TIFF

Who has had one and used it as a work horse??

Just thinking out loud really..... Could I use one as a van for my plumbing business.... As I can get big stuff delivered ect....

Minirotty

My mate got one and sold it after 6 months as he's a chippy and said he couldn't get any materials on it etc

TIFF

I have looked and i can get all my gear in there, pipe rack on the roof so should be ok

Graceland

Good motors if you look after them, they do have some common faults tho (Do a search on here as I did a wriote up when someone else asked about using one for work)

Heres mine, but it is more of a weekend toy

TIFF

I just want it to do the job of my transit and the mondeo all rolled into one car tbh.........

CrOwSoN15

My old man had one, turning circle of a limo, also couldn't get anything in the back, but he did have the stainless hard top on the back, which left around a foot and a half deep to put anything in, definitely worth getting the open back. Good engines though, would pull a house down

Physio

My mates got one but it isn't that big tbh however another mate of mine has a Nissan Navara(?) he uses it for his plumbing business and has no probs.

steves24V's

iTrader: (7)

I've drove a few though work and dont think much of them or the 2.5 td engine as me and one of my mates both had shoguns with 2.5 td in them, mine had a valve snap and the valve head was bouncing around the bore for the 1/2 mile trip home before it wedged its self back in the head and my mates had a main bearing cap come off the put its self throught the sump. may be just bad luck.

steves24V's

iTrader: (7)

changing the subject slighly I'm also looking for a new 4x4 as i tow a 3.5 ton trailer, so a nice 2001 Nissan Navara with lowish miles that i liked the look of do you know what they are like is the turning circle better than the l200, i've also heard stores about the engines in them so not too sure about it.

james kiely

iTrader: (5)

back breakers i hear ,my cousin had one and hated every day he owned it ,sold it at a big loss just to get rid .

steves24V's

iTrader: (7)

maybe not a navara then

https://passionford.com/forum/genera...s-on-here.html

nichol4s

iTrader: (2)

Mother in law has new one and drove old one like driving a barge oh and not too good on fuel and depending how old you are can look a bit mid life crisis IMHO.

Cheers nick

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

Not better looking into an Isuzu Denver, never really heard of any bad reports on these... along with the Toyota Hi-Lux they seem to be decent (more expensive granted..) options to the L200 and Navara.


Cheers,
Grant

bigchez

Wouldn't all your tools and materials just get nicked out the back? surely the point of a van is to keep it locked away

Csm

Toyota hilux gets my vote

botters

iTrader: (2)

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botters

iTrader: (2)

not just bad luck mate the engines regularly disintergrate on them

BRAMMER

iTrader: (23)

I know two that used them for work and both said they are thirsty as fuck - if your not worried about that then you should be ok

phil_focus

don't for the love of god get a navara, all the 4x4 forums say they are shit and have major engine faults.

i think 52 plate l200's had some issues and in general the bonded crank pulley can cause problems but easily converted to solid and if looked after engines are fine. occasional few cracked heads though.

best thing to do is get onto l200.org.uk. once your a paid member (Ł15 one off payment) you get access to the whole site with top advice and every problem has been covered.

ben_frst

there shit end of borrowed one, gutless, crap to tow with, cant fit anything in them cheaply made plastic shit turning circle of a river barge uncomfotable in the front and back

my mate in the passenger seat lent fowad abit quick and snapped the lock on the seat belt

for a 4x4 get a landrover but tbh a transit has 8x4 loading area so are perfect

Fil

the navara engine issues are the older pre 2005 d22sm

cant fault my 07 d40, on 67k and currently no issues, makes 200bhp when tweaked and a shit load of torque

POPEYE

Heres mine Tiff, got it to replace the V8 and car and just have one, mind you mines proberly alot dearer than you want to pay at around 25k pounds new, most tradesmen over here use a ute of some type, i will try and take a couple of photos of some set ups that they have.

Cragrat

iTrader: (4)

Plumber mate had one for 6 months but got rid as was no good for work

sidewaysdave

iTrader: (3)

i guy on site has had two as company cars and both have suffered with gear box problems, he also says the rubbish to drive and drink fuel

POPEYE

All to do with how its setup, will be on the hunt for some photos of the type of set up i'm on about in a bit

Escow-Van

We've got an 06 Isuzu Rodeo Denver at work, reasonably comfortable for the kind of car.
Not quick (even with the 'extra power' option) and very poor on fuel, but then it is a 3.0td 4x4 with an auto box.
As far as I remember, it's never had a mechanical failing in 80k or so.
Big boot/bed and rear seats are decent too.
Turning circle is noticeably larger than my parents 110 Defender.
Second hand prices seem quite low, we were going to sell the truck but decided with the value of it now, it wasn't worth it.

If you're interested in off-road ability, it's not great, but ours is auto.

nuttynil

iTrader: (3)

got an 05 warrior im 6,2 the drivers area is a bit small for me ,it does about 130 miles to 20 litres of fuel space in the rear is ok but dont carry much around ,done about 30k in it regular oil changes every 6k i have only had to replace the belts aux power steering where one just broke then took all the others with them but its been great turning circle is a pain but yeah go for it ,hope for the snow which these do come into there own then great fun ..

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

No,Navaras are awful for towing,like most 4x4 pick ups,less than 20mpg at best,wobbly as fuck with weight on it.

Stick to a proper 4x4 like your rangey.

RC4

you,ll get more in a discovery 3,with the seats back of course
very nice motors tiff and at good prices now
could be worth a look

bigryrs

iTrader: (10)

Ive got a shogun sport warrior and its gash on fuel! turning circle is pants but apart from that i cant fault the thing! not had any problems from the engine!

