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I would buy a new 76 at the drop of a hat. Comparisons between U.S. domestic trucks and 80S and 70S Land Cruisers are of limited value. I've eyed domestic trucks for years as a replacement for 80S Land Cruiser, but I can't get past how comparatively huge (long and wide bodies and wheel...

A few images of a 12-day eastward traverse of southern Arizona earlier this month.

Your intended use matters a lot. If you want a light duty daily, get the Taco. If you're looking for a heavy duty remote tourer, stick with the 80. I had a gen one Tacoma. One month in baja running just below payload capacity ruined the springs. It was very disappointing. In contrast, our 30...

A nice interview and walk-around of a thoughtful, functional Defender build.

I’m sorry—I meant and should have specified new vehicles available (or soon to be) in the US market. There aren’t many off road capable wagons with payloads approaching one ton.

This is a fair assessment. I have two 80s, a '92 and a triple-locked '94. The '92 has been in the family since new, which was shortly after I was old enough to drive, so I've driven 80s my entire driving life. They are, in my experience, capable, durable, reliable, and their size and payload...

Loaded touring on rocky roads would risk similar failures to what TFL saw. This is why I would never run such a wheel/tire combo in Baja, for example--a failure would be almost assured. Its problems reach beyond rock crawling. At the end of the day a 17" or at most 18" wheel with much more...

Yes, a 60 series tire on a one-ton payload off-road tourer is low profile. It begs needless failures avoidable with conventional 70 or better 80 series tires.

If Defender has been a gold mine for TFL, it is primarily because Defender's (wait, no -- Defenders') parade of problems have confirmed JLR's reputation for poor quality and reliability. This is always a very difficult pill for JLR brand loyalists to swallow, but that reputation exists for a...

It's common knowledge that low profile tires are poorly suited to off road driving for precisely the reasons shown in the video. I would never use this "off road" wheel and tire combination in Baja, for example. There's a high probability of failure from those dirt roads' embedded rocks. It's a...

That's almost certainly true.

This was the predictable result of JLR's decision to sell its premier off road vehicle with 20 inch wheels and scant tire profile. It's a dumb combination that's prone to failure. If TFL's drivers so easily met failure, so too I expect will other Defender owners who don't know better.

If that's true, I'd be careful pointing a misinformation finger at TFL. As you note, their understanding of options may reflect what they were told by the dealer (the same experts who cased their second Defender while installing a winch).

Much better.

The video states that they tested all of the trucks with their factory-supplied tires. They state Defender was shod with the most aggressive off-road tire option that was available from JLR when they bought it. Regardless, that wheel is too large and tire profile too small for this sort of use...

Where Defender's large wheels result in two sidewall failures leaving it stranded.

Thanks for the solar panel wattage suggestions. In this case, the battery is built into the fridge. However, the more I research this, the more it seems as if a separate, larger battery that can accept a faster charge paired to a normal fridge (without a built-in battery) makes more sense from...

I seek help with the following questions from those who understand off-grid power better than I. Thank you in advance for your assistance. I am trying to determine the adequate wattage of 12V solar panel to power this fridge, which has a built-in lithium battery. The solar panel alone must be...

I've been driving 80s since a teenager and wholeheartedly agree, though I do think barn doors are more desirable in a cut-roof pop-top live-aboard build--which Grenadier seems like a perfect platform for.

Luckily that won't stain and is easily hosed out. I too like the interior. As with the rest of the truck, it adheres to straightforwardness and utility but without sacrificing comfort. Refreshing. Edit: And I really appreciate that they've opted for reliance on phones and tablets, whose...