Theres lots of talk of different vehicles on here van V pick up, large van V small van, MPV V 4x4....
There's a virtually unknown contender in the ring - Toyota Landcruiser Commercial.
Same rugged underpinnings as a Landcruiser but a stripped back, no frills, two seat version intended to be worked and worked hard..
The 'Utility spec' gives you what you need to get by and very little else. Think of it as a modern day and dare I say it, reliable, Land Rover Defender.
At the time of my purchase Utility Spec gave you steel wheels, dual zone climate control, a CD player and choice of about four paint colours and a few options for a towbar - thats about the extent of the list.
I picked up an preregistered and had been for a year (but never turned a wheel) version in Decuma Grey for a big saving off list price from Burrows Toyota in Barnsley.
Interior is pretty basic - two velour seats (no leather here) and a stripped out rear with mesh partition and buffalo board floor in the load area.
Towing capacity is an ample 3000KG and the four wheel drive is permanently engaged with a selectable low range and diff lock.
Handling is very good on tarmac and good off road on muddy fields.
Power is nearly 180 DIN HP with torque by the bucketload from low RPM and MPG in the first 5000 miles of mixed driving, mainly towing loaded, some towing at motorway speeds is giving a respectable 26.6 mpg from the 2.8 litre engine.
Its a commercial so taxed as a van so only £260 for the year.
Its not going to be everyones first choice but for towing heavy loads and running around doing jobs like hedge cutting or fencing where fewer tools are required, its great and the tools are all locked away in the alarmed compartment at the rear instead of being in a vulnerable roll top cover or loose in the back of a pickup.
As the vehicle runs in, I will update this thread with any usueful information - the Landcruiser Commercial variant are unusual, most Toyota dealers have one hidden around the back as they don't seem to know what to make of them and would seemingly rather try and sell you a Hilux!
Bit morei nfo on the model here - https://burrowsbarnsley.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/land-cruiser-commercial
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Replies
Adam do you have any problems opening the back door when you have the trailer on as i found with side hung doors the jocky wheel fouled the door and i preferd a top hung door
The rear door opens outwards and hits the jockey wheel at about halfway open as you say, its not impossible to reach tools but can be awkard. They obviously thought of this though, so the top door glass can be seperately opened upwards, so you can get in the back that way or through either of the rear two 'formerly passenger' doors.
My wife's car/van at the moment is a Nissan pathfinder - big enough for her gardening tools and the kids.
When she replaces it it was thinking of doing something very similar to your landcruiser - rip out the back seats and there's a massive load space.
You can’t beat Toyota in my opinion. I have a Hilux. I have had eight of them, one after another. We have a Toyota Aygo which we bought new and is now eleven and a half years old. Apart from servicing, brakes and tyres, it has had no money spent on it at all. It is still on its original battery, clutch and exhaust. It lives outside and has never failed to start and has never broken down.
The advantage to a pick up is that you get five seats and a separate load area. With a hard top it is as secure as anything else. You also keep all the petrol and other fumes and smells away from the cabin. The back can be dirty and smelly and the cabin is still like new. The Hilux will tow 3.5 tonnes and is also commercial road tax. The split tailgate does not foul the jocky wheel.
I'm in the pickuop camp for the reasons outlined above - except I have an Isuzu Dmax.
Only advantage I can see with the Landcruiser is that the alarm works in the load area and is potentially more secure, but otherwise having the cab separate from the load area is a big bonus, plus the splt tailgate is clear of the jockey wheel.
When the back gets dirty I can use a pressure washer to clean it out too!
I run a 2018 vivaro sportive for the job but our daily car is a 2004 amazon landcruisrr 4.2 . I'd rather use the Toyota for my job but its a bit high to be putting a mower into
How much was your truck ??
Cheers all