Tell me about your Patrol

[Alex Roux]

Vir die Kaap, kontak Tour de Frans

Maar ek stel voor jy gesels met albei.
Dis mos waar voor jy 'n telefoon het?

Gerrie, dit sal dalk help as jy almal se kommentaar op voor en nadele opsom, en dan in een post sit.
Dan help dit mense om te sien wat dalk nog mis.

[Gerrie]

Het iemand dalk vir my Tour de Frans se nommer? Die een wat ek het hou net aan met lui, so ek wil seker maak ek het die regte een.
Ek weet hy is redelik besig met sy werk en goed, so ek wil eintlik net weet of hy bereid sal wees dat ons sy naam bysit vir iemand wat belangstel om 'n Patrol te koop om hom te kontak.

Die voor en nadele wat ek tans het is as volg:
Voordele
Dis van spoorstawe gemaak. Die onderstel van die Nissan Patrol is legendaries vir hoe sterk dit is. Die staal is heelwat dikker as ander, soortgelyke rygoed se onderstelle en Nissan het seker gemaak daar is genoeg versterkings om die pak te kan vat.
Soos ’n koets. Die relatiewe lang asafstand, kronkelvere en gemaklike sitplekke maak dit ’n droom om te bestuur. Geen bene rek elke halfuur en geen seer rug na ’n dag op die pad nie.
Oor die bulte, deur die slote. Die wiele is redelik naby aan die voor- en agterhoeke gemonteer. Dit gee goeie vertrek- en aanvalshoeke wat dit baie vaardig in die veld maak.
Ghries onder jou naels. Die meganika van die GQ en GU is redelik eenvoudig en met ’n bietjie kennis en tyd sal jy meeste probleme self kan oplos. Maar as jy mooi na hom kyk sal jy selde iets moet herstel of vervang.
Water se baas. Die elektriese stelsel is baie goed ontwerp wat beteken alle komponente wat skade kan kry in diep water is reeds goed beskerm.
Het jy plek? Patrols kom standaard uit met ’n derde ry sitplekke. Selfs volwassenes kan relatief gemaklik in die agterste ry sit en die middelste ry sitplekke het ook oorgenoeg beenspasie sodat almal na ’n langpad sonder krampe kan uitklim.
Klaar hoog. Die standaardvering is reeds relatief hoog so jy kan sonder enige moeite groter bande opsit wat hom nog beter in die veld maak.
Goedkoop. ’n Tweedehandse Patrol is heelwat goedkoper as soortgelyke Land Cruisers, Land Rovers of Pajero’s. Dit hou nie sy tweedehandse waarde so goed nie, maar as jy gelukkig is met hom, is dit nie nodig om te verkoop nie.

Nadele
Ossewa. Die draaisirkel as gevolg van die langasafstand is nie na wense nie, wat beteken jou trurat sal ook in die veld moet gebruik word op ’n draaierige roete.
Hoes hoes. Die onderdele is baie duur as jy dit direk by ’n agent koop, en Nissan Suid-Afrika se naverkoopdiens skiet soms te kort as dit by kennis oor die voertuie kom. Daar is ook nie so baie werktuigkundiges wat hulleself as kenners uitgee oor die Patrol nie.
Staan buite. Omdat die Patrol so groot is, en met die toevoeging van ’n dakrak pas dit gewoonlik nie onder ’n standaard motorhuis se deur in nie.
Dra swaar. Die noodwiel op die agterdeur sit ekstra gewig op die skarniere en met tyd ontstaan daar ratels wat jou teen die mure kan uitdryf.
Dis vol. Daar is nie genoeg spasie in die enjinruim vir ’n ekstra battery nie en dit moet dus binne-in die voertuig gesit word.
Skaars soos hoendertande. Ekstras soos ’n bosbreker, dakrakke en dies meer is nie volop in Suid-Afrika beskikbaar nie. In Australië is dit egter orals bekombaar en jy kan dit invoer, maar dit gaan weer die prys verder opstoot.

Enigiets wat ek mis?

[ricster]

A huge advantage when I was in the market for a bigger, more robust 4x4 and overlanding vehicle, having owned a Nissan SANI 3.0 V6 ( Mark 2), was a cost factor. I looked at the Toyota Cruisers ( around the 1998 - 2000 models) and Nissan Patrols ( 1998 - 2000 models) and for a 4.2 diesel with around the same km on the odometer with similar extras, there was approximately R 80 000 to R 100 000 price difference. This is purely a missed opportunity from Nissan SA's side to be competitive in a market eager for good quality solid front and rear axle 4x4's. This was the main deciding factor for me to choose a Nissan Patrol, over the Toyota. I now own a 4.2 Diesel intercooled turbo Patrol, that came with a brand name Roofrack, brand name aluminium bullbar, brand name spotlights, suspension lift, dual battery, and brand name rear drawer system as well as a 60 litre water tank with pump fitted under the Patrol.

