Old but Capable Toyota Land Cruiser Overlander Hides a Modern, Comfortable Interior

Unlike the much simpler camping and off-roading, overlanding requires a lot of preparation. If you want to learn more about it, I wrote an in-depth article on preparing and executing an overlanding trip. Now, back to the topic.

Meet Cody and Olivia, the owners and converters of this rig. What we have here is a 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ75 transformed into a tiny yet well-equipped home on wheels. The vehicle used to be a troop carrier in Australia, and Cody and Olivia imported it to the United States. I'll start the tour with the mechanical specs, then move on to the exterior details before finishing off with the cab and living space.

Originally, the vehicle came with a naturally aspirated Toyota 2H engine. However, these two adventurers replaced it with a Toyota 12H-T inline-six turbo diesel engine from a 60 Series Land Cruiser in Japan. Cody also made some extra modifications/improvements to the engine.

He replaced the stock turbo with a G Turbo Grunter Extreme (Green Wheel Vortex II). He also fitted a fuel/water separator in case the diesel they get on their trips is of low quality, reinstalled the factory A/C, which had been removed by the previous owner, and installed an ARB compressor to control the tire inflation.

Other notable features of the engine bay are a dual battery setup, a Red Arb dual battery isolator, and Lizard Skin spray-on insulation, which acts as thermal and sound barriers.

On the outside, this rig looks like a normal, almost 40-year-old vehicle. There's a reason Cody and Olivia didn't invest in improving its looks – they wanted to keep things simple on the outside so they would attract less attention. You can tell as soon as you lay eyes on it that it's a serious off-roader/overlander, but you probably won't think that people are staying inside of it.

It rides on 33-inch BFG KO2 all-terrain tires, wrapping 15-inch wheels from Wheel Vintiques. Furthermore, it's equipped with a heavy-duty Old Man Emu Dakar suspension consisting of 11 leaf springs in the rear and 9 in the front, as well as Kony Heavy Track shocks.

At the front, the couple installed an ARB bull bar complete with a Warn winch with a syntheic line. Moreover, they added some off-road lights and replaced the original headlights with semi-sealed beams.

On the passenger side, which is the right side of the vehicle since it's an Australian model, you'll notice Maxtrax traction boards, a 90-degree CVT awning, and two slide-screen windows with bug screens. Move to the opposite side, and you'll discover a factory snorkel, two factory tanks, each holding 23.5 gallons (89 liters) of fuel, and two additional windows.

Even though the Land Cruiser is a sizeable vehicle, it doesn't offer enough space for two people to live inside in its original form. That's why many adventurers, including Cody and Olivia, install pop-top roofs. Well, actually, the duo didn't install it. In fact, they don't know the year it was installed or fabricated, but they estimate its age to be the same as the vehicle's. Despite that, it's holding up well.

On top of this Trakka pop-top roof are three 100 W flexible solar panels, as well as Stratchits tie-down straps from Front Runner, used to strap the couple's surfboard. Finally, at the rear, the duo fitted a dual swing-out rear bumper from Cruiser Outfitters holding a spare tire, a propane canister mounted on a custom-built carrier, and a Pelican storage box.

Now, let's move on inside the driver's cabin. I'm very fond of the aesthetic Cody and Olivia chose, starting with the classy Nardi Torino steering wheel. They didn't modify the dashboard except for adding various switches and gauges for the dual batteries, off-road driving lights, and more.

The look is completed by simple yet elegant Scheel-Mann seats. What's more, the couple installed a locking center console with cupholders.

Cody and Olivia's floor plan offers 30 square feet (2.8 square meters) of interior space. Just so you can get an idea of how little that is, a full bathroom of a conventional home averages around 40 square feet (3.7 square meters). Despite the compact space, the couple still managed to fit a bunch of features. Furthermore, the pop-top roof allows them to stand up straight inside their tiny home.

On the right side of the living space, you'll discover the kitchen. It features a deep sink, a decent amount of counterspace, and a Dometic two-burner stove. For storage, you can use three drawers and two cabinets.

Interestingly, Cody and Olivia housed the rig's power system in the cabinet underneath the sink. However, they took precautions that will ensure the batteries remain protected in case of a leak. You'll notice a Planar diesel heater and a three-step water filtration system in the same cabinet.

Since I mentioned power, let me tell you more about the electrical system. The couple opted for a simpler setup by using a Goal Zero portable power station – unfortunately, we don't know the exact model, so I cannot tell you how much capacity their system has. Furthermore, regarding plumbing, this rig sports an under-mounted 17-gallon (64-liter) freshwater tank.

Opposite the kitchen, you'll notice an L-shaped couch – it's made out of a long bench and a Dometic fridge/freezer that completes the "L" portion of the bench. The bench's top panel can be lifted to reveal storage spaces and a toilet.

When the couple's ready to go to sleep, they have to mount the bed platform. It's a simple setup with two plywood slats that slide out to form a platform. Then, they inflate an air mattress, and they're ready to go.

All in all, Cody and Olivia built a clever and efficient tiny home on wheels. It has the right mechanical modifications to handle more serious adventures while also providing proper comfort. The only question remaining (that's probably also on your mind) is this: "How much did it cost to build?"

Luckily, Cody and Olivia were kind enough to break down the costs for us. The base vehicle set them back $32,500 (€30,472). They invested $10,000 (€9,376) into the engine rebuild and spent $5,000 (€4,688) for the transmission, while the interior and exterior upgrades/additions cost them a further $15,000 (€14,064) and $10,000, respectively. That brings the total price to $72,500 (€67,976).