Which vehicle would you use for a trip around the world (1 Viewer)

[hayer2021]

Which vehicle would you use for a trip around the world? I am hoping this forum would help me figure this out: I am looking to acquire and build a rig which I am – in my dreams for now – planning to take around the world. From US to East Asia, travelling through Europe/Middle East/India/etc. I have been looking at several options and obviously, it must be a Toyota. Need your help, guidance to select the right vehicle. Planning on build over the next year and test to ensure reliability. Here are some vehicles that I have shortlisted, with PROs and CONs per my understanding.



Toyota LC100/LX470

PROS – Good interior space. Good support around the world, if require fixing. Smaller than LC200. Not as expensive as LC200.

CONS – Old, then newest model would be 2007, could be some reliability issues due to age? Big for euro roads? Thirsty.



Toyota LC200:

PROS – Super big. Being it newer than others could be more reliable, requires less maintenance. Good support around the world, if requires fixing.

CONS – Perhaps, too big for some road in Europe. Thirsty. Too expensive to be with it in some countries?



Lexus GX470/460

GX470

PROS – Good size for roads around the world. Same engine as LC100 so good support around the world, if require fixing. A lot cheaper than LC option. Little better fuel economy than LCs.

CONS – Old. Interior space not as good as LCs.



GX 460

PROS -– Good size for roads around the world. Cheaper option then LCs. One may find a lot newer model for the same money one would spend on a 2007 LC, as an example.

CONS – I don’t see this engine being used elsewhere in the world. So not as huge maintenance support if required? Interior space not as good as LCs.





I am sure i have left out a lot of pros/cons for each vehicle. Hence, i am posting it here. I hope this is the right forum. What do you guys think?

 

[SNLC]

None of those.

1HZ Troopy

Cheers

 

[jim land]

You don't need power seats ,windows , door lock ....
Just more potential troubles

 

[Jetboy]

You're going to probably drive about 50k miles(?) I think any Toyota should do that without much risk of any failures. Just buy any new Toyota you find comfortable to drive. A 5th gen 4Runner or a 2nd Gen Tacoma are probably the most "global" vehicles in the USA. In this case the 4Runner because you can buy a new one. It'll be the easiest vehicle to maintain globally of anything sold in the USA because almost every part is shared with common global market. The 1GR is just a lot more common than any of the v8s.

Being totally objective about it - a Sienna is probably the best vehicle. It'll be more comfortable for the tens of thousands of highway miles and save so much fuel costs that it would pay for renting an LC locally for any off-roading you'll want to do without taking your main vehicle.

 

[Mark W]

Are you qualified in terms of knowledge, skills, EXPERIENCE, tools and everything else to maintain, diagnose and trouble shoot, replace and repair (field repairs too)all of the important primary mechanical and electrical/electronic parts and systems that might fail under severe use in actual third worlds locations and situations on all of the rigs you have listed?

There are many many more factors that I would consider... but gotta clear that hurdle first.

Mark...

 

[TWILLY]

You're going to probably drive about 50k miles(?) I think any Toyota should do that without much risk of any failures. Just buy any new Toyota you find comfortable to drive. A 5th gen 4Runner or a 2nd Gen Tacoma are probably the most "global" vehicles in the USA. In this case the 4Runner because you can buy a new one. It'll be the easiest vehicle to maintain globally of anything sold in the USA because almost every part is shared with common global market. The 1GR is just a lot more common than any of the v8s.

Being totally objective about it - a Sienna is probably the best vehicle. It'll be more comfortable for the tens of thousands of highway miles and save so much fuel costs that it would pay for renting an LC locally for any off-roading you'll want to do without taking your main vehicle.

A Sienna woodland edition for a smidge more ground clearance and still 36 mpg.

 

[hayer2021]

Are you qualified in terms of knowledge, skills, EXPERIENCE, tools and everything else to maintain, diagnose and trouble shoot, replace and repair (field repairs too)all of the important primary mechanical and electrical/electronic parts and systems that might fail under severe use in actual third worlds locations and situations on all of the rigs you have listed?

There are many many more factors that I would consider... but gotta clear that hurdle first.

Mark...

No. Not qualified to do any such work...

 

[Jetboy]

If they were available a HiAce 4x4 would be a pretty solid option as well. I think they get about 35mpg. Not as comfortable at highway speeds as the Sienna - but lots of space and a bit more ground clearance. Also might blend in better in some parts of the world. A Sienna would be fine crossing most of Africa - but it will stand out and might make you a target for theft. Unfortunately getting a new or newish HiAce isn't so easy.

 

[Fungoose]

Both these do Hiace 4x4 in OZ

H200 series have Prado/Lexus transfer case with front end out of Japanese AWD Hiace. 120mm lift over standard,- various options,- locking diffs, AWD or 4X4 High & Low range. STD or LSD front & rear with traction control & ABS. With a locker in the rear the only thing that stops you is clearance & wheel travel.

H300 series use 200 series landcruiser transfer & front end

Japanese models- TRH227 etc are AWD with standard clearance.

4x4 Bus Conversion - 4x4 Van Conversion - Enduroco - https://enduroco.com/

Toyota HiAce 4x4 Conversion

300 Series | Full Time AWD | Van or Bus

www.bus4x4.com.au

 

[VonclicasLX]

1hz troop carrier. Hzj75/hzj78.

You got reliability and tons of interior space. You can have kitchen and bed inside, or a roof top tent with tons of living and storage space inside.

 

[D21FJ60]

Pardon me if I missed it, but what is the type of travel? Majority camping out? Route going to have significantly impassible roads?
If it's little camping and mostly tarmac a corolla- easy on fuel and light enough to be pushed out of a ditch.
But other than that, yeah a troopy.

 

[VonclicasLX]

The other thing there's no mention of, is the budget.

A troopy may not be on budget.
A more affordable option would be a 4rumner for example, or an 80 series. .

 

[cruiserpilot]

This 12HT 60. With normal 265/75R16 tires. No giant lights. No rear winch. Add AC. Rear sliders windows with steel grate
over screen protection. With new vertical pop top. Since a normal trip is 3-4 weeks and carry 2 months of food at any
one time, there wouldn't be any other differences.

 

[VonclicasLX]

This 12HT 60. With normal 265/75R16 tires. No giant lights. No rear winch. Add AC. Rear sliders windows with steel grate
over screen protection. With new vertical pop top. Since a normal trip is 3-4 weeks and carry 2 months of food at any
one time, there wouldn't be any other differences.

View attachment 3778756

Funny enough,
Enough though i have a fj80 and a lx470, i elected my hj61 12ht high roof, to be my main long distance overland rig.

Picked it up in Vancouver and did 10k kms in 23 days, through Dempster Highway, artic ocean, all the way to Toronto

 

[cruiserpilot]

Funny enough,
Enough though i have a fj80 and a lx470, i elected my hj61 12ht high roof, to be my main long distance overland rig.

Picked it up in Vancouver and did 10k kms in 23 days, through Dempster Highway, artic ocean, all the way to Toronto

View attachment 3778781

I’ve done that trip a few times. Most trips north are 8-12K without driving all the way to Toronto! Been across those prairies enough for this life! But driving that far gets a person deep into S America from here.

 

[VonclicasLX]

I’ve done that trip a few times. Most trips north are 8-12K without driving all the way to Toronto! Been across those prairies enough for this life! But driving that far gets a person deep into S America from here.

I avoided the common route thru the prairies. Boring as hell. went thru a much nicer area of northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, beautiful lakes up north in Manitoba.

Unfortunately Jasper burned down just 2 days before we got there.

Epic trip.