Hello all! My name is John Kleva and am newly registered. I am purchasing my sister in laws 2000 Land Cruiser. It is a dream specimen. She is currently sitting with about 75k miles. Always garaged, whether at home or work and has been dealer maintained its entire life. My sister in law recently had surgery and has decided that lc is a bit much for her. The lc will be coming from the Houston area and I am located in New York. I am on the fence of flying to Houston and driving her back or having a shipping company do it. The only issue is that the lc has not been driven much the past year and a half and am not sure if I should do a 1700 mile initial road trip with it because of that. What do you guys think? Looking forward to making her mine!
Should I drive it or have it shipped?
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If it has been taken care of and recently checked out by the dealer it should be safe to drive but you won't know for sure until you have a few miles/hours on it
So safest is have it shipped. Cost won't be much different than paying airfare one way to fly to Houston and drive back with fuel cost and a few hotel stays.
Make sure there is good insurance on the vehicle during transport.
On the other hand, the best for the vehicle is to not bring it to the Rust Capitol of the US, that is if you want to save it from disappearing into red dust cloud of Iron Oxide.
Whatever you do is to have the vehicle "Zeibarted" (or one of the other rust-protection services performed) on the whole vehicle BEFORE the first ice/snow/road salt event. ie: all the undercarriage, all body cavities and cross members, all boxed sections, fenders, quarter panel cavities, rocker panel cavities, doors, hood, tail/lift gates, frame rails, axles, engine bay, radiator support members, all body mount brackets, brake lines, etc, etc, etc.
OR, buy a kit (Eastwood etc) and do it yourself or find an individual who has a ton of experience and who knows how to complete the the job thoroughly That's the only way to save it from certain death.
IME if you take an older Southern vehicle to live in the Northeastern US the rust won't be far behind.
So safest is have it shipped. Cost won't be much different than paying airfare one way to fly to Houston and drive back with fuel cost and a few hotel stays.
Make sure there is good insurance on the vehicle during transport.
On the other hand, the best for the vehicle is to not bring it to the Rust Capitol of the US, that is if you want to save it from disappearing into red dust cloud of Iron Oxide.
Whatever you do is to have the vehicle "Zeibarted" (or one of the other rust-protection services performed) on the whole vehicle BEFORE the first ice/snow/road salt event. ie: all the undercarriage, all body cavities and cross members, all boxed sections, fenders, quarter panel cavities, rocker panel cavities, doors, hood, tail/lift gates, frame rails, axles, engine bay, radiator support members, all body mount brackets, brake lines, etc, etc, etc.
OR, buy a kit (Eastwood etc) and do it yourself or find an individual who has a ton of experience and who knows how to complete the the job thoroughly That's the only way to save it from certain death.
IME if you take an older Southern vehicle to live in the Northeastern US the rust won't be far behind.
I would ship. Shipped mine from FL (not nearly as far) and had a great experience.
I've done both.
Shipped from HB CA to the midwest
Shipped from Eugene OR to the midwest (but I flew out to inspect)
Shipped form FL to the midwest
Driven back from FL
Driven back from Vegas.
Driven back from Texas.
I generally avoid buying local because of salt.
Shipped from HB CA to the midwest
Shipped from Eugene OR to the midwest (but I flew out to inspect)
Shipped form FL to the midwest
Driven back from FL
Driven back from Vegas.
Driven back from Texas.
I generally avoid buying local because of salt.
If you decide to ship make sure to shop around. I've had dozens of cars shipped and sometimes the quotes that I got were literally several thousands of dollars in difference.
Start local (to where the car is located) and call dealers there to see who they use for shipping, that will save you a lot of time
Start local (to where the car is located) and call dealers there to see who they use for shipping, that will save you a lot of time
GTV
SILVER Star
If you have the time drive it. No better way to get to know a vehicle.
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- #7
May I ask what company you used?
Old Nick
GOLD Star
Summit Transport is one that I've used for personal vehicles. The owner is a user here riverrunner... A great guy.
