Copyright © 2007, 2008 Brian McCamish,  All Rights Reserved

Note about the photos on this site:
Most photos were taken by me.  I usually allow people to use my photos for personal use or websites.  Simply Email me.  
Last Update:  December 3, 2008
Welcome to my Expedition Land Cruiser Interior page.

This page is linked from our main Expedition Land Cruiser Page, which is all about our new to us, 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser
FZJ80 and our modifications to make it a capable vehicle for our local expeditions, travels and trips.

The page covers all of our interior and cargo area modifications.   For other sections, see the below links.

Our Expedition Land Cruiser Action photos page.
Our Expedition Land Cruiser Exterior page.
Our Expedition Land Cruiser Engine page.
Our Expedition Land Cruiser Spares & Gear page.
Our article regarding how and why we bought a Land Cruiser.
INTERIOR
The interior of our Land Cruiser is highly modified with the intention of increasing storage, increasing utility and increasing the
navigational and communication capabilities.

The Land Cruiser was built to be an 7-8 passenger vehicle.   This included three rows of seats, with the rear most seats folding
up and out of the way for normal use and cargo storage.    I removed these 3rd row seats completely, as they would serve us no
purpose and take up too much room.  In addition, one 2nd row seat was removed to allow for extra, more efficient storage of
gear.    Today, the Land Cruiser seats 3 people.  1 driver and 2 passengers.    The other seats can be installed if ever needed,
as all modifications are reversible.

Rear storage modifications include an African Outback drawer system and custom cargo barrier.   Where the 2nd row left seat
used to exist, I installed our Engel refrigerator.  A storage bin can also be used to store other items that we would like to quickly
access by simply opening the rear left passenger door.

The front interior has numerous navigation and communication modifications.    The most noticeable is the center console, which
I custom built to completely replace the stock console.  The center console houses the laptop mount, rechargeable flashlight,
Ham and CB radios and switches for the duel battery, engine fan and auxiliary lights.

I was surprised to find that even with the massive size of the Land Cruiser and my removed of 3 of its seats, I still didn't have
enough room for all of our gear on an extended trip, so I later had to add a roof rack, but these interior modifications have
otherwise worked out very well.
Communication, Navigation and other front Cab Accessories
Rear Cargo Storage Modifications
Front cab of the Land Cruiser, with navigation system, GPS, computer and communication radios on display as well as the
custom center console and switch panel.   Far left is an older picture, with less mods, but showing the computer opened up.
The center console is a modular design that was put together using parts that I had lying around the garage.    Rather than design and build from
scratch, I sort of made it as I went along, hence its unusual design.  But despite it's strange appearance, it works perfectly.    The stock console was
removed and in its place using the factory bolts this console was installed.

A flat piece of aluminum comprises the base, which several X braces are bolted to make up the frame.  The frame is designed to be extremely sturdy
and stable because a laptop mount is bolted to it and with the leverage of the laptop arm, it needs a strong mount.     Bolted to the front of the frame
is a custom switch box.  

The switch box houses two DC power plugs, a volt meter for my auxiliary battery and switches on top that control the duel battery system and a
master switch for the interior accessories that run off of the auxiliary battery.    The switches on the side control the auxiliary engine fan, rear flashing
warning lights, and auxiliary rear back up lights.

in the middle of the console are housed two radios.  The first is an ICOM IC-V8000 75 watt 2 meter Ham radio.   The 2nd is a CB radio.   Next to the
radio on the passenger side is housed a rechargeable mag light.    Behind the mag light is a single plug AC inverter.

On the rear of the console is a DC power plug box that houses 3 additional plugs with a drink holder bolted to the top of that.
The primary navigation system we use is TOPO software linked to a GPS on my IBM Thinkpad X31.

The laptop mount is entirely custom using a Ram ball mount arm.   The IBM X31 came with a docking station that worked perfectly as a laptop tray
when glued and bolted to a ram mount attachment.  This saves tremendous space and has worked absolutely perfectly.    A windshield mounted lap
top screen holder keeps the screen from closing on me on the rough and bumpy roads.    The lap top, its mount and screen holder, are easily
removable for additional space, when they are not needed.
Other features include a Garman GPSMAP 60CXs.   This GPS features a new chip that allows it to see more satalights and literally almost never
loses a signal.   Which has proved its worth on numerous hiking trips where our old GPS quickly lost signal under the tree canopy, but this one
doesn't.   However, just in case, an external antenna is mounted on the roof.    While driving, the GPS serves as a sort of head up display for speed,
altitude and heading and powers our TOPO navigation system on the computer.    It also has its own topo maps and can serve as a back up moving
navigation map system.

