by Expedition Portal Staff
Tag: Vehicles
1996 Land Cruiser 80 Series
Fantastic Land Cruiser 80 Series for Sale
BUSCHTAXI MEETING 2013 Part5
More Photos from the Buschtaxi gathering. All sizes catered for and a large variety of roof tents.
BUSCHTAXI MEETING 2013 Part2
A view more photos from the Buschtaxi gathering.
BUSCHTAXI MEETING 2013
From 6-8 September was the 12. Buschtaxi gathering in Schwalmtal-Storndorf, Germany. Again 3 days of a fantastic atmosphere with hundreds Landcruisers, Hiluxes, 4 Runners, Fj Cruisers and also a view other ones. The Weather was fantastic until Sunday morning when it started raining for a couple of hours. Despite the downpour it was a fully success and even the 1600 miles round trip for me was definitely worth.
Fitting ARB Bumper to a Land Cruiser 80 Part2
As it is well known, there is nothing easy in life and we ended up having to get the grinder out as there was no way to fit the new Bumper straight onto the chassis rails.
We have never figured out why this happened. We had no experience of fitting another Bumper onto an 80 Series. I remember on my 100 Series it was a very easy and precise fit.
The proud owner with his new addition
No doubt he will add a winch very soon to the Bumper
Gets you there….gets you back
Probably the best description for a Toyota Land Cruiser. The variety of the Land cruiser’s on the Buschtaxi gathering in Storndorf, Germany was amazing.
ARB Bumper
I never liked the original bumper on the Land Cruiser. They are made from plastic, very low to the ground and ridiculously expensive if the need to be replaced. I spend some time to look for an alternative. My plan was to add a Winch to a later state. This has narrowed my choice and only two was left. TJM or ARB. I ended up to go for the ARB Bumper which is made in Australia and very well built. It took about four-month until I have received the parts. Yes, if you leave in Great Britain, it is definitely not from the shelf.
I also ordered some ARB side rails which connect to the Bumper and also replaces the steps. The advantage of the steps are, they much higher of the ground and also made from steel tubular instead from the Land Cruiser plastic.
To my surprise all the parts fitted very well, no extra drilling, apart from two holes which needed to be drilled after fitting the bumper to the vehicle.
The removal of the old bumper is a very easy job. Just a view bolts and the cover is of . Next is to remove the energy absorber which is made from polystyrene and at last the reinforcement bar. This has given me access to wax-oil all the areas which I usually have no access. On top of the old bumper was the driving light washer connected which of course needed to be removed. and the pipes blocked off. I have not figured it out how I could fit the washer jets on to the new bumper.
First job is to fit the winch cradle on to the frame. The inter-cooler hose need to be removed to place the bolt trough the frame. I found it is much easier to fit the nuts on top of the frame instead on the bottom as written in the instruction. Next is to lift the bumper on to the Winch cradle. After a view attempts with some help from my neighbours to lift the bumper on to the cradle I preferred to do it on my own. The bumper just need to be lifted on to the cradle and will stay there. All the bolts can be fitted easily from the bottom. It is enough play in the holes to align the bumper perfectly. The next is to connect the wiring from the additional indicators on to the existing wiring. Everything was supplied.
The side steps has given me a bit a headache. Nothing wrong with the parts. It was about the remaining actuators and spheres from the hydraulic suspension system which I have left in place. Unfortunately two of the actuators needed to be removed as it was in the way of the clamps which fit the steps on to the frame. The actuators has been bolted with three bolts on to the frame of the car. Two on the side and one on top of the frame. The top ones was the problem. Only about two to three centimetres space is left between the bolt head and the body. I managed to round one of the bolts of and it took me about two days to get this one out.
Nobody can imagine how happy I was when I finally managed to remove the remaining pieces. To fit the “rock solid” side steps was no problem, just a matter of bolting the brackets on to the frame and bumper bars. I’m very impressed with the quality of all the parts.
OME Bumper
Reinforcement
Left side with intercooler hoses
Right side, the plugs are for the fog lights, which are now obsolete
Winch cradle
Indicator lights
Fitted Winch cradle
Left
Top
Fitted ARB Bumper
Without side step
ARB side rail
Finished Project
The next step
As the Isuzu Trooper was badly corroded, I decide in 2008 to take the Car away and by a Toyota Land Cruiser instead, which was always on top of my wish list. Original I planned to get a Land Cruiser 80, 100 GX or a 105. Unfortunately I could not get hold on a decent one. Also to get a 105 in the UK is nearly impossible unless to get one imported. I didn’t want to go this way.
Finally I got a Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon VX 100 which was in excellent condition. I was aware of all the extra electronic with which the cruiser came. Not I would have any need for it. But there is a lot what can be taken out or disconnected in case of trouble.
The Cruiser also came with a Hydraulic suspension system (AHC), which I was not very keen on it and I had already plans to take it out and replace with a ordinary suspension system.
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Overlanding 