The Toyota Landcruiser 

Our car since July 2009

Soon after the sale of our Land Rover it started itching again. A flying holiday is nice, but your own home on four adventureous wheels is even more fun. For us it was very clear. We wanted a new car, but which one? With our experiences in the back of our minds and taking into account all the aspects we missed or appreciated in our old Land Rover we made an inventory of all our wishes.

The sale

With all our wishes in mind we started searching on the internet untill one day we found a car the matched the picture. The car, a Toyota Landcruiser HZJ 75 from 1996, was for sale in Belgium and together with our travel friends Laura and Vegter we sat off. This day was a memorable day. The car not only matched our wishes, it was also in very good shape. She was sold by the first owner, had despite her age of 13 years driven less than 80.000 kilometres and had never been on a long expedition. A very rare car and we were lucky to find it. The sale was quikly sealed and three weeks later, accompanied by Vegter, we drove to Belgium again. This time to pick up the car and then there was a big surprise. The owners of the car had more treats for us. In the garage was a huge pile of spare parts, extra leaf springs, an extra set of rims etc.  We could have it all and the owner had even changed the engine oil for us. We were speachless. It was touching to see with how much love and devotion the owner built and kept this great car. We promised Frank, who was really sad to see the car leaving, that we would take very good care of it and then we said goodbye. Overjoyed with our new travel companion, who was soon called "Frankie" after it's first owner, we were heading home.

Import

With all our wishes in mind we started searching on the internet untill one day we found a car the matched the picture. The car, a Toyota Landcruiser HZJ 75 from 1996, was for sale in Belgium and together with our travel friends Laura and Vegter we sat off. This day was a memorable day. The car not only matched our wishes, it was also in very good shape. She was sold by the first owner, had despite her age of 13 years driven less than 80.000 kilometres and had never been on a long expedition.

A very rare car and we were lucky to find it. The sale was quikly sealed and three weeks later, accompanied by Vegter, we drove to Belgium again. This time to pick up the car and then there was a big surprise. The owners of the car had more treats for us. In the garage was a huge pile of spare parts, extra leaf springs, an extra set of rims etc.  We could have it all and the owner had even changed the engine oil for us. We were speachless. It was touching to see with how much love and devotion the owner built and kept this great car. We promised Frank, who was really sad to see the car leaving, that we would take very good care of it and then we said goodbye. Overjoyed with our new travel companion, who was soon called "Frankie" after it's first owner, we were heading home. 


"Frankie" goes under construction

How it once was



After all the paperwork is done the real job can begin. Although the car itself meets all our wishes we do not like the interior. The camper unit has too much storage space and too little living space and we want exactly the opposite. If there is one thing we missed while traveling with the Land Rover it was not having a small living room where we could relax and have some privacy.  This means a big reconstruction of our camper.

Dismantle the car



At first we expect to save most of the boxes and re-use them, but as soon as we start working we have to conclude that there is only one solution, to strip down the car completely. A lot of work, but on the other hand it does give us the opportunity to furnish it completely according to our whishes. A lot of great ideas immediately come up, but that is for the future. First some hard work.

The diesel tank

Part by part we dismantle the car until the interior is almost completely stripped. Almost, because inside is still a huge diesel tank of 300 liter. A big tank of stainless steel that has the same width as the unit itself. The tank looks sturdy and it is. For three long evenings we struggle before the tank gives up. At the end of the third evening there is finally some movement. As soon as the tank is gone we can slowly start rebuilding.

Water and diesel

We re-arrange some tubes in order to convert the water tank, that is situated below the car, into a diesel tank. In total we can now carry about 220 liter diesel. In a small aluminium box underneath the car we mount the diesel pump that will enable us to pump the diesel from the extra tank into the main tank. As we want to control the pump from inside the driver's cabin we connect it to the useless switch of the back window heating. In the hole where the filling opening of the removed tank was once located we install a waterproof socket. Very handy for tapping power when available.

Finishing the empty unit

Next we nicely finish the inside of the unit. We egalize the floor, hang the wall with wall paper and paint it afterwards.

Back to zero

By now the unit is complety empty and finished. We can now start refurnishing it. First we have the floor covered with linoleum in a colour that is described as African Desert.

First steps of the new interior

Innovation Campers helps us to change the profiles of the roof that will make the bed that can be lifted up in order to have enough space to stand up straight without having to break up the bed every time. Next to the lifting possibility of the bed we also make it divideable so each of us can get in and out of bed without having to wake up the other and if needed we can sit up straight with the roof closed. 

Adaptions at the front

Next to all the work inside the camper unit we also make some small changes in the driver's cabin. We mount a new car radio, a small reading light, a thermometer and between the two seats a small Weaco fridge. This way we do not only have cool drinks while driving, but also a very comfortable arm rest.

New tires and a new identity

Winter is over and the camper is back home. Very slowly we start working on it again. We replace the old grey rims by nice steel rims with sturdy all terrain tires from BF Goodrich and "CQ reclame" gives Frankie a new indentity. On the cabin our name together with a giraffe, our new logo, will be placed as well as a world map on each of the two front doors.

Lazy chairs

In the cabin were two BE-GE chairs. Professional chairs, but not our deal. We do not like them and due to the spring mechanism our sitting position is too high. With his head Markus almost touches the ceiling. We replace them by a set of two comfortable Recaro's. The same chairs as in our Land Rover and it immediately feels very familiar. In these chairs we can hang on for hours.

Bush wires and clothes lines

A handy assessory of the Land Rover we used daily where the bush wires. Not immediately necessary for a trip through the bush, but indispensable as clotheslines. If you are once used to them ......; never putting up clotheslines and still always a fixed spot for a wet towel, that can never be forgotten. By now, also in front of the wind screen of Frankie, two of these forceful lines are showing off. 

