Landcruiser 76 Series, Fuel consumption.

I think you may find that the noise from the snorkel is the wind squeezing between the pillar and the snorkel. I fixed mine with a length of soft foam pipe insulation from plumbing supplies (50 mm. dia.) squeezed into the gap.

My economy with camper in tow Coffs Harbour, Birdsville, Big Red, Poeppels, Hay River Track, Plenty to Alice, Simpson Desert, Warburton Crossing, Walkers Crossing,Innaminca, Coongee Lakes, then back home was 16LHK.

Thanks Pinko, will try your suggestion

Thanks for the replies everyone. Looks as if most are getting around the same fuel consumption and shows a little less speed can make quite a difference.
I Emailed Penrite about oil type and they recommended HPR 5 oil so that is what I will use. Any suggestions on the special spanner to remove the oil filter? Might have to make one up as I can just imagine the price, if Toyota would sell one...Regards.

The oil filter tool.
I went to my local steel shop where they cut off 70 mm. of pipe (nice and square) large enough to fit over the alloy plug. Cut two slots in the pipe to accommodate the lugs in the plug. On the other end weld a 6 mm. X 25 mm. flat across with a big nut in the middle for your socket to fit on. I think about 5 or 6 dollars.

A brilliant idea Pinko, Thanks for that info,will do just that,,Regards.

Wayne, I've got the 79 Series (cab chassis). I have an upgraded suspension (GVM upgrade to 3,700 KG). As you know they are a tough reliable vehicle, but compared to my wife's Mazda SP20, it is a truck. Hard suspension, seats not as comfortable, poor turning circle etc. Until recently when we sold the Mazda, for local driving, we always used the Mazda.

Having said that, it is not a fair comparison and the power steering in the 'truck' is very light - wife reckons lighter than the Mazda.

We sold the Mazda as we are about to hit the road full time, so only need the one vehicle. The only real issue with using the 79 Series as a local driver is it's size and ease of parking in some of the smaller parking spots. Otherwise it is fine.

From your description, the 76 Series will be an ideal vehicle for your needs as long as you don't want air bags, ABS, padded dash, electric mirrors and other niceties.

My vehicle is always partially loaded. Weighs a bit under 3,000 KG when 'at home' and almost 3,400 KG when fully loaded, including boat, but before adding the ball weight from the van, so it is fortunate I did the GVM upgrade.

We have been getting about 13 litres per 100 KM (much of it round 'town') not towing and about 16 to 17 litres per 100 KM when fully loaded and towing the 3,500 KG Kedron. We tow at 85 to 90 KPH and only in 4th gear.

Norm C

Mine is a GXL. Worth the extra $$$$
At first a little rough to ride in. Now have fitted Koni shocks and Air Bag Man Firestone air bags and now rides better than my old 80 series. We have only travelled on gravel roads for the whole of thirty thousand kilometres and could not be happier.

Norm C (Qld)

Much of what you say about your 79 is true of the Defender too, such as poor turning circle & parking feels like it's a barge. I reckon I'm okay with that, especially with where I live.

On the issue of air bags & ABS - Not too sure about this one. All's well until you have a serious smash eh? And to be honest our Defender's ABS does add a sense of greater control in emergencies.

For me the other issue is of the unknown as to what we will one day tow. I currently tow a trailer around our property & then there's the Camper Trailer when off camping and the Landy handles this pretty well (mostly).

However, I may be looking at something like an Off Road caravan (Bushtracker, Kedron or Trackmaster) and they will be way too heavy for my little 2.5 turbo charged Landy to cope with.

The 79 wagon just looks the best of the bunch to me with the V8 power, fuel economy & availability of repairs Australia wide.

The 70 Series Toyotas are great tow vehicles. We previously had a 3 litre TD Hilux and towed a camper trailer. Once we decided to upgrade to an off road van, we had to get a new vehicle.

For us, the 79 Series was a stand out. Nissan has nothing that comes close (just giving a 3 litre powered vehicle a 3,500 KG tow capacity, does not make it suitable).

The torque 'curve' on the V8 Diesel is not a curve, it is a flat line. It achieves maximum torque at around 1000 RPM and stays flat right through the rev range. Just what you want when towing heavy loads, starting off up hill or in soft soil.

I am more comfortable taking off up hill in the 79 Series, towing 3,500KG (100% of capacity), than I was in the Hilux, towing 1,400 KG (60% of capacity).

I would prefer to have air bags. I'd also prefer, the cab to be a bit more modern and comfortable, but it is adequate, and there is no real alternative. As for ABS, I've had a couple of scary moments with ABS on corrugated gravel roads (in Hilux). I'd rather be without it when off bitumen. Given that view and the reduced speeds we travel at these days, I don't think lack of ABS is a big deal for us.

AS long as you are happy with the 'creature comfort' level when you have a good look and test drive, I'm sure you would be very happy with the 70 Series wagon.

Norm C

Norm C (Qld)

Thanks mate. I tell you something, you're doing a great job at convincing me on the Toyota V8, no doubt about that.

And when Missus returns from Sydney, Mr.Toyota may just get his chance to convince us with a test drive.

On the creature comforts thing......well I've lived with the Landy without complaining too much and it doesn't even have A/C that hits the windscreen to demist. Can you believe that?

Actually to be honest, I'm a bit worried to take the Missus because of the two of us she's not the cautious one. Once she's excited she's away & prone to make poor judgement calls. Maybe that's how she ended up with me?

Just make sure you negotiate hard. It is a buyers market. If you have two Toyota dealers in the area, talk to both and make sure they know they have competition.

