Land Cruiser......GOT ONE NOW!

[Range Rover Ron]

Hello Toyota People,
I currently own a 1994 RRC 300 Tdi soft dash and am looking at replacing it with a Toyota Land Cruiser that I have spotted.

I don't really know very much about Toyotas.
The LC in mind is a VX 4.2 turbo deisel auto. (do they do manuals?)
It is a recent import from Japan and is in pristine as new condition.

My main concerns are firstly that it is too good to off road,
looking at it, the only thing I would need to do to it is fit a snorkle and some underbody protection.
my RRC has 2" lift, recovery bumpers, rock sliders etc. etc.

I would like to know what peoples experience is of these machines and the difference between the Toyota and the RRC off road.
The Toyota is heavier I know and bigger.
It is also longer and will have a worse breakover, approach and departure angle than the RRC.
Fuel consuption?
Ability off road?
Parts availability?
Insurance costs?
Club acativities?
Etc. Etc.

Cheers,

Ron.

[generation-x]

hi ron
ive seen modded amazons for a few yrs now and they are great offroad
yes ur have more over hang on the rear but its easier and cheaper to lift to fit bigger tyres it dont take much to fit 35's to a yota

ur prob better off askin on difflock or tloc websites

fraid i cant comment on fuel and such thou soz
parts frogs island and TBH (i think)
ur get much more info from oz sites than uk ones


simon

[Cal]

Hi Ron,

a couple of websites for you to check out:

http://www.tlocuk.co.uk/forums/index.php - a UK site

and:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/ (have a look in the 80 series section).

The American site shows you what you can do to these beasts - unfortunately you have to get a lot of the offroad parts imported here - or find someone to make them for you.

A mate of mine has had a cruiser for a year now (also an import) and said for an everyday motor he would not go back to a landy over the cruiser and he's had RRCs, defenders, series etc.

He'a had 40mpg out of it, though realistically you will be looking at around 25mpg - roughly the same as your RRC, but plenty of power on tap and they handle well for big motors.

The imports also have adjustable dampers - there is a switch on the dash to change from hard to soft which works well.

My mate hasn't done any serioues offroading in it but has been across fields in it no bother.

You can fit 33 inch tyres with no suspension mods (just...).

Most use Milners for parts, or breakers.

In terms of probs, the TLOC forum says a lot about big end bearings failing - pretty much the only problem you will encounter with the cruiser engine, although my mates fuel pump chewed itself up. Was £300 for one from a breakers.

Other than that, make sure all the gizmos work - everything on my mate's work and it's 15 years old! Did you notice the chilled cubby box - has even got ice cube tubs in...  8)

I think they are group 13 inurance.

That's about all I know - but I want one too! Heart still says get a defender, but cruiser is a lot of motor for less money!

I was going to have a look at this one (4th from bottom of page) but decided I haven't the cash at the moment - might be worth a look for you?

http://dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/19881/stock.htm

(Mods - Hope it's OK to post the link - the garage is nothing to do with me - just one I found on autotrader)

P.S. I think all the imports will be autos - have not seen any mauals, but you can def get UK spec manuals. Apparently the auto box is better on the cruiser anyway...

[Range Rover Ron]

Hello Cal and Generation-X,
thanks for all the info,
One more question...........

I've heard that the UK spec LC's have centre diff lock and front & back axle diff lockers as standard,
The Jap LC's are said to only have the centre diff lock,
Is this true?

Cheers,
Ron.

[Cal]

Hi Ron,

Yeah, that's pretty much right. Some Jap cruisers have the axle lockers, but not many. On the UK spec ones, if the lockers are working, the lights on the dash will flash once or twice then stay on. If they keep flashing then the locker isn't working properly.

How you going with the cruiser hunting?

[Range Rover Ron]

Hello Cal,

I'm unable to much right now as I'm off to Egypt working on Wed until Xmas.
The one I was looking at is now sold but the new owner I know and he says he bought it for his dad,
he said his dad may think it is too big so he's promised me first refusal.
apart from that, I've just fitted new diff pans, new rear floor, new rear cross member, new rear toptail gate and replacement rear bottom tail gate to the RRC so for the moment I'm happy with it.

I'll be able to get on line when I'm in Cairo.
So will keep an eye out, just gets frustrating some times when you see something but can't react 'coz you're away.

Cheers for now,
and thanks again for your advice.
Ron.

[Range Rover Ron]

Hello Cal,

I think I amy have told you that I've now got a TLC.
It's a 1992/3 4.2 VX.
It's OK but I've not been able to engage the diffs,
there are no flashing lights or lights at ll on the dash regarding the diffs,
they do light up for a few seconds after ignition.

There seems to be an electrical "event" as when I try to engeage the centre diff there is a dimming iof the dash.
I unserstand from Paul Humphries that the axle diffs will not engage until the centre diff is able to engage,
so at the moment I have to try and get the centre diff working.

I have seen another TLC that I quite fancy.
So I may think about selling this one if you know anyone who may be interested.
I'm not 100% sure if I'll sell it but it is an option  and I will need to sell it if I go for the other TLC.
The only reason for me to go for the other one is that it is a L reg and I can fix my personal number plate to an L reg TLC.
Miles and condition are about the same.
Cheers for now,
Ron.