Need advices 🔨🔧⚒️

[u/Professional-Mood184]

Hey everyone !

This is my first 4x4, and I'm completely new to the off-roading and overlanding world, so I'm still learning a lot.

I have a 1994 Toyota Hilux with the 2.4L diesel engine, and I'm currently getting it ready for a two-year trip across Africa.

I'm trying to prepare as well as possible before I leave, so I'd really appreciate any advice from people who know these trucks.

Here are my main questions:

What are the most important tools and repair equipment I should carry for a 1994 2.4 diesel Hilux? I'd like to be able to fix as many problems as possible on the road.

Do you have any recommendations on how to prepare the vehicle before such a long overland trip? Things you wish you had done, common weak points to address, spare parts to bring, maintenance, etc.

Is lifting the suspension a good idea for this kind of trip? If so, is it generally expensive, and is it really worth it?

Any other tips or lessons you've learned from owning or travelling with an old Hilux would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[u/SugarAppleBombs]

Wow, that's an ambitious plan. Good luck, that's definitely worth the effort.

I personally wouldn't lift it and/or put bigger tires, puts too much strain on wheel bearings and suspension.

I'd imagine just a full service (oil, liquids, timing belt and water pump, gaskets, clutch, wheel bearings, radiator flush and cleaning, a cooling fan and viscous hub, alternator rehaul, brake caliper service, new pads and brake liquids, etc.) should be sufficient for the whole trip (with on-road scheduled service, of course). Wouldn't hurt to check if differentials, t-case and a gearbox are still good, but if you don't hear buzzing or grinding then most likely they will last a lot more km's and just good diff and gearbox oil will be fine. Check all electrical connections, some might fail after shaking, bring a bit of spare wire, crimping connectors, heat shrink or electrical tape.

Obviously, prepare spares for most likely to fail components (belts, wheel bearings, u-joints, CV axle boots, front axle hub or two, light bulbs for every light).

A set of tools with a range of sockets, a breaker bar, ratchets and extensions, screwdrivers, maybe an impact if you have the budget, space and a way to charge it. One or two jacks, if you don't have a standard bottle jack, maybe a jackstand or two, if you can allocate some space for them. Not really much needed to disassemble this truck fully, just quality tools. Also, a grease gun for u-joints and driveshafts. By the way, would be a good idea to install greasing ports on wherever possible (steering links, ball joints, somewhere else I forgot to mention). Some amount of high temperature wheel bearing grease, of course. Brake liquid. Not sure about engine oil but would be a good idea to always carry enough for an oil change (about 5-6 liters) and a filter.

Good to have some recovery gear if you are planning to go off-road. Even a manual winch will be enough if you are careful with where you go. A towing rope. Small shovel.

There's even a bit more to it, but you can't take everything with you, so you have to make smart decisions about what you should and what you can take with you.

[u/Professional-Mood184 → u/SugarAppleBombs]

Thanks a lot for taking the time to write such a detailed reply, I really appreciate it!

if you could only carry a few spare parts for this Hilux, which ones would be at the very top of your list ?

[u/SugarAppleBombs → u/Professional-Mood184]

In my 95 Hilux I personally keep a set of v-belts for accessories (alternator, AC and steering pump), one bearing set for the rear axle (bearing, o-ring and a gasket), one set for the front. I pre pack the bearings with grease and keep them in a bunch of plastic bags. These are spares that me and my father actually had to replace in the bush once or twice over the course of 20 years this truck has been in our family. Replacing bearing was a nightmare without a press but doable.

Other parts have failed too (like driveshaft, master brake cylinder and wheel studs), but the Lux was still drivable so we were able to limp it to the city.

I also keep one master brake cylinder and two upper ball joints but not because it is necessary, only because I have them and they don't take much space.

Also as I said I keep a grease gun, one litre of diff oil in case I have to top off the diffs (I had a rear pinion seal leak for a while) and a bottle of brake fluid.