Searching for dependable Missionary Truck

[treegump]

I have a friend who is an overseas missionary that is looking for something to purchase here, but also to take back to Papua New Guinea (a small island, somewhere around Australia). Diesel, 1/2 to 3/4 ton, 4 dr, 4x4, dependable. Over 110k miles fine, but would prefer to keep it under 200k. My first thought was non turbo Suburban or truck. Thoughts? Ask around too - looking best bang for buck, but also most dependable. (To get there you fly for 2 days from the states, and then 2 days on canoes.) Sounds like he wants to stay fullsize, but if you have information on foreign diesels too - toyotas, or whatever - I'll forward that too (or pm his email address to you). Also, he's coming here for furlough so he'll be driving around a bit in the states before shipping it back with him & his family back to Papua New Guinea. His wife is getting her masters @ OSU, so if any of you are from around there, than a good support group would be nice too.

Here is their mission link. http://www.oipng.com/

Not sure if this link will work, but here's some pictures of their tractor being used in the sticks over there: https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.264416510254585.80568.100000587132300&type=3 . They packed it into a box and flew it out. When it got there they floated it down the river on canoes.

(If there is a part of the forum that has more traffic or more suitable for this discussion, please post there admins. Thank you.)

 

[great white]

I have a friend who is an overseas missionary that is looking for something to purchase here, but also to take back to Papua New Guinea (a small island, somewhere around Australia). Diesel, 1/2 to 3/4 ton, 4 dr, 4x4, dependable. Over 110k miles fine, but would prefer to keep it under 200k. My first thought was non turbo Suburban or truck. Thoughts? Ask around too - looking best bang for buck, but also most dependable. (To get there you fly for 2 days from the states, and then 2 days on canoes.) Sounds like he wants to stay fullsize, but if you have information on foreign diesels too - toyotas, or whatever - I'll forward that too (or pm his email address to you). Also, he's coming here for furlough so he'll be driving around a bit in the states before shipping it back with him & his family back to Papua New Guinea. His wife is getting her masters @ OSU, so if any of you are from around there, than a good support group would be nice too.

Here is their mission link. http://www.oipng.com/

Not sure if this link will work, but here's some pictures of their tractor being used in the sticks over there: https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.264416510254585.80568.100000587132300&type=3 . They packed it into a box and flew it out. When it got there they floated it down the river on canoes.

(If there is a part of the forum that has more traffic or more suitable for this discussion, please post there admins. Thank you.)

Good lord, tell him to buy something in Australia or a Japanese truck if he's going to live over there for a significant period of his life.

Shipping will be less also.

While you can get parts for NA cars over (under?) there (IE: ford, Holden/GM, etc) it will be a nightmare sourcing anything NA unique or that they don't sell over there.

Toyotas are popular in Australia and they have a couple 4cyl diesels available overseas IIRC. They also have Holdens, which are GM. Ford also sells in Aussieland. Isuzu is another good diesel truck option over there.

Land rover and FJ40 style 'Yotas are favorites for people haulers.

I REALLY would advise against buying a vehicle in NA and then shipping it over there....but whatever floats your boat (canoe?).......

 

[handcannon]

Can you tell us if that OSU is Oregon or Ohio?

Oregon State University is only about 20 miles away. My wife works at McNary Dining Hall there.

You might also consider Toyota, the Landcruiser wagon. Toyota diesels were not imported into the states, but everywhere else. The older Toyota diesels have a great reputation for running almost forever. They are not big powerhouses, but very reliable. Maybe find one on the west coast of Canada (less chance of rust). If Papua New Guinea is close to Australia or New Zealand that could be an advantage for going Toyota since parts support would be close by.

Don

 

[btfarm]

I'm thinking Toyota would be the safest bet. Not just for availability but anybody that knows automotive repair is more likely to be familiar with Toyota equipment than others.

 

[treegump]

Oklahoma State, and I'll let him know that it sounds like the overall consensus toyota. Just sounded like he was interested in buying in the states since he'll have to be buying a vehicle here anyways, and then shipping what he's got here back to PNG.

 

[WarWagon]

For shipping cost alone I bet he could buy a used vehicle somewhere close to there. Buy here and use it, then sell it and buy something over there. Over there means mechanics and parts are more likely to be found.

Diesels are fuel sensitive and failures are always catastrophic. So the more local parts are the better off he is going to be. (Australia may be the closest.) Older diesels save fuel so you can pay for diesel parts. Maybe cost and availability of fuel makes it the only choice.

