The Millennium Mall Crawler

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

ryanCA said:
Read EVERY word on both of your threads on Expedition portal you linked. Very impressive.

12 times pulled over and getting away with warm coke. My two pulled over last year cost me $100 US
Click to expand...


It took experience to get to that point. If you read it all you know they got me good a few times before I wised up.

Cheers
 
SNLC said:
It took experience to get to that point. If you read it all you know they got me good a few times before I wised up.

Cheers
Click to expand...
Yup I read that
I am still in getting wised up phase

My experiences in Asia hasn't been that due to me driving local Nissan patrol or land cruiser with local plates. So cops don't harass

Once I did get pulled over, but having American blue passport is golden ticket out , unlike s and Central America
 
Always like reading your stories. You have a nac for writing. So you traded Georg the 6x6 rig for a 80? Hmm, who got the better deal?
Wonder if he still has it. You never know what that guy has is his storage units...
 
GW Nugget said:
Always like reading your stories. You have a nac for writing. So you traded Georg the 6x6 rig for a 80? Hmm, who got the better deal?
Wonder if he still has it. You never know what that guy has is his storage units...
Click to expand...


He has it, don't think he will ever give it up, he loves it. It wasn't a straight trade, I got more than the 80 but that doesn't really matter in any of this.

Thanks and Cheers
 
Trips sound awesome. I truly can't wait to go coast to coast in my cruiser. Probably do it within the next few years with the wife and kids. I do want to drive to Alaska some day too.

Great write up OP, welcome to the 100's. They're addictive for sure.
 
Bought a Wheelskin, charcoal and sand, sand on the sides and also went perforated on the sides.

EuroPerf perforated leather steering wheel cover Supplier

Going to probably buy these soon....

Escape Gear Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Seat Covers | Equipt Expedition Outfitters

Damn expensive but you get what you pay for is how I feel. Only doing the fronts right now.

So my tape deck adapter does work for my iPod but man it sounds like total ass! After some reading it seems not to big of a deal to upgrade the stereo. I got a JVC I like from my 80 just sitting here so will try to fit that before long.

We hit well below zero last night, I was a bit worried my coolant is some west coast weak 50/50 mix. Took a visual on it last week though when I had the Cruiser in the shop and it looked like good red coolant. All is well and the truck started easily this morning when it was 2* out.

Bought some Magic erasers the other day. If you have never used them, they do wonders for cleaning up the interior on a truck. My 80 had tons of stains on the headliner when I got it, the ME took care of all of it and brought it back to life.

Boring updates I know but still, updates. :)

Cheers
 
Oh ya, has anybody thought of or tried dying their seat belts? Mine have the typical staining. I was thinking about trying to dye them with Rit, in black. You can't get the belts from Toyota anymore they are NLA.

Cheers
 
No, but a couple years ago I just pulled them all out and soaked them in some dish soap (Dawn IIRC) and then rinsed and dried them. When finished, they were very clean. YMMV.
 
SmoothLC said:
No, but a couple years ago I just pulled them all out and soaked them in some dish soap (Dawn IIRC) and then rinsed and dried them. When finished, they were very clean. YMMV.
Click to expand...


Right on, thought about trying this too. Will give it a go, thanks.

Cheers
 
For audio you might want to take a look at this product USB and Android Car Kits | iPod, iPhone, AUX Car Adapters | Bluetooth Hands Free Car Adapters | Bluetooth Car Kits (The Part # for The 100 Series is TOYNI4 and if you want the extra bluetooth extension Part # BTD).

I've been using it on my 2003 and has worked very nicely. It hooks up to your CD Changer I can listen to music and make bluetooth phone calls, you can even use your steering wheel audio controls. At $179.98 it was probably cheaper than replacing the stereo (on the 2003+ this is not possible as the air conditioning, navigation system, trip computer, etc are all controlled through the OEM touch screen)

SNLC said:
So my tape deck adapter does work for my iPod but man it sounds like total ass! After some reading it seems not to big of a deal to upgrade the stereo. I got a JVC I like from my 80 just sitting here so will try to fit that before long.
Click to expand...
 
What a great write up! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this; keep on it with the updates! Can't wait to see what else you do.

I too just purchased a 100 series not too long ago (BWMSTOY's Black Pearl, from here on Mud... Was a quick drive to S. Denver) and have completely fallen in love. My first Cruiser actually. I'm slowly doing improvements to it and am planning the big upgrades for when the weather and wallet are right.

You mentioned going with LEDs for the interior... I just installed pfran's kit, along with the reverse light LED upgrade and couldn't be more happy with them. 10/10 recommend.
 
ryanCA said:
Yup I read that
I am still in getting wised up phase

My experiences in Asia hasn't been that due to me driving local Nissan patrol or land cruiser with local plates. So cops don't harass

Once I did get pulled over, but having American blue passport is golden ticket out , unlike s and Central America
Click to expand...


Hey dude,

If you are thinking about doing a trip south into Mexico, do your research, make rules for yourself and stick to them.

