Latest Landcruiser Traybacks

Marc,
I drive them everyday both surface and underground in pretty rough conditions, and this is what I have found.

There have been no problems with the suspension or drivetrain, tram tracking can be a problem on some tracks due to the 100mm difference in track. Used a large machine to lift and change a tyre the other day and there was heaps of articulation from the rear axle.

Alternator is mounted down low so that causes problems with mud and water. We destroy about 1 alternator a month. (harsh conditions)

Starter motor is about an 8 hour job to remove and replace because it is mounted in the valley, the intercooler/ air boxes/ egr valve and fuel cooler have to be removed to get to it. One thing is it is out of harms way from both dirt and mud.

Steering stabiliser seems fine although the turning circle is very large.

We use lots of fuel because of the nature of what we do, anything I say will not be the norm.

Our trays a ok and we don't have problems with loads in them, the other day I put a 1/2 tonne winch in a 5 year old tray on a 78 series with no problems.

If you get one make sure you get it fitted with a low water alarm as the sealed system can get a small leak, instead of sucking back from the bottle it sucks air, leaving the bottle full and giving you a false sense of security. Until they fitted alarms they lost 4 engines to this.

Have had minimum problems with the electrics so far.

Have a good one
RA

Hi Marc,

Look at thread number"78914".

Cheers Wilko

Hi Marc Luther B
I am on my second Landcruiser V8 turbo trayback and so far so good.
You won't have any trouble with the rear suspension but it will ride better when loaded.
The steering stabiliser should be fine.
Average Fuel consumption 14/15 lts per 100 kms.
Your tray will have no trouble with 2x200ltr fuel drums.
There is poor access to the alternator & starter motor, hopefully I never have to pull it off!
Both vehicles I have owned have both used oil until the 70,000km mark and then stopped.

Regards

The rear track is significantly narrower than the front. Ok on firm surface but a PITA on sand where the rear wheels can't make up their mind which track to follow!

Oil consumption is still an issue - one large mining company here in FNQ returned over 80 of them to have oil consumption rectified.

The location of the starter motor in the valley can result in very expensive repairs. Rain water can enter via the bonnet air scoop, through the intercooler and sit around the starter. As well as a long labour component there is also a significant extra cost with replacing all the gaskets when removing the intercooler and valley etc.

Now the BIG surprise - be prepared to fork out some big dollars for the 100,000 service. The injectors in the high pressure system are due for replacement. A friend who uses drum fuel on the station had to do this at the 80,000 service. 8x $1500 = $12,000 - just for the injectors. His total 80,000 service cost him $15,000 !!

Nice vehicle.

I picked up a secondhand (36,000 ks on the clock) 78 series Troopy last Friday. To date i haven't found the oill filter. There is something at the bottom of the motor that i think maybe it. Can anyone tell me where Mr Toyota has hiden the oil filter

Bonnet scoop
7000 km I copped some hail. Went through the scoop and flattened quite a number of intercooler finns. Mentioned the damage to Mr. Toyo ... no answer.
Cheers

front suspension is fine but the rears wont take much of a load standard and sit quite low and flat, we notice a big difference when the rears are rplaced (springs last about 6 months)

steering sabiliser is fine i guess - havnt noticed anything

there is no access to the starter motor as it sits in the valley cover

I started seeing alot of them with the motors removed in the workshop.

i asked if they were having problems with them but it wasnt the motors so much as fairly simple anciliry things that were snapping bolts during removal to to different alloys and its easiest to remove the motor to fix them as there is no room

trays shouldnt be a problem depending on the supplier. they are not a toyota item but are fitted after shipping in. In WA alot are fitted up at kalamunda WSP

(walliston steel products)

Marc

I have a 2009 GXL version with factory heavy duty steel tray wooden floor with removable rear ladder rack. It has done just over 50,000k. Current ones differ in that they have new dash and airbags and a few minor changes. Different radio etc. Mechanically they are much the same.

I have just grabbed my service book and have checked out to 200,000 k. I cannot find any scheduled changing of injectors at all. Injector problems may happen but it is not the case they happen as regular as has been stated.

On my profile page there is a fair bit of comments on the vehicle. Basically it is the best trayback available bar none. It has done one Canning Stock Route and three Simpson Desert crossings

Fuel consumption long term average is 12.44 litres per 100 k. Lowest 11.1 and highest 16.78 on the Simpson this year. The CSR was 13.5.

Tram tracking I have only once encountered and it was fixed by engaging four wheel drive. I have never had a problem with it. Clearly others have and I am curious as to what wheels tyres and pressures they were running and whether in two wheel drive or four. I tend to use four wheel drive a lot more than some drivers. This may have something to do with it.

You have mentioned shock absorbers I fitted Koni 82 series 2347 and 2348 in SP1 configuration (whatever that means) before the Canning trip. No issues. I had no problem with the original shocks either, which I have kept. No other mechanical changes made. I have found no need to alter the springs so far. I may in the future.

The steering stabiliser is fine. I did find the steering lacked any real power assist at the very low crawling speeds on some Simpson Desert detours this year. Other than that, no problem.

Others have talked of the engine setup. It is not really the vehicle to do lots of deep water crossings.

It could carry four or five 200 litre drums without problems. Beyond that I don't know.Mine has carried a large lawn tractor about 450-500 kg many times with ease. It had no problem with the full load of gear on the Canning this year.

I do have a low radiator coolant alarm but have not get around to fitting it yet. There is no easy way of inspecting the coolant level and these are a good idea.
Engine Saver Low Water Alarm

The vehicle is not perfect by any means. It needs new seats. I fitted a Stratos suspension seat, They should be standard. The rear brakes are under engineered and cannot stand immersion in mud.Mine self destructed after I had returned home. Hoppers Stoppers do a replacement kit. From what I can gather it is very good but costs a lot.

To date the only issue has been the rear brakes. I had expected to suffer some damage on the trip this year but did not. They are pretty tough but not unbreakable.

Flynnie