I was a land cruiser person, never having anything different. Then took a Hilux for 2 weeks through Namibia and now that will be it for me. Lots of cup holders and can still walk after an 8 hour drive.
"We just completed a week of Overlanding with our Hilux along the West Coast of Namaqualand, from "Brand se Baai" National Park up to McDougals Bay. We towed a Buslapa Muskruier and explored several of the two-spoor tracks. The Hilux proved to be an amazing vehicle! We're so glad we chose the Hilux. While Land Cruisers are tough, the Hilux is equally impressive. Although the fuel consumption of below 7km/L isn't ideal, I've made peace with it. Considering the cost of the Cruiser and what you get for all that money, I will always choose the Hilux."
I don’t own any of these vehicles but own a Land Cruiser 105, so based on your description it sounds halfway in between the two vehicles in your video. Your description of the 70s series driving experience reminds me of a Land Rover Defender 110… This is a great video, very informative!
Thank you for the video. Always interesting to see different perspectives. We have enjoyed our Hilux's VERY much over the last 20 years. Below a breakdown of our last 6 Overland vehicles and a short summary of each: 2.7 Petrol - Thirsty but good vehicle. Reliable. 3.0 KZTE - Very nice offroad, but don't tow with it, as you struggle to maintain speed of 110+. Overtaking requires a project plan! (It could have done better with an intercooler) 4.0 V6 - Wow, awesome motor - THIRSTY. Need to get used to the auto box, liked to hunt gears. Towed like a dream! 3.0 D4D - VERY nice vehicle. Very capable. Good for towing. Had wonderful overland trips with this vehicle. - Will buy it again if I can find it with low mileage! 2.8 GD-6 - WOW! Really, really nice vehicle!! Again wonderful overland trips, tows nicely. NOTHING wrong with it! Will definitely buy one again! Land Cruiser 79 4.5 V8 - Since this is our last Overland vehicle purchase, I decided on a 'never die workhorse'. It is expensive for the luxuries you get. You spend a LOT of money kitting it out, more than the Hilux would. The V8 motor is a jewel. AWESOME!!! I chose the LC for its absolute ruggedness. It will last us 15 to 20 years. Don't think the Hilux will last as gracefully as the Cruiser. (My opinion), and to replace an Overland vehicle while on Pension is a money pit. Rather spend once, and a little more and have a solid vehicle for the next 15-20 years. This was my logic in any case. Like Mic says, the Land Cruiser you need to actively drive it. Focus. It is a hell of a lot of FUN to drive. I loved my 2.8 GD6, but I *LOVE* my Cruiser Either vehicle, will take you to Kenya and back! - The LC will do so many many times over! PS, my wife did NOT like the "Plaasbakkie" since the idea surfaced, even when I bought it. It was ugly, not enough cup holders, etc etc etc. While on our first Botswana trip, she admitted the LC was a GOOD BUY. She loves the Cruiser now ;-)
Thank you for your good words. Yes it is a 4x4 and it is a European car. I am from Nederland and i bought it there and shipped it to Mozambique for my own use. I come every year a few months and go camping and Wildlife watching throughout Southern Africa. When i go back home to the Netherlands the car goes in a storage until next trip.
Throw in some pictures next time. So one can see which Truck you taking about. Remember you always have new individuals who are Joining overlanding Love the Breakdown.
I have a 2.4-GD6 Hilux with Ironman build and Toyota Prado 150 with Ironman build. We overland with both in Africa. Hilux comfortable and love it, but my first choice is my Land Cruiser Prado.
Im on my 4th Hilux Xtracab 2.8gd6 Auto. since 2021 Currently with a 2024 Model. Will not drive anything else. Toyota all the way. Has never let me down
I’ve got a 2012 78 series with a 1HZ motor…made me smile when he said “when you’re driving at the national speed limit”…not happening unless you want to watch the fuel gauge drop in real time 😂. Would I daily drive it? Hell no, but as my adventure truck I love it. There is always a sense of excitement when I crank the engine… As for a bakkie, well..when I get in a mates one and try it out, it’s nice, but, well it’s just a bakkie…I could be on my way to work. No sense of occasion and it stirs no emotion.
I've been doing touring to Botswana, Namibia etc. in the new Isuzu Dmax 3l. I have your foam cell pro suspension kit, canopy, electric set-up, long range tank, etc. I'm looking for some extra vehicle protection. What would you deem most important for touring? I'm conscious of weight as I carry two spare tyres & 4 people on most trips.
