All,
am a long time lurker finally getting into 4x4 overlanding with a Truck + FWC/ATC popup camper. My background has been with motorcycles so far and i have central america and south america under my belt on a suzuki vStrom and DR650 respectively. I now want to take my wife on these long expeditions and have been considering a nissan frontier or a toyota tacoma. Here are some specific questions:
1. I would like a pickup truck that is sold around the world. The tacoma is US-only and I believe does not share any critical parts with the HiLux which is the most common truck i have found in S.America. The Frontier is sold and serviced extensively all over S.America and the world, and that gives me a huge degree of comfort. Our first cross-continent trip would be Australia or Europe though (where the frontier is also well known, however in diesel form. Am i right in choosing a truck very specifically based on parts availability? Also, i realize that frontiers the world over are sold with diesel engines, and getting the Frontier in the petrol engine probably puts me back in the same risk level as getting a petrol Tacoma?
2. While every truck has some failing or the other, it appears that the Frontier has the dreaded coolant leaking into transmission problem and the tacomas have the frame rust problem (atleast up to the 07 model years).... what is the easier problem to avoid? From a value perspective, the Tacoma seems to enjoy a much bigger following (and overlanding aftermarket) inspite of being more expensive, having a lighter frame and fewer options than a comparable Frontier. What are your perspectives on this?
3. The rig that i am considering would be a v6, crew cab, auto trans, 4x4, long bed. For the Frontier, this configuration actually results in a LOWER payload capacity to the tune of 1200 lbs. I will most likely have the camper mounted on the truck on a permanent basis and using it exclusively for trips. Prepared to invest in custom suspension for this. However, what mods will RAISE the payload rating? Tires?
Many more questions, but will wait on your opinions on the above first..
Thanks in advance,
Shridhar
am a long time lurker finally getting into 4x4 overlanding with a Truck + FWC/ATC popup camper. My background has been with motorcycles so far and i have central america and south america under my belt on a suzuki vStrom and DR650 respectively. I now want to take my wife on these long expeditions and have been considering a nissan frontier or a toyota tacoma. Here are some specific questions:
1. I would like a pickup truck that is sold around the world. The tacoma is US-only and I believe does not share any critical parts with the HiLux which is the most common truck i have found in S.America. The Frontier is sold and serviced extensively all over S.America and the world, and that gives me a huge degree of comfort. Our first cross-continent trip would be Australia or Europe though (where the frontier is also well known, however in diesel form. Am i right in choosing a truck very specifically based on parts availability? Also, i realize that frontiers the world over are sold with diesel engines, and getting the Frontier in the petrol engine probably puts me back in the same risk level as getting a petrol Tacoma?
2. While every truck has some failing or the other, it appears that the Frontier has the dreaded coolant leaking into transmission problem and the tacomas have the frame rust problem (atleast up to the 07 model years).... what is the easier problem to avoid? From a value perspective, the Tacoma seems to enjoy a much bigger following (and overlanding aftermarket) inspite of being more expensive, having a lighter frame and fewer options than a comparable Frontier. What are your perspectives on this?
3. The rig that i am considering would be a v6, crew cab, auto trans, 4x4, long bed. For the Frontier, this configuration actually results in a LOWER payload capacity to the tune of 1200 lbs. I will most likely have the camper mounted on the truck on a permanent basis and using it exclusively for trips. Prepared to invest in custom suspension for this. However, what mods will RAISE the payload rating? Tires?
Many more questions, but will wait on your opinions on the above first..
Thanks in advance,
Shridhar