New Toyota Land Cruiser commercial
Discussion
Aussies love them because they are an Australian icon and they fit in with the myth that many suburban Aussies love to perpetuate about being rough, tough outback pioneers. My brother in law has a ludicrous amount of kit on his fully prepared Landcruiser but afaik has never actually driven off road in it (quite handy for regular floods where he lives and works though).
If I was you I'd buy some Bilt Hamber DYNAX-UB underbody wax. You'll probably need about five tins to do a good job. I don't know if you've looked underneath any used Land Cruisers but the they rust very badly underneath.
Ask anyone who's tried buying a second hand one, you start to give up after you've gone and looked at five and the top halves are all shiny and new but the underneaths look like they've been dragged up from the bottom of the sea.
Brian.
Ask anyone who's tried buying a second hand one, you start to give up after you've gone and looked at five and the top halves are all shiny and new but the underneaths look like they've been dragged up from the bottom of the sea.
Brian.
olly755 said:
Yep, it’s just coloured vinyl wrap on top of the glass. I’ve considered a rear seat conversion, but maybe with just one road car front seat on some form of quick release mechanism. If this happens, I’d thought of removing the vinyl, but have some panels made in Dibond painted in body colour and attached to the glass as so to be removable (perimeter of double sided Velcro? Answers on a postcard). An engineering pal could fab a rather lovely subframe and the rear seatbelts are off the shelf with all bolt holes in place. We’ll see.
I'd be surprised you can refit rear seats, but I could be wrong. I've worked on developing these type of products for another OEM, and I understood that the seatbelt anchorage and mounting points had to be irreversibly rendered useless, so you cannot refit the seats. This is a HMRC requirement to stop people buying the commercial version and refitting seats, thus avoiding paying tax as per a normal passenger car. I don't know how the Toyota complies with that (if it does).RenesisEvo said:
olly755 said:
Yep, it’s just coloured vinyl wrap on top of the glass. I’ve considered a rear seat conversion, but maybe with just one road car front seat on some form of quick release mechanism. If this happens, I’d thought of removing the vinyl, but have some panels made in Dibond painted in body colour and attached to the glass as so to be removable (perimeter of double sided Velcro? Answers on a postcard). An engineering pal could fab a rather lovely subframe and the rear seatbelts are off the shelf with all bolt holes in place. We’ll see.
I'd be surprised you can refit rear seats, but I could be wrong. I've worked on developing these type of products for another OEM, and I understood that the seatbelt anchorage and mounting points had to be irreversibly rendered useless, so you cannot refit the seats. This is a HMRC requirement to stop people buying the commercial version and refitting seats, thus avoiding paying tax as per a normal passenger car. I don't know how the Toyota complies with that (if it does).gazzarose said:
RenesisEvo said:
olly755 said:
Yep, it’s just coloured vinyl wrap on top of the glass. I’ve considered a rear seat conversion, but maybe with just one road car front seat on some form of quick release mechanism. If this happens, I’d thought of removing the vinyl, but have some panels made in Dibond painted in body colour and attached to the glass as so to be removable (perimeter of double sided Velcro? Answers on a postcard). An engineering pal could fab a rather lovely subframe and the rear seatbelts are off the shelf with all bolt holes in place. We’ll see.
I'd be surprised you can refit rear seats, but I could be wrong. I've worked on developing these type of products for another OEM, and I understood that the seatbelt anchorage and mounting points had to be irreversibly rendered useless, so you cannot refit the seats. This is a HMRC requirement to stop people buying the commercial version and refitting seats, thus avoiding paying tax as per a normal passenger car. I don't know how the Toyota complies with that (if it does).On older Disco 3's the conversion was quite simple, but the HMRC cottoned on. They tightened down the hatches on 'commercial conversions' these days and have strict rules on them and especially Kombi vans they're very funny about.
On the Disco 4 you could unbolt the bulkhead for example, on my Dad's new Disco 5 Commercial its all welded in and can't be removed. Makes putting long things in a pain.
Jimbo89 said:
I had two Disco 4 Commercials, all the bolt holes are filled with bonded in, single direction screws. I got quoted more than £10k to fit rear seats as every screw has to be cut/drilled/retapped before they can even start putting the seat mounting frames in.
On older Disco 3's the conversion was quite simple, but the HMRC cottoned on. They tightened down the hatches on 'commercial conversions' these days and have strict rules on them and especially Kombi vans they're very funny about.
On the Disco 4 you could unbolt the bulkhead for example, on my Dad's new Disco 5 Commercial its all welded in and can't be removed. Makes putting long things in a pain.