I don’t know much but without even thinking the 79 is definitely the better vehicle to have Even just seeing it on the road makes you go woah😅🎉 However both have insane resale value 🫠
@Ironman 4x4 a big factor here is the intensity and duration of off-road travel. Intense (very rough conditions, heavy loads), longer duration (distances and times) - Landcruiser sfa (solid front axle) and heavier duty specs on suspension, steering and drivetrain components will result in greater durability and reliability and reduced risks of breakdowns than in the case of ifs (independent front suspension). Less intense, more infrequent use off-roading with dual-purpose capabilities as highway etc family or business tpt, the Hilux is probably better. Check Roam overlanding video on Hilux repairs and maintenance requirements after longer duration heavier duty off-roading. Which brings the question about what Hikux components are more vulnerable to wear and breakage under hd off-roading and what sensible, cost-effective optional mods are available and recommended to address these? Also comparison of Hilux, Ranger, Isuzu, newer Navaras etc for overlanding and everyday use.
Plot twist on a 4 country trip about to enter lesotho got a 1996 hilix surf......granted lifted for clearence and 1400km in not missed a beat. 3.0l ...altho id love a land cruiser
I have a Hilux 1989 X-cab with 2.4 diesel. It has just reached 300.000 km i have owned it for 13 years now and done 75.000 km of overlanding in Southern Africa since I bought it. it’s been reliable but very rough and uncomfortable and slow on the freeways ( max 80). Is there anything that i can do to improve it ?
Hi Alfred. Thanks for your comment. Not sure about your Hilux model. Is this an imported vehicle? Is it a 4x4? To my knowledge the Hilux of that year was never produced as an X-Cab here in SA. My first 4x4 was a 1998 2.4L petrol solid front axle Hilux 4x4. Tough as nails but not very comfortable and slow out on the open road. I did an engine swap to a later model 2,7L petrol motor with fuel injection. It was a lot faster but way less reliable. My advice is thus, if you cannot live with the comfort or speed, you're going to have to upgrade to a newer generation Hilux. I would strongly advise against trying to modify that motor for more power. Reliability is sure to tank.
I was a land cruiser person, never having anything different.
Then took a Hilux for 2 weeks through Namibia and now that will be it for me.
Lots of cup holders and can still walk after an 8 hour drive.
Bro these are facts 👌 very true the cup holders below the aircon keeps drinks frosty
"We just completed a week of Overlanding with our Hilux along the West Coast of Namaqualand, from "Brand se Baai" National Park up to McDougals Bay. We towed a Buslapa Muskruier and explored several of the two-spoor tracks. The Hilux proved to be an amazing vehicle! We're so glad we chose the Hilux. While Land Cruisers are tough, the Hilux is equally impressive. Although the fuel consumption of below 7km/L isn't ideal, I've made peace with it. Considering the cost of the Cruiser and what you get for all that money, I will always choose the Hilux."
I don’t own any of these vehicles but own a Land Cruiser 105, so based on your description it sounds halfway in between the two vehicles in your video. Your description of the 70s series driving experience reminds me of a Land Rover Defender 110…
This is a great video, very informative!
Thank you for the video. Always interesting to see different perspectives.
We have enjoyed our Hilux's VERY much over the last 20 years. Below a breakdown of our last 6 Overland vehicles and a short summary of each:
2.7 Petrol - Thirsty but good vehicle. Reliable.
3.0 KZTE - Very nice offroad, but don't tow with it, as you struggle to maintain speed of 110+. Overtaking requires a project plan! (It could have done better with an intercooler)
4.0 V6 - Wow, awesome motor - THIRSTY. Need to get used to the auto box, liked to hunt gears. Towed like a dream!
3.0 D4D - VERY nice vehicle. Very capable. Good for towing. Had wonderful overland trips with this vehicle. - Will buy it again if I can find it with low mileage!
2.8 GD-6 - WOW! Really, really nice vehicle!! Again wonderful overland trips, tows nicely. NOTHING wrong with it! Will definitely buy one again!
Land Cruiser 79
4.5 V8 - Since this is our last Overland vehicle purchase, I decided on a 'never die workhorse'. It is expensive for the luxuries you get. You spend a LOT of money kitting it out, more than the Hilux would. The V8 motor is a jewel. AWESOME!!!
I chose the LC for its absolute ruggedness. It will last us 15 to 20 years. Don't think the Hilux will last as gracefully as the Cruiser. (My opinion), and to replace an Overland vehicle while on Pension is a money pit. Rather spend once, and a little more and have a solid vehicle for the next 15-20 years. This was my logic in any case.
Like Mic says, the Land Cruiser you need to actively drive it. Focus. It is a hell of a lot of FUN to drive.
