Well.....asking which Landcruiser I ended up buying a 3.0 diesel Surf because one came up at a bargain price ! only looking at shortish trips (n africa) until I leave the military so it should suit for now :thumbup1:

Mongolia and Siberia nice, would love to have a crack at that, will keep an eye on your progress

:funmeteryes:

You won't regret buying a Surf.
Is it the 3 liter one?

They are far better than the 2.4L.

My son has this
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...P/STP81108.jpg
.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...P/STP81071.jpg
.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...P/STP81061.jpg
.
They are really very under rated.

Tough as nails !

Very underrated and very reasonably priced. My 3.0TD 4Runner has`been in Africa for 4 years and it's taken a serious hammering, esp. in EA.

HZJ 78 'Troupie'
 

Just to stick my 2 penny worth in

Depending upon where you are the HZJ 78 'Troupie' has got to be a real contender.

Even if you are in the UK you an still import them. If you are interested in importing one this is what I found out:

1. Importing a troupie with a certificate of conformity (new)

If you have a certificate of conformity then with a lhd vehicle all
you need is Customs docs, registration docs and current MOT - you do
not need to go through a SVA. However you are not going to get a cert
of conformity on a second hand Troupie - you will get one with a new
vehicle.

2. Importing a second hand troupie without a certificate of conformity

You will be required to take it through a SVA this means changing
Speedo and lights prior to SVA - you will need the docs mentioned
above also (not the certificate of conformity of course as it won't
exist).

3. Importing a second hand troupie without a certificate of conformity
but already converted as a campervan

If the troupie is already converted to a campervan then, when you apply
to DVLA for registration, they will send someone out to inspect it to
ensure that it is indeed a camper. If it qualifies then no SVA is
required and VOSA will not even get involved. All you need is customs
docs and a current MOT.

You do not need to change the speedo nor do you need to change the
headlights – all you need is to tape up the lights with reflectors
same as you would when taking a right hand drive to Europe for your
hols.

If the German (or other nationality) documents actually state that the
troupie is a campervan (many Germans do this as they get a lower road
tax rate), then DVLA will not even send someone out to inspect it and
all you need is MOT.

On another matter

Gil - what fuel consumption are you getting? Did it go up when you fitting the Turbo?

I think I'm using 13 litres per 100 km when fully loaded at 80kmph on tarmac

Cheers

John

Consumption and SVA.
 

John,
the short answer is yes! It went up from 13L/100km to 17L/100km. However for interest sake I also looked at our naturally aspirated company cruisers today:
105 Series Cruisers (averaged over 5 vehicles, at an average of 30,814km per vehicle) = 13.85L/100km. Twenty Miles Per Gallon. Running on a mixture of gravel and asphalt. The use of these cars is mixed gravel and asphalt - good, bad and down right ugly, and pretty comparable to overland type use.

Our two 79 series pickups averaged a rather shocking 21L/100km. Thirteen and a half miles per gallon! These are in pure off highway use, potholes and only saw asphalt when we bought them - also loaded up like hell!

When you say camper van, would a bed type arrangement in the back be enough do you think? Any idea where you would source speedo conversion kit?
Gil

Camper conversion
 

Hi Gil

The British authorities (VOSA) have got a bit sad at defining what a 'camper' is. They toughened up their definition recently because people were importing pannel vans in this mannrer and just chucking a bed in temporarily to get round the inspection program.

The conversion has got to look like it is permanent, and apparently, should include sleeping arrangements and cooking arrangements.

I don't know where to get the speedo conversion kit, but you could try all the usual 4x4 and expedition outfits. i know Paul at Footloose would have been able to source one for me had I needed to do the conversion.

As a footnote about imports. All my earlier comments were about importing a LHD. I think (but am not absolutely sure) that there is still a real problem about importing a RHD troupie

Cheers

John