This Old-School Toyota Land Cruiser Camper Brings the Outside In, Boasts a Unique Design

The Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the go-to options when it comes to off-roading and overlander conversions. It built a reputation long ago for being almost unbeatable off the beaten path.

You can transform your Land Cruiser into a proper off-road-ready mobile home in various ways. For instance, take a look at this one-of-a-kind conversion that packs many much-needed creature comforts.

The rig I'm writing about today is also something you probably haven't seen before. It's based on an old-school 1981 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ47 that used to be an Australian emergency response vehicle. Mike and Lauren are the owners and converters of this rig – they purchased it on Craigslist and renovated it all by themselves.

Since it's an Australian vehicle, the rig has a right-hand drive. Moreover, it still sports its original motor: a 4.0-liter 2H, inline 6-cylinder diesel engine paired with a four-speed manual transmission.

Its most distinctive detail is how it brings the outside in, as its side walls can be fully opened for the most ventilation you'll ever get in this type of vehicle. Here's the cool thing. The couple didn't install these special doors; the car came with them – they just had them redone to ensure they were safe and sturdy.

Not only do they make you feel like you're outside (while enjoying the comfort of your living space), but they also double as awnings, providing 360-degree shading. Furthermore, to make the interior feel even more open, Mike and Lauren can open the two rear doors, each with two small baskets for storage.

The biggest problem I see with this setup is that you're basically sharing your home with all the surrounding insects. Just imagine – night falls, and you turn on the interior lights. I don't think it'll take more than 30 seconds for the living space to be invaded by bugs. Sure, it depends on where you're traveling, but if you're in a colder environment where there are little to no insects, you're probably not going to open the side doors anyway.

Luckily, there are solutions to this issue. You can add custom-made bug nets, as you will surely not find off-the-shelf ones that perfectly fit. Or you can go for a more budget-friendly option, like adding sheer curtains as bug netting, like Mike and Lauren plan on doing. By the way, here are 7 camper van interior upgrades (including bug nets) worth investing in – they'll work just as well for mobile homes based on other vehicles.

As usual, I'll start the tour with the exterior. At the front of the Land Cruiser, there's a massive bumper and a retro air filter. The entire outside was beautifully repainted in grey.

On the lower part of the passenger side of the vehicle (which is the left side since this is an Australian Lan Cruiser), you'll discover two exterior compartments offering extra storage space. The opposite side has two similar compartments, one of which holds the vehicle's electrical system.

Its highlights are lithium-ion batteries, an inverter, and a solar charge controller connected to 360 W solar panels on the roof.

Starting from the front of the vehicle, you'll notice the driver's cabin is separated from the living space by a wall with a window. Inside, the couple didn't make any major modifications. In fact, up top, you can see all the original lights and switches that controlled the auxiliary lights and other emergency vehicle-related features.

You'll also notice a new soundproofed headliner. Mike and Lauren also disassembled the dashboard and replaced all the original lights with LEDs.

Regarding aesthetics, Mike and Lauren opted for an all-wood interior, using wood panels for the inside part of the opening walls. Furthermore, they added a beautiful slatted ceiling.

The first part of the living space, right behind the driver's cabin, is the sleeping. It has a full-size mattress with four-inch (ten-centimeter) memory foam mounted widthwise. Underneath it, the duo installed a 21-gallon (79-liter) freshwater tank, as well as a sizeable drawer that serves as the rig's no-frills kitchen. It comprises a two-burner propane-powered stove, a cutting board, and utensils.

The rest of the kitchen features are further back on the same side of the vehicle. Specifically, Mike and Lauren added a tiny drawer holding spices and seasoning and a sizeable Dometic electric fridge/freezer.

There are multiple storage options. First, the couple uses two long shelves, one on each side, that run across the front to the rear of the living space. Second, the remaining space underneath the bed is taken up by two large boxes, where the two store clothes. Third, there are two drawers by the bed that can be opened from both inside and outside the car.

One downside of this build is that it doesn't have a shower, not even an outdoor one, but they shared they have one in the works. I'm also unsure how they use the water inside the tank since I didn't see any sink. Regarding the toilet, the couple has a portable composting toilet made by Trelino.

All in all, Mike and Lauren created a truly unique and eye-catching tiny home on wheels that blends many old and new elements.