Fuso/NPS vs Landcruiser

[Adventure_Yowie]

Hello everyone,

New to this forum. My question is which would be a better option, a fuso/NPS light truck or a VDJ79 dual cab landcruiser ute.

Both have their advantages and downfalls. Just chasing some first hand accounts on what the light trucks with 37" tyres are like offroad?

Does the extra rego and related expenses get outweighed by the advantage of a truck. We have a offroad camper which would be towed by either vehicle but truck would allow us to take horses on tray and tow camper.

Any input is appreciated.

 

[Bentech]

I own both. 2015 vdj79 d/cab and a 2010 fg84 single cab mwb canter 4.9td motorhome with super singles.
The cruiser is tuned and it goes like a rocket. Usual vdj79 mods. Cruiser is great on corrugations /off-road. Love driving it. Effortless power/tq for towing, overtaking, hills, sand etc. Limited tray room on the DCab 1.8x1.8
The Canter is slow by comparison but still does 100 easy enough. The S/Singles are great but at recommended 100psi are bumpy on road. I air down to 80/70 for the corrugations. Sand driving at 70/60 psi the truck continues to surprise me. So many times I think I'm about to get sand bogged and she just crawls out.
The canter truck can carry 3 ton and tow 3.5. Vdj DCab can tow 3.5 but carry bugger all in comparison.
Totally different vehicles really. Both are great tho for their given purpose.
Hope this helps

 

[Adventure_Yowie]

Thanks for your reply mate. How do you find the canter on fuel at 100km/h?

Is your canter registered as a truck or light vehicle with 4499kg gvm? The VDJ can be GVM upgraded to 3900/4200kg but you start losing your tow capacity when you do that, which is why I've started looking at a small truck.

I've driven a lot of larger MR trucks from Hino's through to Scania's which are an amazing truck. What made you go the canter over other brands on the range?

If you had to choose between having either the VDJ or canter as your vehicle to do it all (daily, expedition vehicle etc) which one would you pick?

Thanks

 

[Cuddy]

Hello everyone,

New to this forum. My question is which would be a better option, a fuso/NPS light truck or a VDJ79 dual cab landcruiser ute.

Both have their advantages and downfalls. Just chasing some first hand accounts on what the light trucks with 37" tyres are like offroad?

Does the extra rego and related expenses get outweighed by the advantage of a truck. We have a offroad camper which would be towed by either vehicle but truck would allow us to take horses on tray and tow camper.

Any input is appreciated.

I have a Nps crew cab and am currently travelling around Australia towing a caravan. I also was looking at the land cruiser before I bought the truck. The truck uses around 25l/100kms. Sometimes more depending on the terrain. Truck is full gvm6.5t and van is 2.750t. I have 37 x 13.5 x 17 Supersingles fitted.
I went with the truck because of carrying capacity/tray size, room for the kids in the back and also the price. By the time I finished all of the add ons and mods to the truck I am still better off in the back pocket than if I bought the cruiser. You will definitely need to do suspension upgrades to a truck, otherwise your back teeth will be rattled out! It is still a truck though and no comparison to driving a land cruiser- probably has the same turning circle though?.

 

[Adventure_Yowie]

I have a Nps crew cab and am currently travelling around Australia towing a caravan. I also was looking at the land cruiser before I bought the truck. The truck uses around 25l/100kms. Sometimes more depending on the terrain. Truck is full gvm6.5t and van is 2.750t. I have 37 x 13.5 x 17 Supersingles fitted.
I went with the truck because of carrying capacity/tray size, room for the kids in the back and also the price. By the time I finished all of the add ons and mods to the truck I am still better off in the back pocket than if I bought the cruiser. You will definitely need to do suspension upgrades to a truck, otherwise your back teeth will be rattled out! It is still a truck though and no comparison to driving a land cruiser- probably has the same turning circle though?.

Hey Cuddy, yep agree with you there on the turning circle haha

Wow uses a bit more fuel then I thought it would for the engine size, what rpm does it sit on at 100km/h?
Have you taken it down any serious offroad tracks?
That's the main advantage I see it for, a higher load carry capacity. A friend had one that has a slide off cattle crate that he moves his horses in. That's a big tick in the box for me as I dont have to pay float rego and maintenance and can tow the camper and take the horse places.
Do you find the length of the vehicle a pain getting it around town?

 

[Cuddy]

Hey Cuddy, yep agree with you there on the turning circle haha

Wow uses a bit more fuel then I thought it would for the engine size, what rpm does it sit on at 100km/h?
Have you taken it down any serious offroad tracks?
That's the main advantage I see it for, a higher load carry capacity. A friend had one that has a slide off cattle crate that he moves his horses in. That's a big tick in the box for me as I dont have to pay float rego and maintenance and can tow the camper and take the horse places.
Do you find the length of the vehicle a pain getting it around town?

