The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club

Moses · Last edited by Moses on Thu Nov 16, 2006 22:52; edited 2 times in total

Hi all,

We returned home last week after a 4,000 mile trip down to the Sahara Desert, Libya. Laughing

The 80 performed very well indeed with no major problems at all. All you see down there is Landcruisers with the odd Landrover here and there. Diesel is 5p a litre!!!! Laughing

Our group had 3 Landcruisers in different guises and 3 Landrovers.

Needless to say that on our first day of the Ubari Sand Sea crossing, both Landrover Discoveries lost there back lights and bumpers, one had its exhaust bent back under the vehicle. The 110 fared better and was better equiped with large BFG tyres et all but the gearbox failed after a few days and was stuck in fourth... All landrovers overheated.

The landcruisers faired a lot better of course. Franks BJ46 overheated a bit but nothing major, the guide had a puncture and my 80 got a bit warm on one point but didn't play up again at all so maybe a sticky thermostat. Next time I may put a more suitable thermostat in the 80. Wink

Modifications to my 80:-

2" procomp explorer lift.
Superpro bushes allround inc camber adjuster bushes
BFG All Terraines fitted - Excellent tyres to leave at low presures
All mudflaps removed
Polyair adjustable suspension at rear - 500kgs extra load capacity and greater stability
1 x viair compressor and 5gallon reserve air tank for rapid air inflation
1 x viar compressor for the air suspension
ARB winch bumber - greatly helps the approach angle when offroading
Superwinch 12000 with plasma rope.

Better leave the pictures to say the rest.... Took over 350 photos but have only posted a few plus still missing a few action photos that other people took and will add these in due course.... Shocked

Take a look.... Laughing

(Click HERE or click the pic to link to the album!)

trev and aly
_________________
1997 VX Ltd 4.2TD
1995 Pajero Junior
1990 Audi UR quattro turbo
Sat Nav Free Zone

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tlocuk · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 21:47 Post subject:

Awesome!

Look forward to catching up with you both soon Trev!

ATB

Simon
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If you're not living life on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Moses · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 18:58 Post subject:

Thanks Simon,

Must be a few pints by now !! Wink

best rgds,
trev
_________________
1997 VX Ltd 4.2TD
1995 Pajero Junior
1990 Audi UR quattro turbo
Sat Nav Free Zone

fubar · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 14:43 Post subject:

congratulations on your libya experience, one enjoyed by myself 2 years ago in a 200Tdi landrover. on that trip there were defenders two 300Tdi, my 200Tdi and a Td5. only problems were my viscous fan failed and had to improvise with some tough wire (well prepared!) and 2 landrovers had monroe and procomp shocks which suffered bush washer failure due to the pounding of ubari. the Td5 had a habit of stalling, an electronic problem known for td5's. The heat of the tarmac journey home became so intense I decided to sell up and buy a series 80 and expect to return to the sahara when £££ and time allow. discos may have problems but the defender coped very well indeed.
_________________
1994 VX 4.2TD

Moses · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 19:38 Post subject:

Darwin · Newbie Joined: 17 Nov 2006 Posts: 3 Location: UK

I was hoping that someone would have done something like this..I dont know if you are familiar with the old Camel Trophy..it was basically organised by LR and Camel (cigarettes) mainly in Africa...LR pitched its defender, RR and Disco 1..it was a very heavy duty exercise..I have a pic but I dont know how to dsplay it here ..doesnt seem to be a gallery in this forum...
Anyway...I am right now thinking of either a Disco III or a Landcruiser VX V8..I tested the Disco III today, V8 4.3L, and on Monday I am test driving the 100 VX V8 ...
As the original poster in this thread has pointed out, both the Disco camp and the LC camp seem (naturally) to want to portray that theirs is the best and the others are always breaking down 8)
Whether this is a realistic view ..I am not sure...because the breakdown of a vehicle depends on a number of factors including its age and how well it was maintained prior...you can take a new LC and a 10 year old clapt out defender...and I guess the LC will come out on top...and visa versa...
I dont know if the 4000 mile trip was primarily tarmic..or were you going up and down sand dunes etc..what % etc etc
Anyway...it seems to me the only way out of this is really to start with cars all relatively of the same age and the same history maintanance..then you are comparing apples for apples...otherwise it would be difficult to say...well we came through and they brokdown with this and that...when in effect one is not comparing the same thing..
So here is my thought experiment...or hypothetical exercise..
I start the Journy with the following spanking new cars:

