There’s no shortage of travel photography and overland content online, which means it takes someone decidedly unique to stand out. The success of an adventure photographer is not guaranteed through beautiful imagery alone but rather its ability to tell a story. The more compelling the narrative and imagery the more it captures the hearts and minds of the audience. Aidan Klimenko is one such photographer that has that special something: an eye for a story that needs to be told and a command over photography (with a focus on film) that reflects years of painstaking hard work. Every time he posts a photo it ignites a sense of wanderlust and intrigue that leaves you wanting to know more. However, in order to access the hard-to-reach places that oftentimes characterize his work, Aidan requires a vehicle that he can absolutely depend on. Cue his expedition-equipped Toyota Troopy, which is not just a capable four-season rolling home but also a mobile film-developing lab.
Behind the Build
Aidan is a photographer and filmmaker who among other things specializes in documenting remote locations. This includes working on small cruise ships that take guests to destinations such as Alaska, Antarctica, and Greenland. He explains: “This has been a way to practice my photography in parts of the world that I may not have been able to explore otherwise.” If he’s not shooting an expedition, he’s based in LA and working at the Nike studio doing lighting design and photography. “I also shoot fashion work as a freelancer, which has been a great way to interact with LA culture.” Ultimately, he’s focused on “telling stories from the road that are important,” and he hopes to showcase his work in a book and eventually transition to the fine art gallery space. With this in mind, his current trip is aimed toward these goals but is an ongoing project with no strict time frame or final destination. Aidan and his wife, Jenny, have recently completed a six-month trip through South America. “I started this adventure back in 2014 when I loaded up my Subaru-powered 2WD Vanagon and hoped to drive all the way to Ushuaia. We were all out of college and had studied photography and film and wanted to immerse ourselves in our art. We spent six months driving, made it to Ecuador, living in the T3, four of us. Then the engine gave up.” After spending 5 months at the mechanics, they were out of money and shipped the van home. Aidan decided to sell his 2WD Vanagon and invested in the 4WD “Syncro” model that many of you will know as “Otis.” “I tried to get it road worthy for three years and even drove it to Baja, but it broke down, and that was the moment I decided it was time to invest in a different platform.” Eventually, he purchased the Troopy, began the journey all over again, and made it back to where his 2WD Vanagon had died just in time to be trapped by the pandemic. After spending a few months held up in Ecuador, he flew back to Minnesota where he met Jenny and fell in love. Once borders reopened, they continued their journey together.
The Troopy
The Toyota Troopy was bought from a Swiss couple who had just completed a seven-year-round-the-world trip. “I was put in contact with them through our mutual friends Live Work Wander who’d similarly made the transition from a Vanagon to a Troopy. It was 2019 when I finally threw in the towel on the Syncro and decided that I wanted to spend more time on the road and less on the van.” Live Work Wander said it best when they asserted that “the Troopy allows you to venture off road and then drive home, but in the Syncro you’re headed direct from the trails to the garage.” This sentiment is a little close to home as a fellow 1986 Syncro owner. “The idea of selling the Syncro was painful but as soon as I saw the Land Cruiser it was pretty easy. I contacted the couple, and when they completed their journey, they dropped it off to me in Minnesota before flying home, it was amazing.” The Troopy was sold complete with a comprehensive set of tools, camping, and recovery gear. The beauty of this particular Troop Carrier was that it had already been traveling around the world so the previous owners (check out their blog here) had the setup completely dialed and it was turnkey for exploration. The vehicle was originally outfitted with an Alu-Cab pop-top roof but it was eventually chopped and converted with a custom habitation box. “The rig has traveled so extensively that it’s oftentimes returning to destinations it’s already visited.”