Yes they are a bit thirsty. It was worse before I fitted a chip. Ran into another family with a similar setup and he was using similar if not a bit more fuel than me. I am sceptical about people claiming they get any better fuel efficiency if they are towing and loaded right up. I drove to syd from Perth empty and was till using around 20-22l/100.
We are currently in Alice Springs. Have just been through Tibooburra, Cameron Corner, innamincka, down Strzelecki Track and across the Oodnadatta track. No problems. Not serious 4x4 tracks really. We are heading into the Simpson Desert in the next few days. Also heading up the cape in a month or so. So will be able to offer better feedback then. Plenty of members on here who have done all of the mentioned tracks, they are quiet capable 4x4 vehicles.
I can pretty much fit the truck in most parking spaces in towns, bit of squeezing to get out sometimes, not a big problem
The tray height is quite high with wheels and suspension, might be interesting getting the horses up? Would probably feel top heavy if you have big horses too.

Hope this helps

 

[Adventure_Yowie]

Yes they are a bit thirsty. It was worse before I fitted a chip. Ran into another family with a similar setup and he was using similar if not a bit more fuel than me. I am sceptical about people claiming they get any better fuel efficiency if they are towing and loaded right up. I drove to syd from Perth empty and was till using around 20-22l/100.
We are currently in Alice Springs. Have just been through Tibooburra, Cameron Corner, innamincka, down Strzelecki Track and across the Oodnadatta track. No problems. Not serious 4x4 tracks really. We are heading into the Simpson Desert in the next few days. Also heading up the cape in a month or so. So will be able to offer better feedback then. Plenty of members on here who have done all of the mentioned tracks, they are quiet capable 4x4 vehicles.
I can pretty much fit the truck in most parking spaces in towns, bit of squeezing to get out sometimes, not a big problem
The tray height is quite high with wheels and suspension, might be interesting getting the horses up? Would probably feel top heavy if you have big horses too.

Hope this helpsView attachment 448482

Yeah couldn't imagine people getting better fuel economy towing....maybe a better ride but fuel wise it should be basically the same empty or loaded. How big is the fuel tank on yours?

Will keep an eye out for your posts about the Cape trip. We completed it in august last year with our hilux and camper trailer....wasn't anything we couldn't do in it. When you come to gunshot, walk down into the creek and to the left side and there are some easier tracks that might be more useable for your truck.

That's a tidy rig mate!! Definitely like it ?

The horses loaded by a ramp which come out from it. Was steep but they got up no dramas.

 

[JohnRogers]

If you had the cruiser loaded same as above you'd get little change out of 25L/100 either. the difference in set up price would easily pay for the difference in fuel.

 

[Adventure_Yowie]

If you had the cruiser loaded same as above you'd get little change out of 25L/100 either. the difference in set up price would easily pay for the difference in fuel.

My old man has a single cab cruiser all decked out with aluminium canopy, roof topper etc and towing his boat (only a 4.6m plate) and is returning 13L/100km in a V8 cruiser.

 

[Amesz00]

Cruiser and a plate Ali boat probably weigh the same or less than a truck on its own, and still have better aero.. just sayin ?

My canter uses around 17L/100. I don't tow with it but it doesn't seem to change much. Except soft beach work lol

 

[BradK]

The 79 series cruiser has a GVM of 3300kg and a tare (empty - no tray) of 2200kg, hitch on a big van or trailer with a ball weight of say 300kg then you have 800 kg left for your tray, fuel, all your accessories and occupants. Good luck with that!

You can do a 600kg GVM increase (I was also planning a 600mm chassis stretch as well) but then you are operating it right at the edge of what is was designed for. While a truck like an Isuzu, Canter or Hino should do this easy.

If you want to check out the Canter’s capability have a look at YouTube. Search “Canter Gunshot” or “Canter Tele Track” will get you started.

The Isuzu and the Canter also have a smaller turning circle than the ‘cruiser I think the ‘cruiser stayed on my short list for so long because of that V8 sound.

 

[dan85]

seems to be the newer trucks are using more fuel. My 2002 NPS300 uses 14L-16L/100km when im at around 4700-4900kg with an aerodynamic as ******** cage on the back. Ive come from a 2008 patrol wagon and ive got to say id take the nps any day of the week. its a bit bigger and a bit slower but i can take a heap of stuff go through deeper water and look way cooler doing it.

 

[PKDreamers]

Landcruiser vs truck well depends on what you want it for, trucks are trucks but so far what i have seen they can go just about anywhere you point them.
I love the sound of a VDJ 79 with a exhaust on it,.

Our FG649 2003 duel cab 19.5 srw does 17l -20l /100km . We are at about 4300kg. One one of those you tube vidoes of Gunshot is our truck towing a trailer with gear and parts for 7 motorbikes.

 

[Adventure_Yowie]

That's one thing I like about the canter over the isuzu is they have a more aerodynamic shape rather then being a brick.

Yeah understand what your saying with the cruiser, just pointing out that they aren't as bad on fuel if looked after (egr/Intake cleaned out and catch can).

Will scan YouTube for those references mentioned above.

Does the truck have to be registered as a truck over 4500kg gvm if for non commercial use? Got quote for around $2,000/year which seems a bit steep.

 

[Amesz00]

It may vary state to state, but in wa if it's over 4.5 the only way it's not a truck is if it's a motor home. I assume the 2k/yr is for insurance? Depending on how it's setup you can insure it as a camper while it's rego'd as a truck still. Camper insurance will be roughly half.

I don't know if it fits your requirements but I have heard the daily is good on fuel, apparently sub 15 is achievable, and obviously the best offroad option. Not sure about towing with the 3L, but they do have by far the best gearing setup.