Land Cruiser 101 me

Well due to a military move overseas I sold my Tacoma (reluctantly). But I have found myself in quite the situation. By not owning a vehicle I rate a vehicle being shipped back to the states in a few years when I leave. The only catch is that the vehicle must be 25 years old to avoid costly inspections and emissions fees due to being from another country. I have found quite a few land cruisers for very cheap compared to US trucks and I would love to bring back but I don't know anything about them and beginning my research.

I am looking to get one that I will build into a expo vehicle or a hardcore trail rig, yet undecided on which direction I want to go when I get back with it. My goal either way is to make it barely street legal but also something I can throw on a flatbed and take somewhere where it might break but still be able to tow it home and fix it for a future adventure.

I am looking for a quick down and dirty to get me headed down the right path of research on which models have specific strengths and weaknesses. I'm not worried about on road ride quality but want more focus on modibility and simplicity.

Also, if anyone knows anything about Suzuki Jimnys feel free to throw that info out. Basically the Japanese version of the Samurai. That is also an option I have but I am leaning more towards Cruisers just because of more options due to size

 

sammies are badass and go places nothing else can

 

That's very true. If I go that route I would end up building a off-road trailer to take with it

 

Ask this at IH8MUD, tons of LC info there.

 

I'll head that way then and see what I can squeeze from them

 

Here are some model codes to help with understanding what your looking at:
http://www.ulich.org/thomas/LC/tech/model_code.html

If it were me, and I have looked in the past it would either be the HDJ80 or HZJ70. 70 Series are just cool trucks but lack on power (robust motor though). HDJ80 is nice since a lot of parts are easily sourced from the 80 series here, but they also look just like our 80s so no points for that.

 

The trick here is buying a truck overseas that meets the requirements to import back. I spent 10 years stationed in Japan and jumped through my ass trying to bring a bunch of vehicles back and in the end I was only able to import a single motorcycle. Knowing what I know now it's all about the magic 25 year old mark. Buy yourself something that works for you and either is or will be 25 years old at least when you return home. Depending on your tour that could be a fairly new 80 series (96/97) with full floats and a diesel or a nice 60/70 series. Either will be fun and RHD. Now ask yourself this...Do you want an RHD vehicle? I drove a series of LHD trucks when I was in Japan and it's a PITA...Drive thru...Nope. Cop pulls you over...Lots of questions. Getting steering parts...Expensive. If you want to do it an 80 series with the diesel will still have a lot of parts availability down the line when you get CONUS and a great aftermarket.

Just my .02

 

Also as far as Jimny's go they are cool little trucks. They are kind of pricey but capable. They run very narrow tires with the narrow track width and short wheel base they are very prone to taking trail naps (Flopped on their sides) but are light enough that 3 guys can flip it upright.

 

The 25 years is key. I'll be rotating out in 19 so I need a 94 or newer. The steering is what scares me. I think it would be awesome to have a RHD as a toy. Whatever I get it will be something for me to beat on and build as I please. That's one of the draws to the Jimny is that I would feel bad chopping and beating a nice land cruiser but that's what the Jimnys are made for. My wife has a vehicle and I have s bike to get around base and I have time to decide on what I want. Some days I want the Jimny for crawling and beating up and some days I want the yota for building an expo vehicle and such. Life is hard

 

Those Jimny's aren't that cheap and wildly popular in Japan, assuming that's where you are going, I'd highly reccomend taking a good look into a diesel 80 Series. The knuckles for the RHD are easy to find here and if you are worried you could always stuff a RHD Steering Box in your pack out. There are places here that will get you RHD parts shipped over from Japan but at a premium of course. I am currently hacking up an FZJ80 and you shouldn't feel bad doing it. If you end up in Japan look for a shop called "Headquarters Special Tuning" they do a ton of offroad 80's and yotas. They are close to Yokosuka but they are all over the magazines there. Did a ton of off the wall crazy work for me when I was there when I was running a Hilux Surf (T4R) and running swampers in a place hwere the average car was half my size stock...Makes finding parking hard but hey who cares.