New to Pinzgauer, learning and shopping ~

[edward]

Well not sure if I should post this here or in the Classifieds!

My cousin in CA bought a 710 a year or so ago, and I am hooked. I don't own one - yet - but have been looking around and getting an idea of what I would like. I just don't know which specific model to pursue, so maybe someone can point me the right direction..?

To start, I am in SE Alaska and have 4 kids; 3 teens and one is almost there. Yes, I still have some hair left through it all I am mechanically inclined (aviation mech for years) but limited in tooling resource due to life events, and my move here a few years ago.

So here is what I am taking into consideration:

I would like a 6x6, and maybe it would need to be customized before I got it, I don't know. Not a lot of options to chose from for detail or custom shops here on this island, however there are a lot of boat builders and welders, which translates to metal fab options.

If the 6x6's come with the aft side doors (5 door?), I would want that (do they?). Or at least, I would like a pass-through from the front cab to the back and vice versa. (Can't be a dad and not say "Don't make me reach back there" and not be able to follow-up )

Also would like it to be diesel, or if it is not, then can they be changed over very easily? Petro is around $5/gal right now

edit: forgot to add: looking for a hardtop model.

Also since they are Swiss, I am assuming they have heat inside although mostly I see them with cooling fans mounted, but those look like ones in desert areas. Its rather cool here, so heat might be nice!

Thanks for any help or advice, and if I need to post in Classifieds section, please let me know. Some of you I may have come across before joining here, and one person I have sent a message to about their pinz thats for sale...thanks again for the help

So thats what I am looking for. Is this realistic to hope for one like this?

[westernair]

Walkthrough and cabover pinz is not possable. Side door pinz's are very hard to find in the 6x6 configuration. 4x4 models are much easer to find. If diesel is what you want consider contacting Scott at Expedition Imports, as he has a few right now. Note that the later diesel models are nearly impossable to find here in the states so if interested I would suggest contacting him soon.
Building a custom hard top is an option either Scott's shop could do or a boat builder could do.
Scott advertises at the top of the page

[edward]

Thanks for the info. I'll give Scott a shout.

[totaljoint]

Edward:
Do a search on this site for "718" or "Diesel", that would be the diesel 6 wheel version. There are a few for sale (Check the sponsor Expedition Imports or Swiss Army Vehicles).
http://real4x4forums.com/PinzgauerBBS/v ... f=8&t=6239
http://real4x4forums.com/PinzgauerBBS/v ... f=8&t=6555
http://www.expedition-imports.com/categ ... pinzgauer/

I would recommend doing the search and reading the posts on them as there are many pros and cons. 6x6 gas are more common, are though by most to be more stable if slower driving than the 4x4. Check EI's website for the possibility of putting in side doors on a 6x6 vs. 4x4. That has been commented on here a lot too.

SE Alaska is a wet area. Keep that in mind when looking at a 35 year old, rag top, air cooled vehicle.

Removing the cargo grate behind the driver/passenger seats allows for crawl through to the back but has been noted on some posts to lessen the structural integrity of the roll bar:


I have a roll cage so I don't worry about it:

Gasoline/propane/electrical heaters can be added (very different safety and effectiveness profiles). An insulated top makes a BIG difference tuffriverstuff.com


In any case, I would recommend 3 things:
1. review the vehicle carefully yourself ( SDPpinzgauer.org has a buyer's checklist ), buy from a reputable dealer, or from a member of these forums (vehicles are usually well loved here).
2. Drive the vehicle and live with it for a while before you embark on "upgrades" and modifications.
http://real4x4forums.com/PinzgauerBBS/v ... =18&t=6477 Again, search here on those terms to see what others did, or would do again with their trucks.
3. Talk with someone who has experience in Pinzgauer mods before you do anything radical.
Fat Fabrications does lots of Pinz mods/cages, Goatwerks in southern CA specializes in Pinz engine upgrades (EFI/2.7liter), and our sponsor, of course.

You and your family will have a great adventure with one!

[westernair]

I turned my 710K into a 9 seater. Side doors, hard top. Also removed the cage seperating the front and the back so I could reach back and bonk my kid on the head when acting up.

[texas pinzgauer]

For Alaska, I'm thinking you want a K, not an M. As others have noted, a 712K is a very rare beast in the US. There have been a couple that I recall our discussing here on the forum but that's like one in the past 4 or 5 years. Maybe available in Canada?

You're asking a lot of the basic questions which is to say, those are questions that all of us have asked at some time or another so they've likely been asked and answered here on the forum. Spend some time going through past topics and I suspect you'll find many answers to questions you have and some you're fixin' to have.

I would think Alaska would be ideal territory for Pinzgauer ownership. You'll enjoy this vehicle there, I'm sure of it.

[edward]

@totaljoint and @westernair, thanks for the info and advice, I will start doing some reading. As much as I would like to have one as early as last week, looks like i have a bit to read up on!

@texas pinzgauer yup, thanks, I need to do a search of the forums. I didn't read back too far into archives or older posts, so will do that. Need to find out difference between the K and M models, too...

Thank you to all for making me feel welcome and letting me ask my questions. I hope this leads to a nice new (to me) family vehicle that will last a long time

[edward]

Thinking now maybe it would have been better to have posted my location, family size, desires for what I would like to be able to do with a pinz and then maybe some features of the vehicle, and that ask for recommendations; I hope I wasn't too restrictive or ridiculous in my first post to think i would be able to find a pinz with each of those features available !