Can you feel the breeze on your skin? The sand between your toes? The sun on your face? Do you hear waves gently lapping at the shore of a reef-peppered, aquamarine cove? If you’re camped out with the guys from Equipt Expedition Outfitters you probably can, even if you’re snowed in above 7,000 feet in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah.
Paul May, owner of Equipt Expedition Outfitters, drives a 1999 UZJ100 Toyota Land Cruiser, modified as a flagship for the products he sells and uses. Obviously, as a dealer Paul has access to all of the latest gear and gadgets, so his well-thought-out additions comprise a rolling showcase that attracts attention wherever he goes. But despite the numerous performance and luxurious appointments, an air of simplicity and relaxation seems to permeate the campsites wherever Paul and his friends are found. It may have something to do with the island sounds drifting from the cabin, the low-slung, wooden cabana chairs parked under the Eezi-Awn canopy, and the ARB fridge sliding from the rear hatch, chock-full of cold cervezas and goodies for the grill. Or maybe it’s seeing Paul and his buddy Eric cruising around the campfire in shorts and sandals, or the gritty bits of Baja beach sand permanently embedded in the carpet on the floorboards, that subliminally infects all of us.
One evening at the recent Expedition Trophy event, the organizers staged a beverage and cocktail competition, to be held in camp after the day’s formal events. During the preliminary preparations and general mingling, a strange noise captured the attention of passers-by. Paul and Eric had stashed some lumber in the Land Cruiser, and were around in back secretly banging together a Tiki bar using a pneumatic nailer driven by the on-board CO2 tank. To everyone’s amazement, the main camp thoroughfare (now dubbed “Bourbon Street”), was soon adorned with a full-blown Tiki bar, complete with tropical party lights and cocktail umbrellas. Overseeing the operations and hanging from the Eezi-Awn canopy was a carved, wooden mask, known to some as “Burt,” the Tiki Trailer god. Needless to say, Paul and Eric won the competition with their style and bottomless well of Singapore Slings. The Tiki bar was unceremoniously offered as fuel for the following night’s campfire.
The UZJ100 is the second-to-latest of the Land Cruiser family tree, emphasizing luxury and refinement in a platform once renowned for utility and rugged off-pavement performance. But make no mistake—they are still very capable machines. With a little help from an arsenal of aftermarket supplies, you can pretty much have your cake and eat it too. Paul has his Land Cruiser set up in such a way that he enjoys comfort on long hauls between cities, towns, and the numerous outdoor expos and club events he attends, all the while taking people up on any offer to get out into remote locations for camping and adventures. I’ve personally spotted Paul through some challenging trail obstacles, and have been impressed with the performance of man and machine. (Aside from the 100, Paul also owns a custom-built FJ-40 that keeps his “salt of the earth” driving skills in fine form.)
To complement the Land Cruiser, a fully kitted 2007 Adventure Trailers Chaser can often be seen tagging along on trips where additional cargo capacity is desired. The Chaser is shod with matching 315/75R16 BFG Mud-Terrains on Toyota UZJ100 factory alloy wheels, and has a full compliment of AT options: on-board power, kitchen galley, propane, water, and fuel carriers, and a removable Eezi-Awn Series 3 1800 roof tent (think of it as the “guest house”). Oh, and I suppose I should mention that Paul said something about “Burt”, the Tiki Trailer god, residing in the Chaser.
Suspension/Drivetrain
- 4.7L V8 EFI engine
- Rear and center differential locks
- Front Runner auxiliary 45-gallon fuel tank, 72-gallon total capacity
- Old Man Emu 2.5-inch suspension lift with Old Man Emu Nitro shocks
- Old Man Emu 863 coil springs
- Old Man Emu Heavy Duty front control arms
- Air Lift rear coil 1,000-pound airbag system, stemmed through rear bumper
- Slee Off Road differential lowering kit
- BF Goodrich Mud-Terrains, 315/75R16
Electrical
- National Luna DIY Dual Battery System, w/ in cab remote controller
- Slee Off Road second battery tray with Optima Yellow Top deep-cycle battery
- Dual Hella auxiliary fuse blocks, switched and unswitched
- Auxiliary Hella relay block
Interior
- All available factory options
- Remote Start / Alarm
- Alpine IVA-W200 6.5cm double-din LCD DVD/CD/Ipod/Nav/Sat Receiver
- Cobra 75WXST Sound Tracker CB mounted in front center dash
- Icom HM-133 2-meter VHF radio with remote face, located in front center dash
- Custom, removable two-drawer, rear hatch storage system with fitment side panels
- Cobra CPI 1550, 1500W/3000W peak 120V power inverter
- Three auxiliary full-time 12V power outlets
- ARB 45-liter Fridge/Freezer with insulation cover
- Adventure Trailers fridge slide
- 10-pound CO2 tank, with gauges and quick-release, mounted with Super Quick Fist clamps
- Custom driver-side rear door entry dog platform, padded of course. (“Dezi’s Den”)
Exterior
- ARB Sahara front bumper with IPF fog lights
- IPF 900S XD driving lights
- Warn M12000 winch
- Custom 2 x 5 x 3/16-inch steel rock-sliders/steps
- TJM rear bumper with swing-out tire carrier
- Front Runner Wind Cheetah 2.2-meter roof rack
- Four IPF 968 driving lights w/ 100-watt lamp upgrade
- 12V exterior power outlet
- Eezi-Awn Series 3 1400 T-Top roof \top tent, olive w/ olive fly
- Eezi-Awn Series 2000 2.5-meter awning
- Eezi-Awn 2.5-meter Rec Vee awning enclosure panels
- Storm Case iM2700 grey, mounted on roof, for recovery/safety equipment
- Shovel and axe, mounted with Quick Fist clamps
- ARB Safari Snorkel
- Warn rear receiver D-ring recovery shackle
Trailer
- 2007 Adventure Trailers Chaser
- BF-Goodrich Mud-Terrain 315/75R16s on Toyota UZJ100 Factory Alloys to match the Land Cruiser
- Full Lid option
- Eezi-Awn Series 3 1800 roof top tent, beige w/ olive fly
- Nose box
- Tailgate option
- 19-gallon water tank
- Two Adventure Trailers can holders with Scepter 20-liter red military fuel cans (MFC’s)
- Electric brakes
- 12V electrical system, w/ Lifeline Group 31 105 amp-hour AGM sealed battery
- Engel transit lock
- Two Adventure Trailers stainless steel stove shelves / cooking platform
- Lock & Roll hitch system
- Two-pound propane bottle on prototype mounting platform
- Burt – Our Tiki Trailer God. Keeps us righteous.
