New Land Cruiser Owner - 2020 Heritage Edition (Black)

[COVIDCruiser]

Hello all

I've just returned home to Michigan from New York City as a result of COVID and my job becoming remote. Been a car guy for a long time but living in the city had made that desire impossible to fulfill, until now. The timing of the release of the 2020 Heritage Edition and my job going remote could not have been better. Picked up this truck a few weeks ago--already pushing 4k miles on it and looking forward to my first Toyota Care checkup at 5k.

I've taken it off road a few times and possibly pushed it too hard in one case (driving too fast) resulting in needing an alignment--otherwise no damage and she looks great! Also, we've already had a couple snowy days (nothing sticking to the ground yet) and I can't wait to test it out in a real UP winter. In February we're planning on a 3k mile 2-week round trip Ski Trip to Colorado. Couldn't think of a better vehicle for it.

Looking forward to putting the miles on, watching it age gracefully, and getting every dollar out of it for a long time.

If anyone is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, please do not hesitate to reach out! I'd love to get to know more about the car and trails around me.

Teddy

PS: My car before this was a 2011 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport. Still have it and love it but was time for an upgrade!

 

[Crush 4]

Hello all

I've just returned home to Michigan from New York City as a result of COVID and my job becoming remote. Been a car guy for a long time but living in the city had made that desire impossible to fulfill, until now. The timing of the release of the 2020 Heritage Edition and my job going remote could not have been better. Picked up this truck a few weeks ago--already pushing 4k miles on it and looking forward to my first Toyota Care checkup at 5k.

I've taken it off road a few times and possibly pushed it too hard in one case (driving too fast) resulting in needing an alignment--otherwise no damage and she looks great! Also, we've already had a couple snowy days (nothing sticking to the ground yet) and I can't wait to test it out in a real UP winter. In February we're planning on a 3k mile 2-week round trip Ski Trip to Colorado. Couldn't think of a better vehicle for it.

Looking forward to putting the miles on, watching it age gracefully, and getting every dollar out of it for a long time.

If anyone is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, please do not hesitate to reach out! I'd love to get to know more about the car and trails around me.

Teddy

PS: My car before this was a 2011 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport. Still have it and love it but was time for an upgrade!

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Congrats! I’m in the lower peninsula and have a 21 HE coming in. Love Marquette, especially Blackrock brewery!
Lots of areas in UP to have fun, enjoy!!

 

[catastrofe]

Hello all

I've just returned home to Michigan from New York City as a result of COVID and my job becoming remote. Been a car guy for a long time but living in the city had made that desire impossible to fulfill, until now. The timing of the release of the 2020 Heritage Edition and my job going remote could not have been better. Picked up this truck a few weeks ago--already pushing 4k miles on it and looking forward to my first Toyota Care checkup at 5k.

I've taken it off road a few times and possibly pushed it too hard in one case (driving too fast) resulting in needing an alignment--otherwise no damage and she looks great! Also, we've already had a couple snowy days (nothing sticking to the ground yet) and I can't wait to test it out in a real UP winter. In February we're planning on a 3k mile 2-week round trip Ski Trip to Colorado. Couldn't think of a better vehicle for it.

Looking forward to putting the miles on, watching it age gracefully, and getting every dollar out of it for a long time.

If anyone is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, please do not hesitate to reach out! I'd love to get to know more about the car and trails around me.

Teddy

PS: My car before this was a 2011 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport. Still have it and love it but was time for an upgrade!

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Welcome! We love the UP. . .had the best vacation of our lives one year in Munising. Visited Marquette for a day, did the lighthouse tour, and watched ore carriers being unloaded.

 

[Trukk]

My wife is from MI. I always pronounce it MACK-IN-ACK. Drives her nuts.

Enjoy your new rig, they are awesome!

 

[cpcc]

congrats, go U.P.!

 

[04UZJ100]

Curious to hear more about how you knocked it out of alignment.

 

[Sandroad]

Welcome! The U.P. is a great place to own and run a L.C. Some other Michiganders and I have been considering the possibility of exploring some forest "roads" next year in the eastern U.P. , perhaps with a base camp at Pictured Rocks N.L. More on that in a few months. I live in the Lansing area but am very familiar with the eastern U.P. If you read Toyota Trails magazine, I wrote an article for the July/August issue (Duty Calls) on some interesting drives there. One thing to consider is that you should keep your expectations low on the winter performance of the stock L.C. tires. Marquette gets a touch of winter once in a while, so you might want to read up a bit on winter tires.

 

[Wisluggo]

I’m in Green Bay, and we still have a cabin west of ishpeming.

 

[bloc]

Dealers are notorious for not torquing the suspension bolts enough during alignments.. they need to go to a pretty high setting. So if it comes out of alignment make a big deal about torquing to spec with your advisor.

Also, any time you go to the dealer lock your glove box and keep the key blade on you, which prevents the ham-fisted dealer quick service guys from breaking your recirc flap. This is a VERY common and quite expensive issue, due to how infrequently dealers see these unique vehicles.

Either way.. congrats! That is a beautiful rig. It only gets better..

 

[COVIDCruiser]

Dealers are notorious for not torquing the suspension bolts enough during alignments.. they need to go to a pretty high setting. So if it comes out of alignment make a big deal about torquing to spec with your advisor.

Also, any time you go to the dealer lock your glove box and keep the key blade on you, which prevents the ham-fisted dealer quick service guys from breaking your recirc flap. This is a VERY common and quite expensive issue, due to how infrequently dealers see these unique vehicles.

Either way.. congrats! That is a beautiful rig. It only gets better..

