sleepycruiser
I will get by….I will survive -Touch of Grey LC200
Nice! Do you use a machine or take the hoses off, etc?
What have you done to your 200 Series this week? (39 Viewers)
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Taco2Cruiser
Crazy American Off Road
I pull the return hose off and attach a clear hose to the barb. After I drop the pan, clean the magnets, refill pan, I pump one qt out and then add one quart until cherry red (or green if I’m putting in the super good stuff). I’ve found that it’s simple, very clean, and just plane works.
Remember though to adjust the fluid level accordingly to temp range (93°-113°F) with techstream or you can connect terminals 4 and 13 on the DLC3. That’s the only way to get the level just right.
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Where you been?
Taco2Cruiser
Crazy American Off Road
I know… I’ve been a bad cruiser friend.
I now take people around the world on (mostly) vehicle based adventures. Because of that, I’ve had my focus tunneled to those clients. So from planning these trips, to building the trucks, then shipping all equipment and coordinating their travel into country. Then I guide the trip, provide security, and mechanic support. Finally get them and their gear back home, or onto the next location.
Basically, when the client has a dream to go see a place, I facilitate as much, or as little as they want (but I always keep them safe, sometimes from themselves). I specialize more in the places that seem more dangerous, but are still filled with beautiful places and people. It’s very rewarding, but it is time consuming. I like it though because it feels closer to my last life I had in the Army. But I’m back for a couple months, then I’ll be gone for the entire summer.
So yeah, felt like the good time to exchange some ATF.
sleepycruiser
I will get by….I will survive -Touch of Grey LC200
Taco2Cruiser
Crazy American Off Road
Nope. This started for me by an old friend who is a personal chef in LA. Some people that he regularly cooks for where talking about travel, and he said, “you should talk to my friend.” From then, it’s just been word of mouth. Which I feel works for me. These trips require a lot of trust, so I want to really know who I am working with before we find ourselves in a pickle.
Speaking of trust, do you advocate for Cruisers? What else do you use?
LvCruiserNewb
SILVER Star
My 18 only has 65k on it so far do you think that's too early to do a full swap? I've been hemming and hawing over it for 6-9 months procrastinating with the parts on the shelf except the fluid. Also how in the hell do you get the plastic cover and fill plug off the 8 speed with the prop shaft right there? What wrench and/or combination of extensions do you use?
You're lucky you made it out. Better trade it in for something more capable....CDL locked, revs to the limit... it was pretty intense honestly.
You're lucky you made it out. Better trade it in for something more capable....
I'm hearing great things about the new LC250. Wonder if the dealer will give me decent trade-in value on a hammered old 2021
Is that the one you took snow wheeling the other day? Wouldn't count on itI'm hearing great things about the new LC250. Wonder if the dealer will give me decent trade-in value on a hammered old 2021
Rode 20 feet and put away wet. 
I did mine (no pan drop) at 50k. Use a flex head wrench to get some of those ridiculous bolts up high for the cover. It's a combination of things to reach iirc. Anything from the flex head wrench to a combo of strong fingers/deep socket after you get the initial torque loose. there's a SQOTD link for a video that was very helpful. You'll have to deal with the guy's voice though. And keep your old lady out of earshot. It's quite sheckshey.
In the last couple of weeks, I have done the following to my '15 LC with 200k miles.
- Replaced the original water pump! (finally gave out at 200,885 miles)
- Alternator (bc I was in there and had the radiator removed)
- Fan clutch, pulley, and bracket.
- Replaced the original radiator with the updated one and all new hoses and clamps.
- drive belt
- fully trans pan drop, replaced the strainer assy, cleaned magnets, and fully trans fluid swap.
All OEM Toyota parts are used with OEM fluids. Thanks to the amazing group of people on this forum who share their wealth of knowledge that helped make these jobs easier to do. THANK YOU
- Replaced the original water pump! (finally gave out at 200,885 miles)
- Alternator (bc I was in there and had the radiator removed)
- Fan clutch, pulley, and bracket.
- Replaced the original radiator with the updated one and all new hoses and clamps.
- drive belt
- fully trans pan drop, replaced the strainer assy, cleaned magnets, and fully trans fluid swap.
All OEM Toyota parts are used with OEM fluids. Thanks to the amazing group of people on this forum who share their wealth of knowledge that helped make these jobs easier to do. THANK YOU
Taco2Cruiser
Crazy American Off Road
I have been and always will be a cruiser fanboy. Driven many around world, almost exclusively in conflict areas or places some nation/states label as war zones. They work very well but still have their issues. I've lost many turbos on the 4.5L diesels (both on the 200 or 70 platform). We also used a lot of GM and Ford products and I'll be honest, the little Chevy LUVs and the Ford super duties held up very well also.
So when it comes to my little operation right now, sometimes cruisers make sense, especially for the main vehicle to carry the client as they are more comfortable and smaller to maneuver. They get into shipping containers pretty easily, and are nice to simply get in and out of daily. But... a Ford F350 or Ram 3500 on 37s-40s has a payload that you can only dream of out of a Toyota while doing great off road. For reliably, the big domestics do well, really well (especially Ford engines). There is a reason that another die hard Toyota cruiser fan, Justin Montesalvo of Patriot Campers said it the best, "get a tire that can handle the weight or these trucks (what he means is a large enough tire to offset the shear weight of a big domestic) and they [Ram trucks] are just better."
I feel this way, there was a time that if you wanted safety, you bought a Volvo. That time is gone and all cars are very safe now, well... don't get in a Ford Fiesta, but outside of that, all cars are safe. There was a time when if you wanted reliably, you bought a Toyota. I don't know if that is really the case anymore. I'm not saying that with any inclusion of the brand new hybrid platform. I'm saying that when thinking of mid 2000s-2021 Toyotas. 200s have starters fail and leave people out in the middle of nowhere, fuel boiling, timing chain tensioner issues, center diff lock shenanigans. FJCs had fender bulging issues. FJCs and 4Runners have transfer use switches fail. My corolla in Iraq used more oil than mogas, but my Chevy LUV was flawless to levels a 70s series would say, "hey, there, take it easy." Now my 2nd gen Tacomas in Afghan were very, very good. Gas 1GR-FEs, they were so quite compared to D4D and that really matter in those days. But I ran a D4D in Haiti for 7 months and that was good to me. I digress, whenever I'm asked, what is the best truck I can buy? "200 series Land Cruiser," is my unflinching response. Overall, it's just a really good middle ground, and sometimes you need the best truck for the averages. My opinion at least.
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Taco2Cruiser
Crazy American Off Road
A flex head 12mm wrench. The torque spec on those 3x bolts is 9 lb ft, so it takes very little to pop them loose. I don't think it is too early. Really what I see from oil analysis is that the first change at 50k is about the right time. But then these transmission can go 100k after that and be at the same contamination level. I feel it's just from initial break in of the component.
Got my Kaon shelf temporarily installed, that I happened to get 2nd hand with large Molle panels.. for the moment I’m running the shelf with some real light stuff up there for the next trip as I am waiting on my relocation harness from kaymar and will have to pull the whole panel out or mostly out.
You lopped off a complete bar... the awning did not clear it mounted on top of the bars?
Edit.. I see you mounted it low.. not on Top of the rack.. I understand the mod now..
