What Land Cruiser Would You Take?
- Thread starter Bad Mojo
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LOL I meant you could smuggle people to pay for your fuel.
Seriously,I doubt youll have enough room for a sling shot let alone a cache of machine guns
I would say most of the troopies or wagons that cross continents have some kind or raised platform.
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leave the (poser) roof-top tent at home. If you sleep inside your vehicle, there is less of a chance of someone trying to break into it during the night...
i would also suggest a kill switch somewhere inline with the ignition system, hidden under the dash, that must be pressed for the vehicle to start.
since you are in New Mexico, I assume that you know that most Toyota 4x4's can be started with a forced entry and a screwdriver or two, in all of about 2-3 minutes...very cheap insurance for the rig. I also have seen gear shift locks, similar to the Club steering wheel lock, for those times you are away from the rig.
I think that a wagon would be the best choice, although the 40 series would probably be better for any hardcore wheeling. I hope to drive my gas FJ60 through Central and South America one day...maybe for the return trip it will run on diesel!
I also imagine that vehicle insurance would be a nightmare for a trip like this...I have no idea firsthand but have heard that you have to buy insurance in each country (through a different company) on your way through Mexico and Central America. Also most people take a ferry from Panama to South America to avoid the backwoods of Colombia, where there are few public roads...
google the couple mentioned above that have driven their FJ60 like 400,000 miles over the last 30+ years, and have the Guiness Book record for longest vehicle expedition and most countries visited in one vehicle...
i would also suggest a kill switch somewhere inline with the ignition system, hidden under the dash, that must be pressed for the vehicle to start.
since you are in New Mexico, I assume that you know that most Toyota 4x4's can be started with a forced entry and a screwdriver or two, in all of about 2-3 minutes...very cheap insurance for the rig. I also have seen gear shift locks, similar to the Club steering wheel lock, for those times you are away from the rig.
I think that a wagon would be the best choice, although the 40 series would probably be better for any hardcore wheeling. I hope to drive my gas FJ60 through Central and South America one day...maybe for the return trip it will run on diesel!
I also imagine that vehicle insurance would be a nightmare for a trip like this...I have no idea firsthand but have heard that you have to buy insurance in each country (through a different company) on your way through Mexico and Central America. Also most people take a ferry from Panama to South America to avoid the backwoods of Colombia, where there are few public roads...
google the couple mentioned above that have driven their FJ60 like 400,000 miles over the last 30+ years, and have the Guiness Book record for longest vehicle expedition and most countries visited in one vehicle...
I heard of others getting worldwide insurance. There would be exemptions for failed states and warzones.
A lot of Brits do the London to Cape Town and never seem to think it a problem
I can't believe you do not have the HZJ79, or HZJ78 - Pickup and Troopy on the list.
For global expedition the one question I would have is have many people will be in the truck? If you have 1 or 2 then I would say Troppy you get roughly the same space as the pickup but you have all inside, and you can configure it any way you want, check out the Toyota Trails series with the Green troopy that went around the globe. I have also posted my expedition build of my 97' troopy. Depending on what country it is coming from if you get it from oz you have a v8 diesel, form most other places you have the 1HZ, I have also added a turbo to the 1hz much more drivable on more varieties of climate.
Cheers,
Michael
For global expedition the one question I would have is have many people will be in the truck? If you have 1 or 2 then I would say Troppy you get roughly the same space as the pickup but you have all inside, and you can configure it any way you want, check out the Toyota Trails series with the Green troopy that went around the globe. I have also posted my expedition build of my 97' troopy. Depending on what country it is coming from if you get it from oz you have a v8 diesel, form most other places you have the 1HZ, I have also added a turbo to the 1hz much more drivable on more varieties of climate.
Cheers,
Michael
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- #26
The reason I don't have a ton of 70 series is because I never see them and I have been trying to get my 40 in better condition. I am glad I asked and are finding out that a 70 series is the way to go. I like the idea of having all my stuff in a lockable vehicle, so a 70 series troopy with a turbo is what I am looking at. Just have to find the exact model, and start saving up for it. Thanks for all the input everyone.
Central America is the closest place to you offering LHD versions of what you're looking for. Not sure if the turbo version is available OEM, but you can add a turbo easily enough. When you find it, consider a temporary importation into the US, you get a year to drive it and then it has to exit the country. Should be plenty of time to bring it in, outfit it, drive to Alaska, then head back down on your trip.
