While a large number of new products with a variety of modern electronic features continue to appear on the mass market of SUVs, many connoisseurs of four-wheel drive vehicles are choosing classic models. Thousands of SUV enthusiasts have proven over the years that vehicles like the Land Rover Defender, Y61 and the Toyota Land Cruiser family are reliable in any situation and on any road. Manufacturers of such cars carefully listen to the wishes of their potential customers, who do not like most modern all-wheel drive vehicles, and therefore, to this day, SUVs familiar to many are produced in small batches. In this test drive, we will talk about the five-door Land Cruiser HZJ76 with a diesel engine, three rows of seats and a manual transmission.
The history of this series of the Land Cruiser family began even before 1984, when the first cars of this series began to roll off the assembly line in the Japanese industrial center Toyota City. This SUV fully reflects all the principles that are laid down in the very first car of this brand Toyota BJ, which appeared three decades ago. It is still considered very reliable and has good cross-country ability. Over time, the off-road vehicle has turned from simple off-road conquerors into a kind of symbol of success with good ability to overcome difficult roads. And even the famous one, which for a long time was a success with fans of classic SUVs, has now gradually turned into a "bloated" crossover.
And yet the time of classic SUVs has not gone anywhere. For those markets where such machines are in demand, the legendary "Hunter" is also produced. The modern version of this jeep, of course, is significantly different from the cars of past years, but it is worth noting that all these changes have made the car only better than its predecessor.
Let's talk about exactly what changes are in question. The design of the model uses the same reliable and powerful frame, and the axles that are driven by the transfer case "lean" on the body using an independent front suspension and a spring rear suspension. The basis of the body is also in many ways similar to previous models, but there are still certain innovations in it. Most notable among them is a new front end and some changes to the car's interior. The characteristic front of the car, thanks to which the Land Cruiser of the "seventieth" series noticeably differs from older versions, appeared in 2007 and greatly rejuvenated the appearance of the classic jeep. The large grille and "crystal" optics of the Toyota Land Cruiser 76 hunter, as well as fog lights and modern bumpers are a bit reminiscent of the modern flagship Land Cruiser 200 and the legendary German Gelendvagen, which has turned from a brutal SUV into a star of social parties.
The interior of the car is distinguished by excellent ergonomics, combined with the simplicity and rigor of a male car. Getting into the car is like getting into a small truck, but the SUV does not feel like a austere car and looks quite pleasant for long trips. The version of the car that was the subject of this test drive has many features to ensure the comfort of the driver and passengers, such as power exterior mirrors, trip computer, full set of power windows, air conditioning, central locking, foldable audio antenna, CD / MP3 player and a large color display. At the same time, the developers paid great attention to the safety of the car. In addition to the standard ABS in the brake drive, the new version has front airbags for the front passenger and driver.
Now let's talk about the "stuffing" of this SUV. Instead of the motors that were used in the first versions of this car, new power units have long been used. Under the hood of the tested car is a six-cylinder engine with a capacity of 129 horsepower and a volume of 4.2 liters. The gearbox in this SUV is a five-speed manual.
And now let's evaluate how the new SUV behaves when driving off-road: on sand, on roads with a lot of stones and small water obstacles. You can immediately see that although the car is designed for off-road driving, the large wheelbase makes the car not as versatile as previous shorter versions of this SUV were. But at the same time, such a car is perfect for long trips by a large company: in addition to two standard rows of seats, there are two more folding benches located along the sides of the body, which can be used if necessary. And all the personal belongings of passengers can be moved to an external trunk, which is installed on the roof. The winch located in the front bumper, as well as the snorkel of the engine compartment and the tow bar give additional brutality to the image of the SUV.
In terms of its driving characteristics on asphalt, the Land Cruiser is a bit like a small truck. This is due to the mass of the car, aerodynamic performance and other points that are associated with the off-road functions of the car.
