Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Tom's Neighborhood Workshop

[OutlawDrifter]

I fail to see the connection here. Winter is prime motorcycle riding season.

Just not everywhere.

Windchill is currently 18* here...I'd gladly borrow you the spare bedroom if you wanted to come ride your V-star up here

 

[bj383ss]

Well if he is landing in Dallas it is almost hitting 60* today in Leander. Maybe he is buying something from Rawlings.

Bret

 

[loganb]

I haven't bought anything. Technically. Yet. Ask me again in four hours.

It's now 6 hours past the agreed upon update time

The horde is amassing awaiting for an update on this either impressive new ride or the dramatic shenanigans that occurred after laying eyes on the overstated turd you went to see....

 

[XJSuperman]

Cmon Tom, we're waiting for the minivan pics....

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Haha sorry boys I was struggling getting out of Dallas but am headed home! I wish I could post a picture but GJ is not cooperating! Working on it!

It was definitely not a turd nor a minivan. You guys who guessed Land Cruiser were right. Just the wrong era.

STAND BY

 

[loganb]

Congrats! What route you taking back north?

 

[Blackbyrd]

So it was a go bag!

 

[wreckdiver1321]

.....roadtrip to pick up another Land Cruiser in the wild.....

You're the winner!

It's a 2011.

I'm typing this while laying on an air mattress I took with me. The air mattress is a perfect fit in the back of the Land Cruiser as I sit on the shore of Ute Lake in New Mexico. Onto more sights in the morning!

Night all, thanks for sticking with me.

 

[Chrisb62]

Awesome for you..................................................kinda bummed, was hoping for a baby .
A two legged one, not a four tired one.


Congratulations on your new ride.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Safe travels!

 

[gearhead1960]

I feel like I got gipped....I won, but no prize.....

 

[XJSuperman]

 

[Chrisb62]

Ummmmm This is % correct..........

 

[bj383ss]

I saw pics on IG. Its White.

Bret

 

[wreckdiver1321]

So sorry guys!

Been one hell of a hectic couple days and GJ wouldn't let me upload a single picture because... Well I don't know.

BUT ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE!

First look in person. They did a great job cleaning it up for me and it's completely free of rust or any real body damage other than a door ding. Interior has a bit more wear than I was expecting but overall it's pretty good. I hate the wheels but that's an easy fix.



Drove it to Pecan Lodge for some outrageously good BBQ then hit the road.



It came with storage drawers, which I would have installed myself anyway, already in it. Those made a perfect platform for me to set up my air mattress for the drive home. Slept two nights on this setup and I guarantee I'll do more at some point. Very comfortable and sized perfectly for my frame.



Caught some nasty weather in Wyoming, which is par for the course in the winter. I'll wait until I have my photos edited and uploaded to tell the whole story but it was a bit harrowing. The drive absolutely made me fall in love with the truck. Crazy comfortable and feels so incredibly solid in every respect. I can see why so many people are so enamored with the 200 Series. Not a single hiccup, concern, weird noise, strange behavior, anything. With 130,000 miles on it, it's barely used for a vehicle that routinely breaks 350k.



All tucked in at her new home. I'm so very pleased with this machine and so happy I went to buy it. I didn't expect to jump feet-first into the 200 Series, but after this experience I'm really glad I did.



Obviously this means the plans for the 100 Series have changed. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what that looks like and what we'll do with it, but the smart money is to finish it and sell it, which is most likely what will happen. This newer Cruiser is definitely the new overlander project rig. It's quieter, a little roomier, WAY more powerful, newer, nicer, and just as capable.

What I do know is there are lots of adventures ahead for this new truck. She needs a name and a build plan outline, both of which I am working on.

Much more to come!

 

[XJSuperman]

[quietly makes grumbing noises about minivans in the background]

Thats a sharp looking rig Tom. I don't mind the wheels, they've got a solid look. Can't wait to see what you choose to style it with, but I am more so excited to see what you outfit the rest of the vehicle with. The drawers already in the back are certainly a nice bonus. I don't know anything about the landcruisers, what distinguishes them from the 4runner?

