120 is the 201 bhp model a better motor.

[David Ketley]

I am looking at purchasing a Landcruiser for touring and towing a caravan. Some off road use but nothing extreme. Is it worth going for the version with the 201 bhp engine?

Did the LC4 version non air suspension have this engine?

If not how difficult is it to replace the Invincible air suspension with Dampers and coils I know kits are available?

Thanks
Dave

 

[Deleted member 13129]

I am looking at purchasing a Landcruiser for touring and towing a caravan. Some off road use but nothing extreme. Is it worth going for the version with the 201 bhp engine?

Did the LC4 version non air suspension have this engine?

If not how difficult is it to replace the Invincible air suspension with Dampers and coils I know kits are available?

Thanks
Dave

The 201 hp engine is a LC4 rebadged as a invincible , the LC5 got the name tag later in around 2007 , the air suspension is pretty straight forward to convert to coil springs , pedders do a complete kit to replace the TEMS and air suspension, but the tems and air suspension are well known to last a long time . I have a pedders full kit with the coils already fitted to the front shocks from Rough Trax that I bought a couple of years ago for about 700 quid , but the Tems and air Suspension is a great bit of kit , I keep mine on the sport setting as it makes for good motorway handling at speed , so I hope I don't have to convert to the pedders kit for years to come .

 

[garygiles1963]

HI

I like my airbag system to, I to switch to sport for both towing and motorway driving. Switch to comfort for driving around town, great for pot holes and road humps.

G.

 

[David Ketley]

I understand that if the air suspension goes faulty the vehicle is not drivable so requires a truck to bring in and have it repaired. Any thoughts on getting an LC4 and getting the engine chipped to 201 bhp? Is the extra power worth it?
Another thought is the traction system its all electronic LC4 up only the LC3 has manual diff locks?

 

[Rob Cowell]

I understand that if the air suspension goes faulty the vehicle is not drivable so requires a truck to bring in and have it repaired. Any thoughts on getting an LC4 and getting the engine chipped to 201 bhp? Is the extra power worth it?
Another thought is the traction system its all electronic LC4 up only the LC3 has manual diff locks?

How heavy is your caravan? I tow 2tons + over a couple of mountain passes to get to livestock market. I'm not overtaking anyone, but I'm not holding anyone up either. 2.8tons you feel on hills, but I do a few quarry runs like that, but it's only 20 miles away.

 

[David Ketley]

Caravan is only 1.5 tons but I might be up in the mountains off road in Spain so 4x4 ability is important.
Also looking for something to use on our farm on steep ground but that would be a separate vehicle.

 

[Rob Cowell]

Caravan is only 1.5 tons but I might be up in the mountains off road in Spain so 4x4 ability is important.
Also looking for something to use on our farm on steep ground but that would be a separate vehicle.

I think you'll run out of grip before power off road, or on gravel. I have to have a bit of a run-up coming up our track if I'm pulling something heavy. Personally I'd rather not stress the engine. You could always get a 173bhp engine chipped or mapped if you felt otherwise. My mountains aren't anything like Spanish mountains but they are a few miles long. Around steep fields I think the 120 is too heavy unless it's very dry, which in Wales doesn't happen much

 

[David Ketley]

I use an old Pajero SWB on the land but its not safe the ABS is not working and is a pig to start.
Maybe I should look for a SWB Landcruiser but not many about.
That will be a separate vehicle to one I would use around Europe.

 

[flint]

Around steep fields I think the 120 is too heavy unless it's very dry, which in Wales doesn't happen much

Hehe ! Can be a little iffy when it's dry too (last summer......aah). I've found that when the grass gets that sheen to it (UV self protection ?), it can get a bit slippy on a slope. I've not felt the 120 lacking in torque, and when it has kicked in (rarely), the atrac has worked well so far both on grass and steep shaley tracks. Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), tyre choice makes quite a difference too.

 

[AndyCook]

I’ve got an 2013 Hilux. Standard it was around 171bhp I think
I have a steinbauer module which is reckoned to increase bhp to 200ish and torque up too.
I find it helps with towing and the extra bit of power helps with overtaking. It’s not a night and day difference but noticeable.
I have a switch on dash to turn it on and off, and sometimes when accelerating I toggle it off and on and can feel the power drop and kick back in again when I do this

 

[David Ketley]

It's interesting to find the Invincible has a rear diff lock but not all had the 201bhp motor.
Keeping in mind the possibility of retrofitting springs and dampers and chipping I will have a look at 2007 + models to purchase. A lot of the vehicles are sticking with the dealers for a long time, months in fact.
Are there any specialist garages the members would recommend around the Manchester area either for purchase or servicing?

 

[StarCruiser]

Wasn’t 2007 a bad year for Road tax?

 

[TonyP]

Wasn’t 2007 a bad year for Road tax?

Anything after December 2005 the tax goes up significantly .

