Reliability Issues with High Mileage ?

[Marino4x4]

Hi Dieselfan

I am situated in Bloem. You can ask the forum guys where a good place is in your region. There are a few guys in Jhb/Pta and Cape Town on the forum that knows way more than me. They can help you.

Hope this helps.

[Peter Connan]

Roy, have found a Patrol yet?

When you do, get hold of Pathmaker here on the forum. A godd machie, and a patrol owner himself.

[dieselfan]

Hi Peter, not yet. I've had my eye on a few.. Saw two at Nissan Benoni a VERY nice one at too good a price (180k)...the other a 4.5 I offered R130k, they declined and now today I see the EXACT same car at a dealership in Kempton for R170 (from R150). They bought it from Nissan.

Thanks Herrie, don't need it yet just planning ahead. Is there an electronic version?

I think when I buy I wil take Peter and Tinus with

[Herrie]

It is the Patrol Overhaul/Service Manual in PDF.

[ChrisIntheCape]

You guys are great! Thanks for all the advice, contacts and encouragement! I will definitely get the manual and will chat to JP Auto Repairs in Cape Town who I have been informed is 'The Man' for older Patrols & Cruisers.

[ChrisIntheCape]

Another thing I hear quite a lot about is that the back bumper gets ripped off by a heavy trailer and all the rough roads. Should I replace mine with a stronger one? If so can anyone recommend a supplier?

[Peter Connan]

Chris, the bumper should not be affected by trailer towing, as the towbar bolts directly to the chassis. It also shouldn't really be affected by corrugated roads.

However, the GU's rear bumper has been known to be ripped off in deep mud. So it might well be a good idea to either get the lights in the body working (so that if the bumper corners/light get damaged it's not really an issue (except in SA and then only with some speedcops), or get a steel one.

[Grant]

Chris,

Did Moegtle trails with the Nissan club and all the GU's damaged the rear bumper. All lost their tail lights. I would suggest you get a rear bumper and add some strong recover points. You can then recover the LC,s

[Grootseun]

Chrsi as a GU owner and i can confess , rear bumper is pathetic when you go off raod busy desingning and building an affordable steel one for myself now otherwise wonderfull car

[Peter Connan]

Again, my comment is that it depends very much on the use you intend putting the vehicle to.

The rear bumper will NOT fall off due to towing. The towbar is connected directly to the chassis, not to the bumper.

If you are using the vehicle for towing or even overlanding, you need not worry about the bumper.

However, if you start doing extreme trails, then when the departure angle runs out, you will rip off the bumper corners.

However, a good steel bumper is probably an asset in city traffic as well. So I am not saying don't fit one.