is certainly more agricultural than the Hilux. I guess that is a result of designing and building a ute that is certainly "fit for purpose" and not so much for style and comfort :yield::yo::)
Nothing against the Hilux....I own and use one as a work vehicle.
 
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bigcol

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Nov 22, 2012
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Swan Valley Perth
Build quality?
Hilux.....Thailand.
Land cruiser.....Japan.
Mate at work has just got a 79 series dual cab with an Old Man Emu 3780kg GVM upgrade. That is a fair dinkum ute.
He tows an AOR Ecplise and does it with ease......the V8 just ticks along.
4cyl vs V8?
The 79 series has a stronger backbone (chassis size)than the Hilux.


very very valid points mate

I was looking at one at my mates Fabrication place - wanted a rear Chop & Tray, sliders & scrub bars and some suspension goodie
what a freaking weapon this thing was
as sexy as a GQ Nissan but with a V8
 
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DWWood

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Me auto elec wired up a heap of goodies on a 79 that had an auto conversion done to it, around $25K fitted. Crazy stuff.

At this stage I'm leaning (boss is as well) towards the HiLux. Quite like the look of em.

@mark&courtney mates with 79's have had chip & exhaust upgrades and they haul arse when towing, they sound shidot to.
 
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DWWood

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For those interested and for those thinking of buying a HiLux I say go for it. Car is only 4000k's old but after picking up the van last weekend to bring it home (after we had some landscaping and retaining walls built to accommodate the van) it towed beautifully, without the need of a WDH to! Very nice inside with sat nav, Pandora radio, DAB radio etc and so far I feel the seats are fine @bigcol done a couple of big days in them without issue. Had fitted 9" LED's, UHF, dash cam, electric brakes and power outlets for fridges in the rear. How quiet are modern diesels.

20170226_160036_resized_1.jpg
 

PhilW

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Jul 12, 2015
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Nothing against these modern Diesel engines.....but, why would you produce a new model with an engine that develops more power but has a smaller cubic capacity?
All that says to me is that you are trying to squeeze more power out of an already highly strung motor.
All I can put it down to is current emissions criteria or fuel consumption figures.
I am but a humble "Chippie" with limited mechanical knowledge. Maybe someone can explain this phenomenon?:juggle:
 

DWWood

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Jun 26, 2016
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I don't pay for mine, nor do I pay for diesel but I can tell you that after hearing the issues friends and colleagues have had with their Ranga's and BT50's (blown turbo's and gearboxes) I wouldn't touch one. Personal preferences I guess as all models have issues but over the last 15 years of having Toyota's (company vehicles that cop a beating on site) the only issue I've had with these 'highly strung motors' is an indicator connection behind a bull bar shorting out.

Courses for horses.
 
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PhilW

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Jul 12, 2015
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Sydney. Northern Beaches.
I don't pay for mine, nor do I pay for diesel but I can tell you that after hearing the issues friends and colleagues have had with their Ranga's and BT50's (blown turbo's and gearboxes) I wouldn't touch one. Personal preferences I guess as all models have issues but over the last 15 years of having Toyota's (company vehicles that cop a beating on site) the only issue I've had with these 'highly strung motors' is an indicator connection behind a bull bar shorting out.

Courses for horses.
Yep, fair enough, sorry if I offended.Not having a shot at Toyota ( got two myself)...just passing comment on the trend of reducing the size of what I believe are already reasonably stressed motors.
I think your rig looks great. :yo::yield:.
 

DWWood

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Jun 26, 2016
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Nah no offense taken, don't be rude I couldn't probably afford one either and am lucky to have a boss that allows me to use the car in such a way, especially with a 4 week trip to WA coming up. I'm a motorbike man so car brands don't come into the equation except for Bathurst then I'm a Ford man.

Back to the stressed engines, I reckon they're only stressed depending on how you drive them, even when towing 2.5t. Mates a service foreman at a Mazda dealer and he's had a customer on their third engine in a Mazda 6 but he says the car is thrashed, engine management systems and computers give him the full picture of how the vehicle is driven so no hiding any more.