2017 Land Cruiser Owner - Looking for mod suggestions (1 Viewer)

[coleAK]

I hope you have not missed anything The arctic trucks look freaking awesome but I am sure it will cost me a kidney. The type of off-roading that you are referring to, I am definitely not gonna do that. One example off my winter off-roading from the Dalton is the winter road to Bettles from Prospect Creek. I ventured around 2 miles into the road last winter on the rented Jeep cheroke and turned around once it started getting too bumpy. I think the cruiser could have handled it easily, there were a couple of river crossings ahead and chances of some overflows but I am pretty sure a good set of studded nokians and tire chains will pull through it. Do the tire size 285/70-17 fit on stock LC? I am leaning more towards studded snow tires, specifically these - Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV - Winter tires / Nokian Tires - https://www.nokiantires.com/winter-tires/nokian-hakkapeliitta-9-suv/

The reason I was thinking about air lockers is they might come in handy in deep snow but again, I dont know the true capabilities of the atrac and crawl controls yet. But I can easily imagine a situation where one side of my car is stuck in snow and the other side has traction. If the car dynamics can pull me out in a situation like that without front and rear lockers, then I am totally fine without installing one. I have read some mixed posts here about ARB lockers freezing up in extreme cold, although there are many conflicting opinions about that, but none the less, its an after market part and one extra part to fail.

I was thinking more about the lift because I see myself towing my 3000 lb trailer quite a bit for very long distances but based on a few answers here, it looks like it should not be a problem at all. Then it only comes down to if the lift gives me any added advantage in terrains I am planning to visit. Do you know how much snow depth can a stock suspension handle? Also, getting a new suspension now looks to be extremely difficult. Almost everything is out of stock everywhere.

Is the battery warmer something I will need to get installed from Toyota of Fairbanks or Anchorage?

I am looking for a roof rack as well. I want it to be as light as possible as I dont plan to carry very heavy load like tires and wheels. I will mostly use it to carry a 5lb propane tank, a shovel, axe, jack and other similar tools and may be a couple of 5 gallon jerry cans from time to time. Even roof rack availability is a big problem now. Anything basic that is solid and does the job should be fine but I will like to have my moonroof accessible. Any current rack on the market that you recommend? The stuffs that you carry on your rack, I will not carry anything close to that, at least not in the beginning.

I have actually thought about extra lights. Hunting auroras means pretty much in the dark all the time and nights are super long out there. I see you also mentioned a winch and I was also thinking of a solid front bumper which will give me some protection from animals. I have seen so many caribous and other animals crossing the road all the time at night. Although I dont know if they will be any good against a moose. They are huge and they are everywhere, not soo far up north though. May be I can incorporate all the 3 together and spend some good money on the front bumpers. Again, I am pretty sure availability will be an issue. Any recommendation will be helpful again.

Hakka 9’s are awesome, have them on our MB and Tesla and I’ll put them on my LX as soon as I’m due to replace my Hakka 7’s. What I was trying to say is if you are set on venturing off the Dalton the biggest, tallest, widest winter tires are what you need.

In untracked snow lift won’t help much see the Arctic trucks.

Personal opinion, when I go up above Fairbanks every fall to hunt I do everything with extra degrees of caution. Understand that getting stuck, blowing a tire, breaking something, getting injured,... could be 2-3+ days and well over $1000. Typically The road to Bettles is only graded late winter and beyond those few weeks only passable by snow machine or dog sled. No way I would drive to Bettles without at least 2 vehicles both with winches. If you catch it right after they grade it and the conditions are good it could be similar to the Dalton or could end up punching through an ice flow and end up half submerged and anything in between.

No bumper/guard will protect somethings as small as a cruiser from a damage should you hit a large moose. That’s what the expanded lights are for, better visibility in the dark to see what is upcoming.

for a roof rack I highly recommend a yakama. You could do 66 or 78” round bars with railgrab attached to your OEM rails. Then add a box and skinny warrior or larger basket. And have a place to attach fore mentioned lighting.

