I think that the 100 series Land Cruiser is one of the best 4wd vehicles ever built. The GX part time 4wd version is great.

It has the best compromise available of all time for off road capability, on road handling and executive luxury appeal. It is the only large 4wd vehicle that could be armoured without any modification to the chassis and still maintained quite good handling capabilities with only up rated brakes and suspension.

Organisations throughout the world bought them. The UN alone still has thousands of them scattered around the globe.

For the conditions found in developing countries, this fairly simply built and very reliable vehicle became an icon. Nicknamed in many countries for its status and appearance. In Uganda they call it the Balloon and in Sudan they call it Monica! Rounded and curvaceous it is. Some would even say sexy. Better than the 80 series, also an awesome vehicle.

The 200 Series

So what are these many organisations going to do when it’s time for new vehicles? Go for the 200 series?

If they are after “Bling,” then why not.  Good looking with loads of plastic spoiler to get spoilt and expensive to replace. Packed full of electronics, with fancy key entrance and related push button start.  Independent front suspension which in my opinion won’t last the harsh driving conditions let alone the harsh drivers found in lower income countries.

Picture being stuck in the middle of the Sahel with this vehicle failing to start? Or the electronic management system going down. A twin turbo V8 diesel.  Great if you want to nip down the Autobahn. But you don’t need that acceleration rate and speed knocking around most of sub Saharan Africa unless you want to end up on your roof. The 1HZ is a great engine even though doing the valve clearances are beyond the capabilities of most workshops. It has some low down grunt, not the whiz bang wheel spin ability of the V8.

What were they thinking?

For the life of me I cannot fathom the reasoning behind the decision to end the 100 series. The 76 series 5 door doesn’t come any where near replacing it.

So what have Toyota been doing over the past few years or so?  Produced a new Hilux that doesn’t come up to the mark.  Got rid of the old model Hilux which even with independent front suspension (one of the best of the rigid front suspension systems out there) had a fairly good off road capability and reliability. And drove well on unsealed roads as long as you banged it into H4.

Made the 5 door boxy station wagon 76 series.  This will appeal to the NGO and maybe UN market. I don’t like it. It reminds me of that horrible Land Cruiser II that they had back in the early 90s. Gone the rugged 75 series.  But there’s the 78 series now you say. Still it’s not as popular as the 75.  Those front coil springs aren’t really up to the job if you ask me. If you are going to coil a vehicle, do it all round with decent springs that don’t knock the bump stops out within a short time.  At least Land Rover got that one right!

What’s the Alternative Now?

So enter Nissan.  I predict that they will probably take over the developing country, NGO and UN market in the relatively near future.  They already have with peace keeping missions for instance.

The new Nissan Patrol GX model in station wagon and pick up models is not bad at all.  I did a comparison for a client between the Patrol GX and the 100 series GX and the Toyota model just came out in front on drivability and service back up in most of sub Saharan Africa.  But if I had to do the same now the Patrol would be streets ahead for simplicity reasons alone. You can still do the valve clearances with a spanner, screw driver and a set of feeler gauges.  And the fuel system can take some abuse from poor quality fuel. I’m not sure that this will be so with the 200. It has a simple, strong and fairly flexible live axle beam suspension system front and rear that can and does deal with the rigors of driving in harsh areas. It also has a fairly good off road capability with LSD fitted in the rear axle.

Also, they can supply a rugged, simple double cabin pick up that comes with a rear diff lock as standard. The J83 model. This vehicle drives well and is simple to maintain. It just don’t look as nice as the Hilux. No Bling!!

Both of these models are ideal for field work in harsh environments with Patrol giving that executive appeal as well.  But then some organisations are governed by policy. For instance one organisation I was speaking to recently will only buy vehicles that have ABS and SRS for safety reasons. Both the Nissan models I have been harping on about may not come with those systems fitted as standard but a driver can be taught to carry out an emergency braking technique that can equal and if not better ABS on unsealed roads. And if a driver is taught and practices correct defensive driving techniques he/she stands a better chance of not needing SRS which once deploys in a remote field setting may be difficult to reset!

