Perentie vs Crusier

[madtuna]

Hi folks, new here with a few questions if I may.

Firstly I am a prospector and make my living looking for gold on a 1000000 acre cattle station I care take in the gold fields of WA.
Presently I have a 98 model 75 series Cruiser ute with 430000+klms on the clock and am wanting a change.

99% of my driving is station track or no tracks at all. Occasionally, (twice a year) I will trek the 370klms into Kalgoorlie plus do a weekly or fortnightly trip 45klms into Laverton. Once a year I will drive across the nullaboring to visit my kids in the east.
That's about the extent of my bitumen driving.

I was considering updating to a 79 series but have always liked the Perenties. The Izuzu engine and general low klms of a Perentie strikes me as good value even if they have more years on them than my cruiser.


Also I have a 15' Supreme Getaway off road van.

Will a Perentie tow a van okay. How does the ride compare with a 75 series leaf sprung cruiser?

That's for starters,
Cheers,

Steve

[BEARMAN]

G'day Steve and welcome. If you are who I think you are we met last year when Tristan and I came through with the 4x4 and 6x6 in August doing a bit of prospecting.
Hope everything is going fine for you. To answer your question about the vehicles, one would be terrific for around the station and beating about the bush tracks, that is what they were designed for and are every bit as comfortable and capable as the cruiser ute. Nothing electronic at all and very simple. Most of them are rag tops which allow a fair bit of dust in but there are some hardtops around or you can convert to a hard top by getting the top and doors from a Defender or County model. The addition of a turbo makes them a lot better for on highway use especially if you are towing. Legally I think they (4x4) can only tow 1200kg but they are quite capable of towing a lot more than that. Their civvy cousin the 110 County has a 3500kg towing capacity and the Perentie has a stronger rear chassis section than the County. I used to tow a 3500kg boat with mine when I had it. Lots of people towing vans and trailers with them some have got them engineered for the extra towing capacity and some haven't bothered. They only have a pintle hook assembly so you would have to purchase or make an adaptor to take a hayman reece or similar. It would handle the 15' van no problem. Cheers......Brian

[madtuna]

Hi Brian,

yep same bloke. Was very impressed with your set ups and actually it was you pair that sparked my interest again. Since your visit I've had another FFR come through.

Dust out here is a problem even in the cruisers, can't remember the last time I could see the dash on mine.

Two more questions, tyre size is 750 /16? And how easy is it to drop the front windows?
My cruiser has a drop down as part of my job here is to drop the ferals.

Cheers!

[BEARMAN]

Good to hear Steve. So Tristan and I are responsible hahaha. Yes tyres are 7.50.16 standard. The army ran them with tubes but you can easily rip the tubes out and put tubeless tits in otherwise flats are a recurring problem especially with low pressures. I have run them tubeless for many years now. Pretty easy to drop the windscreen on the canvas topped ones. They even have a couple of brackets on the bonnet for the windscreen to rest on.

[madtuna]

Many thanks!
That answers a few of my questions, no doubt I'll have more.

Turbo would be nice but realistically, I can't remember the last time I drove over 80kph even on the tar as 80kph seemed ideal economy wise in the cruiser.

Tyres I generally run 16ply MRF's on split rims so get minimal flats but can change them out in the scrub if I do.

[BEARMAN]

No worries Steve, will keep an eye out for you and help out if I can. Otherwise there are plenty on here with heaps of knowledge who will help out. Hope to see you over there again, maybe next year.

[madtuna]

Thanks again Brian, yep if you hear of anything for sale over here I'd be keen to know.
Have registered with AFM to keep an eye on the auctions.

If you get back out here let me know and I'll show you some spots that are producing some decent gold as of late.

[BEARMAN]

Thanks Steve, will do.

[303Gunner]

Sounds like you've got all that down pat, but here's some more info that might be of interest to you.

While both the 4x4 and 6x6 have one-piece rims as standard, there are factory Split Rims also about to make bush tyre changes a little easier (but they tend to be sought after, ie pricey). All rims are 6.00-16 so will also accept an 8.25-16 tyre if you're looking for some heavier duty rubber (if 16 ply is light duty! ).

[madtuna]

Thanks Gunner, all info greatly appreciated.
Pretty set on a Landy, now just have to find one. Hopefully there'll be an auction soon and hopefully a WA one.

[P6X6]

Hey steve,
It's tristan. I tried giving your land line number a ring, but was disconnected.
I might be able to help you out a bit.

[madtuna]

Hi Tristan,
bugger! The station has sold and has new owners now and a new phone number which I'll endeavour to find out and get to you.
Cheers!

[P6X6]

Thanks Steve and I've sent you a message 👍🏻