Which 10 year old 4x4 light truck?

[staedtler]

G'day.

Which 10 year old 4x4 light truck should I get?

I am from Australia so have access to the Fuso/Canter, Isuzu and Hino.

I've looked around the forums and it seems the Isuzus are the better buy for the current generation, but what about a few generations ago (10 years ago?).
I'm not in the market for one now but am doing my homework for it in a few years time due to the absence of funds.
I am looking at around the $30,000 mark.

How much more reliable are the newer trucks, (the Isuzu NPS300s) compared to the older ones?
I've heard of issues with common rail diesels in utes and passenger cars.... but what about in trucks?
The current year models seem to go for around the $70-80k mark.

 

[SkiFreak]

Firstly, welcome to the forum.
Anything computer controlled adds another layer of complexity, and more potential for failures. Common rail engines all fall into this category.
If you plan on leaving the bounds of this country then low sulfur diesel can also be an issue.
The older models (Isuzu or Fuso/Canter) have pretty bullet proof engines, but I would get one that has a turbo, unless you are happy with very little power/speed.
I cannot speak from experience in this area, as I have a FG84D, but there are many here that can give expert testimony to these "older models".

 

[staedtler]

Firstly, welcome to the forum.
Anything computer controlled adds another layer of complexity, and more potential for failures. Common rail engines all fall into this category.
If you plan on leaving the bounds of this country then low sulfur diesel can also be an issue.
The older models (Isuzu or Fuso/Canter) have pretty bullet proof engines, but I would get one that has a turbo, unless you are happy with very little power/speed.
I cannot speak from experience in this area, as I have a FG84D, but there are many here that can give expert testimony to these "older models".

Thanks for the warm welcome SkiFreak.
Is there a database of some sort which lists the various generations of isuzu/canter trucks?
Wikipedia usually has them for cars but I can't see anything for trucks on there.

I will definitely try and opt for the turbo.

Is there a significant difference between fuel economy between the new common rail diesel engines and the older injection pump diesel setups?

 

[whatcharterboat]

Hi Staedtler

Also wish you welcome.

No 4x4 Hino has ever been available in the "light truck" class so it's only the FUSO FG (Mitsubishi Canter) or the ISUZU NPS to choose from. In the medium truck class there are Hino and ISUZU but 10 years old for. $30k is about right for a FG or NPS. 10 or 11 years ago is about when they both got turbos . Both trucks from that era were very reliable but for a second hand purchase go for something with low ks ..... 300 ks is about when commerciall operators like to get out of them ...... i guess they figure on minimal major repairs under that point..... although I still see the occasional truck operating in a business with close to 500 ks.

Some excellent buys at the moment in clearance stock of 2013 NPSs and they are practically giving away new FGB71 "High Gear" models, in some cases $20k below the new "Dual Range" models.....still probably out of your budget.

Regards John

Hi Owen..... Will reply to PM soon. Still no baby!!!!!!

 

[whatcharterboat]

04 FG 649's give very good fuel economy but for these trucks especially, fuel consumption figures vary greatly with speed and the wind resistance of the body. This model is down on power compared to new models but better on fuel.

 

[staedtler]

Thanks whatcharterboat.
I was hoping you would reply actually, i've read alot of your informative posts on the topic.

Can you say that the Isuzu was still more better built than the Canter 10 years ago? I know that they moved something to 850mm a few years later, but were the walls 6mm instead of 4.5mm from 10 years ago, or was that something that was altered in the intervening years since?

 

[LeishaShannon]

Ours is a 2002 NPS300 and has a 6mm chassis which is one of the main reasons we got it, unfortunately its pre-turbo so its a tad slow up the hills

 

[staedtler]

Ours is a 2002 NPS300 and has a 6mm chassis which is one of the main reasons we got it, unfortunately its pre-turbo so its a tad slow up the hills

Thanks for the info!.

Is the 2002 model common rail diesel, or mechanical injection?
Have there been any issues with the truck at all, no matter how minor?