LX 100 VX V8 4.3 L
LR Disco 3 V8 4.3 L
LR Defender
Jeep (equivalent model)
I put them through a challenge, 50% on tarmac and 50% off road,including serious desert stuff...dunes etc etc over a 2000km trek..both ways..
Now, who is going to last the course...That would be really an interesting and worthwhile exercise...I am willing to contribute at least one car to this challenge...maybe some manufacturers are willing to come in with their own vehicles and see really what happens...I think this would be a worth while exercise...(I am planning for 07-08) 8)

mettisse · ** Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 84 Location: South Essex

Hi, I really enjoyed the piccys, thanks for sharing them, sounds like you had a ball! planning my own trip for Jan.Iam an ex Disco owner, I put 175k on it the 10 years I had it, twice to Morocco, and up and down France for the family holidays, also it was the tug for my 'froader, it never let me down. It is my opinion that almost all the 4x4's can cut the mustard with preparation and maintainance. However a number of things change the equation, drver ability, driver sympathy, and probably the most significant, the amount an individual can afford to spend on their truck, I personally have no political leanig on different marques, I'm always pleased to meet fellow 4x4ers, that said,I am very happy to own an 80 VX. Best Regards Bill Westley
_________________
94 VX auto, lift and stuff, winch, inter cooler, BFGs,
2000 Hybrid, lifted, caged, winched and stuff
79 bultaco trials, standard
'94 Merc 300TD ( retro)😎

Bazman63 · * Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Posts: 11 Location: London W6

Interesting. Could I ask if there are specialist companies organising these trips or did you guys do it yourselves?

fubar · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 16:16 Post subject:

landorver are alot of fun, but if you are on the broader side of 15 stone a little cramped over a journey of 4000miles. that is why i am also happy to own a VX80 but would consider a dirt cheap 200Tdi defender for muddy stuff
_________________
1994 VX 4.2TD

mettisse · ** Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 84 Location: South Essex

Big-Andy · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:21 Post subject: Tunisia and the Sahara

Hi,I'm new to this website and I am a convert from LandRover...With a group of friends we have just returned from a 3 week trip down through France,Tunisia and into the Sahara for 4 nights. My landrover was a 3 door Disco with the 300Tdi engine. The vehicle was totally reliable, but we had issues with access to where the rear seats used to be where we were storing clothing bags, water and the fridge - what a bind crawling behind the front seats. Also storage of extra fuel and water - there is room for it but the useable locations are not user friendly. Also when fully loaded wit hextra fuel,water and other on board exuipment the 300Tdi wasnt quite up to the job, so I've just got me a 1995 80 Landcruiser which should adress all the issues. We used a company called Sahara Travel who now only do tailor made itineries - which sounds expensive, but including 2 return ferry crossings and full board it was only about 3.5k plus fuel . The company was well organised and we can't reccomend them enough

jojo1 · ** Joined: 13 Jul 2008 Posts: 77 Location: Leicestershire

Hi Andy,

Thinkk we saw you on the Marseille-Tunis ferry. Glad to see you've come to the dark side. The 80's a great truck - bombproof and a damn sight more comfortable than the Disco.

Happy trails,

Jojo

wildsmith · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 0:17 Post subject:

Moses · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 21:31 Post subject:

A pretty good point about the springs. I have now fitted Koni Raids but still have the Procomp Springs. They seem ok at the moment but would prefer a stiffer springs.That will have to wait Shocked

As a matter of interest, I removed the Procomp Shocks about 3 months ago and both Fronts and 1 rear shock where totally knackered. They did have some pretty serious usage though.
We are off to Morocco next week: Atlas Mountains, Erg Chebi, corrugations et al so should be a good test of the Koni Raids.

On another note it is good to see that this post is still showing interest after 2 years Cool

Trev
_________________
1997 VX Ltd 4.2TD
1995 Pajero Junior
1990 Audi UR quattro turbo
Sat Nav Free Zone

Richie · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 11:32 Post subject:

Anybody heard anything from Trev at all, how's things going ?