Daihatsu "defender"

hughjohn

Would it be a reasonable thing to call the daihatsu fourtrak the japanese LR defender. I mean it is a basic enough 4x4, no great creature comforts , good enough reliability AFAIK.

Why did they pull out of irish market and will there spares get more expensive in time to come. I reckon there a good buy for my requirements at the moment.

Fuel economy wise? Dont know. Wouldn't be using it for towing so shouldn't be too bad.

Is there an achilles heel I should know about?

101sean

The original Fourtrak with leaf springs was nearer a Series 3 than a Defender and pretty bullet proof. Some reckon the later Independent version on coils wasn't as good.

Still see a few around this area but they are getting rarer. Haven't Daihatsu pulled out of Europe entirely?

Fuel wise should be no worse than other 4x4s, 25-30mpg.

Can't comment on reliability but a wreck of a Fourtrak kept going on a site I was on when everything else (except a Defender) was floundering.

Parts support from Milners is still good http://www.milneroffroad.com/daihatsu/fourtrakrocky

101sean

70 series Landcruisers are probably the Jap 'Defender', not sold in W Europe though.

pete4130

I've got a 75 Series Landcruiser and they are sparse, rugged, a bit uncomfortable but totally awesome. Definitely the Japanese Defender.

Lots of the little Daihatsu's here in Australia. I'd say the majority of them are being towed behind motor homes driven by the grey nomads (retirees) for a small vehicle to nip into towns and do some 4WDing when they want to. I think they are called Ferozas here. So maybe look up the Feroza for reviews if they are the same vehicle.

101sean

Feroza was sold as the Sportrak here, smaller brother to the Fourtrak. Replaced by the Terios.

Anyone remember the Fourtrak's predecessor, the Taft? Haven't seen one for years, I entered a competition to win one in the 70s when they were first imported to the UK, didn't win of course :rolleyes:

Pottler

I've a '94 Fourtrak out in the yard- very tough, do rust a bit, but the engine is bomb/bullet/nuke proof, the 4wd system is animal, they pull like a train and can handle absurd amounts of weight behind them. Downside, bit cramped(slightly), very basic, bit noisy inside, but mainly, they are tough. Check for rust - thats the biggie. Also, they are the anti-landrover, ie they don't break. Mine might have more rust than usual as it's a UK import(I brought it in) but my neighbour had one as well and it rusted a lot also - when you opened the rear door, if the vehicle was not sitting flat you could not shut it as the chassis would twist a bit without the door holding things ridgid!

baldyshane

I am on my 7th fourtrak great yokes but getting harder to find.I have had both leaf sprung and coil sprung "independent "models. Leafers are very uncomfortable but grand with a double horsebox on behind. They are absolutely bombproof in terms of reliability and in my opinion the best kept 4x4 secret there is. They will pull 3.5 ton all day. They are a bit on the small side and do rust but if you find a solid one you will get years of cheap work from it. Only problem is that any you find will probably have worked hard already. In terms of parts there are plenty scrapped in the uk so ebay is a reasonable source of cheap stuff and as mentioned earlier in the thread milner.co.uk supply most parts etc. Some stuff in common with toyota models.
If you are looking for a cheap reliable work horse look no further. You will always find a few at a mart....farmers love them.
You might have noticed I am a bit of a fan:D:D

Notch000

we (my family) have a '89 fourtrack with around 300k on it, it was rejected by the DOE last year for tin worm tho so it is is off the road for good now, great yoke, my dad used it daily for pulling cattle round the place and 4 of us learned to drive in it and rallied it all over the country during this time, pretty bullt proof yoke except for rust, it started up last month first time afte rsitting round for 12 months growing moss all over it.
looking back it was pretty awful to drive but I Loved that beast

iverjohnston

As far as I know, toyota bought Daihatsu and shut down production of the fourtrak as it competed with their SWB landcruiser, that was in about 2001.
Rust their biggest enemy, can take a serious hold around the rear arches/floor. You will never sell a secondhand engine, they never give up, unless you run them out of oil or something. Hard to get a good one now, and the good ones left go for very strong money. You would get a 1999 Trooper for much less money, and just as bulletproof. *(3.1 engine only, please) Mack in Cavan

_Conrad_

Notch000 wrote: »

we (my family) have a '89 fourtrack with around 300k on it, it was rejected by the DOE last year for tin worm tho so it is is off the road for good now, great yoke, my dad used it daily for pulling cattle round the place and 4 of us learned to drive in it and rallied it all over the country during this time, pretty bullt proof yoke except for rust, it started up last month first time afte rsitting round for 12 months growing moss all over it.
looking back it was pretty awful to drive but I Loved that beast

Why not get it patched up enough to pass again if you love it?
If it passed the DOE last time it cant be extremely far off getting by with a few bits of welding.