The best expedition car for me - TLC 76

Arnis Namajuns

New member
Hi everybody !

About 15 years do offrod and expedition in hard way - 4x4 sport. But now I have 3 kids, so for them, is no place in sport car :) but they also want to see the wild nature.
That's why year ago sell all my sport cars and ATV.

Start to figure out, witch expedition car for me is the best. I am familiar with all 4x4 brands, because my work is build and fix all kind of 4x4 cars.

The main thinks,with have be in car:

  1. It have to be reliable,
  2. It must have frame,
  3. It must have 5 doors and comfortable seats for 5 persons,
  4. It must run on highway 130 km/h without problem,
  5. it must have front solid axle,
  6. it must have gears in transfer case (no chains and visco locks)

After this i find out that under this list is only few cars:
MB G class
LandRover Defender
Nissan Patrol
Toyota LC 76 and 80 and 105
Jeep Wranlgler long

About Jeep and LR. I know many people who have them, and I also know how much money they leave for repairs :(
These two brands don't mach my first rule of list... so sorry

Nissan is a little better than previous two, but also have problems. All time we have to repair disel engines on these cars. One more issue - they all are rusted. Its impossible to find any car, witch have no rust.

For me is left Mercedes and Toyotas. Toyota 80? Maybe. But... car is very big, clumsy, big engine but not so much power. I think its good to go to Africa, where is no narrow roads, there this car is perfect. The same for LC105, witch actually have the axles and transmission same us 80. So 80 and 105 is too big for me, and engine also is nothing special.

So whats left? Mercedes G-class and Toyota 76. I know G-class very well, we use G-class axles in sport cars. Very reliable and bulletproof. But, one problem. Price for 5 door version is about 20 000 Eur (1998-2000 in these years was the best engines, newer is rubbish)

Than I start to look for TLC 76. New one cost from 22 000 - 30 000 Eur. (this price is for non EU countries) but I can register as a sport car, than I can drive in EU legal. But with new TLC76 is one problem - it is made for Asia market and have only old 4.2 disel engine, witch are without turbo and its good only for towing, but on highway will be too slow. Also it is very heavy. The better one is with V6 petrol engine, but petrol engine for expedition car isn't good idea. Also it have leaf springs at rear, witch I think, is 20th century.

But I figure out, how to get the car I want!!! I found out that Toyota for Japan market made Land Cruiser 76 at middle of 90. And it have the best engine ever made by Toyota 1KZ-T (3.0 Tdi 125 hp) Also It have automatic transmission witch also is very reliable. And it also have coil springs at rear.
Only problem - they are only Right hand drive... but not problem for me :)
I bought car in UK, get to my work shop and we rebuild it. This car have run 150 000 km and it have 18 years, but it cost me only 7000 Eur. And i know, It will get me to places I want, will get true all offroad, and will get back home. Why I think so?! Because this car mach all my terms in my "best expedition car" list! :)

Thats how I figure, witch car is the best for me...
But I know, not every body agree with that :)

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Last edited:

johanso

Adventurer
I agree:) LC76 is the perfect truck. I could live with a LC79 double cab pickup as well. I've been scanning the markets in Europe for years and they are extremely rare. On occasion there are brand new examples but they are crazy expensive, 50 000 euro which to me is hard to justify. Perhaps if we could get the Australian version with 4,5 liter diesel v8 but for the old 130 hp 1HZ… Nah.

Your rig looks awesome and I can imagine it must have been quite a lot of work to convert it to LHD. Maybe I should check out UK market as well…
 
Last edited:

cruiserpilot

Adventurer
Is that a LHD? You got it in the UK? I am considering coming to Euro and looking to buy one for a long trip on that side of the Atlantic. I agree, that is the best
truck for you, for all the right reasons! I've got a 12H-T 60 series wagon, but really like the newer 76 like yours. For me, it would be better with a std trans, but I just
prefer them. Beautiful truck, you are lucky.
 

reldred

Observer
Awesome! Not a lot is going to stop you in that!

Add it to the registry, we'll get that thread stickied eventually :)
 

77cruiser77

Observer
in 1996 there was the KZJ76, which is the light duty version of the Land Cruiser with smaller diffs, light duty transmission and coil suspension. The heavy duty version is the HZJ77 that features leaf springs, larger diffs, and tough transmission. It then became the HZJ76 in later years. LJ78, also known as a Prado in other markets, can be a bit of a ticking time bomb, as for the KZJ78 they are much improved but still have a bit of a track record for blowing heads and having IP issues. Add an EGT gauge and keep an eye on it as heat is the enemy of these engines.
 

Arnis Namajuns

New member
Yes mate! I am informed about that! We have replace many heads on these engines. But with mine I am lucky. 50 000 km now and no problems.
 

77cruiser77

Observer
Good stuff. Its unfortunate but its impossible to have the perfect rig. In my eyes perfection would be a cross between ours and an 80 series. Wider axles but same body, coils all the way round, 1HD-FT motor, 5 speed manual and full time four wheel.

How are you liking its set up so far? I found after 50k on mine I wanted to change a lot. Any more mod ideas?
 

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