New Member - Out with the old, in with the awesome.

[CorModo]

New Aussie member here, long time FZJ-105R owner and just picked up an immaculate 2004 LX470 with only 100,000km on the clock.

The new bus will be set up as a long distance cruise ship with a second battery and solar on the roof to power a fridge etc.

First plan is general maintenance like replacing the AHC fluid, then hoping to add factory roof rails and small spoiler if I can get them. Not sure if either the rails or spoiler ever sold in Australia.

Coming from a solid axle truck, the AHC is amazing, love this thing!

 

[Notorious JJB]

New Aussie member here, long time FZJ-105R owner and just picked up an immaculate 2004 LX470 with only 100,000km on the clock.

The new bus will be set up as a long distance cruise ship with a second battery and solar on the roof to power a fridge etc.

First plan is general maintenance like replacing the AHC fluid, then hoping to add factory roof rails and small spoiler if I can get them. Not sure if either the rails or spoiler ever sold in Australia.

Coming from a solid axle truck, the AHC is amazing, love this thing!

View attachment 4039515

You got a pretty clean one. What brand is that bull bar?

 

[CorModo]

Bullbar on the 105 is an ARB deluxe, I think the newer units have some softer protection around the uprights to meet pedestrian friendliness standards. Sticker on the LX nudge bar is TJM.

 

[joseywales]

Most over this side of the pond would give their left nut for a 105. I preferred my OME suspended 100 to my 470 by a large margin. Nice you found a clean low km unit though!

 

[CorModo]

Yeah the 105 is a great rig, but i do love the on road manners of the 100.
Off roading for me is more beach driving than trails, so the loss of a bit of articulation is no big deal.
Sold the 105 for 50% of what I bought it for 17 years ago, after putting 200k km on it. Ignoring the fuel bill, it was an amazingly cheap rig to run with just basic maintenance.

 

[squidmotion]

It’s sad all of the regs you have to deal with to upgrade one there. That looks to be a super clean LX. I’m not a fan of the AHC, probably because I’ve never owned one with it.

What kind of modifications (if any) are you planning?

 

[CorModo]

This one will be daily / touring rig, so solar and second battery and an electric brake controller are the first mods along with a T'Eyes CC4 for android auto etc.
A drive to the next closest state capital is on the cards for next year, so 2,700km each way before sight seeing detours!
I want to make it as clean and stock looking as possible, hence wanting factory roof rails for the solar install.

Western Australia is not too bad for mods, lift heights are limited to a couple of inches over factory height and tyres a couple of inches bigger before you need an engineering inspection. No tyres outside the body work etc. We have no yearly or change of ownership inspections in WA, so if it's not obvious and you are not getting pulled over then its all good. I drove a supercharged NA MX-5 (Miata) around for years without hassle.

Loving the AHC, ride is insanely good, especially compared to the 105. I'll be replacing globes and or struts if I need to instead of taking it out.