Some Help Looking For Cartopper, help keep me clear of the bunyips! Options

[MartinF]

Hi guys,

For my trip round Oz I'm looking for a tinny to use as a cartopper.

Ideally it would be no bigger than 3.5 meters (about 12ft) so I can still easily load it by myself without having to invest in an expensive loading system.

For outboard I'm looking at a 15 or 18hp 2 stroke. If it's got a smaller engine but if the boat and price are alright it's fine too, I can always trade it in for a bigger one somewhere if I need to.

For safety I guess something with a v-hull and a bit higher sides would be nice but it has to still be able to go on top of a car. Other than that I'm not too fussed about what make it is. I think a lot of people use the Quintrex Dart for this purpose.

Price range no more than $2500. It would probably come with a trailer, since almost all do, but I don't need that, would have to get rid of it somehow I guess.

Any help is much appreciated. I've been looking at ebay and tradingpost and so far only really seen 2 that are somewhat near Sydney. Don't mind driving for a bit but I guess around 100-150k's is about the max distance.

Thanks guys.

Also on a side note, I'm still looking for a car although I've seen some likely ones. 60-series Landcruiser preferred or a GQ Patrol would be good as well. Dual fuel would be awesome cause I'm a tight arsed backpacker type but diesel would be the best from a maintenance perspective.. still struggling with that choice a bit tbh and not too many dual fuel ones around anyway. So if you know someone who's selling one with a roo bar that is in decent shape and no more than say $6000, please let me know as well.

You can send me a PM for my phonenumber as well

[nimrod]

Martin. Tell you what I will do for you, and it is only an offer
so don't feel like you are under any sort of obligation.
I have a 12' alloy flat bottom square nose punt here that I don't use any more.
It is only suitable for lakes and rivers, as it is pretty shallow.
If you don't get anything that suits you, I will lend you this boat to take on your travels
and you can just drop it back to me when you are going home.
I don't have a motor for it at the moment but it only needs between a 6 hp and a 9.9 hp.
With a 6 it pokes along quiet nicely with a 9.9 you really need to hang on tight.
So what this means is it won't cost you a lot of money to get on the water.

The best roof rack for he boat would be a old telecom ladder rack and cut the centre
ribs out, they have rollers at the end and skids that the sides of boat
can slide on for easy getting down and putting up.

This punt is a roughy so it wouldn't matter if you dropped it on stones etc etc etc
and can be manouvered one up for launching etc.
As for the other stuff I will PM you shortly, have to do a few things at the moment.
Have a think about it mate and the punt is here IF you want it.

[boris]

Hey Frank mate... You're good man...

[Jumpus GooDarus]

Very kind offer Frank & prob a good idea as well to have a punt that way Bunyip Man wont be tempted to venture outside to places he shouldn't be thinking off

[nimrod]

It's not pretty to look at



But is is a means of floating on top of the water and driving across it.

This post has been edited by nimrod: Apr 15 2008, 11:17 PM

[Spudly]

Martin, you should find plenty of patrols or 60 series crusiers for that price..

Check out Just 4x4 magazine and the trading post..

Id go with diesel as travelling you are less likly to have problems..

If you need to get the car checked out I can put on to a 4x4 shop that will look after you.

[MartinF]

Frank, that's very nice of you! Thanks, I will defo think about it. When you say rivers though.. would that only be pretty sheltered ones? Cause I wouldn't be taking it out on the ocean anyway of course but some of the rivers here in Oz are plenty big enough with quite a bit of wave action. Wouldn't want to go down of course

Rump. There's actually not as many around as I had hoped at the moment. Problem is also that I'm a little limited as to where I can look as I obviously don't have transportation at the moment. I'd like to get a diesel but if I look at the simple economy of it, it's hard to justify. The fuel is just so much more expensive..

I looked at a nice '91 GQ yesterday which I think I can get for around $5500 but it's petrol.. I'm really partial to the landcruisers myself but so is everyone else which means they sell very quickly and at higher prices as well.

If you know of a good one that you think might be worth it, I have no problem with traveling out from Sydney, it's just that it gets a bit expensive to go all around to look at cars that turn out not to be so great after all.

