Hiace 4wd

[goodwood]

Hi all.
Just wondering if anyone could help me out with some information on hiace 4wd's
I'd like to know what sort of 4wd system they run, i know its full time with no low ratio buts thats it.
I'm looking at getting one to tour around australia so i dont need all the seets that the super customs have so ive come up with 3 possibilities which are;
-buy a super custom and strip it
-import a 4wd dx hiace (japans base model van, white, 3 seats etc)
-buy a local van and a super custom front cut and convert aus fan to 4wd.

any thoughts on what would be the cheepest or easiest would be great.
thanks for any help you guys can offer
cheers
Adrian

[wa5]

Cheapest and easiest option is to leave the grey imported crap in the city, and purchase a vehicle which has parts readily available in Australia.

Why do you want the AWD? if you are planning to use it off road (especially in sand) you may be very disappointed.

[goodwood]

I'm after a hiace for the practicality of being able to have a bed and a kitchen set up so i can just arrive and sleep, which means i dont always have to rely on camping sights etc and figured that the 4wd hiace would be able to get me that little bit further off the main roads.

[thechuckster]

try importers for an awd wagon - but don't expect any off-road capability.

Perhaps a proper 4WD with pop-up+expanding camper/trailer thing would suit all you requirements (ease of setup, go off-road).

[Jonny Rochester]

If you buy a SuperCustom, you don't have to fully strip it. You only have to take the seats out, which is just a few bolts. There is a good chance you will want to keep the carpet and duel air conditioning.

But I have seen the HiAce 4WD DX vans in Australia also. So there are a couple about. Or just import one, as they would be rare.

The superCustoms and 4WD imported vans use a 4 link rear axle with coil springs. The local tradesman vans use leaf springs.

I think some of the vans are full-time 4WD (with a centre diff). Others a part time 4WD with locking front hubs. Just look at the front hubs. If you can turn the centre for lock or unlock, then its part time 4WD. If it is a 4WD, but the front hubs are fixed, then it's full-time 4WD. There are so many different models.

I think a lot of the parts are from a HiLux. So don't get stoo scared about servicing.

[wa5]

not too many full time AWD Hilux's getting around, do be scared about spares, until you know for sure that there is a local equivalent.

Why would you specifically chase a grey import if you were going to be a thousand miles from anywhere..... you are just asking for trouble should it break something made of unobtainium. or Japaninsixweekium.

[cambelt]

The transfer case is much the same to look at as the 90 series prado .
Still not a good idea to take such a rare beast into remote areas as if anything does go wrong 90% of toyota dealers and also mechanics will take 1 look and see the import factor and shy away.

Dave

[petergoudie]

The 4wd might not be the same as the hilux because all the hiaces retained front independant suspension. The last two model taragos were available in 4WD with compliance plate from Toyota Australia and they used a similar system to the hiace.

[DrNick]

I took one of those on a roadtrip to Kalbarri a few years back and had epic cooling issues with it. The radiator didnt seem to get much air over it and in the 45degree weather it really struggled. Also 4wd or not, it had a lot of trouble in anything sandy, and overheated even more while trying to get it out
That being said it didn't leave us stranded and possibly a better maintained example wouldnt present the same issues.

[Hen]

Are you dead set on 4WD?

My folks have a 1985 Hiace Commuter (YH71??) van converted to a camper. And while 2WD without huge ground clearance it has been all round the country on all sorts of tracks, including plenty of "4WD tracks" (and my parents are well conservative, not really the gung-ho type). Sure there is plenty it wouldn't be able to tackle, but if you take your time, think ahead, walk tricky stuff before driving it etc... then you'll be able to get almost anywhere.

Hen

[goodwood]

thanks everyone for all you help. I'm thinking a 2wd van might be the go. with a decent set of tyres and if possible a bit of extra ground clearance then i should be able to go most places. How similar are the hiaces suspension wise to a 2wd hilux?

[petergoudie]

If you use a hiace fit an LSD to it. The hiace cannot go up the slightest slope in reverse. It spins the wheels because most of the weight is on the front especially with a driver and passenger in it. Provided you stay away from mud & sand you should be able to go forward, as well.

[goodwood]

lsd sounds like a good option... do they use the same diff as hilux's of the same year?

[petergoudie]

I don't know. Let's see if someone else can tell us what lsd will fit.

[Hen]

Most (all??) Hiaces are G series. Hilux LSDs will fit them. There has been some discussion over whether an IRS centre needs a spacer when fitted to a live housing, but I don't know what the final concensus was.

Check the build plate (behind driver's knees) to double check the diff fitted.

Hen