The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club

[Graham Smith]

Kaokoveld was build by God... because he knew Landcruisers would be along soon...    

Here is a clip of my car "Miranda" and trailer "Dessie" decending a tricky part of Van Zyls pass in June 2007.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=w9NcPVaoZw4

Edit: Links removed as no longer active.

[Google]

[24Seven]

Very nice Graham  

[andy]

The cruiser made it look easier compared to the Land Rover, and you had the trailer on the back.
_________________
It's Not a Bl**dy Jeep it's a Landcruiser
150 series Invincible X
100 Series VX Limited
Mercedes Sprinter 311 Luton
1993 VX80 4.2td SOLD
1996 Hilux Surf SSR-G Intercooler Sold
1994 Hilux Surf SSR-V Sold

[Wandering Willy]

I am impressed. I doubt I will ever attempt anything like that pass but in case I do, how do you go about it?

Do you rely on low gear engine braking or can you use the brakes?

In a completely different situation I remember an expert saying that he always walked the route before attempting to drive it. He was talking about snow and ice covered lanes rather that rocking hillsides but I can see a basic principal here. Woudl you do the same?

Willy

[Graham Smith]

I kept it in low range 1st, but it still wanted to run away as I guess the TC let go, so had to use the brakes carefully. Thankfully, the LC automatically disengages the ABS, so the wheels lock, skid and grip... almost all the time...

The only modification I want to do to the vehicle for such things in the future is to put a TC lock up from the Aussie fellows in, Then you can lock the TC and just tick down at low revs.

It is a fantastic drive. What none of these videos show are the views. It is one of the best drives anywhere. Three days driving and we never saw another car. Paradise.

[uk_vette]

Graham,

Hat's off to you mate.

Your Cruiser really showed up well.

The sound of that luverly diesel lump you have, is music to my ears.

So "sure footed", it was a pleasure to watch you navigate your way down.

I hope to do a similar run down to CPT late next year (2009)
Morocco
Mauritania
Mali
Niger
Nigeria
Camaroon
Congo
DRC
Angola
Namibia
RSA
Cape Town.

Please email me some more images
variablespeeddrive(at)hotmail.co.uk

Graham

[uk_vette]

Hi Graham,

i see the Land Rover youtube vid. has been removed?

graham

[Graham Smith]

Goodness, you would have thought they would have appreciated the publicity        

Now there are only two clips of Van Zyls Pass. There used to be six...
Zan Zyls Pass
_________________
Graham.

www.sfo.me.uk

"Miranda":- 1994 HDJ80, Allisport Intercooler, Warn winch, ARB bullbar, OME suspension 6cm lift, Long Range tank, TJM Spare Wheel Carrier

"Dessie": Desert Wolf Lynx off-road trailer

[Graham Smith]

Now we can see what Van Zyls Pass looks like in a softroader...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPtiF1GjEyI
_________________
Graham.

www.sfo.me.uk

"Miranda":- 1994 HDJ80, Allisport Intercooler, Warn winch, ARB bullbar, OME suspension 6cm lift, Long Range tank, TJM Spare Wheel Carrier

"Dessie": Desert Wolf Lynx off-road trailer

[Phoenix]

Very impressive

[Ken Wales]

When you watch videos like these how can people think that land rovers are the best 4x4 by far.

I did a favour for a friend at the weekend and put a new set of discs on a 6 year old TD5 ninety, he left it with me and took my 18 year old LJ70 home, when I'd finished i took his back for him,      What an eye openner, basic, crude, uncomfortable, cramped, niosy and agricultural. I felt like I was driving a magic carpet on the way home.

I read somewhere that a 70 SWB was considered the japanesse ninety, in my oppion land rover have got a long way to go to catch up.

[Phoenix]

[Paul_Humphreys]

I had LRs for over 20 years, they do a job as do Landcruisers.

Paul
_________________
LC 80 series 1993. 285/75/16s Cooper SSTs, OME 850s on the front with 25mm packer, 868s on the rear. 4.88 diffs. Winch bumper with 12000lb winch.
HD rear bumper with wheel carrier and winch mount.

http://www.crag-uk.org
http://www.4x4responsewales.org

[Wandering Willy]

I think the original Land Rover was mainly for the military but quickly grew into the basic tool for farmers. As the story goes, the MD or chief engineer of Rover got a couple of jeeps after the war to amuse himself and his kids on their land. He saw an opportunity to take the concept further and give Rover a second line of business (luxury cars were not is great demand in poverty struck Britain at that time).

Again from memory, the original LR had fixed 4 wheel drive and was sold with the option of a PTO drive out the back. It could pull a small plow as well as a farm trailer. So it could be used on the farm as well as to and from.

With fuel prices and tax on cars going through the roof it's going to be interesting to see what happens to the basic 4X4 trade particularly for people who have to work on the land; farmers, foresters, rescue people etc.

I think it's a pity that the focus of the 4X4 business has been taken over by the Chelsea tractor brigade. While there is a place for this type of business, there is also a great need for a robust working vehicle to use in a rural environment. Perhaps LR's new owners will re-establish that end of the business with a reworked Land Rover.

Willy

[Graham Smith]