 

[Deleted member 13129]

It's interesting to find the Invincible has a rear diff lock but not all had the 201bhp motor.
Keeping in mind the possibility of retrofitting springs and dampers and chipping I will have a look at 2007 + models to purchase. A lot of the vehicles are sticking with the dealers for a long time, months in fact.
Are there any specialist garages the members would recommend around the Manchester area either for purchase or servicing?

None of the invincibles have a rear diff lock , they have active traction control instead , the LC4 version of the invincible has the chip device that gives 201 hp instead of 171hp , the LC5 that changed its name to Invincible in around 2007 has the later 173 hp engine , running a chip to throw in more fuel has shown in some cases to crack or burn holes in the pistons , and maybe that is why the chip was dropped , the chip version was done by Toyota GB with a Germany made chip called TTE , and not the Toyota factory in Japan . these cars are easy to service , most owners service them themselves , if not any competent mechanic can do any jobs on this truck , maybe injectors and injector pump may need injector specialists for peace of mind .

 

[David Ketley]

The car I'm looking at buying is a 2007 LC3 but I need to budget for Cam belt and water pump, shocks, brakes , injectors. Any idea of the sort of cost at an independant garage? Anyone recommend a garage near to Buxton ?
Very impressed with the extensive knowledge of the members.
Not to bothered with the road tax as the later engine 2007 seemed to gain 20% more power?
Dave

 

[chadr]

Anything after December 2005 the tax goes up significantly .

23rd March 2006 is the cut-off date, when the higher tax rates for emissions over 225g per Km came into effect. So essentially anything up to "55" reg is definitely OK and a few on '06' plate got through before the RFL changes came into effect.

 

[Deleted member 13129]

The car I'm looking at buying is a 2007 LC3 but I need to budget for Cam belt and water pump, shocks, brakes , injectors. Any idea of the sort of cost at an independant garage? Anyone recommend a garage near to Buxton ?
Very impressed with the extensive knowledge of the members.
Not to bothered with the road tax as the later engine 2007 seemed to gain 20% more power?
Dave

These trucks are made to be able to do jobs that you have listed out in the bush except the injectors , you can buy original timing belt , tensioner , idler pulley for around 80 quid and oem water pump for 57 quid from Rough Trax all the lot can be fitted in one to two hours depending how good you are but any mechanic can do those jobs , but I would get a diesel injector specialist to do the injectors than a backstreet mechanic , average price for injectors fitted with new pipes is 3k . look on Rough Trax site to give you parts prices for all the parts you list .

 

[David Ketley]

Wow £3000 for fitting new injectors etc. I will look for a vehicle that has had the injectors done already.
Seems particularly important to get one with a full main dealer service history. I will keep looking.

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

None of the invincibles have a rear diff lock , they have active traction control instead , the LC4 version of the invincible has the chip device that gives 201 hp instead of 171hp , the LC5 that changed its name to Invincible in around 2007 has the later 173 hp engine , running a chip to throw in more fuel has shown in some cases to crack or burn holes in the pistons , and maybe that is why the chip was dropped , the chip version was done by Toyota GB with a Germany made chip called TTE , and not the Toyota factory in Japan . these cars are easy to service , most owners service them themselves , if not any competent mechanic can do any jobs on this truck , maybe injectors and injector pump may need injector specialists for peace of mind .

This is highly useful info for anyone looking to buy a 120 considering the options. I settled for an LC4 05 when I was looking but had tried a few including an 06 Invincible which I found noisy in comparison.
Having driven Tony's LC5 to compare with mine, on the firmest setting it was very similar to mine on the road and his engine was very smooth and quiet.

Just going off subject slightly but still 120 related I tried a 4.0 V6 120 yesterday. 2007 Prado import 92K. Underneath pretty decent but rust was starting everywhere but just starting. Topside paintwork was mint no scratches ( black) and really good inside.
It drove well, was smooth and powerful but not as quiet as I'd thought it would be, ( i think I was relating to the difference between the D4D and V6 Collie).
In the end it was too much Prado and not enough LandCruiser for me to take it, Leather manual seats, open rear diff, no traction aids, no heated seats, was pretty bare really compared with a UK spec Cruiser. I'm unsure whether the V6 4.0 only comes in LC5 trim or an LC4 version is available, maybe someone on here might know. Compared to the March 06 onwards diesel the tax is £255/ year.

 

[Deleted member 13129]

Wow £3000 for fitting new injectors etc. I will look for a vehicle that has had the injectors done already.
Seems particularly important to get one with a full main dealer service history. I will keep looking.

Thats with brand new Denso injectors and new return pipes etc supplied and fitted by diesel injector specialists , you can buy the 4 brand new Denso injectors for 330 quid each , which is a normal price for modern day common rail injectors , injectors last for more than 200k plus miles unless the truck have been running on dirty fuel for long periods or the early type injector seals have leaked badly or a heavily chipped module fitted to the engine .