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Uploading pics from my phone I have to first go to my pictures and use the crop tool...even removing just 1 row of pixels does the trick.
Not sure why but 95% of my uploads will fail if I don't.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

[quietly makes grumbing noises about minivans in the background]

Thats a sharp looking rig Tom. I don't mind the wheels, they've got a solid look. Can't wait to see what you choose to style it with, but I am more so excited to see what you outfit the rest of the vehicle with. The drawers already in the back are certainly a nice bonus. I don't know anything about the landcruisers, what distinguishes them from the 4runner?

Haha sorry no offroad minvan builds for me.

Thanks man!

I don't like the wheels mostly because of offset. I don't like how pushed out they are. I think I'm going to try the 100 Series wheels on them, then go from there. I might try to find another set of 200 wheels for it. I'd really love the Heritage Edition wheels but alas I do not have a bathtub full of money.

The Land Cruiser falls somewhere between the 4Runner and the Sequoia size-wise. It's slightly bigger in every dimension than a 4Runner and a fair bit smaller than the Sequoia. However, the underpinnings are every bit as heavy duty as the Tundra/Sequoia despite it's smaller stature, if not more so. They build them to last absolutely forever. Here's a good example:



200 Series Land Cruiser inner tie rod end on the left, 2020 TRD Tacoma inner tie rod end on the right.

The Land Cruiser is designed to be used in places like Africa where they receive little maintenance and are driven by NGO workers and military personnel. Everywhere you look, everything is bigger than it SHOULD be. As a result, the Land Cruiser has a 1600lb payload and earns the 5.7L V8 from the Tundra despite being slightly larger than the 4Runner. Since the 80 Series, the drive system is also different. The 4Runner and Tacoma use a traditional 4x4 system, but the Land Cruiser is technically an AWD SUV with low range and a locking center differential. Makes it less fuel efficient but quite a lot more stable in slippery conditions.

Funny enough, the 4Runner is technically a Land Cruiser underneath too, sharing a lot of it's architecture with the Land Cruiser 120/150 Prado platform, which is actually just a much more basic Lexus GX470.

In the US, the Land Cruiser has been more of a luxury vehicle aimed to compete with the Range Rover. That being said, it's not luxurious in the way Rovers are. It's more about practicality and engineering sheathed in nice leather and decent gadgets.

But at it's heart, the Land Cruiser is designed as an extremely practical and durable utility vehicle. That, coupled with it's somewhat mid-range stature and solid off road capability make it one of the ultimate choices for an overland type build.

Uploading pics from my phone I have to first go to my pictures and use the crop tool...even removing just 1 row of pixels does the trick.
Not sure why but 95% of my uploads will fail if I don't.

GREAT tip! Thanks!

 

[jbrentd]

Nice looking rig! Awesome that it came with the platform in the back. Looks well done. Did he also throw in the roof box?

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Nice looking rig! Awesome that it came with the platform in the back. Looks well done. Did he also throw in the roof box?

Thanks Brent, really happy with how the whole experience worked out. The truck is an absolute peach other than some interior wear/tear which I am happy to sort out. The body is without much marring other than a door ding and some rock chips on the hood that I could fix if I wanted to. I may. We'll see. The frame is pretty much mint.

Yep, roof box was included, but unfortunately no keys for it or the roof bars, so dunno what my plan is with those yet. Working on that. I ended up cutting the bolts holding the box to the roof to get it into the workshop.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Awesome rig Tom, followed your trip on IG after Bret mentioned it! Wheatland, WY isn't too far from my old stomping grounds.

White on Tan is the best, that's always my first choice in a "newer" vehicle without a red/blue interior option. Excited to see what you do with this one!

 

[Blackbyrd]

Congrats on the new ride!

 

[rktinc]

I am a Land Cruiser nut! You will love the 200!

 

[jbrentd]

Those lock cylinders usually have a number on them and you should be able to buy keys for them. Either on Thile’s site or eBay.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Awesome rig Tom, followed your trip on IG after Bret mentioned it! Wheatland, WY isn't too far from my old stomping grounds.

White on Tan is the best, that's always my first choice in a "newer" vehicle without a red/blue interior option. Excited to see what you do with this one!

Thanks Marc, just saw you added me and added you back. I post a fair bit on there so you'll see some stuff before the rest of the GJ rabble

Cruising through Wyoming was very much not fun, but the 200 handled it like an absolute champ. No drama, no fuss. Just did the work. Gave me a lot of confidence that I made the right call. Can't wait to see what she can do and where she'll take me.