A 6.5 on a remote island without parts can be a boat anchor real quick.

 

[BudTX]

I'd get a Toyota Hilux diesel.

 

[treegump]

Well, there are no mechanics where he's at. Except for him...but he's one of us, a diy mechanic. And like I said, parts would have to be shipped to him. I believe the majority of the mission's support is from the states, he'd probably have someone order parts here to send there. Or order parts somewhere and send there.

 

[Grendahl]

I'll second the Toyota Hilux. From what I've heard they are darn near indestructible, and I bet there are lots of narrow roads in PNG that would not be friendly to a full size truck.

 

[great white]

Well, there are no mechanics where he's at. Except for him...but he's one of us, a diy mechanic. And like I said, parts would have to be shipped to him. I believe the majority of the mission's support is from the states, he'd probably have someone order parts here to send there. Or order parts somewhere and send there.

definitely stay away from the gm 6.x then....

 

[L98TPI]

Find out whatever they use the most of on the Island and go with that. That way you are likely to have an existing support infrastructure. (As was mentioned.) Its likely 100% of their tech support comes from Australia. I would go through Aussie land on the way back, pick up a deal and have it shipped (and maybe ride the boat) to Papua. There might just be a RORO ferry available, so you could just drive the truck on in AU and then off in Papua. I drove a Toyota diesel back in the 80's when they briefly imported them, I liked it a lot.

Since diesel is a lot more stable in long term storage than gasoline I am betting the fuel of choice there is diesel. It is in most remote locations.

Maybe not this ferry...
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-11/inquiry-begins-into-png-ferry-disaster/3943540

 

[treegump]

Here is my friend's response on what we've got so far:

"Hey thanks for the info. I wasn't necessarily looking for a foreign diesel. From what I've heard the Cummins diesel in the Dodge is pretty dependable. The problem with buying here "locally" is the price. A Toyota Landcruiser here brand new is K130,000. Which works out to about 55-60,000 USD. Can't afford that. While you're looking up check out "UNIMOG" that's one I've looked into as well. I've looked at alot. Plus something older may not last in the long haul here. Would definitly want a turbo though.. Hey man I gotta go. Sounds good."

Anyone know anything about the unimogs?

 

[treegump]

A bit more from him:

"Read the blogs Paul. I agree that Toyota is a dependable diesel. problem is no one here in country stocks parts. I have to have them shipped from Japan when I need anything. Ela Motors, (the toyota people here in country) do a terrible jobs with parts. I can get a Hilux or a Landcruiser, but major dough. By the time the order them, mark them up, I could have sent someone ship parts from USA, and they'd still be cheaper because of availibiltiy in the USA. Not complaining, just venting. Definitly don't want a dually for the roads over here though.

"

 

[treegump]

And "Just to give you an idea, last time we bought a vehicle, we shipped it here from Japan. Still have that as an option, just thought that if I'm already having to buy in USA, might want to just ship it over when done. Also, this vehicle won't have to be loaded ontu canoe. It will stay nearer to main roads to use to go back and forth to town."

 

[treegump]

"Last thing is you can't buy used here and it be dependable. The roads here, just beat a truck to death. Most people here, once they have bought a vehicle, drive it till it dies.
That being said, what would a realistic price be on a family truck that wasn't diesel

just want all the options open."

My response to him, from my immediate research:

Older trucks gas trucks are sometimes 1/2 to 1/4 less than their diesel models, depending on their reputation for being reliable trucks. Unless you buy new, and then the price is only a few grand less.

When I was looking, I was looking for 91.5-02 Dodge Cummins, 4x4, manual transmission. Or, 99-02 Ford Powerstroke, but now I'm looking at 2005-07 Duramax with the allison transmission. All have their kinks, but from my personal search, they all seemed to be the most desirable, especially if I wanted to put a chip in them to get a little more oomph out of them. Since I'm guessing you aren't interested in blowing smoke, pedal to the floor type action, that's why I threw in the 80's to early 90's idea of non-turboed diesel motors. They were dependable, easy to work on, but the problem was is if they offerred an extended cab, there weren't 4 doors...usually, unless you come across a custom made truck, which is as expensive as a brand new truck. I also like the idea of not buying a new truck for 2 reasons. The price of the vehicle drops as soon as you drive off the lot, and older vehicles typically have a MASSIVE experience base so that I can work on my own vehicle.