[nimrod]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TROOP-CARRIER_W0QQi...1QQcmdZViewItem

Martin if you see something that is a bit away that you need to travel to.
Give me a buz and pay for petrol and I could drive you to have a look at it.

This post has been edited by nimrod: Apr 16 2008, 01:18 AM

[nimrod]

Visit My Website

Perhaps you might want to consider a ute.
Don't think the kid changing the wheel comes with the package.

This post has been edited by nimrod: Apr 16 2008, 01:43 AM

[SUMOFISHIN]

Hi Martin,
a Mate of mine called in today and left me his 4WD to sell Its a 95 4ltr Fuel injected Jeep Cherokee Sport, with everything that opens and shuts, includes Big Alloy Bull Bar & Reece Tow Bar, elec windows, central locking Keyless entry, He had it inspected Today and Registered for 12 Months today, it ran out of rego last Wednesday so all but 1 week rego.
He has asked me to sell it for $5900 ONO and said he will take $5200 thats not a bad price considering the rego was $650 today. Send me a PM if you're interested.

Forgot to mention it has genuine roof racks, and he tells me it does about 12 litres per 100 klms 8 ks per litre

This post has been edited by SUMOFISHIN: Apr 16 2008, 02:06 AM

[nimrod]

Hi Martin,
a Mate of mine called in today and left me his 4WD to sell Its a 95 4ltr Fuel injected Jeep Cherokee Sport, with everything that opens and shuts, includes Big Alloy Bull Bar & Reece Tow Bar, elec windows, central locking Keyless entry, He had it inspected Today and Registered for 12 Months today, it ran out of rego last Wednesday so all but 1 week rego.
He has asked me to sell it for $5900 ONO and said he will take $5200 thats not a bad price considering the rego was $650 today. Send me a PM if you're interested.

Forgot to mention it has genuine roof racks, and he tells me it does about 12 litres per 100 klms 8 ks per litre

Martin. that sounds like a really good deal that Sumo has, and I could run you up there to have a look at it whenever you like, as I say just pay for fuel.

[SUMOFISHIN]

Frank, you know you and Martin are welcome at my place anytime ,and I have a 40ft motorhome sitting in the yard, if Martin want's the vehicle I can deliver it, as I was going to fly down or catch a Train next week to pick up another car for my Daughter and it would be easier to drive a vehicle I didn't have to bring back. but if he want's to have a look by all means come up for a run and stay a couple of days.

Bye the way this jeep is immaculate it's done 220,000klms it'd be just run in.

This post has been edited by SUMOFISHIN: Apr 16 2008, 02:28 AM

[Spudly]

Dont look down on me guys.. Please....

But Martin? if you are planning on any travel to remote areas or on outback / corrogated roads.. You re better sticknig with you crusier or patrol, and i will give a few reasons.

1. PARTS! Ovbviosly, crusiers and patrols rule the bush and are much easier to get fixed if somthing goes wrong!
2. Strengh! Crusiers and patrols both use solid axle suspension and have a seperate body / chassis, Much stronger.

Sorry.. Sumo... Not trying to talk him out of it, But, if he plans on remote travel the its wise to stick with what works..

Martin, Dont rule out the very capable toyota 4runners either if its a wagon you are after, but stay away from the 2.4l Surfs. The 3l Surfs are ok.

[MartinF]

Actually I agree with Rum on this one.. thanks for the offer though Sumo.

I did look at some mitsu pajero's. Had a look at a really nice Discovery today. Thing is, you get a lot more bang for your buck because they are not so popular here in Oz but there's probably a good reason for that.. even just the availability of the parts like Rum says. It's a tough decision cause you get a '94/'96 discovery for the same price as a late 80's cruiser.

Frank, regarding the link you put up, I would like to get a vehicle with a rear seat so I can bring some people along with me to share the fuel cost, and just for company, so that sort of rules out the utes and troopies.

Would be great if you can drive me out somewhere though. I'll have another good look around tomorrow morning (when I get free internet again) and will get back to you on that, thanks.