I’ve never used chains on my 200. Did a few times on my 80 but search here and chains are controversial on a 200 as Toyota dosnt recommend them and they are tough to fit around UCA and KDSS.

I recommend onboard air because airing down you tires will be critical.

i off road fairly hard and have never felt like I needed F or R lockers on my 200. Both my previous rigs were triple locked, a g500 and 80 series. I think money would be better spent in a winch.

here is the AK DOT summary of winter travel in the interior

 

[coleAK]

I hope you have not missed anything The arctic trucks look freaking awesome but I am sure it will cost me a kidney. The type of off-roading that you are referring to, I am definitely not gonna do that. One example off my winter off-roading from the Dalton is the winter road to Bettles from Prospect Creek. I ventured around 2 miles into the road last winter on the rented Jeep cheroke and turned around once it started getting too bumpy. I think the cruiser could have handled it easily, there were a couple of river crossings ahead and chances of some overflows but I am pretty sure a good set of studded nokians and tire chains will pull through it. Do the tire size 285/70-17 fit on stock LC? I am leaning more towards studded snow tires, specifically these - Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV - Winter tires / Nokian Tires - https://www.nokiantires.com/winter-tires/nokian-hakkapeliitta-9-suv/

The reason I was thinking about air lockers is they might come in handy in deep snow but again, I dont know the true capabilities of the atrac and crawl controls yet. But I can easily imagine a situation where one side of my car is stuck in snow and the other side has traction. If the car dynamics can pull me out in a situation like that without front and rear lockers, then I am totally fine without installing one. I have read some mixed posts here about ARB lockers freezing up in extreme cold, although there are many conflicting opinions about that, but none the less, its an after market part and one extra part to fail.

I was thinking more about the lift because I see myself towing my 3000 lb trailer quite a bit for very long distances but based on a few answers here, it looks like it should not be a problem at all. Then it only comes down to if the lift gives me any added advantage in terrains I am planning to visit. Do you know how much snow depth can a stock suspension handle? Also, getting a new suspension now looks to be extremely difficult. Almost everything is out of stock everywhere.

Is the battery warmer something I will need to get installed from Toyota of Fairbanks or Anchorage?

I am looking for a roof rack as well. I want it to be as light as possible as I dont plan to carry very heavy load like tires and wheels. I will mostly use it to carry a 5lb propane tank, a shovel, axe, jack and other similar tools and may be a couple of 5 gallon jerry cans from time to time. Even roof rack availability is a big problem now. Anything basic that is solid and does the job should be fine but I will like to have my moonroof accessible. Any current rack on the market that you recommend? The stuffs that you carry on your rack, I will not carry anything close to that, at least not in the beginning.

I have actually thought about extra lights. Hunting auroras means pretty much in the dark all the time and nights are super long out there. I see you also mentioned a winch and I was also thinking of a solid front bumper which will give me some protection from animals. I have seen so many caribous and other animals crossing the road all the time at night. Although I dont know if they will be any good against a moose. They are huge and they are everywhere, not soo far up north though. May be I can incorporate all the 3 together and spend some good money on the front bumpers. Again, I am pretty sure availability will be an issue. Any recommendation will be helpful again.

For a battery warmer they are a heated pad that wraps around the battery. It takes me <5min to put it on in the fall and take it off in the spring. The one I have is similar to this, just make sure that shock one you get fits around your battery.

Kat's 22200 80 Watt 36" Battery Thermal Wrap Amazon product ASIN B000I8XD9E

 

[MCtree]

Hakka 9’s are awesome, have them on our MB and Tesla and I’ll put them on my LX as soon as I’m due to replace my Hakka 7’s. What I was trying to say is if you are set on venturing off the Dalton the biggest, tallest, widest winter tires are what you need.



I recommend onboard air because airing down you tires will be critical.

@coleAK,
I am intrigued by your suggestion of airing down for winter driving in AK.
Do you do this on snowy roads or just when off roading?

