Curious how we ended up searching for a new home on wheels? Check out the first blog in this series for the backstory.
June 2024
Our eyes had landed on a tempting BJ45 listed on a European version of eBay, located near Strasbourg. If we were driving 550 kilometers (300 miles) to check it out, why not turn it into a mini road trip with a few fun stops along the way?
1. The Tub Dream
Our old Land Cruiser’s raised roof had always provided plenty of comfort, thanks to a clever modification by the previous owner. However, that same modification had stressed the bodywork, leading to cracks, rust, and a growing collection of holes.
This time, we wanted a fresh start, maybe even something bold – like chopping off the rear half and replacing it with a separate tub. We’ve seen overlanders online with setups like this, and they look inviting.
On the way to Strasbourg, we made a pit stop at a workshop specializing in these conversions. That’s where we met Hugo, who shared ideas and tips, which we filed away in the back of our minds.
But first things first. We needed to actually buy a truck.
2. Meeting Luc
In Belgium, we stopped at a property overflowing with Land Cruiser treasures: sheds, chassis, and piles of parts. Coen was immediately drawn to a frame waiting on a pile of clutter, waiting for a new owner.
A man approached us, hand extended.
“Hi, I’m Luc. Great to meet you! Do you do this often?”
“Do what?” Coen asked.
“Visit your fans!”
Turned out Luc was a longtime follower of our travels and had just bought a copy of Forever Off Track, our first English book.
Luc caught Coen’s gaze lingering on the chassis and grinned.
“Perfect for building a BJ45 from scratch, don’t you think?”
While Coen’s dream of rebuilding a BJ45 from the ground up flickered to life, I shut it down. I’d rather hit the road – or tackle another long-distance hike – than spend years on a garage project. Reluctantly, Coen said goodbye to the tempting chassis, and we carried on.
3. BJ45 #1
Our journey led us to Jacob, a German living near the French border. His BJ45 was tucked under a lean-to at his parents’ house. Before we took a look, we bonded over coffee and his tales of falling for BJ-series Land Cruisers during a trip to Central America.
When we finally checked out the truck, Coen dove into the mechanics, geeking out over the rare 12H-T engine. While impressive, it wasn’t originally built for the BJ-series, and fitting it in properly onto the frame was a delicate science. Jacob wasn’t confident it had been done right. Also all documentation of the engine was missing.
Meanwhile, I wandered around the vehicle and cringed at the rust – floorboards ready to crumble, a rear section eerily similar to the rust bucket we already owned.
We both knew this wasn’t the one for us. But Jacob had a lead on another BJ45 for sale, a better deal just five hours away in the French Alps. It was too good a tip to pass up.
4. BJ45 #2
That same afternoon, we headed to Chamonix in the Mount Blanc region. As we wound through mountain roads, I worried about finding a level spot to pitch our tent for the night. Luckily, the seller, Vallon, had a piece of land with just enough space.
Vallon greeted us warmly. Darkness had fallen and we used our iPhones tiny flashlights. Despite the drizzle, he eagerly showed off his BJ, sharing stories of his love for these trucks – in fact, he had two more (but not for sale). Before long, he insisted we skip the tent and stay inside.
“Rain’s coming down hard tonight,” he said. “I’ve got a spare room and dinner’s ready.”
How could we say no?
The next morning, Coen turned the key. Within minutes, he was in heaven: a smooth power steering, a five-speed gearbox, and a turbo that made hills feel like flat roads. No more crawling in first gear uphill!
When we swapped seats, my grin was just as wide.
This was it. We’d found our new BJ45.
6. The Plan
With our old Land Cruiser still in Cyprus, we had to figure out logistics. Vallon kindly offered to store the BJ45 on his property until we returned in the fall. After a down payment, we headed back to the Netherlands and planned our return to Cyprus.
Little did we know that, within a week, our lives would utterly flip upside down (more on that in this blog post). And as our world as we knew it collapsed that summer, getting the BJ to the Netherlands didn’t exactly go as plan either… More on that in a next blog post!
Best,
Karin-Marijke & Coen
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