Video Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ76 test drive
In order to save fuel, all-wheel drive can be turned off, for this, the “razdatki” lever and the rotation of the hubs in the front axle are used. The classic design of the car creates a feeling of confidence, because everything is controlled by mechanics, not electronics, which can behave unpredictably at any moment. The ground clearance of the car is 230 mm, which makes it possible to overcome large pits and other obstacles without fear of damaging the bottom of the car.
As a conclusion, we can say that the "Hunter" has long established itself as a reliable and high-quality SUV, and therefore a wide range of different tunings for this car is offered in many markets.
This is interesting.
Due to the transition from mass production to more limited production, now the "Hunters" are not made at the Toyota City plant, but in Yoshiwara at the Toyota Auto Body plant. During the Somai years of great popularity of this car, it was assembled in Venezuela.
This is interesting.
In addition to diesel versions, today in Russia you can buy a Land Cruiser of the "seventieth" series, equipped with a 1GR-FE gasoline engine. This 4-liter 6-cylinder unit is also available on models such as the Land Cruiser Prado, Tundra, Fortuner, Tacoma and Hilux. The power of this engine is 239 horsepower, and the maximum torque is 337 Nm. In our market, you can only purchase the version with a manual transmission.
This is interesting.
Since the launch of this series of SUVs and until 1999, Toyota has created several body indexes for various versions of such a Toyota Land Cruiser. Versions 70 and 71 were equipped with a shorter wheelbase, and versions 73 and 74 were equipped with a medium wheelbase, versions 75 and 77 were the longest. In 1980, a pickup version of the Land Cruiser 79 appeared, as well as a long-wheelbase two-door version with a removable top to carry a large number of passengers.
After the changes in 2007 and the end of the production of short and medium-sized SUVs, only the four-door "76" model remained on the assembly line, as well as the two-door Troop Carrier model and an updated pickup truck.
Toyota Land Cruiser 76 Hunter off-road video
Specifications SUV Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ76 4.2 LX
6-cylinder diesel engine with 12 valves, 4163 cc cm
Maximum torque 284 Nm
Maximum power 129 horsepower
5-speed manual transmission
Plug-in all-wheel drive
Body dimensions 4685x1690x1910 mm
Fuel tank capacity - 90 liters
Ground clearance - 230 mm
Wheelbase 2730 mm
Curb weight 2430 kg
Nikolai dreamed of building himself an expedition car for a long time. And the prospect of tuning seriously fascinated him, since he began to engage in auto and motorcycle equipment as a child. Now in his garage are a motocross bike and an ATV, both on tracks (!), Audi with sports tuning and even a "penny" with a supercharged 16-valve engine. By the way, in the spring, Nikolai promised to introduce us to this car.
There were many options for the role of a "hunting" car, including the domestic UAZ Hunter. But among the requirements were comfort and reliability, so the choice fell on a Japanese SUV. Driving past the dealership, Nikolai saw a 2005 Toyota Land Cruiser 105 GX with a mileage of 50,000 kilometers. An impeccable technical condition car with a high-torque atmospheric diesel engine 1HZ with a volume of 4.2 liters, with a full set of locks and a manual gearbox, continuous axles ... Plus a minimum of electronics that can suffer in harsh conditions, ease of finishing, as well as hinged tailgate (in the more expensive version of the VX has one door that opens upwards).
The original car turned out to be so good that it was not easy to decide to start improvements: the hand did not rise! Nikolai entrusted the main alterations to the specialists of the TuningPro technical center.
A HUNTING CAR IS NOT ALWAYS A SHAKING AND NOISY "UAZIK". HE CAN BE LIKE TOYOTA
We did not go hunting, but the snow-covered forest near Moscow with narrow paths was enough for Nikolai to demonstrate the amazing cross-country ability of the off-road vehicle.
