DirtRoadTrip

Moving on From the Land Cruiser

by 6 Comments

For the past 2 years my 200 Series Land Cruiser has served faithfully without issue, but as my overlanding goals have changed, so have my vehicle requirements. 

When I first purchased the Land Cruiser I was looking for the Swiss Army knife of trucks, and after a couple of months of research I finally pulled the trigger and brought her home. Quite frankly I thought this would be the last vehicle I would have to buy for the foreseeable future.

Land Cruiser 1

The Day I Brought Her Home

My goal was to build a truck that could hit the toughest of trails while still be able to eat up a thousand mile road trip with ease. So for the next 6 months I talked to every 200 Series Owner I could find (all 2 of them) and carefully planned out my build.

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Built Up In All Her Glory

I ended up with one capable minivan truck that didn’t fail me once; even through the vehicle consuming Vermont Overland Trophy she never missed a beat. For the past 60,000 miles the truck has been flawless – she’s never left me stranded even when she makes me write checks I don’t want to cash.

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Surviving VOT

Don’t get me wrong though she has some major limitations and handicaps that you can’t overlook. Fully loaded she tips the scales at almost 8,000 pounds, when you need a part be prepared to wait 2-3 weeks for Toyota to find one, and even thought I hate to admit it, there’s some places that she just can’t go. Regardless though she always got me from point A to point B, even when challenged with “user error.”

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The Long Wheelbase Showing It’s Weakness

So by now you’re probably wondering why I’m moving on from the Land Cruiser considering she’s been such a great truck. The honest answer is that the Land Cruiser has been an invaluable learning experience, but I’ve also realized that I’ve reached the reasonable limits of her capabilities. All I can tell you right now is there is going to be a change in the DirtRoadTrip garage coming up in the new few months, so be on the look out.

Oh and if you or someone you know is looking for a turn key 200 Series Land Cruiser, feel free to shoot me an e-mail

 

Comments

  1. I just learned that this 5.7 has timing chains not belts. Also overlanding ( light duty offroading) was my kind of thing not rock crawling etc. offcourse i’ll keep my 80 if im itching to do such things. Yes im happy with my 5.7 tundra coz i can tow my 80 if needed but every time i read something like fjsummit etc, i am craving to have a 200 bec i know i can drive the 200 not tow it to go overlanding long distance. ( some might say build your 80 and do the maintainance and youll be fine- believe me i thought about that but to drive it long distance somehow she will break no matter what – she needs to be towed in my opinion,bec shes just old- i think no matter how great this 80 is she also needs TLC to prolong her existence.
    Anyway i hope i can find the 200 i can afford. I just want to step it up from 100.

    • Rainier, I didn’t get a chance to list it on mud because it sold locally within 2 days. Keep an eye out for the next rig, we’re going all in on this one.

  3. Hmmm….with your next vehicle I’m assuming you’ll still want to fulfill the utility, functionality and reliability the LC provided, but it sounds as though you’re aiming to increase the “off-road capability”. Based on my extreme inexperience (I’m very new to this game), I’m guessing 4Runner or probably Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, but could it be a surprise like an LR4? Looking forward to the big reveal.