Landcruiser 75 series

pete4130

I'm over here in Australia and I just got myself a Landcruiser HZJ75RV Troopcarrier. She's a '94 with 300,000K on the clock. For the age its running pretty good. I bought it up in Cairns and drove it back home to Sydney. It's a pop-top camper conversion and registered for 6 seats. Exactly what I've been looking for the past 5 months!

I made the 3000Km journey in about 3 days of long hard driving, picking backpackers up on the way to cover the cost of diesel. It's got the 4.2 straight 6 diesel lump under the bonnet. Obviously a 4wd thats 18 years old is going to have some issues. Most of these I discovered on the drive back to Sydney. Nothing too major. It needs a wheel alignment (front tyres aren't the greatest anyway so not that big an issue), the power steering pump started to give out on the drive back (could need to be bled and new fluid hopefully!), the aircon needs regassing and get the electrics sorted on the controls. A few smaller things like new wing mirrors (the current ones slip down) and a new passenger sunvisor (doesn't stay up). I did have some issues with lack of power under heavy acceleration and up hills. This is probably an old/dirty fuel filter as after a few fills it improved a lot so I'm not worried about that.

The 70 series are really utilitarian and lack creature comforts but as a stock 4wd vehicle they are just awesome. I manage to get 11.4L/100Km on the drive back, fully loaded up with 6 people and all their bags. I was just cruising on 90kph to keep the fuel costs down.

These were never imported into Ireland or the UK as far as I know? Through work I've driven all manners of 4WD's in tough terrain (anything from Hilux, to Tritons, Navaras, Prado's, Pajero's, Isuzu Troopers/D-Max etc) and the 70 series, even as unrefined as it is makes them all look a soft.

I'm really happy with it and will be happier once I've had all the work carried out on it get all the niggles out of the way.

My other options were a Defender but the cost of parts and repairs here can be scary and nothing else really afforded the same amount of room and practicality as the Troopy.

I guess the point of my post is I've got a new 4WD and I'm happy about it!

triskell

Any pics?

WestWicklow1

Well done!!! They are a superb vehicle and still being manufactured!! On my recent trip to Morocco we saw some heading down through Spain on their way to Africa. Would love to see some pics including the pop top.

The top front and the pickup are new 70s

pete4130

I've only got pics the seller had. It's been raining here. It is 18 years old and its a little grubby looking inside. It just needs a bit of a steam clean and a hoover out. The pop top and rear is far from luxurious, more practical than anything. I did have the option of buying a fixed high roof but its far too obvious and restricts where you can drive (car parks etc....).

If I had the cash I'd love to get the newer 70 series just for the power of the 4.5l V8 diesel....but the older 1HZJ engines can't be beaten for their longevity. I've seen some with 700,000Km+ and still going strong.

Slidey

The newer V8 is not liked as much. They have a tendency to burn oil.

Best of luck with it dude.

CJhaughey

The 75's were good but leaf springs aren't that comfortable, the 78 came with rear coils and it made a huge difference to comfort.

pete4130

I know the 78's are more comfortable. It's the cost of the damn things over here....They hold their value so well that even a '94 75er will set you back the guts of anywhere from AU$10K-19K....

WestWicklow1

It looks great in the photos. Enjoy it, you'll love it and thanks for the photos.

greysides

I'm surprised Toyota don't consider introducing them over here. They'd be a direct competitor to the Defender. I thought they have a V6 engine that was euro4 compliant?

triskell

pete4130 wrote: »

I've only got pics the seller had. It's been raining here. It is 18 years old and its a little grubby looking inside. It just needs a bit of a steam clean and a hoover out. The pop top and rear is far from luxurious, more practical than anything. I did have the option of buying a fixed high roof but its far too obvious and restricts where you can drive (car parks etc....).

If I had the cash I'd love to get the newer 70 series just for the power of the 4.5l V8 diesel....but the older 1HZJ engines can't be beaten for their longevity. I've seen some with 700,000Km+ and still going strong.

Thanks for pics,she looks well, the best of luck with it

kuro2k

pete4130 wrote: »

If I had the cash I'd love to get the newer 70 series just for the power of the 4.5l V8 diesel....but the older 1HZJ engines can't be beaten for their longevity. I've seen some with 700,000Km+ and still going strong.

Looks great, best of luck with it, can I ask how much it cost you?

pete4130

I paid a little over the odds for it. I did this because its registered as a 6 seater with 3 belts in the back. This is really rare and to get one registered as a 6 seater it can cost a lot of money with engineers reports so it sort of balances out. I paid AUS$12,800 for it, which seems like a lot in Ireland but cars are a way more expensive here and Landcruisers really hold their value. I'd seen cheaper ones that were older, double the amount of KM's on them or just drove like the ladder chassis was twisted on them and they were falling apart.

My mech is away working on V8 races for the next few weeks so when he gets back I'll get it all sorted. I topped the power steering fluid up and its improved a lot so there shouldn't be all that much to get it in top shape. There is little to know rust on it, the engine runs smooth. It just needs some tidying up and then to get it out in the bush for some real 4WD action.

greysides

Best of luck with it Pete.

101sean

I've always thought it's a shame utilitarian Land Cruisers aren't available here.

CJhaughey

Up the start of the 90 series LC there wasn't many landcruisers about at all, the light duty 78 series came here in small quantities as a 3 dr mainly and later Japanese 78 5 drs but they had the 2.5 or 3.0td not the 4.2
Its only really with more onerous towing regs that the 90 series took off.
Now with things getting stricter all the time it might be a good time for Toyota to look at bringing them in for towage purposes.
The utility versions are a very handy vehicle.