Our destination is a picturesque medieval village built by filmmakers to shoot some kind of historical film. In summer, you can still get here in a regular car, but since autumn, the site is only accessible to seriously trained all-terrain vehicles, which inspires jeepers. From time to time they gather here for mini-gatherings. Nikolai, who lives nearby, is not easy to resist the temptation to participate in the party. And every time he amazes even the worldly-wise with the capabilities of his car. I also had to make sure that there are no insurmountable obstacles for this SUV. If something happens, he will make his way through the thicket - that's why the power bumpers "in a circle." And if it suddenly gets stuck, a powerful winch will help out. In addition, a huge Hi-Jack is strapped to the roof, and an ax and a shovel are in the trunk. But all this is just for insurance ...
With such an incredible cross-country ability, the car is also comfortable. It is spacious, warm, soft, and even music plays (the owner also took care of a decent audio system). You're just riding like a king.
Naturally, tuning took a lot of time and required a solid financial investment. But Nikolai does not regret what he spent: “For all the time of ownership, I have not been disappointed in the slightest!”
The plans are one, but a serious refinement of the engine - the installation of supercharging to increase power: “There is excellent torque, 285 N.m at 2000 rpm, but only 135 forces. Not enough for highway driving. That's why I decided to install supercharging."
The car turned out really outstanding. As the owner admits, he is in love with her and tries to drive the 105 as often as possible - if not for hunting, then at least for a walk with dogs in a nearby forest or for a party with jeepers, each time getting great pleasure.
List of improvements
Front power bumper ARB
Rear power bumper ARB
Power sills with ARB fender protection
Expeditionary rack ARB, sand-trucks, Hi-Jack
Additional Hella optics
Steel wire ropes
Snorkel (external air intake) Safari
Front winch Come-Up Winch 12000 with Kevlar cable
Viair Stationary Compressor
Suspension OME with 75 mm lift
Pro.Comp Alloys rims, 35" Pro.Comp Xtreme M/T tires
Preheater Webasto
Separ fuel filter with heating, fuel line and tank heating
Overhead console with outdoor light switches
CB radio
Prology 2650T touchscreen head unit
Component front speakers Hertz HSK
Morel component rear speaker
Amplifier Crunch 1800.4
Vibe Active 10" subwoofer
In my opinion...
This car exemplifies the correct, civilized approach to tuning. The owner knew exactly what he wanted to get, and all the improvements were aimed at achieving a specific goal. There is practically nothing superfluous here, with the exception of stickers. But on the other hand, they reflect the mood of Nikolai, who considered that a solid black Land Cruiser is worth a little "cheer". What is especially important, tuning has an absolutely legal status: the author was not afraid of difficulties and received the approval of NAMI specialists. It is also important that all additional equipment can be dismantled, returning the car to its original appearance. Although it is unlikely that Nikolai will ever use this opportunity.
Of course, first of all, we will talk about the legendary participant in the Second World War, whose name has become a household name. On July 17, 1940, Mr. Karl Probst submitted a drawing to the American Bantam automobile company under the name BRC (Bantam Reconnaissance Car).
The first batches of SUVs designed to order for the US armed forces rolled off the assembly lines of three factories at once: Willys Overland, Ford Motor Co. and American Bantam. Each manufacturer has released its own modification - Willys MA, Ford GP and Bantam BRC-40. The people began to call the abbreviation version of the Ford GP (ji pi), but the brand was officially registered only in 1950 by Willys Overland after a long lawsuit with a competing company American Bantam.
By the end of World War II, a total of more than 600,000 military off-road vehicles were produced for the US Army and its allies, of which a batch of 51,000 vehicles entered the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program. In the mid-forties, Willys Overland adapted the military to civilian needs and released a prototype under the CJ index, that is, a Civilian Jeep (civilian jeep).
The new, more comfortable version was equipped with an improved transmission, wipers, a folding tailgate, upgraded headlights, and also equipped the car with a gas tank cap on the rear fender and a spare wheel. CJ became the prototype for subsequent serial modifications, which lasted for several decades. The famous Jeep Wrangler can be considered a modern successor that has retained the traditional external features of the CJ.
Humvee
In 1979, the Pentagon announced a competition for the creation of a "highly mobile multipurpose wheeled vehicle" - HMMWV (High Mobility Mulipurpose Wheeled Vehicle). A combat vehicle called Humvee was developed by AM General, and in 1981 it entered service with the United States. It was easy to operate, lightly armored, on which various weapons were easily installed. He received his baptism of fire in the early 1990s during the Desert Storm military operation against Iraq in the Persian Gulf.
Taking into account the experience gained in 1992, the Americans created an upgraded version of the M-1097 with a reinforced suspension and increased payload. At the same time, General Motors launched a civilian version of the Humvee called the Hummer H1. Ten years later, the production of a modernized version of the H2 started, and in 2005 the model range was replenished with the new H3. At first, brutal SUVs were a success, which soon faded away, and the GM division had financial difficulties.
The last two models were assembled in Russia at Kaliningrad for three years, as a result of which 5,000 American SUVs entered our market. However, in 2010, GM liquidated the Hummer division due to unprofitability.
Merceds-Benz Gelandewagen
The first attempts to create Gelandewagen, which means “off-road vehicle” in German, were made back in 1926, when the Mercedes-Benz G1 was born with a second rear axle to improve cross-country ability. Eleven years later, the agile G5 compact SUV with a unique front and rear wheel swivel system rolled off the assembly line.
The revival of Gelandewagen began in 1975, when one of the shareholders, and part-time Iranian Sheikh Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, ordered 20,000 SUVs from Mercedes-Benz for his army. By that time, the German manufacturer, together with the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, had developed a project for a universal car, codenamed H2, which the royal lady liked. However, in connection with the revolution that broke out in Iran, the sheikh hastily fled to the United States, and the new government completely refused to fulfill the terms of the contract with the Germans. Those, in turn, by that time had already managed to spend huge sums on preparing the SUV for mass production.
As a result, the car still left the assembly line and was useful to the armed forces of Germany, Argentina, Norway and other countries. Over time, the volume of production of civilian versions of the Gelandewagen exceeded the circulation of military versions, and glossy magazines began to write about the German SUV as a "style icon". Unfortunately, in the Russian capital, the German model has recently often appeared in reports of incidents involving.
Toyota Land Cruiser
Jeep in the middle of the 20th century won the hearts of the Japanese military so much that in the early 1950s they literally cloned the "American soldier" and called it simply and honestly - Toyota Jeep. The first prototype was a copy of the Willys MA, and the initial batch of SUVs was also intended for military use. The launch of the production model Toyota BJ started in 1953, and when three years later the Japanese decided to sell it abroad, a new name appeared - Land Cruiser, which can be translated as "land cruiser".
Adapted for the civilian consumer, the 20th series included several modifications with different body types and wheelbases, and the design licked from the Americans with minor changes was also a success for another thirty years. Recall that currently the ninth generation 200 is offered on the world market.
UAZ-460
Two prototypes of the future centenarian, now known as, were designed in the late 1950s by a group of engineers led by P.I. Muzyukin by order of the armed forces of the Soviet Union. One of them - UAZ-460 - borrowed a dependent suspension from the famous "Loaf", and the other - UAZ-470 - received an independent one, previously developed for a concept amphibious vehicle. Testing and refinement of the new SUV in total continued until 1972, when the UAZ-469B replaced the famous GAZ-69 on the conveyor.
First of all, it was distributed among military units and border outposts of the Union republics, as well as the countries of the Warsaw Pact. The model was produced in several military, civilian, medical and police modifications and was distinguished by good off-road potential, but at the same time Spartan conditions.
While a wide variety of new products with all sorts of electronic functions appear on the mass market of SUVs, most connoisseurs of four-wheel drive cars prefer classic models. Thousands of SUV fans throughout their history have seen first hand that vehicles such as the Land Rover Defender, as well as the Toyota Land Cruiser family, are reliable in any situation under any road conditions. The manufacturers of these cars pay great attention to the wishes of their potential buyers, who have a negative attitude towards modern all-wheel drive vehicles and therefore are currently releasing SUVs familiar to many in small batches. In this test drive, we will tell you in detail about the 5-door Land Cruiser HZJ76, equipped with a diesel engine and a manual transmission.
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The beginning of the story
The beginning of the history of the Land Cruiser family happened a little earlier than 1984, when the very first cars of this series began to roll off the assembly line of the Japanese industrial center Toyota City. The SUV fully complies with all the principles that were laid down in the very first cars of the Toyota BJ brand, which appeared almost 30 years ago. It is still very reliable and has good cross-country ability. Over the years, the off-road vehicle has evolved from being an ordinary off-road conqueror to a true symbol of success with excellent off-road capability. And even the famous Land Cruiser Prado, which has long been the most successful among fans of classic SUVs, has gradually become a "bloated" crossover.
And yet the time of classic SUVs is not over yet. For those markets where they are still in demand, the legendary "Hunter" is produced. The modern version of this car, of course, has significant differences compared to the car of past years, but it should be noted that each of these changes makes the car only better than its predecessor.
Let's take a look at what exactly has changed. The design of the model uses the same reliable and powerful frame. The axles, driven by the transfer case, “lean” on the car body, using the rear spring suspension and independent front suspension for this. The basis of the body, for the most part, also resembles previous models, however, certain innovations are still present in it. The most noticeable innovation is a new front end, as well as certain changes in the interior of the SUV.
The already familiar front part of the car, thanks to which the “seventieth” series was noticeably different from previous versions, first appeared in 2007, noticeably rejuvenating the appearance of the classic jeep. The large radiator grille and “crystal” optics of the car, combined with fog lights and modern bumpers, make the car look like a modern flagship 200, as well as the well-known German “Gelandewagen”, which has turned from a brutal SUV into a car for various secular parties.
The interior is quite ergonomic, combines the simplicity and rigor of a real car for men. Getting into a car is somewhat similar to getting into a small truck, but at the same time, an SUV is not at all an ascetic car, it looks quite pleasant and comfortable. The version of the car that became the hero of this test drive has many features to ensure the comfort of drivers and passengers. These functions include:
- electric exterior mirrors
- on-board computer
- air conditioner
- power windows
- foldable audio antenna
- central locking
- CD/MP3 player
- large color display.
The developers paid a lot of attention to the issue of car safety. In addition to the standard anti-lock braking system, front airbags were installed in the new version.
Technical features
Now let's discuss the "stuffing" of this SUV. In addition to the engines that are used in the first versions of this car, new power units have long been used. Under the hood of the tested SUV is a six-cylinder engine with a power of 129 hp and a volume of 4.2 liters. This SUV uses a five-speed manual transmission.
Now let's look at how the SUV will behave when driving off-road: on roads with a lot of stones and small water obstacles, on sand, and so on. First of all, I would like to note that, despite the fact that the car is considered an SUV, the large wheelbase makes the car not as versatile as all its previous versions were. At the same time, the car is ideal for long trips in a large company: in addition to the two mandatory rows of seats, there are two more folding benches that are located along the sides of the body. Most passengers' belongings can be stowed in an external trunk, which is located on the roof of the car. An additional brutality to the image of the car is given by a winch, which is located in the front bumper.
The driving characteristics of the Land Cruiser on pavement are reminiscent of those of a small truck. This can be explained by the mass of the car, its aerodynamic performance and some other points that are closely related to the off-road functions of the car.
In order to further save fuel, all-wheel drive can be turned off altogether. To do this, you just need to turn the "razdatka" lever and turn the hubs in the front axle. The traditional SUV design creates a feeling of confidence, since everything in the car is controlled by mechanics, and not by electronic systems that can fail or start to work unpredictably at any time.