Congrats on the new ride!

Thanks man! I'm pretty excited.

I am a Land Cruiser nut! You will love the 200!

I think you and I just became internet friends!

Holy **** I love your collection. I'll be honest, I never was into Land Cruisers much until I fell hard for the 100 Series a few years ago. Saw it used on all sorts of adventures around the world and just loved it. Bought one and caught the bug, but unfortunately mine is a rust bucket so I made the jump to the 200. Never had the 80 Series but toyed with the idea for a while. Gotta say though, the 200 is an absolute tank. Can't wait to get out and explore with it.

Those lock cylinders usually have a number on them and you should be able to buy keys for them. Either on Thile’s site or eBay.

Yep, I'll probably pick one up and drill out the lock that's on it.

 

[nicholam77]

Looks like an awesome vehicle, Tom! I enjoyed the brief land cruiser history. Does it already have some mods? Looks like the tires are pretty beefy. Good to see some snow on it and that you got to test it out a bit on your drive back. Looking forward to see your plans for it and the full pictorial of your trip to get it!

 

[wreckdiver1321]

PRELIMINARY BUILD PLANS

So I've been thinking about how I'm going to build out the Land Cruiser. I want to get it written down so I can concentrate on work occasionally and sort of refine my ideas. This plan is subject to change as I do more research and get more time in the mountains and on the road with it. Without further adieu:

Wheels & Tires

• 275/70R18 BFGoodrich KO2s. There's some other possibilities with tires but I really like the K02. I think this is also a great tire size for the 200 Series.
• Standard LC wheels. I'm not an aftermarket wheel guy. I don't know if I'll run my 100 wheels or try to figure out some 200 Series ones. We'll see.

Suspension

• I'm a huge fan of Old Man Emu, so that's what will likely go on this. Looking for 2-3" suspension with additional load capacity for bumpers and gear.
• Toyota OE front spacers to add some height due to the weight of the bumper.
• OME trim spacers to level the rear suspension properly, or add additional clearance, if needed.
• Dobinsons adjustable panhard rod to re-center the rear axle.
• Timbren bump stops.
• Upgrading to Metal Tech control arms at some point for the durability and adjustability.

Bumpers & Armor

• Again, falling back on what I know works. I've had ARB bumpers on several vehicles now and absolutely love them. This will get one too.
• ARB rear bumper with tire carrier and jerry can holder. I'll likely mod the jerry can holder to carry an Alu-box.
• Skid plate upgrade. I want aluminum to save weight, bearing in mind I almost never used my skids on my Nissan, which is longer and lower to the ground. Looking at Budbuilt or Total Chaos. Maybe Asfir.
• Rock rails. I don't need the big, heavy 200lb+ sliders that a lot of these rigs get. I didn't use the sliders on my Nissan a lot, and the 200 is sitting higher off the ground now than my Nissan was on a 3" lift and 33s. To that end, I'll probably fabricate some lighter duty ones that are a simple rocker rail that attaches to the frame. I'm also tossing around the idea of the ARB steps and side rails. Dunno yet.

Drivetrain

• Safari snorkel with a Sy-klone prefilter.
• I may do limited slip diffs at some point, depends on how it handles the terrain when I wheel it.
• Long Range America auxiliary fuel tank for added range. They have both a 12.5 gallon and a 24 gallon, not sure what direction I'll go there.
• Nothing else. I want to preserve the reliability and keeping it stock is the best way to do that.

Cargo

• Looking at changing the roof rack setup. I want something low-profile, simple, and lightweight since all it will be doing is carrying a Yakima roof box and an awning. Thinking Eezi-Awn K9 load bars.

Camping

• Rhino Rack Batwing awning (already have this)
• Indel B 50L fridge (have this)
• Alubox or Front Runner wolf pack for cargo storage in the back.
• DFG Offroad fridge slide.
• Outfit the drawers with dividers and such for storage.
• Front Runner onboard water tank with a tap at the back of the drawers. Or maybe at the rear bumper. I'll fit it with a schrader valve so I can pressurize it rather than using electric or relying solely on gravity feed.

