How Trader Joe’s, Costco, and the Iraq War led to my choosing the Land Cruiser.

I was parking at the Trader Joe’s when I noticed a fire fighters license plate on a large SUV. It was a Chevy Tahoe and it also had a decal in the back window. It was some sort of iron cross, could barely make out the words, but got the impression it might be a fire fighter union or association sticker. Startred to notice more of those plates and decals on other vehicles over several years. It seemed like they were nearly always on large body on frame vehicles. I came up with a theory as to why. Only a theory but here it is; First responders rescue and recover people from crashes for a living. Maybe they chose the large body on frame vehicles for their families because of what they have seen. Maybe more people survive in these type of vehicles. I have a two year old and my priorities have changed. Safely is my top priority.

I drove a M998 HMMWV “hummer” across Iraq in 2003. It was also a body on frame vehicle and it never let me down. Some colleagues of mine drove one over an anti tank mine. Luckily because our unit’s HMMWVs were not armored the explosive just ripped off the entire front of the vehicle. They had concussive injuries but no loss of limb or life. They all walked away. Months later our unit mechanics had it rebuilt and running missions again. That was over twenty years ago. Given my humble theory about the fire fighters privately owned vehicles and my life experiences I decided my next vehicle would be a body on frame.

It was early this year (2024) when I was parking at Costco and saw this old Range Rover Defender (not sure which model exactly) with a nice blue paint job and a grey roof. I thought man it looked great and how cool would it be if there was a modern equivalent. Something with modern safety features and more importantly something more reliable like a Toyota.

I already had a 1998 2door Tahoe as a fun weekend truck but had already decided that it was time to let it go. I just sold it last week. Several months ago I started researching Land Cruisers. I saw the heritage blue and grey roof. Read that it was made in Japan. Already knew that it was body on frame. Watched several videos about the LC 250, but it was AMD’s (The Care Care Nut) review of it that sealed the deal. When I saw it had zerk fittings on the drive shaft I was sold. Reminded me of doing the PMCS (preventative maintenance checks and services) on my old work truck the HMMWV.

That led to my search for the “ever elusive mid trim nonprem LC250”. Wanted the blue one, but ended up putting my deposit on a Meteor Shower one instead. Just got a call today at lunch. It should be arriving in the next couple of days. Today after that call, the anticipation is thrilling. Been on this forum everyday reading, sharing, researching, making friends, and having fun.

Update 10/24/2024. Picked it up yesterday! Entire purchase experience shared in this linked thread.

My experience in the Pacific Northwest; shopping in September 2024

Great background story and outstanding logic supporting your purchase of a new LC.

I believe many of us can agree with and mirror many of your sentiments and reasons.... Safety, built like a tank-Land Cruiser, outstanding looks, and Toyota reliability. Combine all of these elements with Land Cruiser's long history and earned reputation, you have a win win.

Bluey said:

I was parking at the Trader Joe’s when I noticed a fire fighters license plate on a large SUV. It was a Chevy Tahoe and it also had a decal in the back window. It was some sort of iron cross, could barely make out the words, but got the impression it might be a fire fighter union or association sticker. Startred to notice more of those plates and decals on other vehicles over several years. It seemed like they were nearly always on large body on frame vehicles. I came up with a theory as to why. Only a theory but here it is; First responders rescue and recover people from crashes for a living. Maybe they chose the large body on frame vehicles for their families because of what they have seen. Maybe more people survive in these type of vehicles. I have a two year old and my priorities have changed. Safely is my top priority.

I drove a M998 HMMWV “hummer” across Iraq in 2003. It was also a body on frame vehicle and it never let me down. Some colleagues of mine drove one over an anti tank mine. Luckily because our unit’s HMMWVs were not armored the explosive just ripped off the entire front of the vehicle. They had concussive injuries but no loss of limb or life. They all walked away. Months later our unit mechanics had it rebuilt and running missions again. That was over twenty years ago. Given my humble theory about the fire fighters privately owned vehicles and my life experiences I decided my next vehicle would be a body on frame.

It was early this year (2024) when I was parking at Costco and saw this old Range Rover Defender (not sure which model exactly) with a nice blue paint job and a grey roof. I thought man it looked great and how cool would it be if there was a modern equivalent. Something with modern safety features and more importantly something more reliable like a Toyota.

I already had a 1998 2door Tahoe as a fun weekend truck but had already decided that it was time to let it go. I just sold it last week. Several months ago I started researching Land Cruisers. I saw the heritage blue and grey roof. Read that it was made in Japan. Already knew that it was body on frame. Watched several videos about the LC 250, but it was AMD’s (The Care Care Nut) review of it that sealed the deal. When I saw it had zerk fittings on the drive shaft I was sold. Reminded me of doing the PMCS (preventative maintenance checks and services) on my old work truck the HMMWV.

That led to my search for the “ever elusive mid trim nonprem LC250”. Wanted the blue one, but ended up putting my deposit on a Meteor Shower one instead. Just got a call today at lunch. It should be arriving in the next couple of days. Today after that call, the anticipation is thrilling. Been on this forum everyday reading, sharing, researching, making friends, and having fun.