Conclusion

I have to thank my dear departed Dad for the title. He gave me two bits of engineering advice before I left home to join up. 1) is the title and 2) is “tight is tight too tight is broke”. Use a torque wrench. This is one that definitely applies to my neck of the woods. After joining up I came across the KISS principle which to this day I still try to follow.

Come on Toyota there’s a huge market for simple 4wd vehicles in the developing world why make it more complicated than it should or has to be?

Over a year ago, we installed the Pressure Pro system on two of our training vehicles. It makes sense to have good safety measures for the vehicles that we use the most for our defensive and security driver training.

An early warning of an under inflated tyre is good for safety by avoiding a blow out or a tyre rolling off the rim; which, in both cases, could lead to a roll-over and possible student injury. Let alone the cost of replacing the tyre or the vehicle for that matter.

We have the intention of fitting them to all our training vehicles but first wanted to see how they would perform and cope with the demands of one of the toughest off road training courses available.

The Results

Well, they’ve been drowned in water, bogged down in mud, subjected to a very dusty environment and have been washed down at the end of every training session and not even given one sign of giving up the ghost. To say I’m impressed is an understatement.

I really expected the sensors to have given up by now considering the electronics that are packed into that small cap.

For those of you who do not know the system; a sensor is fitted on each tyre valve which sends a radio signal to the monitor. At any time you can scroll through your pressures (including the spare) and also, the unit will tell you when the pressure has gone below a certain limit by giving an audible warning.

Fitting /Tech Support

The system is relatively easy to install and doesn’t really require any tools to fit. You can hard wire it in if you like or just plug it into the cigarette lighter. Therefore, you can take it from one vehicle to another. I installed both our systems within 20 minutes.

The instruction leaflet that comes with it is comprehensive and the tech support that we got from the company was great.

Is it Worth it?

At around 500 US$ a pop (for the display monitor and 6 sensors) the system may seem to be relatively expensive but once you’ve considered the safety aspect and the saving on tyre wear/ replacement it’s not bad at all.

I would certainly recommend the system to anyone; from the private 2wd owner to the corporate semi trailer.

Central locking system in this one failed. Seems that some systems cannot take the rigours of African road conditions. Or they may just be poorly refitted/fitted when the armouring was carried out.

This one had been to a workshop to be fixed and this is how it came back. Security compromised?

Emergency Tool Kit

Emergency tool kit found behind this panel in the rear of the vehicle. Needed a Philips screwdriver to undo the panel. Guess where it was found? You got it! I was told that the panel is generally left off to access jack and other emergency tools etc. The panel is part of the armouring! Security compromised?

Bull Bar and HF Mounting

Not much thought given to this HF antennae modification (maybe the radio fitter?). For one it’s a killer. Not such a bad thing if it’s the right target but statistically speaking it would probably be a child running out in the road who gets it.

Also the bull bar (which is a really nice one) is supposed to protect equipment not make it more vulnerable! The HF radio is probably fitted to help with communication in remote environments – I would want it to work … if the aerial gets damaged …?

• The aerial also makes another blind spot on a vehicle that’s blind spots have already been made larger.
• The mounting also makes it impossible to use the inbuilt high lift jack point.
• It has also decreased the vehicles approach angle. The bull bar that is fitted actually increases the angle!

As an alternative solution, the company that makes the bar (ARB) also makes a rear bar with a spare wheel holder and the ability to mount the aerial high up at the back of the vehicle.

Another example – spot the faults …

The HF mounting was made a local Jua kali shop. (slang term for metal workers associated with Mango trees)

• Approach angle gone.
• Blind spot given by aerial which is now vulnerable to damage.
• Number plate obscured.

Plus poorly fitted winch in my opinion:

• Can’t see what’s happening on the drum so no idea what’s happening with the wire.
• Control box fitted in a vulnerable location.
• That hook has probably already been damaged and the roller fairlead!
• Could do with a winch saver.

BTW, Who’s Going To Fix It?

This vehicle went in for repair! The guys did a cracking job though. Apparently the locking system had failed and they tried to jimmy the door open. Vehicle was still being used.

