Life with Land Cruiser 76/79
Posted: Wed May 08, 2019 8:08 am
Ok some label me as a diehard Ford fanatic. To a certain extent it is true. Fact is that over the years I have owned about the same amount of Fords and Toyotas. Not really a brand slut as I have owned a few Patrols as well.
Getting close to the sixties had my focus move away from the type of 4x4 that I have used to do in the past. Also my future plans around 4x4.
So Yes I gave the Yank Ranger as a present to Christopher.
I were looking at 4x4`s that can last me several years from now and into retirement. In my case very few left. Had a look at several Patol and F250 options. Even building a garage to fit a F250. Owning Nissans and with the production stop of the Y61 Patrol the Nissan support and future spare part availability, made me scratch the Patrol from my list. F250`s falling in the 13 year plus category with owners relying on spare imports did not favour my future plans.
So about 3 years ago I start checking out the 70 series Cruisers. Plan was to replaced my wife`s Volla bus with a 76 V8.
The 76 found its way to our home with the Volla still in the garage. So about a year ago I traded the Volla on a 79 pickup.
Now with two years of owning the 76 and the 79 I think I can relate on them. Did some serious trips in both of them clocking 70k km between the two. In both cases half of those distances were covered on dirt roads. One of my reasons form buying Cruisers in the first place, their ability to survive the very poor maintained NC dirt roads.
The 70 series is definitely not luxury a 4x4 with car like ride, but, I have easily survived some real long distance travel in both of them without being wasted at the end of the trip.
Luxuries limited to aircon and USB port ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was told that they are not capable offroad. Yes the 79 is a bit long for trails. They will not go where a modified Wrangler goes. With the 76 I am sure I would not be left that far behind by a stock Wrangler.
Consumption of the V8 76 average around 7.8km/l. The 79 v6 @ 6.5.
My plan is to fit and ABBA camper on the 79 for overlanding.
They 76 to be fitted with 35`s and will be used for the more serious type of 4x4 trips.
Staying in the Platteland I have no problem to use them as daily drives. That might be a problem in the cities.
In the end I did not buy the Cruisers for traveling tared roads.
I found them though honest 4x4`s on which one can easily lose your heart.
I am hooked on Cruisers.
Getting close to the sixties had my focus move away from the type of 4x4 that I have used to do in the past. Also my future plans around 4x4.
So Yes I gave the Yank Ranger as a present to Christopher.
I were looking at 4x4`s that can last me several years from now and into retirement. In my case very few left. Had a look at several Patol and F250 options. Even building a garage to fit a F250. Owning Nissans and with the production stop of the Y61 Patrol the Nissan support and future spare part availability, made me scratch the Patrol from my list. F250`s falling in the 13 year plus category with owners relying on spare imports did not favour my future plans.
So about 3 years ago I start checking out the 70 series Cruisers. Plan was to replaced my wife`s Volla bus with a 76 V8.
The 76 found its way to our home with the Volla still in the garage. So about a year ago I traded the Volla on a 79 pickup.
Now with two years of owning the 76 and the 79 I think I can relate on them. Did some serious trips in both of them clocking 70k km between the two. In both cases half of those distances were covered on dirt roads. One of my reasons form buying Cruisers in the first place, their ability to survive the very poor maintained NC dirt roads.
The 70 series is definitely not luxury a 4x4 with car like ride, but, I have easily survived some real long distance travel in both of them without being wasted at the end of the trip.
Luxuries limited to aircon and USB port ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was told that they are not capable offroad. Yes the 79 is a bit long for trails. They will not go where a modified Wrangler goes. With the 76 I am sure I would not be left that far behind by a stock Wrangler.
Consumption of the V8 76 average around 7.8km/l. The 79 v6 @ 6.5.
My plan is to fit and ABBA camper on the 79 for overlanding.
They 76 to be fitted with 35`s and will be used for the more serious type of 4x4 trips.
Staying in the Platteland I have no problem to use them as daily drives. That might be a problem in the cities.
In the end I did not buy the Cruisers for traveling tared roads.
I found them though honest 4x4`s on which one can easily lose your heart.
I am hooked on Cruisers.