Sand bars

Big impractical things that are although they are only incidentally used, indispensable for an off-road vehicle. Inspired by a brochure of 4x4 accessories we mount them in such a way that they can quickly we changed into a table.

Sand shuffle and spare tire

On the roof above the driver's cabin there is some extra storage space. Next to a small tool box and a couple of wedges we also keep our sand shuffle and spare tire here.

The outside as well as the driver's cabin are as good as finished. Next step will be the interior of the camper unit.

The interior



For the interior we have chosen for a casemaker system. This is an interior made of thin (9mm) birch plywood with a thin layer of HPL on top and light weight anodic treated aluminium profiles. A light but very strong construction. Because we do not have the means or the experience to make this ourself we have it done by PSP Expedition Campers in the Netherlands. Unlike most of the other builders that supply casemaker systems PSP does not has its plywood coated with PVC but with a strong layer of HPL (www.abet.nl). To protect the aluminium the profiles are anodic treated.

Water reserve

With the interior in its place we can now built in the water and electrical systems. Along the back of the unit a 100 liter water tank is placed. The tank can be filled from the outside. On top of the tank a sensor is mounted to measure the contents of the tank. This way we will not be surpriced by an empty water tank ever again.

Running water

Thanks to a waterpump and expansion reservoir, that are both mounted on top of the wheel housing, we have running water with enough constant pressure.

Bush shower



From the waterpump the water is pumped into two directions, one is purified the other is not. For the unpurified water we have made a tap to which a shower hose can be connected. Thanks to a 2 meter shower hose we can not only use this water in our sink but we can also use it outside. Practical for washing hands and indispensible for a nice bush shower in the open air

Purified drinking water

Purified water comes from the tap near the sink. Because local water is not of good quality everywhere and our health is precious we have placed a water purifier of the brand General Ecology (model Nature Pure). A light weight, compact, ecological and unbreakable water purifying system that meets American hightest quality standards. With this system we can turn water from every river into drinking water which makes us even more independent from existing services.  

Electronics

Next to water we also have an independant power supply. Because electronics is not our specialty we ask De Jong Technovaria, a company specialized in electronic systems in all kinds of vehicles, for help. To devide the weight equal the batteries are placed in the space next to the water tank. The batteries as well as all other devices are from Mastervolt, good quality products that are available all over the world. The system exists of 2 AGM batteries of 70 Amh each (total of 140 Amh). By choosing two small batteries instead of one big one we have a backup when our traction batteries go dead. Both the auxilary batteries fit inside the brackets of the traction batteries, so the can be switched in case of an emergency.

Power supply

The auxilary batteries are charged either car or solar. A solar charge regulator regulates power supply from two solar panels of 50 Watt each. Whilst driving a DC/DC converter ensures that the batteries are also charged by the car's alternator. To prefend decharging of the traction batteries an intelligent converter is adjusted in such a way that it only charges the auxilary batteries when the traction batteries have reached a certain minimum voltage. Thanks to the double charging possibilies we will always have sufficient power independent from campings facilities.  For charging our camera's, notebooks and other personal electronics we have a 12V-230V converter of 350 Watt. To control consumption we have two monitors to inform us how much water and power we still have. A main switch is installed to enable us to cut of all the power at once.

Small kitchen



Finally our tiny kitchen it finished and fitted with modern conveniences. A stainless steel sink with running purified water, a Webasto X100 diesel cooker (no open flame, no damp and no carrying gas anymore) and a 32 liter energy saving compressor fridge Engel MT35F. Built inside one of our closets is our diesel stand heating Webasto (Airtop 2000).

Sufficient living space



Due to a 57 cm wide I-shaped bench we have more than sufficient sitting space.

King size bed on the first floor

"Upstairs" we have a large bed of 200 x 150 cm. This is a very comfortable sleeping place. Spacious and when opening the tent it feels like sleeping outside.

A bed downstairs


Using the boards from the bed above we can also create a bed downstairs. Convenient when we cannot popup the roof in case of an emergency or bad weather.

Gadgets



When most of the work is done we can start decorating. Here and there we mount some nice gadgets like hooks, a Maglite torch and a wall bottle opener.

Cushions and matrasses



Of course a camper is not complete without comfortable cushions and matrasses. As we only have limited space our matrasses can be max. 6 cm. As this is not much, it is very important to choose the right quality. Not too soft and not too hard because they are used for both sitting and sleeping. After some research we choose a high quality foam SG40 that is nicely covered with a UV-proof fabric

Cosy room


With the cushions at its place the our camper has become a very nice place to live in.

Mosquito netting

The outdoor life we love so much has one dark side: mosquitos. Flies and mosquitos can ruin your stay or sleep.  By putting up mosquito netting we hope to keep them all out as much as possible.

Extra storage

Whilst designing the car we choose for living space instead of storage. However to carry some extra goods we replace the small box on the roof by a large waterproof aluminium box from Zarges.

More storage

For the bulky lightweight stuff we mounted another aluminium box on our pop-up roof. This box is also from Zarges.

Jerrycan

Despite our diesel cooker we often use our coleman one pits stove for cooking outdoors. To carry the fuel for our Coleman stove and lantern we mounted a 5 liter jerrycan on our pop-up roof. The aluminium jerrycan holder was custom made for us.

Raised air intake 

To be able to drive through waters and to protect our air filter against dusty polluted aire we mounted a snorkel or raised air intake (TJM Aitrec). 

Download:

Design and dimensions interior (.xls)

Download:

Preparation list Landcruiser (.xls) 

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