Safari Vehicles in America

[TX Bill]

I drive a 2007 Tundra 4x4 TRD. I don't drive it like they do in Africa for one reason--mesquite thorns that supposedly are not repairable due to the hollowness of the thorns. How do they deal with thorns in Africa BTW? Can you just switch over to tubes inside the tires? I have seen almost new offroad tires swapped out for this reason.

Whoever told you enquire thorns aren't repairable is incorrect. I worked at an old school full service gas station growing up. Small town TX. I patched mesquite thorn holes in truck & trailer tires all day, every day. My record was 27 thorns on one trailer tire. Held air when I was done.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

The 2023 4Runners with 10,000 miles are selling above original sticker price.

The new 25-26 4Runner is going to be an abomination. 4 cylinder turbo hybrid. Their fan base is none too impressed.

The Tacoma, FJ, and until this year, 4Runner all used bullet proof, 500,000 mile reliable v6s.

The 4Runners are most definitely a hot commodity right now given the impending doom from the changes. Actually all the Toyotas are I guess.

 

[TX Bill]

Whoever told you enquire thorns aren't repairable is incorrect. I worked at an old school full service gas station growing up. Small town TX. I patched mesquite thorn holes in truck & trailer tires all day, every day. My record was 27 thorns on one trailer tire. Held air when I was done.

*mesquite thorns...autocorrect is not from around here. LOL.

 

[CZDiesel]

Gotta be more mechanically enduring than British offerings....

I’d say with the 4.0l in-line six and Dana 44s they are as dependable as any Toyota…
Very common to see Jeep Cherokees and TJ’s with over 500,000 miles on them! But they are a brick with a tent on them lol gas mileage is not their forte!

 

[roklok]

I still drive a Jeep YJ Wrangler I bought in 1996, nearly 30 years ago. Has the bulletproof 4.0 engine with almost 300,000 miles on now. I don't care for the Toyota FJs, though I believe they are solid and reliable. I drove one and was struck by how poor the visibility was out of them. I would love if the Toyota LandCruisers were available here, mechanical diesel, 5 speed, full floating rear axle with heavy leaf springs, solid front axle, simply awesome machines.

 

[rookhawk]

I’d say with the 4.0l in-line six and Dana 44s they are as dependable as any Toyota…
Very common to see Jeep Cherokees and TJ’s with over 500,000 miles on them! But they are a brick with a tent on them lol gas mileage is not their forte!

I’ve owned a few jeeps in my day until I swore nevermore.

1991 - Cherokee Laredo 6cyl (that one went 387,000 miles, definitely the best)

1994 - GC 4.7v8 (180,000)

1996 - GC Laredo (250,000+)

2003 - Liberty (absolute trash, dumped it at 30k miles)

2005 - GC Limited (absolute trash, got $2500 for it at 124,000 miles)

2008 - commander overland (just too many problems at 87,000 miles)

With jeep, the older the better. Select trac manual controller 4x4 was the best gearbox. Straight 6 was a bombproof motor.

If you do something over and over again and do it well, it should be your career. Nonetheless, I did not work professionally installing jeep water pumps and idler pulleys.

 

[RR 314]

I have had many Jeeps, a custom bodied M151 “Mutt”, a FJ55 “iron pig” etc and one of my favorites was a 1987 Range Rover previously owned by Ben Crenshaw. It had a few divots on it—so I busted out a grinder and sawzall.

 

[roklok]

Yep, I agree. I would not buy a newer Jeep. The older ones with the 4.0 are solid in my opinion and experience.

 

[rookhawk]

I don't care for the Toyota FJs, though I believe they are solid and reliable. I drove one and was struck by how poor the visibility was out of them.

This is 100% fact. Without fisheye blind spot mirrors on the side mirrors, and without backup camera and a new radio to see that camera, you WILL get in many accidents. First thing I did to both of ours. It’s easily remedied, but I can’t believe they didn’t sort that out at the factory better.

 

[rookhawk]

This is our 2014. I’m still search for an OEM brush guard which is rare as hens teeth. It’s like new.