What is your price range by the way? Also, 4 door long bed, or 4 door short bed? The longer the truck, the less maneurvability it has. Also, Chevy's don't offer a solid front axle from the 90's and newer, and the manual transmission is not dependable behind the duramax. You want to stay away from Ford's version of an independent front suspension (TTB or twin beam), and dodge also has a poor reputation for their steering (but there are after market fixes for that.). I do agree with Wayne's comment on the F350, as long as you can find one that has a solid front end.

I'll keep looking around. Just give me some more preferences...

 

[great white]

Here is my friend's response on what we've got so far:

"Hey thanks for the info. I wasn't necessarily looking for a foreign diesel. From what I've heard the Cummins diesel in the Dodge is pretty dependable. The problem with buying here "locally" is the price. A Toyota Landcruiser here brand new is K130,000. Which works out to about 55-60,000 USD. Can't afford that. While you're looking up check out "UNIMOG" that's one I've looked into as well. I've looked at alot. Plus something older may not last in the long haul here. Would definitly want a turbo though.. Hey man I gotta go. Sounds good."

Anyone know anything about the unimogs?

'Mogs are outstanding rigs in every way, shape and form.


Only problem is they are not very common in NA.

Europe is where you'll find a good supply of them....

A cummins will be dependable, engine wise.

The dodge that they are wrapped in are crap and fall apart quickly. Especially if beaten on bad roads.

A Dodge cummins is like a snickers bar. You tear off the wrapper, throw it away and keep the good stuff inside.

Parts will have to come from out of the states.

The weight of that Cummins over the front axle is going to sink it into the mud on unprepared or dirt roads...hello monsoon season.

 

[L98TPI]

Looking back maybe my suggestion was not clear in my post.
To get a vehicle in Papua,
Go there through AU (likely he is any way).
In AU buy a nice clean truck or utility of a Brand / model / fuel type commonly used in Papua. (You may want to license and insure it in AU depending on the legalities. Check with the locals.)
Load it up and drive it to the RORO Ferry docks in AU. Drive it off in Papua. I did a little googling and found they do have vehicle ferry's to Papua.
When its time to go home do the reverse. Sell the truck to the next guy coming over.

This basic procedure is what I got from conversations with mission familiar folks at my church. You try to blend in with the local economy as much as possible.


GM sold a boat load of 6.x's in AU. I have seen pics of swaps (in AU) into Landcruisers (Marks' Adapters makes kits) and even Jags. So the basic parts should be available. But still I would not take one there.

:hihi:

 

[great white]

Brunswick diesel imports them for swapping...

 

[red]

By the sounds of it he wants:
1. Diesel
2. 4x4 with solid axles (reliability)
3. Reliability
4. Long vehicle life

Some of the other info that would be great to know are his comfort levels with mechanical vs electronic injection (since he will be working on it himself). Also does he need a fullsize or would a smaller truck work. SUV acceptable option?

Looks like parts availability will be an issue for him nomatter what vehicle he goes with. Shipping from Australia would be the cheapest I'm assuming.

Couple vehicles that would fit the description:
Ford F250-F350 up until the end of the 7.3L. Even a 80's era IDI can be very reliable, just not a big powerhouse.
Unimog, I'm only familiar with their medium duty line of vehicles so everything is heavy, but they have a good reputation.
Old 2 1/2 ton US military truck. Again not a little vehicle but they were sold all over the world and tend to enjoy being abused. Sub par fuel usually doesn't bother it either.
Toyota Hilux or Land Cruiser with the diesel.
Nissan Patrol or their smaller pickup with the diesel.
80's chevy/gmc suburban, k5, or pickup with the 6.2. Since parts are pretty cheap and plentiful.

A dodge truck would fall apart on him. Cummins with the manual trans would be great, but the body would be falling off the frame before long.
Trucks with IFS would not be a good idea unless he has some extra money coming in to replace worn out components at a faster rate than a solid axle vehicle.
Newer common rail diesels would be nice for the easy high power, but trouble shooting the electrical issues?

 

[WarWagon]

Local is a good suggestion. Maybe he could look at a surplus military 1 1/4 1980's military pickup or CCUV. I wonder if these can be exported w/o issues? Buy a complete engine or two, used take outs, to go with it. Boyce Equipment in Utah sells them. They got 2, 4, 6 wheel drive...

Does he need AC?

Power of the turbo is useless in most 4x4 low situations. He may want the NA simplicity and better MPG where fuel is expensive.