I was very surprised how much below 'list' price I was able to buy. I got the 'we can't go any lower, there is no profit in it already' spiel, then still got another $2,000 off. Total of over $8,000 below 'list' for the package from memory.

Norm C

Norm C (Qld)

ooowwshhhhhhhh $8000 off eh?

Hang on. Hang on. You've got me going like my Missus. I'm supposed to be the conservative one. At this rate there'll be a 76 sitting in the drive way when she gets home.

On that negotiating point (something I'm damn hopeless at by the way) I've read of several really good ideas to help the cause.

One is to engage a mob who specialise in getting the best price for you. I'm told they do very good work. I've got their name/s filed away somewhere; and

The other is to email all Toyota dealers within 100 kms of where you live asking them to give their best price clostest to $$?? figure. And making sure to let them know the addresses of the other Toyota dealers that you have emailed. This way they know it's for real.

I'm thinking I read about the email idea either on here or on the Prado blog. The bloke reckons it was like a starting pistol going off at a sprint with his phone ringing hot and in the end he saved a bundle.

But you saved $8,000. That's serious money too. I only have the one Toyota dealer, so may not have leverage there as you obviously did.

My vehicle is the 76 Series GXL Wagon. The reasons I chose this vehicle were mainly because it's not constant 4WD, is basic Landcruiser with manual free wheeling hubs, has the towing capacity to tow our van and the ruggedness to handle the off road stuff. OK, it hasn't got ABS or airbags and all the little trinkets that the upper market models have but after 35 years of owing and driving 4WDs, the air bags etc have only been around for the last few years anyway. That is not to say that they are not needed. Although I have only done 8000kms so far I can only say that I am more impressed with its ride and performance. I also have fitted Firestone Airbags to the rear and this helps greatly with the ride. I've also fitted a 170 litre fuel tank at great expense ($1500) that perhaps should have been there in the first place as the 80 litre is far undercapacity for Australian conditions. The GXL also does not come with airconditioning and is an added cost as well. Although I am not sure at what value luxury tax applies, this vehicle being commercial does not attract luxury tax. Before fitting the roof rack, our fuel consumption on the black top was a fraction of 10 litres per 100kms. Re the question of the weights etc our van is 2200ks unlaiden so although I haven't actually had it weighed, when loaded I would expect up towards the 3000kilo as I have fitted solar, and heavy duty deep cycle batteries and carry a portable boat trailer on the rear of the van. The speed of 95km towing is an average I have taken as I tend to drive between 100 and 90kms depending on the terrain and most is done in fifth gear with the exception of any hilly terrain. As a general purpose vehicle, if you live in the country in my opinion the vehicle could be A1. We live on the fringe of the city and don't find it to be a problem with traffic, parking etc
Hope this information has helped someone and I would be happy to answer any other questions you may have.
Regards
Foxhound (WA)

Wayne David posted:

However, I may be looking at something like an Off Road caravan (Bushtracker, Kedron or Trackmaster)

The 79 wagon just looks the best of the bunch to me with the V8 power, fuel economy & availability of repairs Australia wide.



Wayne, if you are able to give me your email address somehow (you can't PM me until you are a member) I might have some interesting info for you to mull over.

cheers

Foxhound (WA) -

Regarding your 76 Series GXL Wagon. Your reasons for it " because it's not constant 4WD, is basic Landcruiser with manual free wheeling hubs".

Obviously you consider this an advantage over the constant 4x4 set-up. Do you mind telling why?

Is to do with less moving parts?

The constant 4x4 argument seems to be that it offers the advantage of not requiring 4x4 to be engaged & therefore keeping the vehicle travelling though muddy conditions & offers better traction on gravel, etc, etc. before it becomes a real problem.

I must say I like the idea of constant 4x4 of not having to get the Missus to get out in wind, mud & rain to lock those damn hubs. She's such a whinger.

Gone Bush (WA)

Sorry for the delay in responding. But you have got me to finally do what I should have done yonks ago and that was join ExlorOz.

Yep that's what I've been doing for the last God only knows how long (and you thought I'd died). So there's a clue as to how 'Computer Savvy' I am. Not very!

Anyway, hopefully you can access me for my email and I'll now try doing the same to send you my email, and we can communicate.

PS If you hear nothing from me before tomorrow, please send the cyber rescue crew.

Cheerio for now. WD

OK mate,,The reason I prefer Non constant 4WD is mainly to do with fuel consumption. With constant 4WD there is quite a lot of friction or drag from the tyres right through to the transmission at all times even when driving on the black top. This is why back in the old days free wheel hubs were invented so you could disengage the front diff and reduce unnecessary drag when 4WD was not needed.Constant 4WD definitely increases fuel consumption and adds to tyre wear due to transmission wind-up,eg all tyre circumference's not being equal.
As you mentioned constant 4WD has the advantage of not having to manually engage the hubs but if you are going off road you have the option of engaging manual hubs at any time and leaving them in as long as you want. Even manual hubs left engaged will not produce as much drag as constant 4WD due to the fact that the connection with the transmission is disengaged once you move the 4WD leaver too two wheel drive. As an Ex 4WD mechanic I know a bit about these things. Hope I have explained things OK. Regards Foxhound.

Foxhound (WA)

Yes you have explained yourself beautifully. Thank you.

Much food for thought.

Cheers - WD

bungarra (WA)

That's a very nice looking unit you have there.

So what do you tow with it?

we tow a Pioneer off road bushman..............so it is never really very stressed!........

used to tow same the same with a TD3.0 Hilux and so you can imagine the difference.......we now pull out to pass a road train with the expectation of success instead of failure!.......and we dont need to call them up on UHF and ask for a 5 km line of sight before we do so :)

cheers