Lighting & Electrical

• Swap out the interior lights for LEDs to reduce power consumption.
• Interstate group 31 battery.
• Retrofit the auxiliary electrical system I built for my 100 to the 200 Series engine bay.
• Add some low-draw lighting for the cargo area.
• Mount my 9" LED spot lights on the front bumper. These will be slaved to the high beams with a master interrupt switch.
• Smittybilt X20 10K winch with synthetic line to save weight.
• ARB fog lights in the bumper.
• Small, additional reverse lights in the rear bumper.
• ARB air compressor under the hood.
• Compressor switch on panel attached to drawer system.

Interior

• Escape Gear seat covers.
• Raingler cargo area divider and Raingler cargo area attic.
• Weathertech floor mats.
• Phone mount.
• Navigation tablet mount.
• Small dual band HAM radio, out of the way but accessible from the driver's seat.
• Fire extinguishers under the driver's seat and at the back in the cargo area.
• 2.5gal air tank either under one of the drawer system "wings" or under the truck.
• Onboard air quick-disconnect built into panel on drawer system.

Again, just a basic outline and an attempt to organize my thoughts. There's going to be a lot of building and modding going on with this truck. I'm trying to keep weight and utility in mind as well, so the whole thing is a bit of a challenge, but one I really enjoy. This isn't going to be a full-on off road build, rather it's a build that seeks to maximize comfort and utility while keeping the vehicle capable of handling moderate terrain and keeping us sustained in the middle of nowhere for up to a week. There's going to be some experimentation and some changes to the plan as things progress. So much to come.

That said, I need to finish the 100 Series first and send that off to a new owner. So let's get after it!

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Looks like an awesome vehicle, Tom! I enjoyed the brief land cruiser history. Does it already have some mods? Looks like the tires are pretty beefy. Good to see some snow on it and that you got to test it out a bit on your drive back. Looking forward to see your plans for it and the full pictorial of your trip to get it!

Thanks Nick!

Driving one of these things is pretty special honestly. It feels refined because of all the leather and equipment but you can feel that it's an absolute tank underneath. Driving it in the snow and on crappy roads was very, very confidence inspiring. Despite that, it's moderate size, tight turning radius, and hilarious amount of horsepower make it feel quite nimble.

It's got some very minor things already. A set of stock-size BFGs on really quite hideous wheels, the roof box and roof rack, and the Dobinson's cargo drawers. Otherwise it's totally stock, which is just perfect for me. Don't need to undo anyone's dumb modding decisions.

Much more to come on the 200 Series!

 

[XJSuperman]

Overlanding is your new favorite word and activity in regards to this build Tom. Sounds like a really solid plan. Only thing I would tweak is the tire choice, but we all have different opinions there, don't we?
I might vote for a good look at differential options once you get some time on the rig. I need to go brush up on factory Landcruiser setups, but locking diffs are a massive improvement in where you can go (or maybe in your case what you can get out of).

Now you're making me want to get back to working on my Jeep...dammit.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Overlanding is your new favorite word and activity in regards to this build Tom. Sounds like a really solid plan. Only thing I would tweak is the tire choice, but we all have different opinions there, don't we?
I might vote for a good look at differential options once you get some time on the rig. I need to go brush up on factory Landcruiser setups, but locking diffs are a massive improvement in where you can go (or maybe in your case what you can get out of).

Now you're making me want to get back to working on my Jeep...dammit.

Bear in mind this build is the result of my choices and activities from my Nissan, so overlanding was the favorite word already haha.

Yeah, tires are a really personal thing a lot of the time. I don't want a mud tire, but I want something with plenty of bite. I've had really good experiences with BFGs in the past. I also like General tires. Might look at Toyo or Falken too. We shall see. The size is somewhat determined by the wheels. They all come with 18s thanks to the brake size, so not much I can do there, and I want a skinnier tire if I can help it, and anything bigger will cause more wear on the drivetrain that I just don't want to deal with.

Yeah, I'm toying with the options as far as diffs. My Nissan had a rear locker, and that was really useful. I definitely want them to be a selectable locker rather than a lunchbox or Detroit style. LSDs are simpler in regards to activation and work really well in these AWD setups, which is why I was thinking of going that route, but I'm also thinking about ARB too. Dunno, we'll see. Maybe I won't need one at all.