Many times one reads on other forums that there are comments from guys that drive Toyotas, and refer to any other vehicle as the lesser brands.... I mean really.... Lesser brands????? I really hope he is talking purely of the fact that they sell more Toyotas than ANY other brand of vehicle, because if he, unfortunately like many people are referring to comparing the likes of Toyotas performance and all other aspects to ALL other brands, well He needs to get his head out his ass. I am VERY passionate about my Patrol, as are most people who own a good vehicle, the Patrol and Nissan guys just happen to be less arrogant than most.

But back to the Patrols. The value for money that you get in a second hand Patrol is fantastic. The GQ's are as reliable as the newer GU series albeit a few years older. Ride quality with the adoption of the all round coil springs, excluding the much older Safari and all the "Pick up" models which have the coils in front and the leaf spring set up in the rear, make it the perfect overlanding vehicle. "Voetspore" proved that free of charge !!

Disavantages, well with anything there are disadvantages. Every brand has them. For example why not have a standard front diff lock, like the Land Cruisers? Does the Patrol need a front locker??.... well no not really. The articulation on the coil sprung solid front and rear axles give a huge advantage over the leaf sprung solid axle vehicles making the need for a front locker more a nice to have than a need to have. The diffs and gearbox of the Patrol are so over designed that something really astronomical would have to happen before those diffs will break.

The rear difflock on the Patrol is a weak point, and many have had issues with it. However, My Patrol now has 240 000 Km on it and my rear difflock is working perfectly. Yes extra care needs to be taken when engaging the difflock as it cannot be engaged when on the run as the teeth will take a pounding over time and eventually fail. But so far so good on my Patrol, and my Iron Maiden has done some pretty wild trails over the years I've had it.

Then there are the early (2000 - 2004) 3.0 Patrols. These are unfortunately Nissan's little embarrassment. The TD42 6 cylinder power plant ( and what a power plant !!!) in the 1998 - 1999 model GU and up to 1997 in the GQ models, with basically zero electronics, except for a wire telling the diesel pump to "fagga juice" to 6 hungry cylinders connected to a flywheel the size of a Voortrekkers ox wagon wheel, and weighing probably as much as Mike Tyson, made the TD42 an almost worldwide phenominon of being classified as "bulletproof". Unfortunately with the world moving forwards and wanting more power out of smaller and yes, more fuel efficient power plants the ZD30 motor was to replace the TD42 ( in all the station wagon diesel models). The TD42 was kept in the "Pick up" bakkie, with the addition of a factory fitted turbo and intercooler.

The ZD30 diesel power plant is a fantastic motor, the 4 cylinder engine produces sufficient power and torque to catapult the heavy 2.5 ton body ( without extras ) into much higher speeds and unbelievable fuel efficiency, that the TD42 "old technology " motor could never achieve. But this came at a price. Higher power required some serious fueling, and with a diesel more fuel means more heat, and more heat means trouble. This was the era of " handgranade " model Patrols.

Now don't get me wrong. There is NOTHING wrong with a 3.0 diesel Patrol. One just needs to know how the vehicle was driven and maintained. If I have the opportunity, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 2000 - 2004 model 3.0 Patrol. However I would want it for a reasonable price as I would without a shadow of a doubt have the motor opened up and have it checked for any damage, and replace these parts before the motor breaks and then the costs skyrocket as there will be more to replace. I would definitely install an engine management system to monitor the EGT's, and this would be a fantastic machine to travel Africa in.

In conclusion, would I have rather bought a petrol 4.5 Patrol, or the 3.0 diesel Patrol instead of my "old school" 4.2 turbo diesel?... or bought a Land Cruiser..... or a Landy, a Jeep, ..... ahhh the list can go on forever. The answer is simple everybody loves their vehicle. We often tease each other here on the forum and out at events about the advantages and disadvantages of diesel vs petrol..... but at the end of the day you haven't lived, and have no room to comment until you've driven in a Patrol !!

[IanT]

Well said Cedric

[Bruin Beer]

Cedric,
A man with ALL the words as usual.
Very well stated mate.
You make us proud.
Thanks.
Gerrie,
As jy eers die maat (Cedric) se rev's op jag en sy clutch drop sal jy moet vas hou vir die ride van jou lewe.
Hy is 'n man met 'n passie.
Riaan

[Alex Roux]

Gerrie

Dit is die moeite werd om by te voeg, dat daar is nie so iets soos 'n perfekte 4x4 nie.
Almal het sy relatiewe sterk punte en swak punte. B.v. die Rubicon is ontwerp om die beste moontlike rots klimmer te wees.
Die gevolg is dat sy rat verhoudings uitstkend daarvoor is, maar nie ideaal vir duine nie.
Tweede rat (LW) is te laag en 3de is te hoog.

In die Patrol se geval is die wiel basis lank op 'n groot chassis. Soos jy reeds genoem het.
Die gevolg is natuurlik uitstekende hantering op ongelyk paaie en goeie naderings hoek (approach angle) en departure angles.
Die nadeel is die cross over angle (tussen die aste) is relatief laag, selfs ten spyte van die goeie grondvryhoogte.
Ek het al 'n paar keer so vas gesit op my pens. Maar ook net omdat ek hard genoeg probeer het...

