60 Series in COLD weather

[HunterNU]

I live in northern Canada (I mean really northern, 62 degrees north latitude, -50 temps in winter without the wind factored in, and blowing snow like nobody's business) and am looking to bring in an SUV-type vehicle next sealift season. Vehicles have become more popular here, and judging by how new "SUV"s (the ford escape and mazda tribute-type) hold up, I've pretty much narrowed down my choices to a LR Discovery II or a Toyota Landcruiser 60-series.

I've found an '86 diesel HJ60 auto, and an '88 FJ62 near where I'm from in Ontario. Which would be better in cold environs - gas or diesel?

Are the vehicles themselves built/can they be modified to withstand this type of cold? It isn't critical that it run 100% of the time, as I'm a three minute walk to work, and a 1 minute walk to the grocery store, but I'd like to be able to drive out of town, especially in the summer (more normal temps, up to 20C) and drive it in the winter to work if it lets me.

Thanks for any help.

 

[skoki]

My Hj60 has given me no problems in extreme cold weather. I spent 2 years in the Rocky Mountains with my truck with zero problems and that included several -45 degree stretches. I also worked for many years in the far North including the high arctic. I "winterize" my vehicles accordingly. Replace all fluids with synthetics; engine oil, differentials, T/C and tranny and use synthetic grease. Run high quality anti-freeze at appropriate ratio. Buy the best batteries available, I run with 2 Exide Orbital gel batteries. One standard block heater and one recirculating heater and plug them both in! Make sure the truck is in top mechanical condition. I really like my diesel for winter driving. I wish I could get a hotter thermostat but other than that I have no complaints. I love the 700 kilometres between fillups as I drive over a 1000 kilos a week. But what I like most about my HJ60 is how it handles. It's big, heavy and slow but it handles everything from deep snow to gravel roads with a sure footed feel I've never experienced in a 4 wheel drive before. I've currently got a 76 scout, a 76 FJ40, a 69 F-250 crewcab 4x4 and I've owned and driven countless other 4x4's in my previous career as a seismic surveyor and none of them feel as stable as my HJ60.

Rab

 

[Eric Winkworth]

24volts help, block heater is a must, mine had yet to let me down, although we don't see much colder then -30C

 

[roscoFJ73]

My Hj60 has given me no problems in extreme cold weather. I spent 2 years in the Rocky Mountains with my truck with zero problems and that included several -45 degree stretches. I also worked for many years in the far North including the high arctic. I "winterize" my vehicles accordingly. Replace all fluids with synthetics; engine oil, differentials, T/C and tranny and use synthetic grease. Run high quality anti-freeze at appropriate ratio. Buy the best batteries available, I run with 2 Exide Orbital gel batteries. One standard block heater and one recirculating heater and plug them both in! Make sure the truck is in top mechanical condition. I really like my diesel for winter driving. I wish I could get a hotter thermostat but other than that I have no complaints. I love the 700 kilometres between fillups as I drive over a 1000 kilos a week. But what I like most about my HJ60 is how it handles. It's big, heavy and slow but it handles everything from deep snow to gravel roads with a sure footed feel I've never experienced in a 4 wheel drive before. I've currently got a 76 scout, a 76 FJ40, a 69 F-250 crewcab 4x4 and I've owned and driven countless other 4x4's in my previous career as a seismic surveyor and none of them feel as stable as my HJ60.

Rab

An old newspaper advert for the Toyota Australia use to claim that it took 18,000 graduate engineers to design the 60 series.
I guess your seeing the end result

 

[mikehj60]

make sure all your glow plugs are working good too