Building an expedition vehicle adds a whole new layer of responsibility to make it as reliable and as utilitarian as possible. With that in mind, a Toyota Land Cruiser is quite literally the perfect base for such a vehicle, being one of the most reliable SUVs ever made, not to mention one of the most capable modern SUVs off road. And it’s even more perfect when two lifelong expedition enthusiasts and 6x6 G wagon test drivers build it. The result is a Toyota truck 6x6 with a whole body section added to the rear measuring nearly ten feet. With so much extra space, it gets sleeping accommodation, a pretty much fully equipped kitchen and enough power supply to last for weeks. Also, this isn’t just a backyard build as the truck is fully homologated, only this time around to carry a payload of six tons which is the first glimpse into the quality and effort that went into it. Even more interestingly, the same manufacturer who built this one continued making Toyota 6x6 trucks so anyone can buy one. But before we go into more details, and there are a ton of them, have a quick look at the 6x6 trucks currently available here at Exotic Car Trader.
The idea for a Toyota 6x6 truck was spawned on military proving grounds when Australia was looking to buy six wheel drive G wagons. Present throughout the testing were two key people, one was Brad McCarthy, and the second was Mick McMillan. Brad McCarthy is the founder and owner of Maxtrax, an Australian manufacturer of automotive expedition accessories, while Mick McMillan is the founder and owner of Australian Expedition Vehicles. Brad in particular was impressed by how the six wheel drive G wagons handled the tough off road courses, but also by how much more comfortable the extra wheels made them. However, while the G wagons often broke down, his Toyota just kept going which triggered the idea of converting a Land Cruiser into a six wheel drive vehicle, thus combining all the benefits of the 6x6 G wagon and Toyota’s reliability. Their first creation was an L200 Land Cruiser which took years to develop and is still driven by Brad. That initial L200 would serve as a base for later projects. Today, the pair makes light duty 6x6 Land Cruisers rated 4.5 tons, a heavy duty version rated at 6 tons, but also Land Cruisers with or without third row seats. At the same time, there are several 6x6 series 79 Land Cruisers on offer, as well as multiple versions of both models with the standard 4x4 drivetrain.
Inside, the Toyota truck 6x6 is largely the same as any other Land Cruiser of its generation. And since the Toyota Land Cruiser competes with the likes of Mercedes and BMW, that means it’s filled with leather, wood trim and technology. Also, the Toyota 6x6 truck retains the old infotainment system, as well as all the different driving aids, and power everything. If someone were to blindfold you and sit you behind the wheel, it would take a while before you notice that this isn’t just a regular old Land Cruiser. That’s because all the important equipment is found in the rear canopy. The first section, closer to the main cabin, has enough space for two grown people to sleep while on top of it, additional tents can be mounted to accommodate an additional four to six people. The following section houses a 60 liter fridge and a stove and the interesting thing is that everything is packed into boxes so that you can remove them from the vehicle and set up your camp wherever you like. As for power supply, the Toyota truck 6x6 employs lithium ion batteries, solar panels and a 1,000 watt inverter with a 240v outlet. Of course, space for tools and other life sustaining accessories is plentiful, but also extremely well organized so that the front part of the cabin is completely free to carry five adults.
In contrast to the interior, the Toyota truck 6x6 got so many external modifications that it barely resembles a Land Cruiser. Even the front end with a high cut bumper, a bulbar and extra fog lights is substantially masked. That said, it does look much more attractive, especially with its huge snorkel and the fact that the bulbar extends over the front wheels essentially acting as an exoskeleton. Even the side profile is changed because none of the rear wheels are in the same spot where they are on the donor car. Plus, the trunk space is completely cut off in place of that huge canopy. And that’s where the Toyota truck 6x6 looks the most out of the ordinary. The canopy doesn’t flow with the rest of the Land Cruiser’s design and is an obvious add on. But don’t go for a minute thinking it looks bad because of that. Instead, it only adds to the specialty vehicle vibe it already has, moving it visually in the direction of a special fire brigade vehicle. Painted in red, we believe that’s exactly what people would assume. Also, its extra wheels are by no means oversized so it doesn’t look like a toy as most 6x6 conversions do, which is good, because it isn’t one.
The Toyota truck 6x6 uses the same 4.5 liter V8 diesel engine found in the original Land Cruiser. And while the power remained the same at 280 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque, it does get an all new engine management system. That includes additional driving modes such as those for towing, off road and highway. At the same time, additional safety systems were installed like an exhaust temperature monitor which the ECU uses to prevent engine damage. A fuel/water separator is also crucial for expedition vehicles, and this one also includes an alarm if the water content reaches high enough levels to cause permanent engine damage. Further protection came from relocating the alternator and replacing it with a much more powerful unit because of all the extra electric auxiliaries. As for the drivetrain, the truck is only four wheel drive during normal driving and automatically locks up the third axle when the other four tires start to lose traction, but air lockers are fitted to all differentials which can be manually operated. Brakes and suspension weren’t left untouched either so the Toyota truck 6x6 gets a big brake kit with six piston calipers, remote reservoir shocks all around that are fully adjustable, and billet control arms. Again, nothing was left to chance and what we mentioned is just a few highlights.
While it’s easy to find conversion prices for Australian Expedition Vehicles conversions, they only tell half the story, but let’s start there. A Toyota truck 6x6 based on a Land Cruiser starts at $81,000. For that, you only get the rear subframe with two axles, and that’s about it. Adding the canopy from Outback Customs as seen on the one we have discussed will set you back another $30,000 to $50,000 depending on the configuration. Additional auxiliary components will come to at least another $15,000. That puts the total to around $140,000 as a rough estimate.
When it comes to expedition vehicles, barely anyone has more experience than the duo who built the Toyota truck 6x6. That’s evident from the quality of work they have done, but also from all the safety features and auxiliaries. And since nobody is building anything quite like it, the Land Cruiser 6x6 remains the safest and smartest option for extreme over landing. Lastly, whether you are after a 6x6 truck, a luxury vehicle, a classic or a muscle car, consider buying it through Exotic Car Trader. With escrow protection, delivery and first inspection, Exotic Car Trader makes car purchasing both as safe as it gets, and as convenient as it gets. Also, selling a car with Exotic Car Trader is even more convenient since you get a professional photographer at your door.
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