On the center dash is mounted a Yaesu VX5R portable Ham Radio with 5 watts output.    This radio serves as a back up Ham radio and a portable
radio while hiking.   It also serves as an all purpose scanner, thanks to it's extremely wide range receive ability and is sometimes connected to an
external antenna.   Scanned frequencies are often railroads, forest service and law enforcement on our trips.
In the rear, one of the rear seats was removed for additional storage.   This still allows us to carry a 3rd passenger and if required, the seat can still
be bolted back in, in a matter of a few minutes to carry a 4th passenger.

In place of the seat, we mounted an Engel refrigerator and a storage basket, which can house a number of different things, including a plastic bin,
like you see here or our emergency Honda generator.    The floor behind the driver's seat also has ample room for additional storage.   

The mini-barrier is a custom set up that is temporary in nature, designed to replace the barrier on the driver's side that was removed when the
passenger seat was removed.   Eventually, this barrier will be replaced with an African Outback half-barrier when one can be sourced.
The rear cargo area has several modifications to make storage easier.   Most notably the African Outback drawer system from Slee Off Road.  The
drawer system holds most of our gear that we carry on a regular basis, including tools, spares, recovery gear, etc.

A custom deck was built on top of the African Outback drawers.  This deck folds up on either side for access to the storage areas on either side of
the drawers and also allows for effecient storage of the CO2 Powertank, fire extinquisher and extra fuel and/or water.

A custom quarter-barrier was built to replace the lack of a divider on the driver's side when the left rear passenger seat was removed.    The other
rear passenger seat can fold down and still have room for at least one person to sleep in the back if needed.

More recently, I added two additional storage boxes on top of the deck which are bolted down, but can be removed.
LED interior lights
After reading the rave reviews on www.ih8mud.com about the custom interior lights from www.taskleds.com I decided I had to give it a try.  And I was
seriously impressed.    They are not cheap, but are extremely well built and are specifically designed for the 80 series dome and map lights.    The
advantages of LEDs are a much whiter and more natural light, virtually no heat, but most importantly, they use very little current.  The lights can be left
on for days at a time, with little affect on the battery.   The map light is particularly bright and nice using two high power LEDs, although its actually too
bright when used while driving.

In addition to the taskleds, the door lights were replaced with LEDs sourced from www.superbrightleds.com.    These provide the same advantages.  
 Now all interior lights are LEDs, which means little chance of ever running the battery down and much brighter and better lights.

The above photos show the Taskled map light.    I later rigged a rotary switch which turns the light on/off and controls its brightness.  (see above)
A new top deck was overlaid on top of the African Outback drawers.  This extended the deck to either side of the cargo area for more efficient storage.
  The sides of the deck, lift up to allow access under the deck and next to either side of the storage drawers.     A bolt on either side, with a wing nut, is
used to keep the side wings down.
Inside  the left box is stored a 10 gallon CO2 Powertank.   The CO2 air tank was chosen as the primary air source for multiple reasons.   Primarily
because its the quickest way to air up tires, but it can also safely reseat a bead, and a single charge can air up my tires dozens of time.    An ARB
compressor, which powers my rear air locker serves as a back up.

Inside the center box is stored various equipment including a metal detector and during the winter months, an emergency propane heater and spare
propane bottles and other equipment.

On the right is stored either two 2.5 gallon Wedco jerry fuel cans or two 2.5 gallon Scepter water cans.  Typically, I carry one of each as seen here.  
Two additional 2.5 gallon jerry cans are carried, with one carried inside the drawer and another stored to the right of the drawers, for a total of at least
7.5 gallons of extra fuel.
Always in search of new ways to reorganize the interior

Looking for a possible new way to store water.
FUTURE MODIFICATIONS in order of priority
These photos show Taskled's dome lights.    The photo at the far left shows the Taskled light installed in the foreground and the stock incandescent
light installed in the background for comparison.
The door lights were replaced using superbrightleds.  These use a fraction of the power of the stock incandescent light, but put out a much brighter  
and cleaner light.
For the rear, a 1 watt LED was RTV'd to the rear hatch glass facing down when the hatch is open.  This lights up the tailgate when its down and
inside the drawer when opened.  The tailgate is used as a table when camping, so this light comes in handy.    Accent LEDs were also placed
inside the drawers and on the left hand side storage pocket.     Normally, the LEDs come on automaticly when the hatch is lifted along with the rear
stock dome light, but a switch was installed, which can turn these lights off, while leaving the rear hatch open.
Power outlets
You can never have enough power outlets.  The interior has a total of  10 DC and 2 AC power outlets.

