Going the Extra Mile
January 2023 March 2026
This is our 500 000 kms Landcruiser refurbishment and expeditions in Africa.
Africa Build Goals
Africa has some unique challenges when it comes to overlanding. It will be a Land Cruiser 78 Troopy. with these goals:
- A range of no less than 1200 kms built into it.
- A camping set-up that was easy and fast. And by fast, I mean under 2 minutes for the tent up, table out, cooker warming or beer in hand.
- Sufficient load-carrying ability to enable isolated trips of up to 22 days without supplies.
- Security measures.
- Quick pack-away, and easily achieved inside 15 minutes.
This story will showcase the best of the South African 4X4 accessory industry.
Build Diary
September 2022.
The idea was presented to South African partners, namely Paul Marsh, Joubert Snyman and Brent Hutchinson (Terrain Tamer) met with unanimous approval from everyone.
December 2022.
Search for pre-owned Land Cruiser started.
January 2023.
An ideal candidate for the build is found and inspected. And we’ve purchased it. It’s a high-mileage 1HZ Troopcarrier.
February 2023.
Troopy collected in Pretoria and driven down to Cape Town. A week’s intensive work followed.
March 2023.
Mechanical refurbishment complete.
April 2023.
Body stripped out in preparation for spray painting. Parts ordered. Replacement bonnet found.
September 2023.
Spray painting complete. Colour: Toyota Cadet Blue. Under-body anti-corrosion treatment.
October 2023.
ONCA bull bar and stone guard wheel flares.
November 2023
Explore Glasing gull-wings and Ezi-Awn roof-rack.
December 2023
GobiX fitted the rear bar wheel carrier, and Onka fitted their stunning bull-bar.
The Landcruiser is registered in my name and we get a Western Cape rego plate.
Feb 2024
Exhaust upgrade. Interior installation.
April-May 2024
Expedition to Botswana and Namibia
April-May 2025
Expedition to Botswana and Zimbabwe
May – Nov 2025
1HZ – FTE engine conversion
Showcase Land Cruiser build in South Africa
As usual, Andrew get to hand-pick the products and collaboration partners, and no money changes hands.
This project replaces the 2019 Landcruiser build that was sold due to Covid.
Build phase-1, Feb-Dec 2023. Paul Marsh 4×4 will manage the build project out of Cape Town.
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- Interior fit-out Paul Marsh & Manjaro.
- EGON DC-Hub, a single unit through which all 12V accessories and chargers are connected.
- EGON Water-Hub through which all water inlets and outlets are plumbed.
- Falken tyres 265/75R16 AT.
- Bull Bar made in South Africa by ONCA.
- Terrain Tamer supplied the springs and shocks from their store in Cape Town.
- Terrain Tamer supplied the diesel filter upgrade, catch-can and diff breathers.
- Gull wing openings by Explore Glasing, Belguim
- Wheel rims: OE Toyota 7″ alloys
- Roof rack by Ezi-Awn. South Africa’s best roof-rack IMO.
- No roof conversion is planned for stage-1.
- 12V Aqua Mk2 6L water heater.
- Wheel arch stone guards by ONCA.
- Bumper replacement and spares carrier by Gobi-X.
- 270° Awning and En-Suite privacy curtain by Alu-Cab
- Under-body & chassis anti-corrosion treatment by
- Seat covers and carpet mats by Takla.
- Water tanks: 100L system of three. Supplied by Manjaro.
- Driving-lights: 2×6″ Light bars by Laser Lamps
- Spray Painting by Body Trend Coach Works
- Arm rests by One-Stone.
- Two SnoMaster fridges. 12L centre console fridge + 55L Expedition dual in the back.
- DC-DC charger Redarc BCDC-50.
- 2KW inverter Redarc (a surplus unit I sent from Australia)
- Battery monitor by Victron.
- Batteries are 2x100A/hr Amptron LifePO4. (Sending these from Australia to save costs.)
- Chairs and camp table by Ezi-Awn.
- Water purification by GuzzleH2O STEALTH
- Marine Oven by Travel Buddy
- Maps in my Garmin Overlander by Tracks 4 Africa
- Phase-2 components:
- Roof conversion – Alu-Cab Hercules Gen-3
- Engine swap the 1HZ with a rebuilt 1HD FTE 4.2 turbo multivalve by Joubert Snyman4×4.
- Gearbox swap to cope with extra power is the H151 manual gearbox with full-time 4WD and a lockable centre differential, completed early 2026.
- Western and Northern Cape trip completed Feb 2026.
This build concluded in April 2026.