To clarify what someone else added, there are NO roads across the Darien Gap, so you have to ship out of Panama (very few ferry options and only to Colombia, very few RORO options; you'll likely have to ship out in a container). Most people ship to Colombia or to Ecuador. I would skip Venezuela right now due to the instability and anti-American stance. Don't miss out on Brazil, and Chile/Argentina.
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...yeah, but the $0.23/gallon gas prices in Venezuela would be hard to beat anywhere else in the world!!!
Yeah but remember that you are talking about 76 octane gas
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I'd go for a 105 diesel with an after market turbo ,and a dualcab conversion,
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easy!
super simple - save yourself lot of headaches and do what I did.
Go to Australia and pick a nice HJZ75/78 - either Troop Carrier or Bakkie. Then start traveling. If you register it in Western Australia you can renew the registration online regardless of where the truck is.
Go now, life is short.
super simple - save yourself lot of headaches and do what I did.
Go to Australia and pick a nice HJZ75/78 - either Troop Carrier or Bakkie. Then start traveling. If you register it in Western Australia you can renew the registration online regardless of where the truck is.
Go now, life is short.
I would take my FZJ105 without a hesitation
Or
I would get a FJ75 Troopy from Aussie
maybe a BJ/HJ75 Troopy but sometimes Diesel quality in rural Africa is a major problem.
From a reliability aspect I would also not hesitate in taking my FJ40, but its major downfall is packing space
A friend has just completed a 12 month expedition from Cape Town up the East Coast of Africa to Luxemburg then back to Cape Town down the West Coast of Africa in a HDJ105
Or
I would get a FJ75 Troopy from Aussie
maybe a BJ/HJ75 Troopy but sometimes Diesel quality in rural Africa is a major problem.
From a reliability aspect I would also not hesitate in taking my FJ40, but its major downfall is packing space
A friend has just completed a 12 month expedition from Cape Town up the East Coast of Africa to Luxemburg then back to Cape Town down the West Coast of Africa in a HDJ105
- Thread starter
- #37
Thanks for the input. I like the idea of the double cab Hilux, but I feel like I would have to put a camper on the back so my stuff doesn't get stolen at least with a 60 or 70 series if I get a troppy or a 4door I don't have to worry as much about it. I am getting the idea that I should go for a 70 series. Is there any big problem with taking a diesel 80 series?
Start in Europe
The Germans are pretty much expedition freaks and if nothing else you can get alot of ideas by looking at these rigs:
[www.buschtaxi.de] - The european site for Toyota LandCruiser, HiLux, FJ Cruiser, 4Runner, Megacruiser...: Fahrzeuge
Not sure about registration for foreigners which is probably the biggest hassle of buying out of country.
Sometimes it sucks to be an American 'Cruiser freak.
The Germans are pretty much expedition freaks and if nothing else you can get alot of ideas by looking at these rigs:
[www.buschtaxi.de] - The european site for Toyota LandCruiser, HiLux, FJ Cruiser, 4Runner, Megacruiser...: Fahrzeuge
Not sure about registration for foreigners which is probably the biggest hassle of buying out of country.
Sometimes it sucks to be an American 'Cruiser freak.
Ummm, I would take my vehicle;
1 it has a 13B-T the turbo is mounted high ( near the valve cover) so it wont crack when it drowns in water
2 double locked ARBs
3 I have a Waeco CF110 Fridge Freezer
4 I have the ARB inflator kit with an extra tank for volume (it can re-seat the beed)
5 I have recovery gear as in 24v Warn M8000, 60"Hi-Lift ,tree savers ..............
6 I know the vehicle well, I have done several expeditions from 1 week to 2 months continous
1 it has a 13B-T the turbo is mounted high ( near the valve cover) so it wont crack when it drowns in water
2 double locked ARBs
3 I have a Waeco CF110 Fridge Freezer
4 I have the ARB inflator kit with an extra tank for volume (it can re-seat the beed)
5 I have recovery gear as in 24v Warn M8000, 60"Hi-Lift ,tree savers ..............
6 I know the vehicle well, I have done several expeditions from 1 week to 2 months continous
Where do you keep the waeco 110,that is a serious sized fridge for a 74 series
I have an 80 and a 50 waeco. Im selling the 50 soon and buying the new waeco 11 litre compressor fridge for the front in between the seats,so I dont have to open the back up to get a drink on long trips