The ground clearance of the car is 230 millimeters, which makes it possible to overcome large pits and other obstacles without fear of damaging the bottom of the car.
In conclusion, we can say that " Hunter»has long been able to establish itself as a reliable and high-quality SUV, so many car markets have a wide range of different tuning for this car.
Due to the transition from mass production to a more limited production, the Hunter is currently not produced at the Toyota City plant, but at the Toyota Auto Body plant, which is located in Yoshiwara. When the car was more popular, it was made in Venezuela.
In addition to the diesel version of the car, currently in our country you can buy the Land Cruiser of the "seventieth" series, which is equipped with a 6-cylinder 1GR-FE gasoline engine with a volume of 4 liters. Its power is 236 horsepower, and the maximum torque is 337 Nm. In our car market there is a version only with a manual transmission.
From the moment the production of this series of SUVs began and until 1999, Toyota made a number of body indexes for different versions of the Toyota Land Cruiser. The 70 and 71 versions were equipped with a shorter wheelbase, the 73 and 74 versions had a medium wheelbase, and the 75 and 77 versions were the longest. Released in 1980 Pickup version of the Land Cruiser 79, as well as a long two-door version with a removable top, which made it possible to carry more passengers.
After the changes were made in 2007 and the production of mid-base and short SUVs was completed, only the four-door model of the 76 version, the two-door Troop Carriet model, and an updated pickup truck remained in the previous production.
Specifications
- Diesel six-cylinder engine with 12 valves
- Maximum power - 129 hp
- Five-speed manual gearbox
- All-wheel drive with the ability to disable
- Body dimensions - 4685x1690x1910 mm
- Ground clearance - 230 millimeters
- Wheelbase - 2730 millimeters.
- Curb weight - 2430 kilograms
Why is the company still dictating fashion, and to some extent the direction of technical development, continues to produce obsolete archaic SUVs? Okay, in Colombia, where the "seventy" rolls off the assembly line of the Toyota Sofasa plant. There are probably no roads. But in Japan?! Apparently, in the Land of the Rising Sun, there are still jeepers, who value tractor traction and continuous bridges more than comfort and controllability. We, the people of Irkutsk, only feel good about it. Because no, no, yes, these cars enter our market.
In all the variety of off-road vehicles created in the last 10-15 years, it is unlikely that there will be at least five copies whose off-road qualities will be at the level of those uncompromising "rogues" that were produced at the dawn of jeep building. The times are not right now. Serve customers, you know, comfort and smoothness, dynamics and controllability. And few of the four-wheel drive fans are now thinking about real off-road qualities. Nevertheless, some global manufacturers still left honest off-road fighters in their lineups. Among those, of course, is Toyota, which still produces the seventieth series of Land Cruisers. And within its framework, by God, the real decoration of the entire Toyota jeep family is the three-door mid-base HZJ 73, nicknamed Hunter. This car is more than rare, it is a curiosity even in Japan itself. What can we say about Siberia. Although there are still a dozen "hunters" in our area. I got to know one of them.
Life goes on
In October 2003, Series 70 will turn 14 years old. As many as 14 years of non-stop production, during which the car was modernized more than once. For example, various engines were transplanted under the hood. At first, a dead 2L-T in its various modifications was used as a unit. Then came the three-liter KZ. And just recently, the Land Cruiser 70 received from the older brother of the 80 series a 4.2-liter naturally aspirated diesel "six" and a 4.5-liter gasoline also R6. Changed the "seventies" and appearance. Once upon a time, the jeep was produced with square head optics. Now, round headlights are located on the front end, which give the car a resemblance to the "fortieth".