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That's awesome. Thanks for sharing. Hopefully you'll love it and yeah then non premium LC is elusive. I don't know that I've seen many of those suckers pop up on toyota.com's search inventory page. Let's hope the reliability is as good as Toyota trucks in years past. I've got 372,000 miles on my 99' 4Runner so the bar is set high.

Appreciate the share. I have a feeling you’ll like it!

Thank you for your service and great story. PMCS on a M1A1 takes a lot longer than on a Hummer and so does the cleaning for post-field inspection....lol.

I have had family & co-workers walk away from accidents because they were in larger vehicles. I miss my Audi Allroad but I was always afraid of getting hit by a larger vehicle. I am surrounded by large trucks here in the country so their grill height was at my window height in the Audi.

Bluey said:

I was parking at the Trader Joe’s when I noticed a fire fighters license plate on a large SUV. It was a Chevy Tahoe and it also had a decal in the back window. It was some sort of iron cross, could barely make out the words, but got the impression it might be a fire fighter union or association sticker. Startred to notice more of those plates and decals on other vehicles over several years. It seemed like they were nearly always on large body on frame vehicles. I came up with a theory as to why. Only a theory but here it is; First responders rescue and recover people from crashes for a living. Maybe they chose the large body on frame vehicles for their families because of what they have seen. Maybe more people survive in these type of vehicles. I have a two year old and my priorities have changed. Safely is my top priority.

I drove a M998 HMMWV “hummer” across Iraq in 2003. It was also a body on frame vehicle and it never let me down. Some colleagues of mine drove one over an anti tank mine. Luckily because our unit’s HMMWVs were not armored the explosive just ripped off the entire front of the vehicle. They had concussive injuries but no loss of limb or life. They all walked away. Months later our unit mechanics had it rebuilt and running missions again. That was over twenty years ago. Given my humble theory about the fire fighters privately owned vehicles and my life experiences I decided my next vehicle would be a body on frame.

It was early this year (2024) when I was parking at Costco and saw this old Range Rover Defender (not sure which model exactly) with a nice blue paint job and a grey roof. I thought man it looked great and how cool would it be if there was a modern equivalent. Something with modern safety features and more importantly something more reliable like a Toyota.

I already had a 1998 2door Tahoe as a fun weekend truck but had already decided that it was time to let it go. I just sold it last week. Several months ago I started researching Land Cruisers. I saw the heritage blue and grey roof. Read that it was made in Japan. Already knew that it was body on frame. Watched several videos about the LC 250, but it was AMD’s (The Care Care Nut) review of it that sealed the deal. When I saw it had zerk fittings on the drive shaft I was sold. Reminded me of doing the PMCS (preventative maintenance checks and services) on my old work truck the HMMWV.

That led to my search for the “ever elusive mid trim nonprem LC250”. Wanted the blue one, but ended up putting my deposit on a Meteor Shower one instead. Just got a call today at lunch. It should be arriving in the next couple of days. Today after that call, the anticipation is thrilling. Been on this forum everyday reading, sharing, researching, making friends, and having fun.

Click to expand...

You’ll love it.

Sounds like we chewed some of the same dirt. I was in Al Anbar in 2004 (USMC infantry), we also had a HMMV roll over a mine outside of the airfield at Al Taqqadum. Blasted the entire rear driver side quarter off including the suspension, wheel, geared portal hub, axle shaft etc. Picked up the whole truck and tossed it 20’ from where the crater was. Everyone was able to walk away. God was looking out for those guys.

Enjoy! Care Care Nut videos also got me interested in Toyotas as I consider what vehicle might be right to keep for a decade or more. As I used to do, instead of trading every couple of years. I’m a truck guy, & want another, but all I haul is air anymore so maybe a LC will be about right.

This was great thanks Bluey. Congrats.

Love your story! I'm an old last gasp lottery style roll of the dice end of the Vietnam war era draft type guy. I got a high number and didn't get drafted into the last years of the war. However - I've always been into Landcruisers and my family owned a farm in Tennessee for ages and we always had 4wd vehicles - can't do without them! Now, I'm just an old aging rock n roller/surfer dude living in Southern California and still can't do without my LandCruiser! My dad was a WWII vet, fought in the Battle of The Bulge, and a Purple Heart recipient. For all you who have served, we appreciate it! Thank you.
Oh yeah...my dad drove a Jeep in WWII...even had General Patton as a passenger!

Thank you everyone for the positive feedback and shared stories. It’s what makes this forum a community. To those who have served, thank you for your service. Take care and stay safe!

My first experience with Toyota light trucks was also on a middle eastern battlefield. Sometimes referred to as "Technicals", they have been the preferred choice for improvised fighting vehicles all over the world due to their reliability and adaptability. There is even a website dedicated to them with some interesting stickers and merchandise if you are into that kind of thing. Let's hope the future of the 250 sees more malls than minefields...

Merica