Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series VX 4x4 aka The Wild Dog Full Walkaround (Overlanding Rig Walkthrough)

[@TravelGigolo]

Oops! Note that the winch is rated at 8000 lbs (3 600 kg).

[@4xTouring]

Big 80 Series fan here. Loved the video! The 80 is one of the best 4x4s for offroad long distance travel. Very little electronics. Ultra reliable and parts are easily available. Toyota dealer network is the most comprehensive amongst all manufacturers. Grew up in Zambia and Botswana. Now in Australia. Travelled extensively in the Southern African region. Your videos brings back so much of fond memories. Keep them coming. Happy adventures!

[@TravelGigolo]

Thanks! Will be posting on Botswana soon. We're also planning a Zambia trip, but that may be while still. I'm very keen on going all the way up to the Luangwa area.

[@evhadcrnkic8035]

that is not just a vehicle that sir is a Tank! and i love it.The drawer system is very nice!

[@TravelGigolo]

😄 overlanding tank! It's done some good work for us.

[@LuaiADV]

Love the rig! I can't wait to visit Africa

[@dsmash447]

Looking forward to your next safari in the Wild Dog!

[@TravelGigolo]

Coming soon 👍🏾

[@LuaiADV]

On the topic of barn doors vs tailgate. Most would prefer the barn doors because they provide dual tables and coverage from the wind. The other thing is, when you open the tailgate. You would naturally move away from the car. On barn doors, you actually get closer to your gear. And thats also the reason why the 70 series was never offered with tailgate

[@TravelGigolo]

Barn doors are indeed much easier for loading and unloading heavy stuff. The heaviest thing I have to load and unload is the tent at 18kg, which is not much really. Personally, the versatility of having a load-bearing flat surface immediately available is preferable with shade/rain cover from the top hatch. The wind of course is a whole other matter. For us, having overlanded with the Patrol as well, the hatch is definitely preferred.

[@denzilmoffat2011]

Great Video. Keep em coming.

[@TravelGigolo]

Thanks! 👍🏾

[@dinkaman2160pukka]

hello bwana - great clip once again from a legend! May I suggest free wheeling hubs in front to help with fuel consumption. With free wheeling hubs, the front wheels will disengage from the wheel and should reduce drag in the front diff. Just a suggestion.

[@TravelGigolo]

Thanks Dinka Man! The vehicle is by factory default full-time 4WD so we cannot disengage the front drive train. It does make life easier though as we don't have to stop and engage when we get off tar road.

[@gushaz2023]

Thank you for a very informative video. Nice car , perfect for Africa.

[@TravelGigolo]

Thanks. It makes overlanding a pleasure.

[@seddonopholis]

Cheers! I have really enjoyed your content, looking forward to seeing your next adventures.

[@TravelGigolo]

Thanks! Appreciate that feedback 👍🏾

[@LuaiADV]

You have an Aisin 1000 winch. It’s rated to 1000kg not 5.5 ton. Be careful exceeding the factory rating. Or use pullies to double your rating

[@TravelGigolo]

I made an error with the winch rating. I only noticed it after posting the video. Winch is a Denso 38600-60050. Rated at 8 000 lbs (3 600 kg).

[@LuaiADV]

@@TravelGigolo it's rated at 8000 lbs at a triple line pull. at a single line, it can only pull 1000 kg. Look at the decals on the original bumper.

[@TravelGigolo]

The name plate on the winch doesn't state the load rating. I understand it to be 3 600 kg from the IH8MUD forum. Haven't found anything else online except from these guys absolute-wits-end.com/wits-end-toyota-jdm-winch-rebuild-project/ who also say it rates at 3 600 kg. The picture they have of rating doesn't translate very well due to the low resolution, but it does say 3 600 kg (using Google Translate) Wouldn't be nice to find out otherwise in the bush, so I would like to be certain, and appreciate your feedback. Do you have a reference that I can look at?

[@wade-lc463]

Nice truck, I have an 80 series as well - great setup! where did you get the zippered punch/bag that goes over the transmission shifter that hangs down over the transmission tunnel ( at about 31:56 in your video)?

[@TravelGigolo]

Hi there, the transmission cover is an Escape Gear product. We got ours from 4x4 direct.

[@wade-lc463]

@@TravelGigolo perfect thank you - I see it on their website

[@laradematos]

En epic vehicle for epic trips! 😊😍

[@TravelGigolo]

It's definitely ideal for our purposes 👌🏾

[@deanbaker7010]

Thank you for sharing... where was the campsite you mentioned please?

[@TravelGigolo]

Matamba campsite, near Vaalwater, Limpopo. I have done a couple of reviews on it which have contact details. kzbin.info/www/bejne/np-zaal5j6dnatE

[@rossouwlambrechts129]

Great vid! Looking to purchase one of these soon. Your opinion on the auto box?

[@TravelGigolo]

For it's era the autobox is pretty good in my opinion. It's a four speed so fuel consumption is not great. That's the only significant negative for me. I've had no significant issues. The kickdown cable got stuck once in It's sheath, and that had to be replaced. It doesn't hunt when driving at low speeds in parks. It's pretty good on the highway as well. Overall I am biased to auto boxes though. It's just so much easier than manual. I'm quite happy with this one.

