Isuzu Bighorn Land Based Vehicle
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Landbased & Surfcasting
Forum Description: From rocks or beaches, here's the place for the landbased fishos to share information
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=85099
Printed Date: 14 Jun 2026 at 8:43am
Topic: Isuzu Bighorn Land Based Vehicle
Posted By: got no boat
Subject: Isuzu Bighorn Land Based Vehicle
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2012 at 10:17pm
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My mechanic has an 1994 Isuzu Bighorn with a rebuilt engine for sale and was wondering what your thoughts would be as a land based vehicle? Looking at taking the kite/surfcasters down muriwai, towing the jet skis and motorbikes but also as a daily runner. Any thoughts or feedback would be much appreciated. ------------- If a 6 was a nine... I don't mind |
Replies:
Posted By: SufixRockMan
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2012 at 10:35pm
| various mechanics have told me that Isuzu make the most solid diesel engines around |
Posted By: CanadianJohn
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2012 at 10:46pm
| theres a few on here that know much more. but one thing i was told was avoid the 4JX1 motor, the 4JG2 is a good motor. |
Posted By: Brown Dog
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2012 at 7:01am
| I have a 1988 Irmscher Big Horn, motor is absolutely bullet proof, great wagon for fishing. Have been told that certain Isuzu motors should be avoided, |
Posted By: Afternoon Delight
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2012 at 8:05am
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Which engine does it have and auto or manual? Watch out for turbo noise as they cant be rebuilt and are expensive to replace. The 3.1 turbo diesel is a good motor and the trucks are very strong if looked after. Even though it is your mechanic i strongly reccomend a second look from another mechanics workshop. Oh and get a leak down test done. |
Posted By: Kevin.S
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2012 at 8:28am
| I had a bighorn and liked it. Just be careful as if they overheat the whole engine is toast (don't ask how I know). |
Posted By: John_Ra
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2012 at 8:47am
Disagree, But I owned one for 6 odd years, great motor, did overheat it once (my fault left radiator cap off) Got it looked at very minor superficial really. Skimmed it did the valves etc, no hassles after that. My mate 's a diesel fitter so we put it back together... Still is a great work horse... ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
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Kevin.S wrote:Posted By: got no boat
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2012 at 11:24am
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Thanks so much for all the info guys. It is the 3.1 Auto with the 4JG2 motor in it so sounds like it should be the go. Does anyone know what their towing capability is like? ------------- If a 6 was a nine... I don't mind |
Posted By: Michael Jenkins
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2012 at 6:43am
| Why has it been rebuilt? Even the most reliable make/model of vehicles can become a dud after a lifetime of abuse, on the otherhand accidents happen, try find out about what sort of life it's had so you get an idea of how much life is left in everything else. |
Posted By: pashy
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2012 at 11:33am
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I had a Mu for awhile 3L turbo diesel. Pulled a 5.6m ramco around mint. Motor went mint. She didn't like the saltwater too much though.... ------------- dad reakons fishing is 10% brains and 95% muscle, and the rest is just good luck! |
Posted By: jim_bob
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2012 at 1:40am
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I have a Isuzu wizard 1996 with the 4jg2 3.1 diesel and have had no problems on the beach and reliable. ------------- Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. -Dr. Seuss |
Posted By: Fishybznz
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2012 at 10:35am
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Hi mate I had a 1995 manual 3.1D bighorn for a number of years and only just got rid of it as she was getting overly expensive to keep going. Mine travelled literally the entire country top to bottom and spent a huge amount of its life in salt water which its fair to say she didn't much like. Everywhere we went was towing a small boat but a large amount of gear! In over 200,000km I didn't have a single engine fault or problem that required any work - I couldn't say enough good thigns about the Isuzu diesels. However, a few things to consider: I went through a couple of clutches in the last 100k kms, the full monty inc hydraulics etc. Also, discs/drums were fairly regular casualties of the salt water despite fresh water washing. I haven't gone for another bighorn though, depsite the engine being pretty much flawless, (I've gone for the Mazda BT50 ute over the D-Max). The main reason being that on the soft stuff the Bighorn is just a bit too big and heavy and I had a few tricky moments with beach launching. One particularly memorable one with Fisher involved waking a farmer up at 5am, dragging him down to the beach where the wagon was blowing bubbles through it's exhaust as it was underwater on an incoming tide!! But have got stuck a number of times on softer launches (Fletchers, Stony Bay etc) just because of the weight of the wagon compared to its 4wd ability. Still, for the price they're good as gold and I was sad to see the old girl go (found out recently some boys up at Ahipara bought her and are using her on the beach every day!). Over a number of years she'd been from Bluff to Reinga via just about everywhere in between, most of the time with a fair load and apart from a starter motor dying once I never had a mechanical fault that caused a problem on a trip. So much so that I cancelled my AA membership (really!). All that said, I can't vouch for the auto gearbox, but having done a couple of full clutches on the manual, I'd imagine you'd probably want to be prepared for some work there. Hope that helps? ------------- NZFisher: Get your free monthly fishing magazine emailed straight to you. http://www.nzfisher.co.nz |
Posted By: mowerman
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2012 at 10:47am
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Im an owner of a 1995 Bighorn ,300,000ks,manual.. excellent for towing,have recod the motor and diesel pump at 250k.. prior to that had a 1991 bighorn,that was a top vehicle as well .. Just make sure you change oil and filter every..........>>>>> 5000K <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< power steering can leak but easy to repair
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Posted By: got no boat
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2012 at 11:35am
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Thanks for the info guys, Unfortuantely I took it for a test drive the other day and it wasnt as good as it was made out to be but still looking at a few more. Forsyth I will be mainly using it to go up and down beaches not launching boats. Is it only close to the water where you had the problems? I have never been 4wding on a beach before so not too sure what to watch out for. ------------- If a 6 was a nine... I don't mind |
Posted By: Fishybznz
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2012 at 10:12am
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Hey mate Most of the not-so-exciting moments were near the waterline for sure, with one notable exception on soft(ish) sand up in the farthest north e coast. There are a lot of guys on here much better qualified to talk about 4wd driving skills on the beach than me I'm sure! ------------- NZFisher: Get your free monthly fishing magazine emailed straight to you. http://www.nzfisher.co.nz |