This is with regard to the Land Cruiser 70 in the long-wheelbase five-door and short-wheelbase three-door versions. The medium-sized Hunter with a base increased by 29 cm compared to the "short man" has always been a renegade. For nothing that appeared only a year after the debut of the entire family. It also differed from its relatives specifically. He was originally stylized as the "forties" BJ / FJ. And at the same time, he immediately acquired large-volume 4.2- and 4.5-liter units. In this form, the Hunter has survived to this day.
No alternative
"Hunter", which will be discussed, was purchased in November 2001. Purchased after a long study of any off-road literature that came to hand. After all, the experience of operating the Japanese second-hand at that time was completely absent. There was only a "Niva" - a five-door, which did not suit the off-road because of the long base and a weak engine. The result of the collection of information was a great desire to acquire exactly Hunter. Therefore, having found one on the market, without much hesitation, I bought it. Moreover, for several months of searching, "Hunter" was found in a single copy. Some sort of exclusive.
The car caught the debut of 1990, without a run, with the same 4.2-liter 1HZ, without a turbine, with a capacity of 130 hp. With. That's just the transmission was automatic. Such a jeep, which climbs off-road, does not seem to be quite suitable. However, subsequent experience showed that the automatic transmission in the mud is quite capable. In addition, it is very, very reliable even with long wheel slip. But the clutch with improper handling has to be changed often.
In general, Hunter arranged for everyone. And the engine, and the box, and both solid beams, and spring suspension, and even more so the all-wheel drive system. The latter, having no center differential, was also not a "classic". The fact is that 4WD on the "Hunter" is turned on by two buttons - H4 and Hub Lock. The first connects the "razdatka" with the front driveshaft. The second includes electric motors in the hubs that block the axle shafts. What is not the most advanced scheme that ensures the complete disconnection of all front components of the transmission from the transfer case. And thus significantly increasing their resource. In addition, convenient automatic hubs eliminate the need to get out to manually block them. Plus there is a reduced one. In a word, the all-wheel drive of the HZJ 73 at first glance was not something that I liked, but, let's say, did not inspire any fears. However, after some time this opinion changed to a diametrically opposite one. Because the hubs failed. More precisely, the electric motor was covered only at one overrunning clutch. Nevertheless, this required disassembly of the hub, amputation of this very motor and jamming the hub tightly. Of course, it was possible to leave only the rear-wheel drive, but such a solution to the problem is at least not serious. How to ride off-road? However, blocking tightly is a temporary measure. Still, now the axle shafts are constantly spinning, only the clutch in the "razdatka" is turned off. But the Hunter's transmission must not have been designed for this.
Therefore, it was decided to change the hubs. And not on automatic, but on manual. Painfully electronics in our conditions is unreliable. But ... "Hunter" is generally a rare guest in Irkutsk. Especially in demolitions. At the same time, overrunning clutches are not suitable for other Toyota jeeps (for example, from Surf). Yes, and it is not possible to remake them, for example, from UAZ ones, as Safari owners often do. As a result, I had to order parts not just anywhere, but in Moscow.
The heart of a locomotive
In the material on the BJ43 ("A + C" N13/2003), I said that the three-liter 3V develops truly diesel traction. Perhaps I exaggerated a little. No, the torque at 3V is really good, but at 1HZ it is better, that is, higher! Moreover, its maximum is also reached at extremely low speeds. This circumstance helps out a lot in deep mud or snow, in which you have to move tight. And also on the ups and downs.
At the same time, during almost a year and a half of operation, some problems were revealed that are not typical for the "cargo" and archaic 3B (apparently, the further progress moves, the more difficulties arise with its implementation). So, at some point after the motor diagnostics, the owner was forced to change the plunger pair. Looks like 1HZ didn't like our solarium. Either there is a lot of water in it, or sulfur, or something else, or maybe all at once. One way or another, but the plunger "covered itself."
In addition to him, the owner was seriously digging with a starter. He did not want to turn off after starting the engine. Eventually, of course, it burned down. They removed it, disassembled it and, in the absence of a selling analogue, repaired it. They rewound the coil and inserted nickels from the KAMAZ starter. Otherwise, the atmospheric "six" does not require special treatment. The camshaft is located in the block - fuss with a belt or chain is excluded in principle. The voltage in the on-board network is 24 V - a pair of batteries will turn anything. Even frozen to a monolith oil. Therefore, if in summer the engine receives Agip 15W40 "mineral water", then in winter it is only BP "semi-synthetics" with a viscosity of 10W30. True, the Hunter is in a warm garage. So change the oil with filters, fill in diesel fuel and drive without problems. What the owner of the "Hunter", in fact, does.
Almost an armored personnel carrier
Reliable still once created machines. I mean in terms of "walking". This is now, when even cool SUVs sometimes completely switch to independent suspensions, the advantages of continuous axles can easily be turned into disadvantages. Then, in 1990, jeep manufacturers were only switching to independent schemes, and even then only in front. Solid beams served as a stronghold of a large resource and reliable off-road movement. Moreover, in principle, their design at Toyota has not changed since 1954 - the time the 40 series appeared. That is, everything that I saw at BJ, I found at Hunter - the gearboxes are shifted to the side, the beam is attached to the steering knuckle using tapered bearings, springs are under the bridge. Powerful and almost indestructible scheme. In addition, she has another advantage - simplicity. No ball or silent blocks. In addition, the rear shock absorbers are suitable from the Volga. Well, the springs... There was a hitch with the springs, which the owner of the Hunter decided to somehow change. I wanted to lift the sagging car a little. But having found offers for the sale of springs (yes, not simple ones, but increasing the distance from the ground to the body by as much as 7.5 cm), the owner was very surprised. It was proposed to pay $860 for the kit. Not weak! In general, while from this idea refused. I ordered standard springs from one of the companies, which, however, also cost a pretty penny, but still cheaper than those that involve lifting.
On the suspension more decisively no spending. And this despite the fact that Hunter constantly gets out on the road, where there is no place for all these civilized jeeps like "SUV".
Matter of rubber
Without a doubt, off-road "Hunter" in his environment. Diesel torque on the bottoms, hard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance determine good off-road qualities. The only thing missing from the car is a self-locking rear differential. By the way, many jeepers face a similar problem.
And in mud and snow, the "rubber" issue is very acute. We were once again convinced of this in the same "sandbox" where a jeep trial took place a month before. Some semblance of roads, which had become sour for four weeks, did not want to accept Falken tires of dimension 265 / 75R15 with a slightly worn tread at all. And although Hunter plunged into the mud baths with pleasure, he did not take the climb, which he climbed without problems during the trial. A little bit he did not have enough to the top - he twitched, huddled in convulsions and rolled down. Only the driver shook his head. So "rubber" is the head of everything.
Summing up, I will not romanticize the image of Hunter. His fans will do it for me. I would rather touch on the pragmatic aspect of operating such an uncompromising jeep. After all, many admirers of SUVs refuse to buy them precisely because of the high cost of maintenance. And what do we see in the case of the "Hunter"? Virtually no repairs for almost a year and a half of use. The starter does not count - they managed on their own. The stuffing box of the "handout" - who doesn't happen to it, and, for sure, everything will cost a penny. Springs? Someone, I'm sure, would have refused to replace it or would have started to get smart with UAZ spare parts. All some kind of economy. The plunger pair remains. Well, we live in Russia. So, it turns out that the repair of the "Hunter" is not too financially burdensome.
Another thing is service. Estimate, you need to pour a bucket of oil into the engine, change the filters. And this is after 5 thousand km. Further, a bucket of antifreeze enters the cooling system. Two liters of transmission in the gearboxes, and there is also a "razdatka" and a gearbox. In the end, remember the tires of a completely wild off-road dimension, each of which will pull out a good amount. In a word, the Hunter service (and indeed any other large jeep) is expensive. But damn, it's a good car.