I’ve done 4 commercial refits to 7 seat vehicles and nothing of the sort is true. Taking the commercial equipment out should take no more than a day and all the bolt holes for seats, seatbelt anchorage points and even seat wiring looms are there. They are all converted from a built 5/7 seat and retro fitted to commercial. Rear windows are still there just covered. Electric windows plug are disconnected and filled with silicone. A good day or day and a half to convert to car. On older Disco 3's the conversion was quite simple, but the HMRC cottoned on. They tightened down the hatches on 'commercial conversions' these days and have strict rules on them and especially Kombi vans they're very funny about.
On the Disco 4 you could unbolt the bulkhead for example, on my Dad's new Disco 5 Commercial its all welded in and can't be removed. Makes putting long things in a pain.
Familymad said:
That's cheap! Assuming no vat to be claimed?
cheddar said:
Familymad said:
That's cheap! Assuming no vat to be claimed?
I’ve had a good scrabble underneath and the undercarriage does indeed looks very bare with no underseal to speak of. Apparently they are galvanised, but hey ho. So 5 litres of Bilt Hamber has been purchased, most of which will no doubt end up in my hair.
Still only done 300 miles.
Shoved it in the workshop this afternoon to get some underseal on. I’ve actively avoided driving it in the rain so far to keep the undercarriage pristine, to the general dismay of my OH. She’s right of course: the reason for buying something new and shiny was to avoid f
king around crawling under cars in the first place.
It goes on pretty well with a proper compressor and gun. Axle articulation helps here: the wheels can stay on.
king around crawling under cars in the first place.It goes on pretty well with a proper compressor and gun. Axle articulation helps here: the wheels can stay on.
Seeing the press release stuff about the new Land Rover Defender, lead me back to Toyota's website looking at the Utility/Commercial Landcruisers.
The OP's car looks all the better for it's basic spec and steel wheels.
My current Utility stable consists of a venerable old 4.6 P38 Range Rover, a goosed Ser II Disco V8 and an imperious 2003 vinrage Toyota Hi Ace Van.
If Toyota made a LWB Commercial Auto , it would be perfect (i'd still keep the P38 and HiAce - neither are worth much but i love 'em) as it stands i'm debating a manual Commercial or Auto Utility - or older fully loaded bling model .. just love those steelies though.
I've owned my Land Rover's for years and family still buy the newer stuff , but sadly LR are not for me anymore.
Thankfully you can still buy the no nonsense 90 and 110 van ... from Toyota
The OP's car looks all the better for it's basic spec and steel wheels.
My current Utility stable consists of a venerable old 4.6 P38 Range Rover, a goosed Ser II Disco V8 and an imperious 2003 vinrage Toyota Hi Ace Van.
If Toyota made a LWB Commercial Auto , it would be perfect (i'd still keep the P38 and HiAce - neither are worth much but i love 'em) as it stands i'm debating a manual Commercial or Auto Utility - or older fully loaded bling model .. just love those steelies though.
I've owned my Land Rover's for years and family still buy the newer stuff , but sadly LR are not for me anymore.
Thankfully you can still buy the no nonsense 90 and 110 van ... from Toyota
RetroWheels said:
If Toyota made a LWB Commercial Auto , it would be perfect:
Your ship is coming in. A Commercial in Active spec is on its way with an auto option, along with other gadgetry. Alas, the steelies are replaced with alloys.https://www.parkers.co.uk/vans-pickups/news/2019/t...
snowandrocks said:
Looking good - I must have missed the updates on this.
Out of interest - what sort of MPG are you getting? I know that's not really the point of it but mid thirties on a reasonable run would be enough for me to run one as a daily driver.
I’ve just emptied the first tankful and it’s averaged 26.7mpg, mainly local rural driving and short journeys. I’d expect a little bit more to be honest, although I’m sure it will improve.Out of interest - what sort of MPG are you getting? I know that's not really the point of it but mid thirties on a reasonable run would be enough for me to run one as a daily driver.
The engine felt incredibly tight and lethargic at first, but i’ve noticed it’s loosening up quite a bit. It’s still only on 537 miles so I’m sure there’s more to come. I would have thought mid 30’s on a run should be easily attainable.
snowandrocks said:
That's reasonable if not quite as good as I'd hoped - like you say it should hopefully loosen up quite a bit with a few miles.
Can't make up my mind between a new LWB utility or just buying the best low mileage 100 series I can find.
Good luck! It’s nigh on impossible to find a low mileage LC around these parts and when they do show up it makes you think they must have the lowest depreciation of any 4x4 on earth. They really do seem to be bought and kept until they die. Can't make up my mind between a new LWB utility or just buying the best low mileage 100 series I can find.
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