I saw this on FB this morning and a few other posts about it the last few days as family and friends of these guys were worried about them and posting on FB.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/fears...28-glalr2.html

DOS HOMBRES SON QUEMADOS DENTRO DE UNA CAMIONETA EN NAVOLATO


This one really struck home for me. I took the ferry from Baja to Topolobampo/Los Mochis in early 2010 on my way down the west coast of Mexico. I got off the ferry at 10pm like these guys. Some cops were casing me out as I made my way through Los Mochis but they didn't stop me. I felt very unsecure in this area, I tried to find a RV park in Los Mochis that is listed in the Church Mexico Camping book but couldn't find it. After an hour of looking for it I decided to get the hell out of this area right then so I drove all night not stopping even once and sticking to toll roads until I reached Mazatlan and got a hotel.

One of the reasons I think I made both trips to Panama and back safe and sound is because I used my head and used good judgement. I never boondock camped in mainland Mexico or in Central America, only in Baja did I boondock camp. I also passed up on nice surf breaks and kept driving if I didn't feel secure in an area. One thing I always felt (and still feel) that helped keep me safe was my ability to simply keep driving. More than once my 500 mile range in the Taco came in handy because I didn't want to stay in a certain area, sometimes I didn't even want to stop for directions or fuel. A 500 mile range and a fast Toyota meant I could easily just put down the pedal and keep going until I felt I was in a secure area.

Any one who has read about my travels and is thinking about going. Don't go unless you know how to travel safe overland style. While I have nearly nothing but good things to say about Latin America it is and can be dangerous down there. Be smart and travel safe or don't go at all. Tourists and travelers are rarely victims in the war going on down there but if you make bad decisions bad things happen. No idea what happened to these guys but having been there and been doing what they were doing my gut tells me they were tired and wanted to get off the road for the night, that or they were heading out to the beach for a surf break and probably an early morning session the next day. All that has to happen is for you to come upon bad dudes doing bad s*** and you are screwed. That is why I do my best to not drive at night down there, not because of the cows on the road or drunk drivers, ya those are good reasons not to drive at night too, but because the bad dudes in Mexico are generally active at night.


Cheers
 
Hmmmnnnn......


I wonder if my 80 rear bumper will fit on my 100. Not afraid to cut & weld. Last night in the shop it hit me, hey maybe my 80 rear bumper will work on my 100, maybe it is bolton or maybe I got to modify it but I was thinking the 80 & 100 have basically the same rear on the chassis. I think I will have to go play with a tape measure this afternoon.

bumper4.webp


Cheers
 
Well, no such luck. The 100 frame rails are 2 1/2" wider at the back of the truck. Might be able to mod my bumper though since the rest of it looks like it might work. No real way for me to tell though without pulling the bumper from the 80 chassis and just giving it a try.

Cheers
 
Just cracked 125k on this truck, missed the pic by 1 mile, didn't have my phone on me.


125k.webp


Not bad for a 16yr old truck. Taking it to KoH in a week, will spend a week sleeping in the truck. Not doing much before I go, changing the oil, lubing my drivelines, doing a quick install on my Engel 45L fridge. That's about it. Not worried one bit that the timing belt and water pump have not been done, as far as I know anyways. 100-series is a damn good truck and I am confident it will not let me down on this trip.

Cheers
 
Well, successful mission to King of the Hammers completed. Drove the Cruiser 600 miles through a blizzard at night, then 100 miles of good roads and then 300 miles of a gnarly wind/dust storm to get there. Then aired down to 10psi and drove the crap out of the truck in JV, never wheeled the truck before this. Slept in the back of the Cruiser all week and then drove it home. All with a 125k 16yr old timing belt. The truck never missed a beat, oh ya and all I have done to it since I bought it last November is grease the drive lines and change the oil.

KoH was a lot of fun, we had to weather a serious wind/sand storm the first three days but by Wednesday it was gorgeous, sunny and warm.

KoH 2016 2.webp

KoH 2016 3.webp


I think my favorite part of KoH though is the late night parties on the trails, super fun!!



and one of these years I need to get my beast of a Nissan Patrol down there for some fun.

83 Patrol.webp


Cheers
 
Well since I posted last the Cruiser has cracked 133k. I still have not done anything to it, besides change the oil twice with Mobil 1 and remove the running boards and the wood trim. I did a trip to Oregon in April in it, about 2,000 miles. Hauled a rear bumper (pictured above) and also a trans + t-case in the back of it on that trip. Just last weekend did a 800 mile trip up to Montana. As far as I know the timing belt has never been done, the truck is still going strong. I know some of you think it is foolish to have not done it and keep taking the truck on trips. But hey, this is a Toyota and it is a Land Cruiser and I have much confidence in it.


On the way home last Sunday from Montana we were traveling through Yellowstone. We ended up in the ditch, doing about 30mph. Nothing major but we hit a 15ft tree and a large rock. Damaged all down the RHS of my truck, ripped off the mirror, wasted the front tire and lot's more. All minor but I got an estimate yesterday for insurance, $10,200!!! I suspect my insurance company is going to try to write it off but I am not having that unless they give me $11-12k which they won't. The estimate has a bit over $6k in parts on it. See how it plays out but I am not against $6k in new Toyota parts when I have a bunch of deep scratches and a few small dents.

Cheers
 
Insurance company offered me $10.5k to buy it out. I have opted for keeping it and them giving me $6k. Going to fix it myself, parts already in my cart at Amayama and it is only $2k in parts.

Cheers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom