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About Me

About Tom: It Started with a Truck I Couldn’t Buy

Hi, I’m Tom van Pope, and welcome to my home base for all things overlanding, automotive, and Land Cruiser.

Like many of you, my journey into this passion started with a deep dive down a YouTube rabbit hole. Back in 2018, I was completely mesmerized by the incredible Lexus GX470 overland builds I saw coming out of North America. The combination of V8 power, legendary reliability, and aftermarket support was the perfect recipe. I was hooked.

There was just one massive problem: I’m a Dutchman living in Stockholm, and you simply can’t find many GX470s in Europe – they exist, but they’re hard to come by. At the time, the only GX for sale in Sweden was a crash-damaged, salvaged, fixed up, and imported specimen that was overpriced. Importing from another country was an option, but costs quickly started to add up when I researched that option.

My search for the perfect adventure rig continued

I was captivated by the unveiling of the Rivian R1S and R1T—the futuristic, high-tech, electric dream. Potentially the only EV I would consider buying. But again, that dream hit a very European wall. It became clear that Rivian wasn’t planning to sell them here anytime soon.

Hidden in plain sight

I was looking for a vehicle that was reliable, capable, and available. My focus shifted from the trucks I couldn’t have to the one that was hiding in plain sight all along: its international twin, the legendary Land Cruiser Prado 120 series.

Finding the One: The 1GR-FE Dream

For those in the know, the 120-series Prado shares the same indomitable bones as the GX470. It was the answer. I began a fanatic, nationwide search for the perfect specimen. I wasn’t just looking for any Prado; I was hunting for a specific unicorn.

And on May 7, 2020, I found it.

It was a 2006 model, finished in that beautiful Grey Metallic. Other than the inox nudge bar with 3 extra lights, it was bone stock. The interior was pristine, with the rare leather seats I wanted. But the real prize was under the hood: the legendary, bulletproof 4.0L V6 1GR-FE engine.
I became its proud owner with 156,220 km on the clock. As of today (November 2025), we’ve clocked over 225,000 km together, and it has never once missed a beat.

image from the original ad from 2020 – a bone stock 120 series

The Build: Creating the Ultimate 120

A stock Land Cruiser is a phenomenal machine, but the real fun is in building it out to be your ultimate adventure vehicle. The modifications started almost immediately, and I went all-in.
My goal was to build a reliable, comfortable, and supremely capable overlander. The mod list grew fast:

  • Suspension: A full ARB BP-51 suspension system and lift kit. A complete game-changer for on-road comfort and off-road articulation.
  • Tires: A set of iconic BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrains.
  • Armor: Full ARB underbody protection. Because peace of mind on the trail is priceless.
  • Roof Rack: The versatile and low-profile ARB Base Rack paired with a powerful LED light bar.
  • Tech: A modern Apple CarPlay head unit modification to bring the 2006 dash into the 21st century.
  • Camping: A custom-built sleeping platform with a full drawer system and a built-in fridge.

This truck was built to be used, and it’s taken me on countless trips. It’s a testament to Toyota’s “built to last” engineering and, in my opinion, one of the best overlanding platforms on the planet.

More Than Just One Truck

While the Prado 120 is my first love, my passion for automotive culture doesn’t stop there. My channel and this site are a celebration of all kinds of interesting vehicles.

This journey has given me the chance to drive, film, and create content around other legends, including:

  • Living the JDM dream by traveling across Japan in an FJ Cruiser.
  • Testing the limits of the Toyota Tacoma and Tundra.
  • Even pushing the boundaries of “car camping” by exploring Oregon in a Porsche Boxster 981.
Camping in Oregon with a Porsche 981 Boxster S

Join the Community (And Look Good Doing It)

This website and my YouTube channel are for you—the Land Cruiser fanatic, the Prado 120 owner, the overlanding enthusiast, the weekend mechanic, and the person who just gets it.

If you enjoy the content and want to support the channel, the best way to do that is by visiting the webshop.

I’ve created a line of original, unique t-shirts and stickers designed specifically for fans of the Land Cruiser Prado 120 series (and other auto-inspired designs!). You won’t find them anywhere else. It’s the perfect way to show your pride in one of the best 4x4s on earth and help me create the next video.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope my journey inspires your own.

See you on the trail,
Tom