I used Sherpa and had a 5 star experience but if I had of known a MUD member had a transport company, I likely would have used them.
i 4th the drive option. maybe take a son/daughter or niece nephew. what a
great adventure.
p.s. buy aaa long distance tow rider...piece of mind.
great adventure.
p.s. buy aaa long distance tow rider...piece of mind.
If dealer maintained as you said, you can pull the maintenance records at Explore Ownership Resources, Benefits & Support | Toyota Owners - https://www.toyota.com/owners/
Items that often fail on old, low mileage vehicles: Tires, belts and hoses (heater tees).... radiator, given her location, battery...
Items that often fail on old, low mileage vehicles: Tires, belts and hoses (heater tees).... radiator, given her location, battery...
I'd drive it for sure. I'd do a lite inspection, before hitting the road.
Tires all 5: age, condition and PSI.
Jack & tool kit.
Lights
Coolant level under radiator cap and res.
Brake fluid.
PS fluid.
Oil level. no more than 1 yr old.
Make sure all vacuum lines connected.
Listen for tick. By place ear in each fender well.
Check air filter.
I'd also use a blue-tooth OBD device. log the whole trip on my smart phone.. Watch ECT & fuel trims.
Tires all 5: age, condition and PSI.
Jack & tool kit.
Lights
Coolant level under radiator cap and res.
Brake fluid.
PS fluid.
Oil level. no more than 1 yr old.
Make sure all vacuum lines connected.
Listen for tick. By place ear in each fender well.
Check air filter.
Yet another alert 
I'm just see, all to often, where engine Air Filter is installed improperly and rubber seal of filter has curled.
How could that be. We just pop in a fasten down with 4 clips right. Well right. But if care is not taken during install, to seat lid on seal. The seal gets curled and is ineffective at sealing.
Once rubber seal curled, it gets pinched. Then In most cases, not reusable.
This allows dust into intake. Inspecting air pipe can be helpful at revealing how much dust has entered the intake. Any dust in air tube is never a good sign.
...
I'm just see, all to often, where engine Air Filter is installed improperly and rubber seal of filter has curled.
How could that be. We just pop in a fasten down with 4 clips right. Well right. But if care is not taken during install, to seat lid on seal. The seal gets curled and is ineffective at sealing.
Once rubber seal curled, it gets pinched. Then In most cases, not reusable.
This allows dust into intake. Inspecting air pipe can be helpful at revealing how much dust has entered the intake. Any dust in air tube is never a good sign.
I'd also use a blue-tooth OBD device. log the whole trip on my smart phone.. Watch ECT & fuel trims.
I've a 06LC w/192K I just bought. In reading history I found PO complained of engine temp raising when both front and rear AC on. Toyota Dealership diagnosed with clogged radiator fins. Recommended new OEM radiator, $600 for the US spec Radaitor plus coolant and labor. They should have added radiator cap and thermostat to job, as best practice.
Got me to thinking about the radiators I've been replacing. All have debris built up on lower third.
This one hand some extra grasses along with general clogging on lower third.
Over the years/miles debit builds up in condenser and...
Got me to thinking about the radiators I've been replacing. All have debris built up on lower third.
This one hand some extra grasses along with general clogging on lower third.
Over the years/miles debit builds up in condenser and...
Not sure I'd subject a $50k survivor to salted roads
This.
Maybe go a different direction and help your sister auction it off online for the big bucks? Is she aware of current market pricing on these?
i've shipped 3 Landcruiser's. ship it, it's easy like sending a big package. no hassle, no time lost, show's up at your doorstep.
Along the same lines I say get it from your sister and drive back and park.
Then sell for profit $$$
Or just drive when they don't salt the roads idk how that works doesn't snow here
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- #18
There is a half inch thick folder of all dealer maintenance that I have looked at. Whatever it needed it got.
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- #19
I understand that it is a wanted vehicle, but why not drive it in the Northeast? There are ways to protect the underside of the vehicle which I intend to do. The way I enjoy cars is by driving them and I believe that’s when a Land Cruiser is at its best!