Trooper or Fronty - which rules the most?

[CJ]

Please scan through the following thread:

http://www.itocuk.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10489

I will definitely buy one or the other - a LWB 2.8TDi Fronty or a Trooper.

I will lift it a bit, put big knobbly tyres on it, sliders, cut away the bumpers, winch etc.

Which will make the better day to day + RTV motor?

I need it for family duties part time and holiday road trips butr for the majority of its time it will be me and my 4wd club RTV / playday events.

Which is more reliable?

Do I need the extra space in the trooper? (Is there really much difference?)

Which is better built?

Better value?

Arghhh I hate having to make a big decision!

I shall now step back and let battle commence....

[Drift]

If you get the 2.8 Frontera you esentially have a Trooper with a Frontera body, 90% of the rest is the same as an early Trooper.

The biggest bonus would be the Frontera chassis doesnt suffer from the rust problems that so many Troopers have, even the Frontera body doesnt seem to rust as bad.

I think the roof on the frontera is lower but the LWB may be a tad longer than the trooper lwb, (this though)

This is just my observations as Ive not owned a trooper and they may very well have a few redeeming features over the frontera.

But Im a bit bias lol.

[Red Oktober]

Hmmmmmmm ...some very valid points from "over there"...

however .....troopers are well known for their chassis rotting, usually at the body mouting points on the rear end..
obviously we're going to stick up for the frontera's where as they will try to swing you towards the troopers

in my opinion the troopers are big and boxy type vehicles ....where-as the frontera's are quite low on the roof line and quite "squat"
personally i prefer the overall package that the frontera's offer
troopers use the same 4x4 system as our frontera's ..technically we all run troopers but with a better body shape...

if you need a huge double rear door and the posibility of a 7 seater then go for the trooper ...if not then go for the frontera

offroad wise ....
frontera's have the same limitations as the trooper's with the exception of the LSD in the rear axle in the trooper


hope this helps

[CJ]

Ahah - good point.

Can anyone tell me if the LSD from the rear of a Trooper Citation will slot easily into a LWB Frontera 2.8TDi?

Surely someone else has spotted this opportunity?

[Red Oktober]

Paul Higgi is about to do just that to his 2.5tds LWB

the trooper axles should just swap stright over ...(they are technically the same car ....apart from the body)

[Drift]

As Carl said they should fit in just check the ratio's are the same front and rear.

Fronters generally cheaper as it has a vx badge on the front lol.

[alex]

A few things I noticed at Stainby was certain parts are dimensionally the same, but different gauge material.

Trying in vain to remember the part, but many beers that night were consumed.
In valuation I would still have the Frontera. A SWB is a very agile vehicle.

[Tiddles]

What Trooper diff would I need for a 2.4 Fronty

[CJ]

Alex: Which car had the heavier guage metal?

[alex]

We were comparing vx (Monteray) parts and trooper parts from a scrappy and the trooper parts were of heavier gauge. I think it was either a cv cup or a control arm.

That said the body and chassis on the Frontera does seem to have an edge.

[willowkevin]

if its the 2.8 engine that your'e after the fronty is a better bet , most troopers are rotten by now . then the mk2 trooper in diesel is the 3.1 indirect injection , a good tow car by all accounts ,not as cheap to run as the 2.8 ! the auto's have a few problems with the overdrive . vx do the monterey , same as the mk 2 trooper , all troops/montereys are imports . 2.8 frontys allegedly have the two part flywheel which is an expensive repair , also the fronty has an intercooler as standard the mk1 troop doesn't (but the imports do !) they're all good cars ....

[Drift]

We can get DMF conversions to solid flywheels at ORCA for

[CJ]

Hmmm

The thot plickens

[meooo]

both power outputs the same according to Autodata......
113bhp @ 3600 for 2.8
114bhp @3600 for 3.1

but it doesn't give torque outputs for either

[willowkevin]

off topic i know but , ste , reading that link , someone mentions a flywheel fix using hi tensile bolts ? does this work ? how much does it cost ?? just ive got the machinery in my garden shed

[Drift]

Im not sure Kev, but Ill find out

[willowkevin]

nice one ! ive never looked into it as mines 1 piece , i was shocked at the prices

[Drift]

Seems the guy never got back to us

Though JJ has informed the DMF from the 30L fits the 2.8 fronty

There was a guy on ebay reconing them at

[willowkevin]

ive never looked into the dmf tbh , years back when i had a proper job in engineering i refaced a few flywheels , simple enough to do if you got the right machine and know where you're at but ... twas the one where they were fitting them together with bolts that i was interested in .
back on topic !!also remember insurance can be higher for an import !

[Drift]

Interesting Kev, will carry this on in a proper thread


There are specialist insurers for imports, so might not be to bad.

Have to be honest, I like the spec and te look of the Troopers, but the rust issues are the killer for me.
You can fix most things, but at some point you will run out of body and chassis

Though most older troopers have had a hard life with the farm boys if your rural