I loved my 2.8 GD6, but I *LOVE* my Cruiser
Either vehicle, will take you to Kenya and back! - The LC will do so many many times over!
PS, my wife did NOT like the "Plaasbakkie" since the idea surfaced, even when I bought it. It was ugly, not enough cup holders, etc etc etc.
While on our first Botswana trip, she admitted the LC was a GOOD BUY. She loves the Cruiser now ;-)
Thank you for your good words. Yes it is a 4x4 and it is a European car. I am from Nederland and i bought it there and shipped it to Mozambique for my own use. I come every year a few months and go camping and Wildlife watching throughout Southern Africa. When i go back home to the Netherlands the car goes in a storage until next trip.
Throw in some pictures next time. So one can see which Truck you taking about. Remember you always have new individuals who are Joining overlanding
Love the Breakdown.
I have a 2.4-GD6 Hilux with Ironman build and Toyota Prado 150 with Ironman build. We overland with both in Africa. Hilux comfortable and love it, but my first choice is my Land Cruiser Prado.
Im on my 4th Hilux Xtracab 2.8gd6 Auto. since 2021 Currently with a 2024 Model. Will not drive anything else. Toyota all the way. Has never let me down
I’ve got a 2012 78 series with a 1HZ motor…made me smile when he said “when you’re driving at the national speed limit”…not happening unless you want to watch the fuel gauge drop in real time 😂. Would I daily drive it? Hell no, but as my adventure truck I love it. There is always a sense of excitement when I crank the engine…
As for a bakkie, well..when I get in a mates one and try it out, it’s nice, but, well it’s just a bakkie…I could be on my way to work. No sense of occasion and it stirs no emotion.
Im with you...got a 76 1hz...good ol donkey!
I've been doing touring to Botswana, Namibia etc. in the new Isuzu Dmax 3l. I have your foam cell pro suspension kit, canopy, electric set-up, long range tank, etc. I'm looking for some extra vehicle protection. What would you deem most important for touring?
I'm conscious of weight as I carry two spare tyres & 4 people on most trips.
I don’t know much but without even thinking the 79 is definitely the better vehicle to have
Even just seeing it on the road makes you go woah😅🎉
However both have insane resale value 🫠
Would like to see your Hilux build
@Ironman 4x4 a big factor here is the intensity and duration of off-road travel.
Intense (very rough conditions, heavy loads), longer duration (distances and times) - Landcruiser sfa (solid front axle) and heavier duty specs on suspension, steering and drivetrain components will result in greater durability and reliability and reduced risks of breakdowns than in the case of ifs (independent front suspension).
Less intense, more infrequent use off-roading with dual-purpose capabilities as highway etc family or business tpt, the Hilux is probably better.
Check Roam overlanding video on Hilux repairs and maintenance requirements after longer duration heavier duty off-roading.
Which brings the question about what Hikux components are more vulnerable to wear and breakage under hd off-roading and what sensible, cost-effective optional mods are available and recommended to address these?
Also comparison of Hilux, Ranger, Isuzu, newer Navaras etc for overlanding and everyday use.
Plot twist on a 4 country trip about to enter lesotho got a 1996 hilix surf......granted lifted for clearence and 1400km in not missed a beat. 3.0l ...altho id love a land cruiser
i got a Hilux 2.8 GD 6 Auto for Overlanding .. i will visit u soon for A overlanding Build up
And what about towing capability now that both got the 2.8 engine
Ask your crew how well a nearly stock Hilux did last year at a 3 provinces trip. Nothing wrong with a hilux. 👌
I have a Hilux 1989 X-cab with 2.4 diesel. It has just reached 300.000 km i have owned it for 13 years now and done 75.000 km of overlanding in Southern Africa since I bought it. it’s been reliable but very rough and uncomfortable and slow on the freeways ( max 80). Is there anything that i can do to improve it ?
Sell it or Trade it for a 3.0 d4d. Salaamat Motors in Randfontein will pay you a high price since I see they sell them at high prices
Hi Alfred. Thanks for your comment. Not sure about your Hilux model. Is this an imported vehicle? Is it a 4x4? To my knowledge the Hilux of that year was never produced as an X-Cab here in SA. My first 4x4 was a 1998 2.4L petrol solid front axle Hilux 4x4. Tough as nails but not very comfortable and slow out on the open road. I did an engine swap to a later model 2,7L petrol motor with fuel injection. It was a lot faster but way less reliable. My advice is thus, if you cannot live with the comfort or speed, you're going to have to upgrade to a newer generation Hilux. I would strongly advise against trying to modify that motor for more power. Reliability is sure to tank.