Not our 08 TTE, but they were a limited edition and identically painted and equipped:

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I know Toyota, Nissan, and Range Rover are the Safari Vehicles of the time but once upon a time Jeep was used extensively too…
The couple of Jeep CJ-6’s in the movie “Hatari” are favorites of mine so I have the modern day version of it. This is my 2006 Jeep LJ, a long wheel base two door…View attachment 660809View attachment 660810View attachment 660811View attachment 660812

I’d say with the 4.0l in-line six and Dana 44s they are as dependable as any Toyota…
Very common to see Jeep Cherokees and TJ’s with over 500,000 miles on them! But they are a brick with a tent on them lol gas mileage is not their forte!

Very nice! What transmission?

My dad bought a CJ7 in the mid 70s and I bought it from him in the early 80s. Inline 6 and a turbo 400 GM automatic transmission, full time 4x4, Warn winch, big tires, etc. I should have never sold that vehicle, but I was single and had a car, a company car and the Jeep. My auto insurance was sky high and killing me, so had to make some changes.

 

[Red Leg]

This is our 2014. I’m still search for an OEM brush guard which is rare as hens teeth. It’s like new.

View attachment 660818


Not our 08 TTE, but they were a limited edition and identically painted and equipped:

View attachment 660819

Very nice,

And both beat an EV Ford pickup - particularly where you call home.

 

[cash_tx]

The 2023 4Runners with 10,000 miles are selling above original sticker price.

The new 25-26 4Runner is going to be an abomination. 4 cylinder turbo hybrid. Their fan base is none too impressed.

The Tacoma, FJ, and until this year, 4Runner all used bullet proof, 500,000 mile reliable v6s.

Having worked with multiple Toyota operating companies at a B2B level for the last seven years, the manner and scale to which the auto design and manufacturing side of that business has dumbed themselves down is staggering; particularly for long time Toyota fans. If the folks wrenching the cars together have gotten as bad as the folks doing back office operations, the costumer is in huge trouble.

 

[Red Leg]

They were building a pretty awesome machine in 1969 as well. I did get rid of the bench seat and added power steering. Trying to work a clutch with the left knee by one's ear is ridiculous.

Gas mileage in this one is about 14 miles to the galleon.

Owned a firecracker red CJ7 in 1979 that I loved. By 83 I was married, we had our first child and the CJ was traded in on a Subaru. We then owned three Grand Cherokees over a decade before moving own.

I love this thing.

 

[Spearhead]

1997 80 series Land Cruiser. Original owner 297,000 miles, 13.2 mpg. Goes anywhere. My daily driver. ZERO complaints from me.

 

[CBeck]

Partial to my 1994 4Runner…purchased in 1996

Still kick myself for selling my 1977 CJ5

 

[BigSteve57]

Partial to my 1994 4Runner…purchased in 1996View attachment 660826

Still kick myself for selling my 1977 CJ5

View attachment 660827

I've driven Toyota Land Cruisers since 2000. I now drive a 200 series Toyota Land Cruiser. Prior to that I owned a 100 series. The suspension is stock except for Firestone airbags in the rear coil springs which we use when towing. Even with a stock suspension it will go way way beyond my comfort zone when it comes to off road travel. I guess it could perhaps navigate Africa ok.

 

[SaintPanzer]

When I was a kid, I saw a TV show with Marlin Perkins driving a Land Rover. So I wanted a Land Rover.

In 2020, I finally got my Land Rover. When I was a kid, I didn't know Land Rovers were "undependable", and apparently my Rover doesn't know that either.

I've had this thing everywhere from outside of London where I bought it, to Stuttgart, through the Black Forest, on to Poland, then back on the Dunkirk ferry to do a UK trip, up through Lockerbie, up to Thurso, then ferry, then Orkney, ferry again to the Shetlands, around the Shetlands, ferry back to Orkney and on to Skye, then through the Lake District and Cotswolds, the Isle of Wight, Southampton, ship to Baltimore, cruise about the east coast, up to Brooklin Maine, then west to the gorgeous panhandle of Idaho.

I found a nice Camel Trophy style brush bar, and still need to add the winch. It's time for some regular maintenance, I need to replace coolant and might as well do hoses and thermostat as PM while I'm at it. So make fun of Land Rovers all you want. We can't hear you.

 

[SaintPanzer]

One more...

 

[Pondoro]

2013 Range Rover L405, 4.4 litre V8 diesel, 126.000km

Very good terrain vechle, will tackle 90cm of water. And contrary to popular belief..no trouble so far..