Afternoon all. Thinking seriously of upgrading to 70 series Landcruiser GXL troupie. Has anyone out there any experience with one?
Have a Navara kingcab at present and have loved convenience of the side and rear access of canopy and the room for fridge etc behind the front seats, thus keeping them dust free. As the caravan is now our home, you can imagine the amount of "cant go without stuff" we carry in the back ( plus tools). The seats are comfortable and we can sleep in the back if we decide to go exploring. Has been the perfect setup until it was bought to our attention that we are over the GVM!!!!!!!!!! Not good..............
After lots of homework we "think" the troupie is the way to go.
Would appreciate any and all feedback.
justcruisin01 said
03:19 AM Aug 18, 2012
Apart from the usual stories about the V8, which is in all the l/cruisers all I can tell you is that we have an old 1986 troopy, been to hell & back several times.LOL
Its been around the big block, criss crossed this country in many directions with huge loads & towing at the same time & still going, had a few repairs but are a very strong vehicle.
THe one drawback is that you have to climb in & out of the two rear doors to get things, often have to unload some stuff to get what you want. If I was to replace it I'd go the cab chassis with a tray, throw the drop sides away & build a alloy canopy, many versions of these are around. I would have the rear end of the canopy a fixed wall & sealed for the dust, have the sides as full opening lids so there is access the full length of the tray from both sides.
Very easy to add a set of roof bars/rack/ &/or a boat loader is you have the need, a second spare on the rear wall or a couple of jerry carriers, This is how I would do it, not telling you how to do it.
Cheers mate;
JC.
ledavidson said
05:30 PM Aug 18, 2012
Thanks for your input. The set up you suggested is basicly what we have for the nissan but the added advantage of the kingcab for extra storage ( fridge etc). Thanks again for the ideas. Cheers
Lyn
sandsmere said
05:43 PM Aug 18, 2012
We have the station wagon version . 76 series . The same as the troopy but has side doors as well . It's 11 months old , has done 27000kms . About 7000 kms towing the van .
No problems at all with it . It's a great vehicle . The V8 is fantastic .
ledavidson said
06:00 PM Aug 18, 2012
Like the convenience of the wagon but need extra space in back of the troupie. Just wish the side windows lifted up instead of sliding.
justcruisin01 said
08:43 PM Aug 18, 2012
sandsmere wrote:
We have the station wagon version . 76 series . The same as the troopy but has side doors as well . It's 11 months old , has done 27000kms . About 7000 kms towing the van .
No problems at all with it . It's a great vehicle . The V8 is fantastic .
I think you will find that this is a smaller vehicle than the troopy.
Just as a matter of interest the very first Prado's ever in this country as an inport were the 76 series with a four cycl motor, so its a revamp of a very old desighn.
JC.
-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Saturday 18th of August 2012 08:47:33 PM
03_troopy said
01:32 AM Aug 19, 2012
My 2003 Troopy has an aftermarket side door fitted. It was initially fitted out as an ambulance, hence the side door. You may be able to find companies that do the side door conversion using Google
ledavidson said
05:35 PM Aug 19, 2012
Thanks for the ideas. Had thought of some "alterations" with the windows but door sounds even better.
Afternoon all. Thinking seriously of upgrading to 70 series Landcruiser GXL troupie. Has anyone out there any experience with one?
Have a Navara kingcab at present and have loved convenience of the side and rear access of canopy and the room for fridge etc behind the front seats, thus keeping them dust free. As the caravan is now our home, you can imagine the amount of "cant go without stuff" we carry in the back ( plus tools). The seats are comfortable and we can sleep in the back if we decide to go exploring. Has been the perfect setup until it was bought to our attention that we are over the GVM!!!!!!!!!! Not good..............
After lots of homework we "think" the troupie is the way to go.
Would appreciate any and all feedback.
Apart from the usual stories about the V8, which is in all the l/cruisers all I can tell you is that we have an old 1986 troopy, been to hell & back several times.LOL
Its been around the big block, criss crossed this country in many directions with huge loads & towing at the same time & still going, had a few repairs but are a very strong vehicle.
THe one drawback is that you have to climb in & out of the two rear doors to get things, often have to unload some stuff to get what you want. If I was to replace it I'd go the cab chassis with a tray, throw the drop sides away & build a alloy canopy, many versions of these are around. I would have the rear end of the canopy a fixed wall & sealed for the dust, have the sides as full opening lids so there is access the full length of the tray from both sides.
Very easy to add a set of roof bars/rack/ &/or a boat loader is you have the need, a second spare on the rear wall or a couple of jerry carriers, This is how I would do it, not telling you how to do it.
Cheers mate;
JC.
Cheers
Lyn
We have the station wagon version . 76 series . The same as the troopy but has side doors as well . It's 11 months old , has done 27000kms . About 7000 kms towing the van .
No problems at all with it . It's a great vehicle . The V8 is fantastic .
I think you will find that this is a smaller vehicle than the troopy.
Just as a matter of interest the very first Prado's ever in this country as an inport were the 76 series with a four cycl motor, so its a revamp of a very old desighn.
JC.
-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Saturday 18th of August 2012 08:47:33 PM
Thanks for the ideas. Had thought of some "alterations" with the windows but door sounds even better.