Well for some reason HUBB doesn't like Picassa for me so I deleted my post on this last week as the pictures didn't come - well they did when I previewed the thread, they did when it first went up and then they vanished... So here goes again with Photobucket.

Last week I was lucky enough to get a new 200 series Landcruiser for a bit of fun. The car belongs to WWF who we partner on various forest management issues. Now time was a bit limited, so I could only take it for a short trip on gravel roads (mixed very good, big potholes and corrugations) and an accelleration test on our nearby airfield.



Now I have to say it is a very, very impressive vehicle.







Now this one is a fairly basic one, manual gearbox as you can see and no Kinetic Suspension. I know it will probably be a while before one appears on HUBB being overlanded anywhere, but you never know! My impressions:
Pros:
- loads of power! Loads.
- Superb engine noise.
- Amazingly composed comfortable ride. Swallows even big potholes nicely.
- But also very controlled with minimal body roll and corners very well on gravel despite it's size and weight.
- Big, roomy interior (obviously)
Cons:
- Electronics... It's not the engine side that I would be scared off, but everything else - keyless start, AC controls like a spaceship, etc etc.
- 17" wheels
- Big front valance easily damaged
- Same in the rear.

But if you are in charge of WWF West Africa and get one of these as your runabout then the con's don't really matter. Of course if you are supporting such an NGO with your hard earned donations then you might be a bit hacked off that they are not buying 76 series wagons and feeling the bumps with the rest of us!
Gil

Does the toy Panda come as standard?
And the box of tissues?

These could well be selling points for me.

Scroll down this link
Tom’s Fahrzeugtechnik » Rear-End Extensions

to see a 200 converted into a pop top.

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Chris
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"Never have a stupid argument with an idiot - he gets a lot more practice than you"
there I go again
not too hard really

Ahh thanks, Chriss. I remembered this site but couldn't find it anymore, beautifull, simple, small and offcourse to expensive dream-conversions (well, for me, that is).

Also a nice piece about the VDJ200 (africa-version) click
But I think I like the new HZJ-76 tropical (sortof short 5-door trooper) even more (though you won't find them roadlegal in Europe).

yepp, keep dreaming.

cheers

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bart & sophie

From reading Tom's website he seems to import the africa spec models and bring them up to euro spec - out of my league though

I really fancy cutting the roof off my swb and making a pop top - much quicker than my roof tent.

__________________
Chris
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"Never have a stupid argument with an idiot - he gets a lot more practice than you"
there I go again
not too hard really

Hi guys

Tom is not the only one that does roof conversions

Check out Offroadschmiede Marcus Haase | (they did my roof conversion)

and

Innovation Campers - Expeditionsfahrzeuge, Aufbauverlängerungen, Offroad, 4x4, Schlafdächer, Innenausbauten, Ausrüstung, Reisepartner, Reisen, Hardtops, Toyota, HZJ, HJ, HDJ, Rover, Land Rover, Defender, Mercedes, Nissan, Mitsubischi, Mercedes G (arguably the best)

Cheers

John

Thanks John,
I'd be interested to hear how you find yours in everyday use. I am seriously considering cutting the roof off my car

__________________
Chris
-----------------
"Never have a stupid argument with an idiot - he gets a lot more practice than you"
there I go again
not too hard really

Hi Chris

I've had my TLC with this roof conversion for about 18 months now.

Before that I had a disco with a roof tent.

As yet the TLC is untried apart from in the UK, Germany and France, but I much prefer it to the roof tent.

The pros are:

Much drier in the rain,
Much quieter in the wind
Quicker to erect and put down
Internal lights make living inside easier
Don't have to get out of the car to go to bed

The cons are:

Cost !!
Can weaken over time over rough terrain (only 3 manufacturers seem to have got the design and construction right for strength - they are the 3 already listed).


The weight of the roof is similar to that of the combined weight of roofrack and roof tent

As you can see from the websites, there are many different cab designs available.

I thoroughly recommend the conversion, but would caution anyone about buying cheap(er) alternatives - they will not last on overland trips, but will start to weaken, not fit correctly and then leak over time (apparently).

All 3 suppliers are good - Tom being a 'late comer' to this market compared with the other two.

cheers

John

thanks John, all food for thought.

Sounds like you did your research well.

Cheers

__________________
Chris
-----------------
"Never have a stupid argument with an idiot - he gets a lot more practice than you"
there I go again
not too hard really