[@cuddles1140]

Wow 🤯🤩 this type of video is great info in addition to the already brilliant content. It's so informative and leads to more questions. Did you sell the Patrol due to the tailgate or something else? I think you must have more Q&A videos based on categories like vehicle's, general, equipment (gas, chairs,braais, gazebos etc) some ppl like us may have some questions abt things like that. Again thx 🙏🏽

[@TravelGigolo]

Thanks for the Q&A suggestion, we must definitely consider doing something along those lines. The Patrol belonged to a friend, he kindly lent it to us for a couple of trips.

[@cuddles1140]

@@TravelGigolo A comparison video 🤔 would be fun & probably get alot of tounges wagging😜 & invite a Landy owner

[@TravelGigolo]

I can foresee a lot of tongues wagging 😄😄😄

[@sizwesabawu7237]

Thanks for your walk around. I'm planning a UK to Cape Town and am trying to choose between the older VX and the cheaper Land Cruiser 3.0 D-4D LC4....choices choices. Any opinions on this choice?

[@TravelGigolo]

Hi Sizwe, The LC4 is what we call a Prado here if I'm correct. I think they come with a centre and rear diff lock. In my view that will be a very capable vehicle and will be more fuel efficient than the 80 series. The only vulnerability, in my view, is the electronics if you find yourself doing water crossings. Having said that, I would be happy with either. If money is not a concern then I would choose the 80 series VX. If you want to save on fuel (I expect it will be your biggest cost) then the 3.0 D-4D wins hands down. Also note that some African countries require a Carnet du Passage, which I believe is related to the value of the vehicle. Hope that helps.

[@aadildhooma6689]

Awesome video Thanks

[@TravelGigolo]

Great! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@shepherdmalunga2056]

A nice car for such adventures indeed.l realised its an automatic car, for these long jorneys you always take , you prefer automatic or manual?

[@TravelGigolo]

It's definitely automatic for me. Much more relaxed, especially when driving slowly and watching wildlife. 👍🏾

[@shepherdmalunga2056]

@@TravelGigolo ohh l see , yeah , that way you won't have much to do but rather focus on the surroundings 👏👏

[@mutemiz]

was that a zebra at 33:15?

[@TravelGigolo]

Yes, that's a zebra, photobombing the clip 😂

[@mikesouter]

Hi out there. Has anyone been to Savuti, or driven long distances in soft sand in a Diahatsu Terios?

[@TravelGigolo]

I have no experience with the Terios, but I advise that the vehicle needs to have the right tyres so you can drop the pressure (I drop to about 1.4 to 1.6 bar using all terrain 265/75/R15, and can go down to 0.9 if I have to), and that you should have a 4WD drive system.

[@mikesouter]

@@TravelGigolo Thanks mate. I have done quite a bit off road with it and it is pretty competent. Unfortunately I don't have the 4x4 version. I thought of fitting a winch. I think it is picking the right season to go. Love your content. Keep it up.

[@lexubiga]

I have tried it with a 4x4 Terios and I would try it again. I have it fitted with BFG KO2. The challenge was ground clearance

[@mikesouter]

@@lexubiga Thnaks mate. Looking at the website their tyres look pretty awesome. I don't have the 4x4 version of the Terios. I have experienced driving through Zaire (Congo) when I was younger in a 2.5L Petrol Landrover which I had to do in 2WD as the front diff broke. A challenge, but you get through with plenty of "road-side assistance" which I guess you don't get as much of in the remote areas and Nat Parks in Botswana. I'm thinking of instead of selling the house to buy a 4x4, is to buy a winch and plenty of beer for those who may need to help me now and again. I have to be realistic as an adventurous 65 year old. (What do they say?... Oh yes...LOL) In your experience would that work after fitting these treads?

[@GrumpyTinashe]

Hi Travel Gigolo Im sure ive watched a video of tou and yoour mates in Zim which i enjoyed. Im going to sub ro tour channel. Im planning buying one and foing it as a project in Zim. I live in UK so can only travel home in December. So you know any breakers in SA for parts and roughly how much can i get a diesel engine Whats the real life fuek consumption like on long drives sir on the highway at say 120-130km/hr? Thank you in advance 👍💪🙏

[@TravelGigolo]

Hi Tinashe, The consumption on the 80 series turbo diesels is between 15 L/100km on tar highway to as high as 25 L/100km on sandy roads. Depends on which engine you have. Depends on which engine you have. Mine is the 1HDT. There are a number of Land Cruiser specialists in Gauteng. Your best bet will usually be N1 4x4 in Pretoria, but check online you'll find others. Parts are easily available from Toyota although sometimes they have to order from Japan so there may be a lead time. Of course new Toyota parts will be more expensive than used parts. I don't know how much an 80 series turbo diesel engine will cost you, but it will probably be difficult to find and more than R80k.

[@mendyviola]

Too bad they don’t make them anymore. I’m looking at getting a 4Runner in the somewhat near future.

[@TravelGigolo]

The 4runner looks pretty good. We don't have them in SA, though. The Fortuner is kinda similar and very popular here.

[@walkerbay6373]

Cruisers - still the best provided you can afford the fuel!😀

[@TravelGigolo]

Fuel is our biggest cost by far. Almost need a personal refinery 😄

[@nqumthemba]

What was the mileage when you bought your vehicle and now you are at ??

[@TravelGigolo]

It was about 280 000 km on the odometer (hard to say if that was the true mileage given the age of the vehicle). We're now at about 350 000 on the odo. It's largely used for road trips.