The Toyota Troopy is powered by the legendary 4.2 1HZ diesel motor, which may only produce a modest 129 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque but is widely regarded as one of the most dependable motors Toyota has ever produced. “The engine is naturally aspirated, and while I’d love a little more power, it has never let me down. So why tamper.” The 1HZ is mated with a manual transmission that was rebuilt and upgraded by the previous owners with a selection of more durable 80-Series parts. This particular example also benefits from both front and rear locking differentials from the factory. Old Man Emu is considered by many world travelers as the gold standard for suspension components and the Troopy showcases a full OME setup: “This thing excels on washboard and dirt roads. I can blast past many people on corrugations and the ride is super smooth.” As many will know, the stock tires on a Land Cruiser are not optimal for backcountry adventures as discussed by Scott Brady and Andrew St. Pierre White on the Overland Journal Podcast. Subsequently, while the factory steel wheels remain, the Troopy has been fitted with Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx tires. “The previous owners offered to replace the tires before selling and I requested BFGoodrich KO2s, but they insisted on Coopers. They had trialed every option and swore by S/T Maxx tires. They’ve been awesome, and I’ve not had a flat in 50,000 kilometers.” The standard headlights on the Toyota Troopy are not the best, so this build showcases two auxiliary six-bulb LED light bars and running lights. The cab from the factory is intentionally utilitarian and function first, but effort has been made in this instance to improve refinement. Subsequently, there are upgraded Recaro seats and a heavily modified dash with additional gauges and space for mounting a laptop. Finally, the cab roof was cut and extended upwards, which provides additional headroom and convenient storage.
The Camper
The standard Toyota Troopy is considered by many as a fantastic option for off-grid travel. However, it is still a modestly sized vehicle, and living inside, especially as a couple, is challenging. The previous owners recognized this and created arguably the perfect solution; a custom pop-top habitation box that vastly improved interior living space without drastically impeding capability and driveability. I’d make the argument that in this configuration, Aidan’s rig is near to perfect for two people committed to long-term international adventure. “The stock Troop carriers are awesome, but to live in [one] full-time would be tough; this rig feels like an amazing balance.” As a photographer working from the road, power is an important consideration. The Toyota is outfitted with two Ultima Bluetop batteries for a total of 150 amp-hours and one 150-watt solar panel (this setup will soon be upgraded with lithium batteries). The camper has a diesel heater, a 16-gallon water tank, and an inside faucet (no sink) that extends outside and doubles as a shower. In addition, the Troopy has a number of unique features that make living on the road more comfortable. “It’s got underfloor storage that’s cool (like a garage) for oil, dirty parts, and liquids. The previous owner’s philosophy was to never have anything on the outside of the vehicle as it tempts people. The underfloor storage is ideal for this. I’d like to pad it and utilize it for valuables and long-life goods.” Needless to say, no rig is perfect and the Troopy’s strengths are in some ways its weaknesses. “We dream about a bigger vehicle. We love the accessibility of this rig, but having a permanent bed, kitchen, and workspace would be really nice. I’d also like to increase the seating capacity if we were to have kids.” At this point, we both uttered “It’s hard to beat the Vanagon for size.” Jinx.
Recovery Gear
The Land Cruiser was originally fitted with a winch that was removed by the previous owners as they simply didn’t use it. Aidan added a Warn Zeon 12 winch but admits, “In reality I’ve only needed it when wheeling and having fun but never when traveling, it’s just an insurance policy.” He also carries two aluminum sand ladders mounted to the side of the vehicle (one drops down and creates a convenient exterior table), a compressor, and other small essentials such as tow rope and shackles.
Toyota Troopy Specifications:
Toyota 1HZ78 Land Cruiser
5-speed manual transmission
Power
1HZ 4.2-liter naturally aspirated diesel motor
Suspension and Drive
Factory electronic front and rear locking differentials
TGM front coils
Old Man Emu shocks and heavy-duty leaf springs
Wheels and Tires
Factory steel wheels
Cooper S/T Maxx 255/86R16 tires
Recovery and Armor
ARB bull bar front bumper
Warn Zeon 12-S winch
Safari snorkel
Accessories
LED auxiliary lighting
AC converted air compressor
Recaro seats
National Luna 50-liter fridge/freezer
Custom aluminum 80-liter water tank
Factory 120-liter fuel and 180-liter auxiliary tank (1,750+-kilometer range)
Two Optima Bluetop 75-amp-hour house batteries (soon to be replaced with lithium)
Solar, 150 watts total (soon to be upgraded)
Resources
Websites: aidan.photo and aidanklimenko.com
Instagram: aidan.klimenko
If you want to learn more about the Toyota Troopy for overlanding then check Graeme Bell’s feature piece on The Roaming Foxes.
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