The choice of vehicle was not a question - everyone in this "group" drives a Toyota Land Cruiser. Specifically an 80 Series Land Cruiser which was produced between the years of 1995 and 1997 in the US. There was no point in buying something different when there was so much expertise around to fix this type of vehicle. Had I bought something else, I would have been on my own for repairs and advice. Not a good place to be.
So I have been looking for a vehicle for some time now on Craigslist and other car sites. Nothing quite caught my eye until I found a Lexus LX50 (the same as an 80 Series with plusher interior) in Reno. My friend Dan who lives in Reno did a quick check of the vehicle and then one Saturday Alvaro and I drove over the hill to Reno to inspect it.
Alas the vehicle did not live up to expectations and we were getting ready to come back to Sacramento when Dan said that his friend Jack had been trying to sell his Land Cruiser. A quick call and yes it was still available. We drove to the house and behold - a relatively good condition Land Cruiser equipped with every piece of off road equipment that I could ever need - 4" lift, Skid Plates, Front and Rear Bumpers, Sliders, Winch, Air Compressor, Second Battery, Second Fuel Tank, Auxilliary Fan, PIAA Headlights, 2 Meter Radio. Fully loaded. Alas 186,000 miles on the clock - a little high but you can't have everything.
So without much hesitation I closed the deal and became the proud owner of a fine Land Cruiser. Here are some pictures.
If you want the details of the vehicle - here they are:
1996 Toyota Landcruiser
Factory Lockers
Factory Toyota Hand Throttle
Upgrades:
Full Slee 4 inch Lift Kit:
Slee 4 inch springs (HD rear springs)
OME L shocks
Castor Plates
Stainless Brake Lines
Weld-In adjusters for upper rear control arms and both Panhards
OME bushings in Upper rear control arms
OME steering stabilizer
Bump stop extensions
Sway bar drop down brackets
Tacoma rear DC shaft re-tubed and installed in the front
Slee Washer Bottle relocation bracket to allow for second battery tray
4.88 gears (solid spacer on front third).
Nitto Terra Grapplers, 315/75R16’s (approximately 60% tread)
Mark’s Speedometer correction box
Slee Step Sliders
Slee AC dryer skid plate (attached to ARB bumper).
Iron Pig Offroad Full Skid plate/crossmember.
Landtank performance MAF with new Toyota sensor
Safari Snorkel
Air-Lift air bags in rear springs.
ARB front bumper
Winch
York Air Compressor with air lines to Front and Read Bumpers
2M Radio
PIAA 525 (Dual Beam) lights are wired with an on/off switch that allows the headlight switch to actually turn them on or not. The low-beam activates the "Fog" lights and the highbeam position activates the "Spot" lights in the PIAA’s.
Auxiliary Fan (90’s 4runner) wired so that it can be turned on full-time or the AC will activate it via the pressure switch.
4X4 Labs Rear bumper Kit, dual swing arms, with my uppers (spare tire, fuel/water can mount, Hi-lift mount). Toyota 4runner License Plate mount with light wired into factory wiring.
Man-A-Fre/Long Ranger 24 gallon Auxiliary Fuel Tank (mounts in place of stock spare) with Dual Filler neck (Unleaded restricted for smog reasons) pump and fuel transfer switch/gauge combination.
Dual batteries with brand new Sears Platinum Gel batteries
National Luna Dual Battery controller/charge system.
2 "always hot" 12v outlets in center console
1 "always hot" 12v outlet in rear compartment area
Auxiliary wiring for extras is wired separate from the main electrical system on it own fuse blocks and relays to keep everything as reliable as possible
GT Covers seat covers (stock seats are not ripped or torn)
LED in Dome light
Door lights replaced with LED’s also (rear hatch/tailgate can stay open without draining the battery).
Kenwood Ipod controlling head unit
Pioneer replacement speakers in the doors
Viper Alarm with Remote Start feature
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