decisions,decisions...help

[spressomon]

Darkhorse, you should seriously consider the Land Cruiser 105 (aka 100 series with the rigid front axle).

I second that now that I know you are in Africa #1 and looking for an expedition type of rig #2.

 

[Darkhorse]

Darkhorse, you should seriously consider the Land Cruiser 105 (aka 100 series with the rigid front axle).

will do thanks...what is that awsome beast you got as your Avatar..I dont mean the female

 

[hoser]

It's an Icelandic Rescue Land Cruiser. We have many Rescue vehicles in my department but none of them outfitted like this one. And just know the basic underpinnings of this rescue cruiser (though highly modified) is very similiar to the 105 series.

http://www.off-road.com/tlc/readers_rigs/iceland.html

 

[Jim_Chow]

[snip]
If I was a QA manager running their plant, I would insist from my suppliers a failure rate of not more then 1-3% max. I guess it must be much higher then that...I wonder what Toyota accepts as component failure rates. I think they are very stringent. The Japanese manufacturing methods demand that (JIT).
[snip]

1-3% is HUGE!!! At the Toyota Tahara plant, "Toyota...will not accept components if defects exceed 50 per million parts shipped. In contrast, for Lexus vehicles, Tahara managers insist on fewer than 10 defects per million parts."

If I did my math correctly, that amounts to 0.001% for Lexus parts defect rates and 0.005% for Toyota parts defect rates.
See http://www.detnews.com/2004/specialreport/0402/22/a15-70498.htm

 

[Darkhorse]

Jim..that is amazing...very few auto manufacturers in the world can seriously follow through with such stringent criteria...maybe you can count them on 2 or 3 fingers...you have to really lay down the law to your component suppliers and any small trouble they are out...
.

1-3% is HUGE!!! At the Toyota Tahara plant, "Toyota...will not accept components if defects exceed 50 per million parts shipped. In contrast, for Lexus vehicles, Tahara managers insist on fewer than 10 defects per million parts."

If I did my math correctly, that amounts to 0.001% for Lexus parts defect rates and 0.005% for Toyota parts defect rates.
See http://www.detnews.com/2004/specialreport/0402/22/a15-70498.htm

 

[Darkhorse]

Darkhorse, you should seriously consider the Land Cruiser 105 (aka 100 series with the rigid front axle).

I dont think we have a 105 here, just a 100 VX..so why do I need a rigid front axle?
Could you also advice what kit do I need, tyres and any other accessories that you think might be usefull, apart from my GPS Nav system and my sattelite Phone ....Many thanks again...

 

[Darkhorse]

Would be interested to know what kind of Mods you have done here...many thanks....what tyres etc..the tyres are HUGE...36 inch?

Darkhorse, you should seriously consider the Land Cruiser 105 (aka 100 series with the rigid front axle).

It's an Icelandic Rescue Land Cruiser. We have many Rescue vehicles in my department but none of them outfitted like this one. And just know the basic underpinnings of this rescue cruiser (though highly modified) is very similiar to the 105 series.

http://www.off-road.com/tlc/readers_rigs/iceland.html

 

[Jim_Chow]

I dont think we have a 105 here, just a 100 VX..so why do I need a rigid front axle?
Could you also advice what kit do I need, tyres and any other accessories that you think might be usefull, apart from my GPS Nav system and my sattelite Phone ....Many thanks again...

Yes, you do have the 105 there! Go to www.toyota.co.za==>Landcruiser 100=> GX diesel. Price is R 481 110. Be aware this version has no turbo (anemic 1HZ diesel), but it has the factory sub-tank (you can replace the 51 liter sub-tank with a 160 liter tank and beef up the rear springs). The more deluxe ones like the turbo diesel or V8 petrol will be indep front suspension only.

Torquey 4.2 litre diesel engine.
Heavy-duty rigid axles front and rear with front coil springs for good road holding and comfort.
Front, centre and rear diff locks.
Dual fuel tanks, total 141 litres.
5 years / 90 000km service plan.

Comfort and convenience

Air conditioning, radio, CD-player, electric windows and central locking.
Seating for 5 adults and 3 children.

Safety

ABS.
Driver's and passenger airbags.

 

[hkeller]

I've owned all three. LC build quaility is so far superior, it is difficult to even compare. When we first bought our 2000 LX, my wife looked at me from the passenger seat and said, "We're in trouble." I asked why. She said, "We're never going to be able to buy any car other than one of these." The quailty is just that obvious.

That being said, these are not cheap vehicles to keep on the road. Tires are about $200 each. The engine takes about 7 to eight quarts of oil at each change; the gas milage is not great; the timing belt needs to be changed every 90K. So, you pay a bit more for routine maintenance. However, if you are going to drive a vehicle 200K plus, like we do, its works out in the end.

 

[Darkhorse]

thanks for the info...I was really asking why a Rigid front axel...I would have thought, a more flexible one is better for all terrain

Yes, you do have the 105 there! Go to www.toyota.co.za==>Landcruiser 100=> GX diesel. Price is R 481 110. Be aware this version has no turbo (anemic 1HZ diesel), but it has the factory sub-tank (you can replace the 51 liter sub-tank with a 160 liter tank and beef up the rear springs). The more deluxe ones like the turbo diesel or V8 petrol will be indep front suspension only.