In the front cab is located 1 stock DC outlet and 2 additional outlets.   In the middle compartment is located 3 DC outlets and 1 AC outlet on the floor,
plus 2 more near the cooler.    In the cargo compartment, 2 DC outlets exist.   A second AC inverter is stored as a back up, allowing for another AC
outlet.
Another photo showing the white LED door lights, as well as the rear LED license plate lights and LED tail lights.
Rear passenger compartment
An older configuration of the rear storage compartment when fully loaded for a long weekend trip.
Rear window covers
Being able to dark out the rear of the vehicle serves a number of purposes.  First, in the hot weather it keeps interior temps lower.   But it also keeps
prying eyes from easily seeing what's inside and giving undue motivation to break in.   Most people tint their windows, but this is expensive and
somewhat permanent.   Toyota has some tint in the rear windows, but not enough.    My solution was these very cheap black mesh covers.  They are
attached by suction cups and easily removable.   The mesh allows them to be seen through from the inside to the outside, but gives the appearance
of tinted windows from the outside.   While they do not cover the entire window, when in combination of the stock tint, they make it very difficult to see
inside.
Fuel storage
This is my current auxiliary fuel storage plan.    Three or four 2.5 gallon fuel cans.    One is stored on the right side of the AO drawer system.  One is
stored inside the AO drawer and one is stored on top of the AO drawer system, along with 2.5 gallons of water.    One of the fuel cans can be
replaced with an additional 2.5 gallon water can.   5 gallons of water is usually more than enough for most of our weekend trips, in addition to bottled
water that we normally carry.    A total of 7.5-10 gallons offers an extended range of between  75-150 miles based on 10-15 mpg.
The left dash switch panels.

On the main left panel, the top left rotary switch controls the LED map light (see below for more info on this light).  This switch controls the light on/off
and dim setting.

The two aftermarket switches below the map light dimmer control the front fog/off road lights.  The left switch is a 3 position switch and controls the
fog lights.   The up position allows the fog lights to be turned on and off via a button switch mounted on the shifter (see right photo).  This allows the
light to be turned off quickly so as not to blind on coming traffic as the fog lights are very bright.   The middle position is off.  The lower position turns
the fog lights on manually.

The switch to the right controls the off road lights.   The upper position allows the off road lights to be turned on/off along with the high beams and the
high beam switch.   The middle position is off.  The lower position turns the off road lights on manually.

The dial switch to the right is a factory front/rear locker switch.   However, my LC didn't come with lockers.   This switch instead is rigged to power the
rear ARB air locker.    Normally, position one would power the front locker and position two would power both the front and rear locker.

In my set up, position one turns on the ARB compressor.   Position two turns on the rear ARB air locker.   In the future, if I decide to add a front ARB
locker, I will rig a different switch to power the compressor and the dial switch will power the front and rear lockers.
I rigged up several LED lights around the center console.  These lights can be turned on by a switch and allow me to see the lower console,
switches and storage area, without affecting my night vision while driving at night.
The scangauge is one of the neatest products I've ever purchased.  This little scanner reads off of the OBDII part of the computer and only works on
1996 and later models (and some 1995 Land Cruisers like mine).  It plugs into the OBDII port and can read and display numerous information, not
the least of which is exact water temperature, exact air intake temps, fuel economy, horsepower, exact voltage, rpms, speed and much more.   It
displays four parameters at a time.   

I typically have it always displaying water temperature, exact voltage, air intake temperature and fuel economy.   But this can vary.
A new outside temperature gauge was installed.  This comes in most handy during the winter months to determine if the outside is below freezing or
not, but is also useful during the extreme hot summer months.   The gauge is mounted high and out of the way.   It features and hi and low temp
recall ability and can be turned off, if driving at night at the gauge is too bright or annoying.  I have it wired into the stock map light switch.  The map
light, which now has LEDs is wired to a new switch on the dash with a dial switch to control brightness.

On the right is a VDO transmission gauge that measures the tranny fluid in the sump pan.
The rear can be converted into a one man sleeping deck if needed.
A back up 2 meter Ham antenna is stored in the rear for emergencies.  This antenna is longer than the antenna mounted to the fender and can be
mounted to the middle of the roof for the best possible reception and output during an emergency when I need to access a distant 2 meter repeater.
These are some more recent pictures of the rear configuration.  They show a change is strategy whereby the rear drawer security  has been
significantly beefed up and is now used to store high value items, rather than used just for convenience.

The shotgun is carried only trips where it may be needed as a camp defense weapon against bears, cougar, etc.   It is never carried in the vehicle
loaded and we abide by all local laws.   In some locations, the weapon must even be broken down to be legally carried or not carried at all.
Be sure to check and follow all laws as they can vary widely depending on area.
A rear view camera system from Audiovox was installed.  This set up uses a new rear view mirror with a build in LCD screen.
Rear water storage
To store and dispense water, I came up with a simple system using a suspended Koplin water tank.    The plastic water tank is made for ATVs and
carries about 3 gallons of water.   I built a bracket to hold the tank securely in place, but is easily removable to refill to just remove from the vehicle.

Being slightly tilted, water concentrates at the forward low end where I installed a spicket.  Using nothing but simple gravity and a spicket, you can
access as much or as little water as you need.    3 gallons may not seem like much but this is not my only water source.  This water is used for
cleaning and washing on day trips and weekend trips.   It could be used as emergency drinking water, but we typically used bottled water for drinking
water.