The drivetrain changes are fairly far down my list of stuff. I've not really needed lockers too much, and the Land Cruiser has Crawl Control, which, while not as effective as a locker, certainly adds to the capability. It works really well.

 

[bdbecker]

Not sure if these guys are on your radar or not...

Slee Off Road - Toyota Off Road Specialist

Slee Off Road is a Toyota and Lexus 4WD Off Road specialist. USA manufacturer, retailer and installer since 1998. Expert knowledgeable outfitting staff.

sleeoffroad.com

Lots of Land Cruiser bling for you to consider.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Not sure if these guys are on your radar or not...

Slee Off Road - Toyota Off Road Specialist

Slee Off Road is a Toyota and Lexus 4WD Off Road specialist. USA manufacturer, retailer and installer since 1998. Expert knowledgeable outfitting staff.

sleeoffroad.com

Lots of Land Cruiser bling for you to consider.

Oh yeah, well aware of Slee. Them and Cruiser Outfitters will be getting lots of my money soon.

 

[rktinc]

Thanks Marc, just saw you added me and added you back. I post a fair bit on there so you'll see some stuff before the rest of the GJ rabble

Cruising through Wyoming was very much not fun, but the 200 handled it like an absolute champ. No drama, no fuss. Just did the work. Gave me a lot of confidence that I made the right call. Can't wait to see what she can do and where she'll take me.


Thanks man! I'm pretty excited.


I think you and I just became internet friends!

Holy **** I love your collection. I'll be honest, I never was into Land Cruisers much until I fell hard for the 100 Series a few years ago. Saw it used on all sorts of adventures around the world and just loved it. Bought one and caught the bug, but unfortunately mine is a rust bucket so I made the jump to the 200. Never had the 80 Series but toyed with the idea for a while. Gotta say though, the 200 is an absolute tank. Can't wait to get out and explore with it.


Yep, I'll probably pick one up and drill out the lock that's on it.

Join IH8MUD forums and learn everything from the experts.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Join IH8MUD forums and learn everything from the experts.

Been a mud member for three years now

 

[wreckdiver1321]

I guess we'll see how much the stock aluminum wheels from a 100 Series flex. I bolted a spare wheel to my new truck and they clear the caliper by 1/4". I want to put some miles on and confirm they don't contact at any point, but if they don't I'm happy to use those wheels. Much nicer looking than the aftermarket ones that came with the Cruiser.



Side note - Can we all take a moment to appreciate how rust-free this damn truck is??? Compared to my 100 that I'm used to working on this is nearly factory fresh! Like holy **** this is nice. There is a little light corrosion on the welded seams of the frame underneath, but that's all really minor, and the rest of the truck looks like this. Makes the long drive feel totally worth it.



And yes, I did see the positive terminal cover that had somehow found its way to the top of the coil bucket. No, I have no idea how it got there or how long it's been there. Yes, I did remove it and put it back.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

I think I just made Dirk the coolest kid at school. I drove my Land Cruiser there and revved the engine at the kids outside, which made them all cheer and holler. Then I got Dirk in and revved it again. Drove off.

Dirk: "Daddy?"
Me: "What bud?"
Dirk: "I love your new truck daddy."

That was worth every penny I paid for it right there.

 

[bj383ss]

Welcome to owning a vehicle from Texas.

Bret

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Welcome to owning a vehicle from Texas.

Bret

You know, it spent most of it's life in Colorado as it turns out.

Vehicles from Wyoming and Montana are much the same. We actually can figure out how to deal with snow without destroying everything metal in our lives.

 

[samb]

Just read the whole thread, a really enjoyable read. Thank you for sharing. I am particularly interested in the trips out to the country as its so beautiful round where ou live, endless skies and ranges. Just awesome, the new LC is superb too, that'll be a cool build.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Just read the whole thread, a really enjoyable read. Thank you for sharing. I am particularly interested in the trips out to the country as its so beautiful round where ou live, endless skies and ranges. Just awesome, the new LC is superb too, that'll be a cool build.

Thanks @samb!

There will be plenty of exploration out in the mountains near me and further afield, so stay tuned for that. I'm very lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country. Excited to share some more on the new Cruiser, it's going to be a lot of fun, I can already tell.