I'm thinking about getting a cheap 4x4 off road (read rough farm tracks so lot of clearance needed)
I need to transport wood and other materials plus I want to use it for a basic uplift vehicle.
What sort of thing should I be looking for and where would the best place be to pick some up at a good price?
Don't have to be in mint condition as long as it runs and maybe pass an MOT - also fuel consumption isn't a great concern
My first thought is an old Hi Lux......
I just done gone bought myself a truck last weekend. I am goin to buy a trailer and live with ma sister now.
Seriously, I just bought a 95K mile Isuzu TF Doublecab last week for 3K. I was looking for something cheaper and it is for bike and boat lugging duties but there was not much about and this was in great condition. I got it from a P/X clearance centre in the New Forest. They didn't have any others though.
I negotiated down from £3,999 to £3,000 so remember to haggle.
If you search the forum for Isuzu you should find the thread.
2.5 TD with 2WD, 4WD and low ratio if that helps. Also electric windows.
Main thing for me was the double cab as it allows be to take 4/5 people with me as well as the kit out the back.
£3k is a little more than I was thinking.
I say avoid Mitsubishi L200 2.5 td bag of shite ime.
I'd have thought older style Nissan crewcab pick up (pre Navara) would come into that price range.
Probably needs to be a crewcab if it is going to be offered as a basic uplift to give peeps somewhere to sit on the way back up, if they can't be arsed walking back up.
I was thinking 2/3 man up front the rest can jump in the back... 
More important is the ability to move materials.
Crew cabs have limited rear space generally. Look at Nissan D21's or thereabouts, they tended to have 3 seats up front in their single cabs and are fairly tough but new fancy models seem a bit low, Hilux equally good but never seen a 3 seater. Never been a fan of the Isuzu, also quite limited clearance for off-road depending how deep your ruts are. If you can find one, consider a Daihatsu Fourtrak pick-up, small, big engine, can tow more than they can brake. Land Rover is obviously king, but at a premium. Failing that, have found twin wheel transits quite capable off-road if you're not too cautious.
Look for farm auctions in local paper or auctioneers/estate agents.
Just sold a 1999 110 TD5 Hi-Capacity for a bargainous £4k
Think I may need to change my expectations as I'm thinking of spending less than a grand.
You won't manage to fit bikes in the back of a crewcab without taking off the front wheel or leaving the tailgate open. Tight fit for more than 3 or 4 bikes across the width as well: some creative thought needed to intertwine pedals, bars and saddles.
I have a '94 Hilux crewcab with a 150cm long loadbed. Bench seats front and rear, so space for 6 if the front-middle doesn't mind having their thigh stroked every time you change gear. Strong and reliable too: 480,000km so far.
You could increase the seating capacity, but then you'd need some kind of bike rack:
Or if you need to get up the hill quickly (you did say fuel economy was not too important):
I suspect you'll only get a pretty shagged out vehicle for a grand. Vans, pickups and diesel estate cars hardly ever get below a grand, because they're too useful.
I'm not after something plush or good for long journeys - gonna be used to building and will be doing runs of about 10mins in one go mainly.
As long as it runs and copes with off road I'm happy - if the body work is shagged and / or the stero and heating don't work I don't care.
You will find something, but you will just have to go on condition, at that price, make model etc is almost irrelevant you just got to get the best pickup you can find...
Fair enough. I'd be inclined to get a 2WD vehicle and good knobblies.
Daihatsu Fourtrack.
Can you pick up one of the older Ford rangers? They are good workhorses.
some mates of mine up in the quantocks ran an old frontera for a while. Not sure if its still going.
took the back doors off and welded a bar to hang bikes over. could fit 5 people and 5 bikes in. worked a treat for uplifting triscombe/combe syd/avill ball etc.
If you do consider the Hi-Lux. PLEASE don't fall for the Top Gear bombproof myth. As with any car there are alot of dogs out there within a brand. I bet alot of shot-Hi-lux's were sold for over the price to people thinking they were buying a gem...
For a grand a Land Rover discovery 200tdi might be worth a look - not strictly a pickup, but with the rear seats folded down you have a fair amount of space.
If you do look at one - check out the boot floor ( under the carpet ) it's a place where many of them rust.
A friend of mine breaks Disco's, they seem plentiful - classifieds?
For a grand a Land Rover discovery 200tdi might be worth a look - not strictly a pickup, but with the rear seats folded down you have a fair amount of space.
If you do look at one - check out the boot floor ( under the carpet ) it's a place where many of them rust.
Old school Landcruiser or Hi Lux. You cand fix any problems with some spit and polish!
Transit tipper plus knobblies.
Pretty obvious. landrover. Either a good 109 series 3 or a 110. Both 3 front seats sort of and nice long rear bed. idiot proof and the most likely to survive off road work.
mattsccm - obvious, but probably out of budget - you won't get much of a Defender/Series for 1000 quid.
You won't get much of any 4x4 or pick-up for less than a grand at least parts and insurance for a series landrover are cheap. They aren't much more complicated than a bike to repair either.
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