Nath

Handy motors if you turn it into a metal cube and rest your cups on it. Piles of shit IMO

martynhomer01

iTrader: (1)

had an old shape 53 plater, and it was a real backbreaker. the steering lock was shite and its no good having an open back if your gonna put tools in as they will get stolen overnight.
changed it for a 57 plate animal, and that had a better lock, and more room in it, but a smaller bed on the back!!

changed that and now got a new hi lux! much better truck matey!!

Fil

Err seems ok to me, this misses dont have a problem towing horses about with my navara, Ill agree on the less than 20mpg, but thats pretty econmical aint it? its the best ive had for awhile

And its not 4x4, well it can be but ive never used it, 100% rwd driving with mine

andyc83

ive got a 54 plate warrior had it for 3 years now done 30000 trouble free miles
as said there not very quick and the turning circle is shite!

I use it as my workhorse carrying ton bags of sand etc and then my family wagon/taking the dogs out, not many vehicles can do both with ease.i find it comfortable with the leather and has plenty of toys etc and with the snow the last two years i never once got stuck and i went everywere was good fun in rwd!!

Im due a new work truck /van in january and want another truck but not being able to carry 8x4 sheets is a pain in the arse and the only thing making me want a van!!

stevealien

iTrader: (1)

i have a 52 plate l200 animal mate and i think its awesome.
ive had it 4 years,never had any probs with it.its so reliable,looks good,full leathers,powerfull engine as the animal is the chipped top of the range version.pisses on warriors etc,
i have a caterinf bussiness and tow a variety of trailers everyday and its awesome at towing.we do shows and events and we often have to tow across muddy fields etc and its bloody great.
bit light at the back ,especially in winter when snowing,but with some tools in back or some bags of sand when its snowing its great.
dont know why so many people left neg about them,they obviously havent had one,its all my mate this and my mate that,dont be put off mate.
i got the box on back of mine so i get the dog in aswell (10stone rottie),and i can get loads of gear in.
my carp gear goes in no probs including my 12 foot carp rods,obviously broke into 2 6 foot sections.
bit thirsty on diesel,turning circle is poor but can be modified easily to make it turn better,i did mine,you just turn the rack stoppers in a bit without any probs.
you have to have commercial insurance wheter its for commercial or domestic,overall a great tank of a motor,great drivin position,heating hot within 1 minute of drivin which is awesome in winter.
love it mate,buy one

POPEYE

Heres one that lives down the road from me tiff, used by a chippie. plumbers on that i have seen have slightly shorter boxes for room for gas bottles and big tubes on top for pipes.

Turbo Zetec

iTrader: (1)

as far as engine problems go, L200's suffer from cracked heads. probably 90% of the heads we see are leaking from PCC's or in the ports.

Navara's though are well known for having conrods that love to escape from the block had a few cracked heads on these too, but mainly see them because of the bottom end problems.

phil_focus

from what i've read the l200 suffers from cracked heads if it gets a bit hot (so regular coolant system checks and cleaning should help prevent this) and the 2 piece (rubber sandwiched) crank pulley regularly delaminates causing vibrations and can fuck the crank. so do the timing belt early or preferably convert to a solid crank pulley as soon as you buy and that ones sorted.

navara engines just shit themselves whenever theres a day in the week so wouldnt touch them.

landrovers for the same money as the l200 are going to be quite a lot older that the l200 and are well known for braking cv's calliper brakckets etc all the time 9not to mention beig rustier and the new stuff if anything brakes its a body off job so unless you have shed loads of cash (meaning a few grand to throw at it whenever it wants) its not fucking worth it.

one of my mates has bought a discovery recently, modified for off roading, and has already smached a brake calliper mount and fucked a clutch within a few weeks and although he's off roaded it its not had much abuse compared with most!

i've been looking into 4x4's for a while now as where i live the roads are awfull and its hilly so i'd rather have a 4x4 and the l200 seems to make sence. mind so does the hilux but they only seem to be availible in the surf model which is fully enclosed so if you want that then fine.

unfortunately single cab or crew cab (2 doors but slightly bigger than singel cab to allow a rear bench seat) l200 are fairly rare, most are double cabs and some come with tops on the back. as far as off roading goes with minimal mods the l200 seems to hold its own against the ladrovers and seems to be no different than landrovers of equal length. obviously there is no short wheel base version of the l200 so turning circle aint great but can be forgiven easily.

if you want something like an l200 then its either pre 2002 to save money and have reliability or post 2003 to have something reliable and a bit newer. they can suffer from a bit of rust especially when abused like any 4x4 so best thing is to take the tub off (easy job aparently) search for any rust and fix it and then go for a full rust proofing. you can buy kits or get the job done by rust.co.uk and is higly recomended. if it gets off roaded and waided then its worth doing every 2 or 3 years in my opinion.

having said all that if you need to transport BIG pannels and dont need to tow a huge trailer (l200 is awsome at towing, loads have said disco's etc are shit at towing) then a van is the best bet. just remember, NOTHING in this day and age is secure and if scum want tools out of your van they will EASILY get into the van and nick it. only takes a few min and they;ve fucked off with all your tools.

hopefully all that is legable as i;ve just got in from the pub and i'm a bit pissed.

fuck this must be one of my longest posts

TIFF

Cheers for all the input guys......

I think im going to look for a nice L200 and see how i get on using it for work BEFORE i sell my van. If i can work out of it and get on with it then thats fine, if not i will sell it and sell the transit then get a nice new van......

phil_focus

well that makes it a lot easier to test a new vehicle.

i'm sure you'll find what you need.