Torquey 4.2 litre diesel engine.
Heavy-duty rigid axles front and rear with front coil springs for good road holding and comfort.
Front, centre and rear diff locks.
Dual fuel tanks, total 141 litres.
5 years / 90 000km service plan.

Comfort and convenience

Air conditioning, radio, CD-player, electric windows and central locking.
Seating for 5 adults and 3 children.

Safety

ABS.
Driver's and passenger airbags.

 

[Jim_Chow]

The independent front suspension works well for sand/smooth terrain, rigid front axle works better for terrain where you need maximum articulation. The articulation allows the vehicle body to remain flatter and more stable rather than having to tilt (and, perhaps, become unstable or have one wheel leave the ground [loss of traction]). To compensate, the indep front suspension toyotas will often have more stock travel in the rear to compensate for lack of travel up front. If I had a choice between either turbo diesel & indep front OR petrol and rigid front, I'd probably still take the diesel. IMHO, the fuel type should be top priority over the suspension type, as fuel economy with diesel is much better. You'd better test drive the HZJ105 first, as the 1HZ is pretty underpowered for the weight of the vehicle. The FZJ105 is much more powerful, but will use twice as much fuel, meaning you'll need to carry twice as much to cover the same range.

 

[hoser]

Would be interested to know what kind of Mods you have done here...many thanks....what tyres etc..the tyres are HUGE...36 inch?

The cruiser in my avatar is not mine. I live nowhere near Iceland and this cruiser would be ridiculous most places outside of Iceland. If you read the article, it says it is sporting 44" tires.

 

[EdsCruisin]

Independent Suspension

The independent front suspension works well for sand/smooth terrain, rigid front axle works better for terrain where you need maximum articulation. The articulation allows the vehicle body to remain flatter and more stable rather than having to tilt (and, perhaps, become unstable or have one wheel leave the ground [loss of traction]). To compensate, the indep front suspension toyotas will often have more stock travel in the rear to compensate for lack of travel up front.

This sounds backwards. Doesn't independent suspension enable the greatest flexibility/opportunity to keep 4 wheels on the ground?

I know that I with my rigid axle Jeep Wrangler I have lifted a wheel far off the ground when traversing obstacles simply due to the angle of the vehicle frame. Granted, I did not get stuck because the Jeep is very capable too.

 

[Jim_Chow]

This sounds backwards. Doesn't independent suspension enable the greatest flexibility/opportunity to keep 4 wheels on the ground?

I know that I with my rigid axle Jeep Wrangler I have lifted a wheel far off the ground when traversing obstacles simply due to the angle of the vehicle frame. Granted, I did not get stuck because the Jeep is very capable too.

Yes and no. In stock form (ie, softer OEM springs) on the streets, yes. Also, I've noticed that most rigid axle vehicles in stock form don't have very good articulation (springs and shackles are short, shocks have little travel). But assuming you change the shocks/springs for that 40 gallon fuel tank and add a modest 2" lift of bigger tires, you can get more articulation with the rigid front axle than the stock IFS. It's also a lot easier to add these mods on the rigid axle vehicle vs the IFS vehicle, and more reliable once modified.

 

[dclee]

IFS articulation is limited by the length of the A-arms. Basically, unless you make very radical and expensive mods to the arms, joints, etc., your total travel stock is pretty much what it will always be. You can gain an inch here or there with bumpstops, longer shocks, etc., but that all has its limitations in the A-arms and ball joints. You just can't physically flex those arms that much without ball joints snapping, etc. With a solid axle, you're mainly limited only by what you can physically stuff in the wheel well.

 

[hoser]

Could you also advice what kit do I need, tyres and any other accessories that you think might be usefull, apart from my GPS Nav system and my sattelite Phone ....Many thanks again...

I can tell you need to upgrade the suspension, get a bullbar and have a way to carry more fuel. But other than that you'll have to decide what kind of comforts you want/require and how much you want to spend. Here is desertdude's awesome 80 series expedition rig. Most all the mods apply to the 105 and 100 series as well.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=106713

 

[hoser]

Be aware this version has no turbo (anemic 1HZ diesel)

Also be aware Air Power Systems offers a turbo kit for this engine which provides an impressive 50% increase in torque. You'll have to ask the Aussie guys their opinion of this kit though as nobody in the US has one.

 

[Darkhorse]

hoser...thanks...Iceland..well I did once have a gf from iceland
What I can tell you is there are virtually NO TREES..in Iceland, only ROCKS...so they would need something like that..I thought maybe you might be experimenting and building something like that..I did read the article, and they were pointing to a red one...I thought maybe this is a different one you built yourself...

The cruiser in my avatar is not mine. I live nowhere near Iceland and this cruiser would be ridiculous most places outside of Iceland. If you read the article, it says it is sporting 44" tires.