Andrew. Side Steps. If you buy a pair of 78 series Dual Cab steps which are longer than what you need you then cut them down to fit the Troopy wheelbase. You also need to mix and match some of the brackets and also modify some brackets and nutsert into one of the supports under the car.
As an ex signwriter and vehicle wrapper of 20+ years I think you should go the printed blue but with a saturn/Matt overlaminate. The fade issue is null and void as the laminate has a separate uv protection, it also adds a thickness to it that better protects the vehicle underneath compared to the standard colour range. Not to mention you will annoy your client if you copy their look.
The colour of your troopy from factory is, IMHO absolutely the best colour for a landcruiser today. Can you wrap it in a clear wrap to preserve it? I think it would be a shame to wrap it in another colour.
When looking at the largesse and wealth flaunted here, one wonders how thousands of average people get about this country with their families in lightly modified average vehicles (barwork, mild suspension/tyre/safety tweaks) and have lifelong memories and trouble free travel. Within normal people's budgets. Don't despair. This is all about personal gain and income. Main thing is training and therefore knowing the limitations and in using what you have. Enjoy Australia.
Totally agree. I use a 30 year old vehicle which many would sneer at but I have just as much fun and probably get to more interesting places than many of the high end travellers. It costs me a fraction of their costs too.
@@defendermodsandtravels When the odd fresh ding and dent added to your mature vehicle is another long term souvenir and a story, not a cause of alarm and consternation. My best on my last truck was horse tooth marks in my front bumper from a wild Icelandic horse licking salt. Incidentally I've spent the evening on a 24V 3kW Victron Multiplus, wiring it as a domestic UPS project for the likely coming winter of discontent. The heft of the thing and its associated 70mm sq cable makes it I feel not really an item for a ' lightweight' build.
“It might look a bit home made” ... interesting comment. I went this year to the LRO International show at Peterborough, and of course there were huge numbers of trucks kitted out up to the eyeballs with all the usual gear. But actually so many of them had the same gear, same aftermarket stuff bought from the same suppliers. By far the most interesting vehicles were the ones which were “home made” where people had improvised with whatever they had to hand and come up with some really good ideas to achieve some kind of functional outcome or other. Truly unique vehicles, albeit maybe not the shiniest or most expensive looking. I guess a lot of people watching this channel have a lot of “home made” stuff on their trucks - I know I do. Horses for courses though I suppose.
Appreciate the intention on making your designs and outcomes accessible to general public. As for the colour, I'm curious to see your 'retro blue' however the factory blue is so nice I would say clear wrap it and keep it original.
I would keep the original factory paint colour and just cover the bodywork in paint protection film (PPF). A wrap will never look as good as factory paint with PPF.
We absolutely love watching your videos. We think it's really funny when you go on a rant and have a go at the critics. We will continue to watch your videos with interest, Denise & Gary 😀
It's good to know that I'm not the only one that goes back and forth when it comes to choosing colours on a car. Especially when there is almost an infinite variety to choose from. 🤣 Looking forward to the next build update video. 👍
To me, it is by far the hardest decision. Rebuilding my 1977 CJ5 and color has been my issue since day one. Decided to stay with the original Firecracker Red. And, I hate Red. 🤷🏻♂️
For what it's worth. We at MC Ranch Overland always feel that the lighter colour is more sympathetic for the vehicle, due to not absorbing so much heat in the sun. You do live and travel where it is hot and sunny. It keeps the heat down in the vehicle and the truck will like that. Also the lighter colour is more elegant. It suits your personality better. It just looks like you put more thought into it. Thank you for the amazing content. Sincerely Mike and Family.
Andrew, what's your experience in overlanding or off-roading on snow and in colder environments? Personally I live in northern Sweden, and it would be really interesting to hear about your experiences (if any at all?) with 4x4's on ice/snow, I feel like that's a bit of an uncovered dimension in your wonderful 4x4 channel! Oh, and please keep us updated on this build!
I actually like the standard colour. Saw one the other day on a 79, looked spot on. Anyway, its your vehicle, so pick what you like. Interested to see what you choose in the next episode.
Totally agree about the perils of over-designing things. When I first designed the interior of my Disco' it was all cupboards and shelves and gullwings and hatches but then I looked at what it actually DID and asked myself how I could achieve the same thing more simply and, after a few more days of doodling (and many cups of tea) I'd distilled it all down to a single drawer-system, a couple of aftermarket doodads and a hinged platform. I always think the first step to designing anything is to come up with "plan A" and then, instead of just going with it (because "plan A" is usually lousy), it's always best to challenge myself to deliberately come up with alternatives. Once I've got 2 or 3 other ideas (which will, inevitably, be better than "plan A") I can look at them all, pick the best bits of each idea and then create a final design to build. Doesn't matter if I'm building a bathroom cupboard or a camper interior. the process is always the same. The main benefit of doing this is that I normally notice, and solve, all the potential problems during the design phase so building stuff always goes smoothly, partly because I've already solved the problems and partly because the design process has familiarised me with the project.
I’m really glad that you said “by the time I watched this video that you’d have made up your mind “ , because battleship grey is where I’d go… but, to take it further, if we were painting it, I’d go blue, 100%. Good lord our tastes line up. Wrapped grey, final answer, and I’m glad I’m last. There
My partner had a Land Cruiser Amazon for many years that was an unassuming silver colour until the sun caught it - then you'd see this subtle pink kind of almost glittery effect. Best bit is it was a standard Toyota colour (as far as I know). Seen another one like it in Sainsbury's car park a few months ago, it's a beautiful colour from the early noughties.
It's always interesting to see more of the back story! As someone who recently went through the struggle of looking at dozens of paint codes trying to pick a grey for my LandCruiser build I have plenty of sympathy... Keen to see what you chose as they're both good looking colours! Cheers, Cahn
I found it very interesting when Sidetracked Australia did a comparison between a twin ARB with a tank vs a twin ARB just by itself there was no real difference when inflating tyres. If you're wanting to use it to blow out an air filter or run air tools I'd imagine that would be where the tank would make a notable difference. For this reason I gave the tank a miss when I installed an ARB twin compressor in my Foz. Loving the new build 👌🏻
To me, the Battle Ship Grey makes the vehicle look like it has been left painted in primer. I'm not a fan of Blue but the vehicles current colour looks far better. My view only and my choice. Good luck with what ever choice you make.
Hi Andrew! A little bit of professional advice: While UV systems can and do kill bacteria and viruses they are generally ineffective against parasites, generally against all multicellular organisms. Furthermore, UV disinfection has a lot of problems with turbidity, especially with small particulates. A usual UV systems has to be tuned to the properties of the water you want to disinfect (UV transmissivity, max water flow) etc. For a mobile application to work you would have to add a 10 micron filter, a carbon filter (which you do have), a turbidity sensor and a sensor for the UV output to guarantee proper disinfection in all circumstances... which is just too expensive and inconvenient. As a solution for your system to work especially for your intended purpose I would suggest to add at least a 10 micron filter (Katadyn for example) to give you 95% security and not trying to use the setup for visually cloudy water Best of luck for your project...
Color wise I've always been drawn to the US Forest Service green that they used to put on their k-10 blazers, etc. So, I understand your comment on the 3M color line. Ha.
If you'd like a lightweight full length factory looking sidestep, a 79 series dual cab sidestep can be used. They are longer than the Troopy & single cab sidesteps - they end up being full length on the Troopy. You will need to use a combination of the Troopy & 79 factory brackets to make it work. Unmount the brackets from the step, drill new holes in the step & rivet brackets in your desired location. You'll need to add an additional bracket at the end to support the back of the step. A couple of people have done this mod on TOA & can be achieved for around $100. Cheers legend!
That was a pleasant video Andrew. You have an easy to listen to voice, and are a perfectionist. The blue is great and even if it fades will still look good.
With the seat covers. I have a 75 Ute and the original seat is very hard on the back. As a cab driver I was used to sitting on various cheap covers including a clothy sort of thing and even the old wooden beads. But I decided to fit properly fitted lambswool covers to my Ute,, and the extra lift I got made it so that I could sit all day without back problems. I drove someone else's 75 once with no seat covers, and I couldn't believe how uncomfortable it was.
Those seat covers looks the business. 👌 I find Loose fitting seat covers that looks like painters drop cloth simply draped over them, extremely irritating. And that dash button cluster looks very OEM - which is what I like. I bet that gave you much satisfaction when you completed it, didn't it? 😁
That sound insulation is interesting. I need to hear how hard the engine is working as I offroad, and want to hear everything the tires are hitting, too. Is it possible to put in so much sound insulation that your feel for the road is, um, too numb?
I bought the same Kings compressor. I modified it and mounted it under my tray connected to a 6 litre tank. I put a standard air outlet on the LH side. The set up works very well.
It depends what you use it for, I manage an outback station & the almost stock Landcruiser tray back we have is fit for purpose. However if you want to do big kilometres day after day you can spec up to suit. That’s the beauty of them, they are mechano kit & no other vehicle has more upgrades or accessories available or is as easy to customise or work on
greetings from Kenya 🇰🇪 Andrew ts been a while since I was on here .. the build is coming along beautifully so about the wrap I would definitely go with that battleship grey .. I mean look at that thing .. it looks epic ! but .. that's just me anyway keep up the great work .. your the man
For those with a bad back on a budget, buy a blood pressure arm band from a local pharmacy for cheap and throw that bag into the lumbar section of your seat. Boom, cheap custom lumbar support.
Andrew. Side Steps. If you buy a pair of 78 series Dual Cab steps which are longer than what you need you then cut them down to fit the Troopy wheelbase. You also need to mix and match some of the brackets and also modify some brackets and nutsert into one of the supports under the car.
I’d go with blue for sure to keep it unique. So may vehicles with the grey out there.
I definitely prefer the blue wrap but it's your truck, so your choice. Best Regards, David.
As an ex signwriter and vehicle wrapper of 20+ years I think you should go the printed blue but with a saturn/Matt overlaminate. The fade issue is null and void as the laminate has a separate uv protection, it also adds a thickness to it that better protects the vehicle underneath compared to the standard colour range. Not to mention you will annoy your client if you copy their look.
This is a top idea, what would this set you back cost wise though (I mean for the average joe)
Wrap the truck in a clear protective film. The blue is perfect already.
The colour of your troopy from factory is, IMHO absolutely the best colour for a landcruiser today. Can you wrap it in a clear wrap to preserve it? I think it would be a shame to wrap it in another colour.
vote for the clear option, its a nice blue, wrap it clear and get the best of both worlds?
its the worst colour haha, opinions i guess
Sandy Taupe is the worst Toyota colour.
Nothing beats a nice blue or green... but you have to like it!
Your comment about it being easy to over design reminded me of your Dream Tourer build.
When looking at the largesse and wealth flaunted here, one wonders how thousands of average people get about this country with their families in lightly modified average vehicles (barwork, mild suspension/tyre/safety tweaks) and have lifelong memories and trouble free travel. Within normal people's budgets. Don't despair. This is all about personal gain and income. Main thing is training and therefore knowing the limitations and in using what you have. Enjoy Australia.
Totally agree. I use a 30 year old vehicle which many would sneer at but I have just as much fun and probably get to more interesting places than many of the high end travellers. It costs me a fraction of their costs too.
@@defendermodsandtravels When the odd fresh ding and dent added to your mature vehicle is another long term souvenir and a story, not a cause of alarm and consternation. My best on my last truck was horse tooth marks in my front bumper from a wild Icelandic horse licking salt. Incidentally I've spent the evening on a 24V 3kW Victron Multiplus, wiring it as a domestic UPS project for the likely coming winter of discontent. The heft of the thing and its associated 70mm sq cable makes it I feel not really an item for a ' lightweight' build.
@@philhealey449 I couldn't agree more about the 'lightweight build'. And the guy is in denial about the actual weight penalty.
I agree, this 2 person land cruiser, in the end is going to be sold, as he always does to a wealthy bloke.
“It might look a bit home made” ... interesting comment. I went this year to the LRO International show at Peterborough, and of course there were huge numbers of trucks kitted out up to the eyeballs with all the usual gear. But actually so many of them had the same gear, same aftermarket stuff bought from the same suppliers. By far the most interesting vehicles were the ones which were “home made” where people had improvised with whatever they had to hand and come up with some really good ideas to achieve some kind of functional outcome or other. Truly unique vehicles, albeit maybe not the shiniest or most expensive looking. I guess a lot of people watching this channel have a lot of “home made” stuff on their trucks - I know I do. Horses for courses though I suppose.
Appreciate the intention on making your designs and outcomes accessible to general public. As for the colour, I'm curious to see your 'retro blue' however the factory blue is so nice I would say clear wrap it and keep it original.
I would keep the original factory paint colour and just cover the bodywork in paint protection film (PPF). A wrap will never look as good as factory paint with PPF.
Agree.
That grey looks great. I think I prefer it to the blue
We absolutely love watching your videos. We think it's really funny when you go on a rant and have a go at the critics. We will continue to watch your videos with interest, Denise & Gary 😀
Clear wrap, cars colour is beautiful
The Takla seat covers fit so much better than the Supafit I have on my Recaro seat, thanks for the tip Andrew
I think Melvin & Moon seat covers are by far the best in South Africa.
the blue wrap would look good !!!!
That battleship grey is reminiscent of Land Rover mid grey. I really like it.
I like the Series One colour Dove Grey , which has a hint of pink in it ,which makes it a more subtle colour .
@@nickogden6200 yes, that is a nice one.
Clear Wrap ... keep the toyota paint LOVE that Blue
Leave it blue Andrew
Battleship grey is really nice! Seen it in real life and still is great
It's good to know that I'm not the only one that goes back and forth when it comes to choosing colours on a car. Especially when there is almost an infinite variety to choose from. 🤣 Looking forward to the next build update video. 👍
To me, it is by far the hardest decision. Rebuilding my 1977 CJ5 and color has been my issue since day one. Decided to stay with the original Firecracker Red. And, I hate Red. 🤷🏻♂️
Go go go
The battleship grey would certainly be suitable for an (over)land-yacht! Battle ready of course 😊👍
The grey is great. Also brighter which might effect the temperature in the car when in the sun.
After 3 weeks at Manapool's Zim. Watching the last videos.🙂
From Ontario Canada here ! I am excited to see how this project turns out ! Enjoying the process and the thought that is going into it .
For what it's worth. We at MC Ranch Overland always feel that the lighter colour is more sympathetic for the vehicle, due to not absorbing so much heat in the sun. You do live and travel where it is hot and sunny. It keeps the heat down in the vehicle and the truck will like that. Also the lighter colour is more elegant. It suits your personality better. It just looks like you put more thought into it. Thank you for the amazing content. Sincerely Mike and Family.
Andrew, what's your experience in overlanding or off-roading on snow and in colder environments? Personally I live in northern Sweden, and it would be really interesting to hear about your experiences (if any at all?) with 4x4's on ice/snow, I feel like that's a bit of an uncovered dimension in your wonderful 4x4 channel! Oh, and please keep us updated on this build!
My Kings thumper plus has been a real surprise, it works really well and has been very reliable too.
I actually like the standard colour. Saw one the other day on a 79, looked spot on. Anyway, its your vehicle, so pick what you like. Interested to see what you choose in the next episode.
I like your thinking. No detail is too small to consider.
Totally agree about the perils of over-designing things.
When I first designed the interior of my Disco' it was all cupboards and shelves and gullwings and hatches but then I looked at what it actually DID and asked myself how I could achieve the same thing more simply and, after a few more days of doodling (and many cups of tea) I'd distilled it all down to a single drawer-system, a couple of aftermarket doodads and a hinged platform.
I always think the first step to designing anything is to come up with "plan A" and then, instead of just going with it (because "plan A" is usually lousy), it's always best to challenge myself to deliberately come up with alternatives.
Once I've got 2 or 3 other ideas (which will, inevitably, be better than "plan A") I can look at them all, pick the best bits of each idea and then create a final design to build.
Doesn't matter if I'm building a bathroom cupboard or a camper interior. the process is always the same.
The main benefit of doing this is that I normally notice, and solve, all the potential problems during the design phase so building stuff always goes smoothly, partly because I've already solved the problems and partly because the design process has familiarised me with the project.
You couldn’t go wrong with either, but I think I still prefer the Blue.
I also protected my Troopy in sandy taupe using a clear wrap. Looks fantastic. Would go for blue though if I were able to go back in time. ;)
Your T shirt color will also look good on that beast..
with the new switches i would of had a low led light on each to indicate that the button is in the on position
I’m really glad that you said “by the time I watched this video that you’d have made up your mind “ , because battleship grey is where I’d go… but, to take it further, if we were painting it, I’d go blue, 100%. Good lord our tastes line up. Wrapped grey, final answer, and I’m glad I’m last. There
My partner had a Land Cruiser Amazon for many years that was an unassuming silver colour until the sun caught it - then you'd see this subtle pink kind of almost glittery effect. Best bit is it was a standard Toyota colour (as far as I know). Seen another one like it in Sainsbury's car park a few months ago, it's a beautiful colour from the early noughties.
Blue. So much better looking.
It's always interesting to see more of the back story! As someone who recently went through the struggle of looking at dozens of paint codes trying to pick a grey for my LandCruiser build I have plenty of sympathy... Keen to see what you chose as they're both good looking colours!
Cheers,
Cahn
Yeah what a struggle...contemplating the colour of your 70+ K landcruisr, and I thought people with cancer had it bad.
@@cedriciagirlyman6111 take your negativity elsewhere mate
Sarcasm or perhaps facetious but its not negativity so you might have to rethink that and im not your "mate", Colon, good name for an a-hole.
I found it very interesting when Sidetracked Australia did a comparison between a twin ARB with a tank vs a twin ARB just by itself there was no real difference when inflating tyres. If you're wanting to use it to blow out an air filter or run air tools I'd imagine that would be where the tank would make a notable difference. For this reason I gave the tank a miss when I installed an ARB twin compressor in my Foz.
Loving the new build 👌🏻
Here's a link to the Sidetracked Australia video 👍🏻
th-cam.com/video/5a4asFENh3Q/w-d-xo.html
Definitely prefer the blue also
Clear wrap. Blue is nice
I'm a big fan of cavalry blue as I'm doing my vehicle in that color
Like the water filter 👍🏻 ( very excitable presentarion today )👍🏻😂😂
To me, the Battle Ship Grey makes the vehicle look like it has been left painted in primer. I'm not a fan of Blue but the vehicles current colour looks far better. My view only and my choice. Good luck with what ever choice you make.
Hi Andrew!
A little bit of professional advice:
While UV systems can and do kill bacteria and viruses they are generally ineffective against parasites, generally against all multicellular organisms.
Furthermore, UV disinfection has a lot of problems with turbidity, especially with small particulates.
A usual UV systems has to be tuned to the properties of the water you want to disinfect (UV transmissivity, max water flow) etc.
For a mobile application to work you would have to add a 10 micron filter, a carbon filter (which you do have), a turbidity sensor and a sensor for the UV output to guarantee proper disinfection in all circumstances... which is just too expensive and inconvenient.
As a solution for your system to work especially for your intended purpose I would suggest to add at least a 10 micron filter (Katadyn for example) to give you 95% security and not trying to use the setup for visually cloudy water
Best of luck for your project...
Color wise I've always been drawn to the US Forest Service green that they used to put on their k-10 blazers, etc. So, I understand your comment on the 3M color line. Ha.
thank you for sharing detailed video
Go grey, it looks really sharp!
Hard to compete with the green of the precious troopy!
I would go with the Retro Blue wrap. Period.
go gray Andrew. looks great.......
Hopefully we can see the result at the show in Perth.
That grey is gonna make your “4xOverland” orange and black decals on the car really pop!!!! Good choice
Definitely the blue the grey just looks like under coat
If you'd like a lightweight full length factory looking sidestep, a 79 series dual cab sidestep can be used. They are longer than the Troopy & single cab sidesteps - they end up being full length on the Troopy. You will need to use a combination of the Troopy & 79 factory brackets to make it work. Unmount the brackets from the step, drill new holes in the step & rivet brackets in your desired location. You'll need to add an additional bracket at the end to support the back of the step. A couple of people have done this mod on TOA & can be achieved for around $100. Cheers legend!
Primer grey vs blue. Have to go blue... but as mentioned previously.. its your truck.. all the other modifications are excellent...
Is it possible to get a 4 corner pop top?