So just to summarize.. preferably a cruiser or patrol, with backseat, fuel not as important although dual fuel would be great.. need good roo bars and things like dual battery system, winch and spots are a bonus

[Spudly]

Actually Marin, you raise a good point.. There is not alot wrong with the old discovery's either.. I used to work on them alot and although im not a massive fan cause of little niggly things, its probably not a bad option.

The 300tdi would be the pick..

Im hoping most of you skip over that cause im almost embaressed to say it!!!

[nimrod]

This one might be worth a look.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1991-Nissan-Patrol-...Grey-5-Speed-M-

OK will have to try again

On gas, don't know how much rego it has, and I sure if you waved $6000 under his nose he would jump at it.

This post has been edited by nimrod: Apr 16 2008, 04:11 AM

[salty fil]

Dont look down on me guys.. Please....

But Martin? if you are planning on any travel to remote areas or on outback / corrogated roads.. You re better sticknig with you crusier or patrol, and i will give a few reasons.

1. PARTS! Ovbviosly, crusiers and patrols rule the bush and are much easier to get fixed if somthing goes wrong!
2. Strengh! Crusiers and patrols both use solid axle suspension and have a seperate body / chassis, Much stronger.

Sorry.. Sumo... Not trying to talk him out of it, But, if he plans on remote travel the its wise to stick with what works..

Martin, Dont rule out the very capable toyota 4runners either if its a wagon you are after, but stay away from the 2.4l Surfs. The 3l Surfs are ok.

I also have to totally agreee there. I was going to write the same thing but went out to dinner.
Last year i travelled all the way to the top of OZ and back in 5 weeks. 11 000 km. I done it in a Toyota Hilux and really put her through hell. She did not falter one bit, actually i felt she was begging for more.
Martin, in all those remote places i was at the most common 4wd i saw was Toyota. If i was to ever do a big round the country trip i would not do it in anything but a Toyota.
Everyone i have met along my travels who has one can only talk good things about them. And up North QLD they REALLY give their cars hell.

[salty fil]

Also, the Toyota 4 runner is a terrific car, its just like the Hilux. But i was always told to stay away from the Toyota Surf cause their an import or something like that and apparantly they are complete shi7boxes. 2 of my mates had them and they had major problems with them. I cant exactly remember the politics of what makes them different but i do remember telling myself i will stay away from them. Rum can maybe correct me on this.

[Spudly]

Also, the Toyota 4 runner is a terrific car, its just like the Hilux. But i was always told to stay away from the Toyota Surf cause their an import or something like that and apparantly they are complete shi7boxes. 2 of my mates had them and they had major problems with them. I cant exactly remember the politics of what makes them different but i do remember telling myself i will stay away from them. Rum can maybe correct me on this.

No worries mate, there have been 2 versions of the surf brought into the country, most popular was the 2.4l version which was from the start a dog of a motor and had al sorts of problems. There are also 3l versions going around which in early days were also hard to find parts for untill toyota upgraded our aussie hilux's to the same motor as the older model 3l surfs, therefore all the parts became available, so basically that are a gen 2 4 runner with the gen 3 hilux motor in them. The auto box's in these (hilux/4runners) are an extremly tough box and like yuo say.

They are a great car, that can handle alot of punishment and get you most places, Only limited by the inderpendant front suspension. As long as you dont bounce on rocks with heaps of wheelspin to much you will have no problems. My old one had a 2" lift (max you can go with IFS without massive mod's) and only being the 2.8d had a turbo fitted and ran 32" muddies and a rear locker! People wouldnt beileive the roads i took it without seeing it for themselves.

[nimrod]

Hey maybe you should buy my Range Rover 88 model only done 90000 has bull bar tow bar roof bars back seat twin batterys has air compressor with resovoir for pumping up tyres after driving on beach could throw some driving lights on it and rod holders ( although they are illegal ) has under body bump bars for tight places. Don't have a winch but could throw a hand winch in.
Give me $5200 and I will buy Sumos Jeep.

This post has been edited by nimrod: Apr 16 2008, 04:38 AM