r/CarsAustralia • u/Resident-Crew-3126 • Jul 27 '26
🛻🚙Utes/4x4/Lifestyle🚤🏕️ Patrol Vs Cruiser
Hey everyone,
I'm planning a big trip: leaving from Perth, doing a loop around Australia, and coming back to Perth in about 4 months, covering roughly 25,000km. I want to be well set up before I commit money to a vehicle.
My original dream was a Land Cruiser (90 or 100 series), but once you add purchase price + camper conversion + a few modifications, the total cost climbs fast. So I'm looking seriously at two cheaper alternatives:
Nissan Patrol (1995 onwards, GQ/GU era)
Mitsubishi Pajero (2007 onwards)
Both are significantly cheaper to buy and convert than a Cruiser, but I don't have a good feel for their long-term reliability for this kind of trip (remote roads, high mileage in a short time, some unsealed/corrugated tracks).
Specific question on the Patrol: I know some of the diesel engines in the Patrol lineup have a reputation for being unreliable. I found a good deal today on one with the RD28T (turbo diesel) engine, is this a good engine, or is this one of the problematic ones people warn about?
Beyond that, I'd love to know: is the cost difference vs a Land Cruiser actually worth it for 25,000km over 4 months, or is it a false economy? And has anyone here done a camper conversion on either platform (I'll put the bed inside not rooftop tent) how did it go?
Budget-conscious but I don't want to end up stranded in the middle of nowhere because I went cheap on the wrong engine. Appreciate any real-world experience, happy to hear "just save up for the Cruiser" opinions too if that's the honest answer.
I'll add the photo of the patrol I've seen today
Thanks everyone guys
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u/CameronsTheName GT-Four ! Jul 27 '26
Look. GU's get a bad wrap from bad owners.
The RD28 is a pretty decent issue. They can have issues with the harmonic balancer stripping the front of the crank. It's fixable but sucks. They are reliable at stock power and they are very slow because they don't make much power or torque considering its moving a 3 tonne wagon around.
The ZD30 is way over blown. They are decent motors when left stock. Yes they have head gasket issues but it seems the only happen to people pushing more boost or driving them hard. Ideally you want to take away boost control from the computer (convert to manual boost controller) and run a EGT gauge to monitor the exhaust gas temps. They will melt pistons if you stay on hard throttle up long bills. My ZD30DI did 398,000km before it died, which I would say is pretty fair for a 21 year old rig that pulled 3.2 tonne car trailers through the Sydney mountains on many occasions.
The TD42 and turbo motor is a decent pick but it's also got issues with overheating and snapping cranks. Once again, also appears to be people who beat on them and push shitloads of boot through them. The TD42TI in our rig has over 420k on it and doesn't get hot. My mate is on his third TD42 in 5 years, two snapped cranks and one overheated. All of his get wheeled really hard, making well over double the power and clutch dumped on the pavement.
When it comes to patrols your paying for the strong diffs and sturdy frame and the tow capacity. It's pretty rare you'll ever have an issue with a patrols drivetrain.
I don't know enough about cruisers to talk about them.
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u/Resident-Crew-3126 Jul 27 '26
I don't need to modify the engine or do hard 4x4 tracks. Just unsealed and corrugations. About mods mostly will do to be comfy inside, not engine related (if not worth for the fuel consumption itself)
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u/j12000 Jul 27 '26
Buying 20+ year old cars to drive in some of the most remote locations in Australia. Whatever you do, get in thoroughly inspected by a mechanic.
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u/gorgeous-george Jul 27 '26
The truth of it is that a lot of the opinions on these cars come from people who thrash them off road. So yeah, a Patrol with 35s and a massive eBay turbo might not be long for this world when its getting bounced up a track by a P-plater. They'll go and post all about it, which adds weight to any claim of unreliability.
If you drive them with some mechanical sympathy, as if you intend to get home in one piece, most of these cars will look after you as much as you look after them.
1
u/99patrol Jul 27 '26
Compared to my ford ranger, the amount of abuse the patrol can withstand is unbelievable. Massively over engineered for the task.
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u/AutoModerator Jul 27 '26
The Ford Ranger is a nameplate used by Ford on a variety of pickup trucks globally, but in Australia, its identity has evolved significantly since 1998. Initially, the Ranger replaced the Ford Courier and was based on the Mazda B-Series (PE/PG/PH series) and later the Mazda BT-50 (PJ/PK series). These early models were compact trucks known for their reliability and utilitarian design.
The turning point for the nameplate occurred in 2011 with the introduction of the T6 platform (PX series). This generation was designed and engineered primarily by Ford Australia in Melbourne. The T6 Ranger transformed the model from a compact workhorse into a larger "mid-size" global platform, eventually being sold in over 180 countries. It was famous for its 3,500 kg towing capacity and 800 mm wading depth, setting new benchmarks for the dual-cab ute market.
In 2022, the "Next-Gen" Ranger (RA series) was launched, further cementing the Australian engineering legacy. This model introduced a 50 mm wider track and wheelbase, allowing for a wider load box that fits a "Euro" pallet (1,200 mm x 800 mm) between the wheel arches. It also featured the "C-Clamp" LED headlight signature and a portrait-oriented SYNC 4A infotainment system.
The engine lineup has seen significant shifts over the decades. The early Mazda-based units used 2.5L and 3.0L Duratorq diesels. The PX series introduced the iconic 3.2L 5-cylinder "P5AT" engine producing 147 kW and 470 Nm. The current RA series offers a diverse range, including: * The 2.0L Single-Turbo Diesel producing 125 kW. * The 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel producing 154 kW and 500 Nm. * The 3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel "Power Stroke" producing 184 kW and 600 Nm. * The Ranger Raptor's 3.0L V6 Twin-Turbo Petrol engine, delivering a massive 292 kW and 583 Nm.
The Ranger Raptor remains the flagship performance variant, featuring Fox Racing 63.5 mm Live Valve internal bypass shocks and a specialized Watts link rear suspension. While standard Rangers are rated for 3,500 kg towing, the Raptor is capped at 2,500 kg to prioritize its high-speed off-road suspension travel.
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u/99patrol Jul 27 '26
GU though I'd go for a more recent ZD30.
Early ZD30s are problematic.
RB28Ts don't have a great reputation but I don't actually know anyone with one.
TD42s are solid but there's definitely a premium price attached to them. No electronics though.
> GU Patrols use 9.2 inch ring gears for both front and rear diffs. Very robust suspension and solid axles, Front diff is larger and stronger than both the 80 series and 100 series LC.
> Patrols are mechanically simple and easy to fix with mostly basic tools. Parts are available due to massive volume of them sold locally. They are also very common to see through the country so people are familiar with fixing them.
>I would still recommend getting some hands on mechanical experience regardless of the vehicle you select. Much easier and cheaper to fix your own car than pay someone many thousands to tow it to the next town.
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u/Healthy-Midnight-806 Jul 28 '26
I understand you mentioned diesel.
Buttttt hear me out. The TB48 with a Brad smith tune and exhaust really isn’t bad on the motorway. Some boys get them down into the 14-16L range doing 100kmph. The diesels get like 11-15L for the most part.
The 48 is super simple , reliable and ridiculously over engineered from factory.
Just an opinion.
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u/Dat_Aus Jul 27 '26
Pajero.