I love Land Cruisers because I need to go 4 wheeling, camping etc. I spent over 100 nights in a tent last year and, no, I'm not homeless.
That being said, I would not own a Cruiser if my lifestyle did not involve the outdoors. There are cheaper alternatives for those who want to camp one weekend a year. . Troopers, Xterras, Rodeos, Monteros, Subarus all have lower retail values and probably better mileage.
The Land Cruiser is probably the best platform to build the best truck to get to and from the worst places. If price is a concern then
it may be best to consider options. There's no way anymore to build and maintain an economical Land Cruiser unless economical by your definition is somewhere in the 20 to 40K range. I've driven many makes of 4x4 for a short period here and there. I took a 1500.00 Rodeo on a Colorado trip over 7 passes. I took a 2100.00 Trooper on a 14 day jaunt through the backroads of Death Valley on through Canyonlands and in to Colorado staying on dirt as much as possible. Took a Samurai to Hole in the rock and a Pathfider to the Dollhouse.
I kept the $1500 rodeo for 50,000 miles . It serves as a backup or a lender to friends that visit or employees that find themselves broke down. So far just brakes and tires for repair.
My Land Cruisers are still king but will never be cheap. I still will drive the Trooper on trips that I deem too easy for the Cruiser.
I don't want to wear out the 250.00 ea tire on a Costco trip or a overnight camp the doesn't engage my hubs. The Trooper is like
a mini 80 but cheaper to maintain as the running gear is mostly US. It has GM/Isuzu V-6, GM TH4L30 and a Borg Warner Transfer
case. Thew rears are either a disc brake Dana 44 or an Isuzu disc 9". If the truck came with a factory LSD it is the Isuzu rear.
Used trucks are always a risk. The 60 is simpler than the 62. The 40 is simpler than the 60. The simpler the fewer risks.
Figure what you can stand to lose as a worse scenario. If you invest 20,000 you're probably in it for the long haul unless you're
secretly a fortune 500 CEO