Hello, everyone.

Chris mentionned that there is not much information in English on the Web on the subject of Land Cruisers. Allow me to suggest 2 sites with which to start:

1. The Toyota Land Cruiser Assoc. (North America) http://www.tlca.org/

2. Landcruisers@Off-road.com, for their decent FAQ http://www.off-road.com/tlc/

------------------
--
Mike Taylor
Proud Dad of Justine
(28 mos.)
and Jaxon (10 mos.)
Sec.-Treas.-Membersh
ip
True North Toyota Land
Cruisers
Ottawa Valley, Canada
TLCA #2300
'84 BJ42
'84 BJ60
'85 BJ70
(the Killer 3Bs)

Whilst admiting that the TLC takes the crown for desert work, I have been very pleased with the performance of my 200 Tdi engined 110 on four Libyan trips. With overdrive engaged it will cruise easily at 65/70 mph and return 25/28 mpg. This makes the long Calais to Marsielles haul posible in about 18 hours. The only time I wish I had the TLC power is when faced with a big dune climb. The Toy just powers on up leaving me furiously whacking it down through every gear in the box.
With decent servicing by grubby men who know whats what, baked up mby my own 'learnt on the job' skills, I hope it will carry on giving me good service for years. I have to admit that it has cost me a fair bit over the years. Probably £10K, but per trip thats not too bad and it must still be worth quite a bit now. Though I'm not selling!
Toby

IMHO there isn't a best vehicle for trans Africa. I've seen successfully done in a whole range of vehicles, including a 2CV and a Morris Minor. It really depends on what you want to do. I think the Land Rover / Land Cruiser thing has more to do with personal preference. They are both excellent vehicles and capable of a trans Africa.

However, if you have the money, and they are not as pricey as they may seem, a newish diesel Unimog is in a class of its own when it comes to off road ability - Land Rovers, Land Cruisers, Gelandwagens etc don't even come close in strength or off-road ability. For the open desert or the rutted roads of central Africa, a Unimog is hard to beat.

Hmmm
Toyota vs Landy.... the great question

I live in Morocco and there the desert guides have decided in favour of Landies -"Land Rover goes slowly slowly but never gets stuck - Toyota will cruise at 100-120kph but can get stuck - and Land Rover very strong" one guy in Erfoud told me.

Toyota? They are fine trucks - these days they are designed for fat Japanese businessmen with haemorrhoids. Ive towed too many 'cruisers out with my Series III to be impressed with cruisers. As for Cherokees - when they build one with a reliable 4x4 transmission Ill sell my Landy and buy a pogo stick.

Just to add my bit..... I take my 110 to Africa regularly as well as playing in UK mud and Scandinavian snow....

Between a well-driven Landy and a well-driven Cruiser there isnt much to choose.

Toyotas have a better reliability record following the crap steel and manufacture that doffed LRs during the 70s and early 80s.

The Landy is a better design, more axle articulation and better weight-to-payload ratio, etc. Toyota engines are better at dunes - more power (though Tdis are good kit and V8s lovely but thirsty).

Landies are tougher, no two ways about it.

Reliability? My 110 has never let me down. Full stop. And she is over 10 years old.

In terrains other than desert, Land Rovers win out (mud, snow, rocks). In dunes, Toys are better as their engines have more grunt. But good driving can deal with that. On gravel desert (Morocco other than the ergs, Egypt in places) there's nothing in it.

In the end its personal preference. Toys get driven by posers in Africa because on flat sand they are faster. Landies get driven by grizzled old desert guides.

Given a choice, Id never drive anything but a Land Rover. Ever.

Here we go again.

Kar El

Mikey,
The right vehicle is now available for sale
Check http://www.polandrover.com



------------------
Roman (UK)
www.polandrover.com