Redarc BCDC1225D vs Victron Orion-Tr Smart — which DC-DC charger for LiFePO4?
Running the Toyota Hilux 4x4 for 24 months now, 25372km on the clock including 7 proper off-road trips. Here is my honest take.
The good: the off-road capability straight from factory surprised me. I have done Sani Pass, Baviaanskloof and multiple Kruger trips without a single mechanical issue. The 2.8L turbodiesel is 8L/100km on tar if you keep it under 120km/h.
The bad: the dealer experience left something to be desired. Also the dealer here in Gqeberha could learn something about customer service, but that is a SA-wide problem not specific to this brand.
Mods I have done: ARB Summit bull bar (R11k fitted), Ironman suspension lift (R13k fitted), MaxTrax recovery boards, and a Dometic CFX3 45 fridge. Total spend on mods: around R53k. Worth every cent.
Price paid at my Gqeberha dealer was R680,000 — they threw in a full tank and floor mats. Finance rate was 11.5% over 72 months which is the reality of SA interest rates in 2025.
Would buy it again. Happy to go into detail on any specific aspect.
4 Replies
The fuel consumption figures you mention match what I see. The AT35 diesel is fine on tar if you stay under 120. The issue for me is long-range touring — I fitted a Brown Davis 127L long-range tank to solve the range anxiety completely.
Interesting points on the dealer experience. I had the same in Pretoria — 6 week wait for a service part that should have been in stock. This is why I budget for a proper extended warranty and use an independent workshop that specialises in 4x4s rather than the franchise dealer.
The fuel consumption figures you mention match what I see. The V6 Raptor is better than the official spec suggests in real conditions. The issue for me is long-range touring — I fitted a Brown Davis 100L long-range tank to solve the range anxiety completely.
On the mod budget — R82k sounds like a lot but if you are amortising it over 5 years of serious use, it works out to less than R1,000 per month. And the safety improvement in a real recovery situation is not something you can put a price on.