BTW, Who’s Going To Fix It? Part II

I didn’t get a picture of this one, but an organisation operating in this region imported a 4wd from one of the better supplier of armoured vehicles. The vehicle was well kitted out and batteries were protected. The company had fitted a cut off switch in the engine compartment so that batteries could be disconnected.

Unfortunately, the organisation was not aware of the cut out switch and when they received the vehicle of course it wouldn’t start .

Instead of contacting the supplier, they sent the vehicle off to the guy under the Mango tree who decided to “rewire” the main electrical system.

Anyone who’s worked in developing countries will know what I mean. Anyway he did manage to get it started but at the same time blew a few fuses. Repair was carried out to these fuses by wrapping some copper wire around them and off the vehicle went. Fixed. Right. Not long after the repair, I believe it was probably a few minutes, smoke stared billowing out of the bonnet and luckily the engine fire extinguisher worked when the driver pushed it.

Of course both batteries were then damaged. These were the special expensive ones that are little bit smaller than the average ones. The battery boxes were too small for the new batteries and it took, by the looks of things, a rather large sledgehammer to make enough space for the new ones which are of course now not secured in place!

BTW, Who’s Going To Fix It? Part III

So even if you do buy the best make sure you have a good plan as to who will maintain it /and do the repairs.

The following is a gripe about having free wheeling hubs fitted. In general, they are pretty much a waste of time in an environment where you cannot cruise safely at highway speed. And 80% of the roads are still unsealed.

Free Wheeling Hubs

Recently a client brought their AV to a training course so as they could familiarise themselves with it’s operation. On one of the exercises we teach changing into 4wd on the fly, which I believe is an important technique, allowing the driver to exit a sealed road onto an unsealed road and change into 4wd High.

Whilst demonstrating I found that there was a resistance (and noise) from the transfer case.

The vehicle in question had covers over the front hubs which in my experience means that normal hubs are fitted. But on investigation I found free wheeling hubs underneath in the free position. After setting the hubs into the locked position we were able to complete the exercise.

Some armouring companies put a set screw through the hub to lock it into the lock position.

But why not just take the bloody things off and fit normal hubs that don’t give the option of the free setting?

Side Mirrors

I can’t understand why the modifiers of 4wd vehicles to armoured don’t do anything about the mirrors. It seems stupid that to re adjust them if they go out of position, you have to stop, open the door, get out!! Now Mitsubishi 4wds are not a great favourite of mine but on some of their models they fitted, what seemed like at the time, some gimmicky electrical mirrors that allow the driver to fold them in and out as well as adjust from the inside. Surely this type of system would be useful on an Armoured 4wd.

Mods that affect Off-Road Capability

The fitting of some off road protection equipment is, at times, poorly done or not given much thought at all. Below is a sump/steering guard fitted, aptly named by one of my colleagues as the “chocolate fire guard”. We took the vehicle off road into our Low Range driving section and this mod enable the driver to get it bogged down quite easily! Not what you want from a vehicle that is supposed to be used in a harsh and hostile environment.

This is what it should look like.

Another bad one below. Refitting of the spare wheel underneath the vehicle after the armouring has been done in this case reduced the departure angle so much that the vehicle could not pass through the first exercise in our Low Range course! We had to take the spare wheel off and leave it aside as putting it in the back loose would have not been safe.

Also, thought should be given to the type of environment that these vehicles maybe going into. In this case, the vehicle is expected to go to harsh, possibility hostile and certainly remote environment. A 2 spare wheel option was not even considered.

There are great rear bars (most people only seem to consider the front of the vehicle) made for vehicles that can accommodate 2 spare tyres. And HF antenna mount (another rant on that one to follow). Look through the ARB site for these.

Battery Mod

This a particular modification that I did like though. Batteries were relocated to the rear of the vehicle behind an armoured cover. Batteries that were fitted were the sealed type. And yes the loose items in the back of the vehicle were noted and commented on – the client was advised on the use of tie downs and cargo nets.

More to follow later in Part II.