testing

[DrHarry]

Hi all

I'm hoping to come to the States next year for work and thought a troopy might be an appropriate vehicle for travelling around in but also carrying lots of stuff and people when needed (I'm a whitewater kayaker, so sometimes you need that).

Anyway, imagine my bewilderment when I discover you guys basically can't get troopies! I live in a tiny town called Wyndham in Western Australia (check it on google maps) and there's more landcruisers than all other vehicles combined. After seeing some of the posts on this board I went out this afternoon and took some shots around town on my mobile. Thought you guys might be interested. Incidentally, there's a couple of really beefed up 100 series around towns (big lift, massive tyres), but most people who are serious get troop carriers. Those who are REALLY serious get traybacks.

enjoy

 

[DrHarry]

Here's just a few landcruiser pictures, I took about 20 this afternoon and easily saw twice that many again, probably more (this is in a town of 600 or maybe 800 people).

One in the first post is the work troopie with the new v8 turbo diesel and the second one is as well (the double rig for the tyres on the back is sweet). Other ones are just randoms from around town, like I said, the pics are off a phone so not too flash. Interesting one down the bottom is a chopped troopy that used to be a tourist bus. Also the chopped Patrol is pretty cool, haven't actually seen that one around.

cheers

Harry

 

[cruiser guy]

If you're coming only for a year bring a troopy with you and maybe you can sell it at the end of your trip! It needs to be a minimum of 25 years old to be legally registered in the U.S. (newer ones can come but could not be permanently imported).

 

[spressomon]

Hi all

I'm hoping to come to the States next year for work and thought a troopy might be an appropriate vehicle for travelling around in but also carrying lots of stuff and people when needed (I'm a whitewater kayaker, so sometimes you need that).

Anyway, imagine my bewilderment when I discover you guys basically can't get troopies! I live in a tiny town called Wyndham in Western Australia (check it on google maps) and there's more landcruisers than all other vehicles combined. After seeing some of the posts on this board I went out this afternoon and took some shots around town on my mobile. Thought you guys might be interested. Incidentally, there's a couple of really beefed up 100 series around towns (big lift, massive tyres), but most people who are serious get troop carriers. Those who are REALLY serious get traybacks.

enjoy

Yeah...just imagine OUR bewilderment! Next year 74 series are legal for import but that still leaves all the other valuable Land Cruisers not legal for import...hmmm...105 series for starters.

To say I am green with envy with your vast selection of off-road capable vehicles AND deluxe camping trailers is an understatement!

 

[DrHarry]

Not too keen on shipping something that far to be honest, or on driving around a 25 year old 4wd! Sounds like too much hard work. I'll keep an eye out for any interesting rigs that pop up, I know someone with the wagon version of the new V8 troopie and the cops here have turbo straight 6 engines in theirs.

cheers

Harry

 

[rusty_tlc]

Not too keen on shipping something that far to be honest, or on driving around a 25 year old 4wd! Sounds like too much hard work. I'll keep an eye out for any interesting rigs that pop up, I know someone with the wagon version of the new V8 troopie and the cops here have turbo straight 6 engines in theirs.

cheers

Harry

Your killing us with these post.

 

[Buckru]

How's the v8 diesel drive as compared to the six?

Buck

 

[cruiser guy]

Not too keen on ... driving around a 25 year old 4wd!

Hey, my NEWEST vehicle is an '82!! Also have a '76 FJ55 and a '67 FJ45LV both with 3B turbo-diesels.

 

[DrHarry]

new pics

Went out to El Questro Station yesterday, which is a big tourism operation about an hour out of town. Had my camera rather than just a phone as well and thought you might be interested.

As for the v8, it is a very sweet vehicle. The wheel track is actually about 50mm narrower at the back than the front, they had to widen the engine bay to fit in the wider engine. This doesn't seem a big deal, but I have heard rumours of fishtailing on dirt roads (even at low speeds) when towing a trailer. Like most 4wd's it floats a little on the road, but on the dirt it's got plenty of poise and feels really stable. Very good actually off road as well obviously.

It's got absolutely vast amounts of power and torque, it's unbelievable, even under heavy load it will still accelerate strongly and go as fast as you want. Of course, when you push the engine with a really heavy load it really sucks down the juice. The old straight six naturally aspirated under the same load could barely get to 90 kmh, but fuel consumption wasn't massively effected, so that's one difference.

V8 also has cruise control (nice to have), a cd player, air con and a complete absence of central locking, power windows, heated seats, automatic transmissions or cup holders. You do have the option of front and rear diff locks and of course you can hose the whole thing out to clean it

Vehicles here are: our two troopies and a private vehicle getting ready to go. The El Q vehicle park. A modified ute with tourist seats on the back. A chopped troopy with a third door and forward facing seats added. Two Britz troopy campers (pretty cool, haven't looked at them closely before, that big big on the roof actually has a floor and you sleep up there, inside they've got a long couch kind of thing, plus fridge, stove cupboards etc. Always figured they'd be really top heavy but not too bad).

Lastly a Toyota Prado. These are nothing special but I saw mention of them somewhere. They're basically a 4wd aimed at the family market for people who want a car that's easy to drive, doesn't use too much fuel but is still somewhat capable. They're very good for all those things, but I'd never use them as an expedition vehicle.

Anyway, enjoy, hopefully I can get these photos to load!

cheers

Harry

Photos won't post for some reason, even though I've resized them. Will post this and try and put in photos after the fact

 

[DrHarry]

ok, resized the pictures, also included one of a britz camper on the Gibb River road.