 

[whatcharterboat]

Thanks whatcharterboat.
I was hoping you would reply actually, i've read alot of your informative posts on the topic.

Can you say that the Isuzu was still more better built than the Canter 10 years ago? I know that they moved something to 850mm a few years later, but were the walls 6mm instead of 4.5mm from 10 years ago, or was that something that was altered in the intervening years since?

Hi Staedtler.....looks like Shannon beat me to it.....regardless of that though, I will say this again...if you are buying a 10 year old truck, be more concerned about the condition , history and mileage rather than little idiosyncrasies. Both the Isuzu and FUSO's of that 2004 era were great trucks to base an expedition vehicle on.

Maybe I could also advise not to overcapitalise with the build. .....if you're budget for the cab chassis is low keep the camper body basic too.

 

[LeishaShannon]

Is the 2002 model common rail diesel, or mechanical injection?
Have there been any issues with the truck at all, no matter how minor?

Mechanical, easy to work on and more accepting of dodgy fuel but.... slow!
No issues although we've only done 2000kms in the 2 years we've owned it (we're still building the camper http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/83962-NPS-Camper-Build )

 

[staedtler]

Hi Staedtler.....looks like Shannon beat me to it.....regardless of that though, I will say this again...if you are buying a 10 year old truck, be more concerned about the condition , history and mileage rather than little idiosyncrasies. Both the Isuzu and FUSO's of that 2004 era were great trucks to base an expedition vehicle on.

Maybe I could also advise not to overcapitalise with the build. .....if you're budget for the cab chassis is low keep the camper body basic too.

Thanks for the advice, will check them both out when it comes to that time.
Good idea on the build too.

Mechanical, easy to work on and more accepting of dodgy fuel but.... slow!
No issues although we've only done 2000kms in the 2 years we've owned it (we're still building the camper http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/83962-NPS-Camper-Build )

Thanks for the link ill check them out.
I would prefer mechanical injection over the common rail diesel stuff (less stuff to go wrong!).
Does anyone know what year the Canter/Isuzu became common rail diesel?
I'm very weary of common rail diesel stuff as I've had mates with them in utes costing them over $10k to replace their engines.

My ideal pick would be a turbo mechanical injection if I could find one in good nick.

 

[LeishaShannon]

http://www.isuzu.com.au/truck-range/historical-spec-sheet-archive.aspx#Sheets

40 years of isuzu spec sheets

 

[PKDreamers]

Hi and welcome.

Fg84 in about 2008 was common rail.

We brought a Fg649 2003 crew cab for a few reasons it had low k's, service record,price ,ease of parts.
We had it derated to 4495kg for a few reasons.
1 save rego.
2 save insurance .
3 no yearly inspection for rego in Qld,
4 be able to park it on any street in Qld with out being booked by the police.
These are a few points worth thinking about when buying a truck.

Our truck uses approx 17 l per 100km, at approx 4200kgs ,last year we went to Cape York towing a trailer with bike gear and food stuff for 7 guys and we returned approx 20l to 22l per 100km at a

 

[staedtler]

http://www.isuzu.com.au/truck-range/historical-spec-sheet-archive.aspx#Sheets

40 years of isuzu spec sheets

Thanks for the link, very helpful.

It seems that with Isuzu the common rail diesel systems came in with the new look (starting from 2005), and that the diesel particulate diffuser filter coming in mid way through 2007.

Hi and welcome.

Fg84 in about 2008 was common rail.

We brought a Fg649 2003 crew cab for a few reasons it had low k's, service record,price ,ease of parts.
We had it derated to 4495kg for a few reasons.
1 save rego.
2 save insurance .
3 no yearly inspection for rego in Qld,
4 be able to park it on any street in Qld with out being booked by the police.
These are a few points worth thinking about when buying a truck.

Our truck uses approx 17 l per 100km, at approx 4200kgs ,last year we went to Cape York towing a trailer with bike gear and food stuff for 7 guys and we returned approx 20l to 22l per 100km at a

Thanks for the info PK!
Ill see if those things apply to NSW when I consider the GVM of my future truck.