Thank you so much for this information. Concerning, yet unsurprising that this is going on at the dealerships.

 

[WCDAVE]

Curious to hear more about how you knocked it out of alignment.

x2

 

[COVIDCruiser]

x2

Curious to hear more about how you knocked it out of alignment.

I was on our first "overlanding" trip in the Cruiser. Driving about 36 miles off-road from Munising to Manistique on the "J Trail" where we camped for the night on a beach along Lake Michigan. The car was loaded, four of us, yakima roof rack strapped, and the trunk loaded with multiple coolers of food/drinks and a camping grill. Not to mention our tents, chairs, etc. The ride was mostly in 4L although probably not necessary for all of it--was just excited to use all the new features. The road was all logging trails (dirt, gravel, rutted, although over 12 feet wide which was nice in a brand new car) and about an hour or so in I was feeling pretty confident/cocky in its abilities. Ended up picking up some speed on a pretty smooth straightaway area, ~35/40mph and then all of a sudden hit a nice wide divot, basically just a dip in the ground maybe a yard long. I braked hard and turned the wheel to try and get around it. This was definitely the event that affected the alignment. Later I learned the wheels/suspension/everything are designed to handle these obstacles (perhaps not at that speed) head on.

I believe had I kept the wheel straight and not braked so hard, there wouldn't have been an issue. User error and now I'm that much more seasoned of an off-roader.

 

[04UZJ100]

I was on our first "overlanding" trip in the Cruiser. Driving about 36 miles off-road from Munising to Manistique on the "J Trail" where we camped for the night on a beach along Lake Michigan. The car was loaded, four of us, yakima roof rack strapped, and the trunk loaded with multiple coolers of food/drinks and a camping grill. Not to mention our tents, chairs, etc. The ride was mostly in 4L although probably not necessary for all of it--was just excited to use all the new features. The road was all logging trails (dirt, gravel, rutted, although over 12 feet wide which was nice in a brand new car) and about an hour or so in I was feeling pretty confident/cocky in its abilities. Ended up picking up some speed on a pretty smooth straightaway area, ~35/40mph and then all of a sudden hit a nice wide divot, basically just a dip in the ground maybe a yard long. I braked hard and turned the wheel to try and get around it. This was definitely the event that affected the alignment. Later I learned the wheels/suspension/everything are designed to handle these obstacles (perhaps not at that speed) head on.

I believe had I kept the wheel straight and not braked so hard, there wouldn't have been an issue. User error and now I'm that much more seasoned of an off-roader.

Sounds like it was pretty deep.

 

[Crush 4]

I was on our first "overlanding" trip in the Cruiser. Driving about 36 miles off-road from Munising to Manistique on the "J Trail" where we camped for the night on a beach along Lake Michigan. The car was loaded, four of us, yakima roof rack strapped, and the trunk loaded with multiple coolers of food/drinks and a camping grill. Not to mention our tents, chairs, etc. The ride was mostly in 4L although probably not necessary for all of it--was just excited to use all the new features. The road was all logging trails (dirt, gravel, rutted, although over 12 feet wide which was nice in a brand new car) and about an hour or so in I was feeling pretty confident/cocky in its abilities. Ended up picking up some speed on a pretty smooth straightaway area, ~35/40mph and then all of a sudden hit a nice wide divot, basically just a dip in the ground maybe a yard long. I braked hard and turned the wheel to try and get around it. This was definitely the event that affected the alignment. Later I learned the wheels/suspension/everything are designed to handle these obstacles (perhaps not at that speed) head on.

I believe had I kept the wheel straight and not braked so hard, there wouldn't have been an issue. User error and now I'm that much more seasoned of an off-roader.

Let me know where that trail is, sounds like fun!

 

[NY2LA]

Looks like we have similar taste in trucks. I'm in NYC right now and currently customizing mine for travel in a few months. Looking forward to following your adventures here

 

[dcs111]

Hello all

I've just returned home to Michigan from New York City as a result of COVID and my job becoming remote. Been a car guy for a long time but living in the city had made that desire impossible to fulfill, until now. The timing of the release of the 2020 Heritage Edition and my job going remote could not have been better. Picked up this truck a few weeks ago--already pushing 4k miles on it and looking forward to my first Toyota Care checkup at 5k.

I've taken it off road a few times and possibly pushed it too hard in one case (driving too fast) resulting in needing an alignment--otherwise no damage and she looks great! Also, we've already had a couple snowy days (nothing sticking to the ground yet) and I can't wait to test it out in a real UP winter. In February we're planning on a 3k mile 2-week round trip Ski Trip to Colorado. Couldn't think of a better vehicle for it.

Looking forward to putting the miles on, watching it age gracefully, and getting every dollar out of it for a long time.

If anyone is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, please do not hesitate to reach out! I'd love to get to know more about the car and trails around me.

Teddy

PS: My car before this was a 2011 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport. Still have it and love it but was time for an upgrade!

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If you are still in the UP and interested in partnering on some trail time, we are headed up from Atlanta in July '22 for vacation with our 200 and planning to spend a good bit of time here! let me know. DS

 

[Wisluggo]

If you are still in the UP and interested in partnering on some trail time, we are headed up from Atlanta in July '22 for vacation with our 200 and planning to spend a good bit of time here! let me know. DS

Let me know if you swing through Green Bay. What part of atlanta? I grew up in Alpharetta.

 

[dcs111]

Let me know if you swing through Green Bay. What part of atlanta? I grew up in Alpharetta.

we will be; albeit a drive through from Milwaukee to UP... we are up in Cobb near Roswell - not far from Alpharetta

Anyhow, once we get timelines locked, will see what time we can allocate to GB and reach back!