[Alex Roux]

Wat die rear diff lock betref:
Dit is moontlik die swakste deel van 'n andersins uiters sterk drive train. (Dit maak hom nie swak nie. Net swak in relatiewe terme)
Maar ek glo dit is so met 'n rede.
As jou diff lock breek kan jy huis toe ry.
As jy iets anders breek, dan moet jy a flat bed in die hande kry om die Landy's geselskap te hou.

Die diff lock is dus 'n "weakest link" met 'n rede.
Ek het ook nou al my rear locker vir 240,000 km en het hom al goed gestraf op plekke. Nog geen probleme nie.
Die mense wat hom breek het hom nie mooi behandel nie.

Sou ek graag 'n voorste locker wou gehad het? Absoluut.
Maar dan is ek bevrees het ek heel waarksynlik die kar al om gegooi.
'n Mens moet erens die streep kan trek. My 4x4 pret kar is ook ons familie vakansie kar. Dit is nie 'n pyp kar nie.
Dit is waarom ek glo die Patrol is die beste van twee werelde.
D.w.s die van Overlanding en die van naweek 4x4 baan ry.

[ricster]

ha ha ha.... ja so bietjie ja.....

It just irritates the $^%&# out of me when people make comments on a public forum.... thank goodness not our sites, look down on everybody else like the old evil history teacher with the reading glasses resting on the tip of the nose, and a bamboo cane in the hand, waffling on about something that they probably have only one view of.....their view. I have seen it soooooo many times that some vehicle brand drivers will not even listen to another person talking about a different brand. Why?? Each and every vehicle has its advantages and disadvantages. Is my Patrol the best in the land, hell no. Is the Cruiser the best, the Fortuner, the Hilux??.... What about the Jeeps? Man that Rubicon is fantastic too, but is it better than my Patrol, hell no. Every vehicle has something good about it and bad.... Look at the GWM in the Dakar.....

There is nothing like a little banter between guys on a road trip, or at the track. There is always a little fun in teasing the other, but I've seen unbelievable obstacles being done in hugely underrated ( or "the lesser" ) brands of vehicles, by good drivers, and the same obstacle being done, well not really done, by some fantastic vehicle driven by the same driver. Lets watch how the finals of the Bridgestone Club Challenge turned out.

The defense rests

[Stefan]

Gerrie,

Frans se sel is net na ure aan.

Ek besit 'n 3.0Di model wat mooi in die hoër risiko groep vir faling is. As ek dit geweet het toe ek hom gekoop het sou hy tien-teen-een nie nou in my garage gestaan het nie, maar hy doen, so nou geniet ek hom maar net.

Soos met die ander voordele wat jy reeds genoem het, is dit 'n fantastiese voertuig wat, agv die swak 2de handse prys, uitstekende waarde vir geld is. Die beste ding van 'n Patrol ry is daardie gevoel dat daar geen ander voertuig is (behalwe miskien 'n 4.8) waarvoor jy hoef terug te staan nie.
As ek die spesifikasies reg lees kan 'n Patrol tot omtrent 250kg op 'n dak-rak hanteer.

Re die nadele:
> Die draaisirkel van die Patrol is kleiner as wat my 2001 Drifter Double-cab was. Kan iemand anders wat ook 'n dubbel-kajuit ry/ gery het hulle opinies hieroor gee?
> In die 3.0 end die 4.2 is daar genoeg plek vir 'n 2de battery. As jy die ruitwasser tenk(?) op die 4.8 skuif kan jy daar ook een inkry (IIRC) - Die wenslikheid (itv lewensduur) van 'n gewone deepcycle in die hoë temperature van die enjinruim is 'n gesprek vir 'n ander keer.
> Die agterste "recovery loop" se hegtingspunte bout direk in die onderstel vas, maar die "loop" self is baie pieperig = vervang hom.
> In die Kaap kan jy 'n bospreker aanskaf by Burnco, Desert Storm of G-Tec as jy nie geholpe kom by Ironman, ARB of TJM nie.

[David]

Daar moet nog redes wees? Komaan kêrels!!

En dan nou nog 'n vraag om duidelikheid te kry:
Ek verstaan die GQ en GU gebruik almal dieselfde 5 spoed handratkas (manual gearbox vir die Engelse)
Watter Outobokse gebruik die Gq en GU? Is hulle dieselfde of verskillend?

Sover ek weet gebruik die GQ en die ouer GU's die 4 spoed JATCO RE4R03A en net die 4.8 het die 5 spoed tiptronic JATCO RE5R05A.

PATROL.pdf

(815.64 KiB) Downloaded 188 times

Let ook op dat die 4.8 se druk verhouding (Compression ratio) baie laag is 9:1 teenoor bv die Land Cruiser 200 V8 petrol wat 10.2:1 is.
Die voordeel hiervan is 'n enjin wat gladnie gestres is nie en wat op lae oktaan / swak kwaliteit brandstof kan loop sonder om te ping.