The blue is much more distinctive and imo nicer
I agree, keep it blue dude.
Great video Andrew! Go for blue IMO.
That was a pleasant video Andrew. You have an easy to listen to voice, and are a perfectionist. The blue is great and even if it fades will still look good.
I wrapped my Troopy with Raptor spray paint Toyota colour 6H9...looks mint
I can’t wait to see what rap you choose 😎👍
I think I’ll buck the trend go the Grey with black bonnet. I used to be in the Navy so those colours work for me
I asked too soon didn’t I,thanks Andrew 🙂
If you go with the grey, the car must be called "the grey nomad"
we use avery matte khaki on our vehicle and it is stunning, i would use a 3m or avery mattle or satin wrap anyday over the printed wraps
The older you get, the more you sound like Sir David Attenborough. That is a wonderful thing.
With the seat covers. I have a 75 Ute and the original seat is very hard on the back. As a cab driver I was used to sitting on various cheap covers including a clothy sort of thing and even the old wooden beads. But I decided to fit properly fitted lambswool covers to my Ute,, and the extra lift I got made it so that I could sit all day without back problems. I drove someone else's 75 once with no seat covers, and I couldn't believe how uncomfortable it was.
Don’t forget cooling channels for the inverter , upholstery may inadvertently block air flows.
Rocksliders are heavy but I think it is useful in a side collision...
Those seat covers looks the business. 👌 I find Loose fitting seat covers that looks like painters drop cloth simply draped over them, extremely irritating. And that dash button cluster looks very OEM - which is what I like. I bet that gave you much satisfaction when you completed it, didn't it? 😁
you know what would look good as a side step? _Teak._ Yeah. Just the right bit of wood.
I like the blue one but if was me I would 💯% go for the Gray color .
26.10.2021 watching this video....👍👍
That sound insulation is interesting. I need to hear how hard the engine is working as I offroad, and want to hear everything the tires are hitting, too. Is it possible to put in so much sound insulation that your feel for the road is, um, too numb?
That's a really valid point.
for the poptop tent you should go for an all-sides one that pops straight up, it will give you room to walk around inside then
I prefer the blue wrap but personal preference. Only wish we got the Troopy in the UK.
The grey with the old RV tyre tread pattern down the side would look nice.
BLUE WRAP
I bought the same Kings compressor. I modified it and mounted it under my tray connected to a 6 litre tank. I put a standard air outlet on the LH side. The set up works very well.
Love your content Andrew. Still amazes me though how much you have to do to a Toyota to make it comfortable!
It amazes me how much you have to spend on a Toyota to make it anything half decent.
It depends what you use it for, I manage an outback station & the almost stock Landcruiser tray back we have is fit for purpose. However if you want to do big kilometres day after day you can spec up to suit. That’s the beauty of them, they are mechano kit & no other vehicle has more upgrades or accessories available or is as easy to customise or work on
@@user-rv6zk1pp7r Fair enough, but it's an overlanding channel not outback station channel.
Love the grey wrap. It looks very close to the interior colour.
Great videos. I miss the Range Rover.
what i would like is a wrap on the bonnet with a map of Australia
I like the grey, but stick with the blue. Hoping your design can be manufactured over and over again just the same for us to buy.
I can’t wait to start restoring my 89 Suburban. I’m going to put lumbar warmers in the seats.
BSG will look awesome once the troopy has everything on it!
greetings from Kenya 🇰🇪 Andrew ts been a while since I was on here .. the build is coming along beautifully
so about the wrap I would definitely go with that battleship grey .. I mean look at that thing .. it looks epic ! but .. that's just me
anyway keep up the great work .. your the man
For those with a bad back on a budget, buy a blood pressure arm band from a local pharmacy for cheap and throw that bag into the lumbar section of your seat. Boom, cheap custom lumbar support.
Battleship grey 👍👍
I'm fairly sure the 79 or 76 full length side steps fit on the 78.
I’d love to see one in mossy oak or woodland wrap with a Saturn gloss
Blue blue blue blue blue
I can see the fading/scratching point of the grey wrap
Clear wrap over the OE color… Blue is different to every other vehicle.
BATTLESHIP GREY!
Grey, but you're right. It needs some black/dark grey details.
I like the blue more