And I thought you said somewhere that you have the un-studded Hakka 9's. But on their web-site, I only see studded. Did they change name or stop making them since 2021?
I'm trying to decide on the tire to get for my drive to AK next month.

Though I don't intend to do any off-roading.

 

[coleAK]

@coleAK,
I am intrigued by your suggestion of airing down for winter driving in AK.
Do you do this on snowy roads or just when off roading?

And I thought you said somewhere that you have the un-studded Hakka 9's. But on their web-site, I only see studded. Did they change name or stop making them since 2021?
I'm trying to decide on the tire to get for my drive to AK next month.

Though I don't intend to do any off-roading.

I only air down in the winter of off roading or will from time to time when the washboard gets bad. And this I think was in the context of the Dalton highway.

I run all studded tires. Have Hakka 7 on my LX, and Hakka 9 now on the Tesla, MB and Norman 6 on the Subaru, all are studded. I’ll be due winter tires on the LX likely next winter and it now be Hakka 10’s.

I would highly recommend dedicated snow tires for driving across Canada into AK in the winter (also in Canada BC requires “snow tires”).

If it were me I’d find a tire shop in CO or WY that has a tire storage service and have them put on a set of winters and store your other tires. Then on your way back have them put back on your tires and sell the winters if you aren’t likely to use them again.

For your trip I think couldn’t go wrong with Nokian Hakka 8, 9, 10, R3, R5 or norman 7 or Bridgestone Blizzak all would work great! Whatever you can get at the best price/service/location.

 

[MCtree]

I only air down in the winter of off roading or will from time to time when the washboard gets bad. And this I think was in the context of the Dalton highway.

I run all studded tires. Have Hakka 7 on my LX, and Hakka 9 now on the Tesla, MB and Norman 6 on the Subaru, all are studded. I’ll be due winter tires on the LX likely next winter and it now be Hakka 10’s.

I would highly recommend dedicated snow tires for driving across Canada into AK in the winter (also in Canada BC requires “snow tires”).

If it were me I’d find a tire shop in CO or WY that has a tire storage service and have them put on a set of winters and store your other tires. Then on your way back have them put back on your tires and sell the winters if you aren’t likely to use them again.

For your trip I think couldn’t go wrong with Nokian Hakka 8, 9, 10, R3, R5 or norman 7 or Bridgestone Blizzak all would work great! Whatever you can get at the best price/service/location.

I’m glad you brought this up….
I have been planning on just getting the snow tires installed here in Houston and storing my current tires here at the house.

I have read that snow tires aren’t good above 40F, it would only be a day or so until I hit a local with below 40 temps.
(And while it’s 80 here in Houston today, there is always the chance, however slight, that it’s cooler next month, Feb)
Would a day or two above 40 destroy the tire beyond use or only reduce its lifespan considerably? Or simply be too dangerous to contemplate?

You are right that I don’t have much need for snow tires after this trip so I would be okay if it only reduces the lifespan.

 

[coleAK]

I’m glad you brought this up….
I have been planning on just getting the snow tires installed here in Houston and storing my current tires here at the house.

I have read that snow tires aren’t good above 40F, it would only be a day or so until I hit a local with below 40 temps.
(And while it’s 80 here in Houston today, there is always the chance, however slight, that it’s cooler next month, Feb)
Would a day or two above 40 destroy the tire beyond use or only reduce its lifespan considerably? Or simply be too dangerous to contemplate?

You are right that I don’t have much need for snow tires after this trip so I would be okay if it only reduces the lifespan.

A few days and highway miles at warmer temps wouldn’t destroy snow tires. They do have worse handling on warm dry roads and are louder then all seasons. Growing up in Tahoe at least once a winter I would go to somewhere in CA where it could be 60-70F for a week on my snow tires.

I was thinking you would have more options and a better chance of selling them further north.

If you get them in Texas I definitely wouldn’t do studs.