Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

petri oosthuizen wrote:Well..........what can I say.

What a damn nice car!!!!!!!

Played around with it over the weekend, everything works 100%, the car really felt unstoppable and actually too "easy" in the rough stuff.

I particularly LOVE the suspension, short overhangs, and just the overall ease of use in offroad work.

The lack of front locker is basically offset by that damn amazing suspension, definitely better than a similar model Cruiser (the 1998 105 - I'm comparing apples with apples here).

I have a VERY bad spot of sinkplaat pad on my way to my home, like in even a Cruiser 200 goois gat there. This 16 year old Trol went around that bend as if on rails.........I checked it maybe ten times.

Jy het ook darem nou die inligting dat die Patrol die beste 4x4 voertuig is!!

petri oosthuizen wrote:Well..........what can I say.

What a damn nice car!!!!!!!

Played around with it over the weekend, everything works 100%, the car really felt unstoppable and actually too "easy" in the rough stuff.

I particularly LOVE the suspension, short overhangs, and just the overall ease of use in offroad work.

The lack of front locker is basically offset by that damn amazing suspension, definitely better than a similar model Cruiser (the 1998 105 - I'm comparing apples with apples here).

I have a VERY bad spot of sinkplaat pad on my way to my home, like in even a Cruiser 200 goois gat there. This 16 year old Trol went around that bend as if on rails.........I checked it maybe ten times.

I warned you about this issue on the community forum. I think your cruiser days are over...

The 'trol might only come standard with a back locker - as opposed to two on the cruisers. But with that articulation on the axles, who needs two lockers ???

Yip... The Patrol is really a VERY under rated vehicle. The suspension, without being biased, is probably one of the best ever manufactured/designed for this size and type of vehicle. I believe that one of the reasons the rear locker in the Patrols is not as strong as many would like is that if something needs to break, let it rather be the diff lock and not the diff or side shafts. You can still drive home with a broken diff lock.... bit more tricky with a shredded diff or broken side shafts. Front locker again is a nice to have but compare the size of the front diff of a Patrol to a Cruiser ( and the rear for that matter) and you really don't want to mess around with something that is built like a brick shhhhhhouse.

Dirk now owns a 4.2 diesel, yes with a good suspension lift, but that machine has gone up places that I wouldn't even try do with my working rear locker..... and best of all Dirks GQ only has a limited slip diff which is looooooong time no longer limiting diddly squat. Its all comes down to that suspension.... keep the wheels on the ground and there will be more than enough traction available.

I got a walletjie on a dam wall, VERY car that I've owned over 12 years on that farmpie bumped its gat on that walletjie - except a Suzuki Jeep. And this Patrol.
Just a quick quick comparison between this 98 and a 98 EFI (I've had a few)........and I'm NO expert please guys, just my humble observation:
1) Cruiser EFI has more low down grunt than the Trol I think.
2) Space inside about the same, I think the EFI might have a liiiiitttle bit more packing space at the back.
3) Trol has MUCH more comfy seats than the EFI
4) Trol suspension WAY better, all 4 wheels stay on the grip
5) EFI has 2 lockers vs the Trol's one
6) Fuel consumption - both are heavy.
7) Trol's engine somehow feels more "fine", and revs like hell - more than 5000 RPM!!!!!!
8) EFI has great low down grunt......but I think the Trol has a more flat torque over more RPM's
9) This Trol is far, far better equipped inside than a GX EFI........leather, sunroof, 7 seats, etc etc etc
10) Trol's diffs just look better and bigger
11) Trol's Auto Lock hubs are VERY nice.....even better than the brand new Land Cruiser's. The LC's hubs can only be locked in Auto when completely stationary - the Trol's up to 40 km/h.
12) Trol has quite lower RPM's at 120.......about 2600, while the EFI sits at around 3000.......but the EFI holds 5th better on inclines than the Trol I think.
13) Price - this retails at around R 100 000. A similar GX EFI will cost you R 50 000 more - at least.

" and I'm NO expert please guys, just my humble observation ".... my friend.... this is what makes the Patrol forum, and even Nissan drivers in general such lekker places/people. We don't judge anyone.... cause we know what is the best.....hahahaha

I just think I should keep it dirty - looks SO much nicer. Tried my best, but will put on another brown layer or 2 this week. Moet net bietjie reen.
One thing though - this rattles a bit inside, especially at the back. But I'll remove the back seats, and start sorting out rattles from there this week.

The rattle is just there to let you know it is still there....hahaha

Generally the Patrols don't have rattles. My cubby hole gives me grief sometimes but that's just all the rubbish I keep chucking in there.

Take the empty beer cans out of the back and the rattle should stop!! Worked for me LOL

Petri, the rattle at the back is most likely the doors. Take off the spare wheel and see if it helps, if so then the latches at the back need some adjustment. Start with the top latch on the large door...