The 40 Series and the long-wheelbase 45 utes and cab chassis are some of the most restored four-wheel drives in Australia, and the 60 Series wagon isn't far behind. Sooner or later every one of them needs a new floor. Here's how to choose between carpet and vinyl, and what to check before you order.
What the factory fitted
Early LandCruisers were work vehicles first. Plenty left the factory with rubber mats or bare paint on the floor, and a lot of the ones still around have had decades of muddy boots and water through the cab. By the time a restoration starts, the floor covering is usually gone, cracked or full of rust stains. That leaves you free to choose what suits how the vehicle will be used.
Vinyl: the honest working floor
Moulded vinyl is the closest thing to the original spirit of an FJ40 or HJ45. It's tough, it doesn't hold sand or red dirt, and you can hose it out after a weekend away. It comes in black, grey or brown. If the 'Cruiser still goes bush, gets used on the farm or goes to the beach, vinyl is hard to beat.
Carpet: quieter and more comfortable
A carpeted floor changes how an old LandCruiser feels to drive. It takes a lot of the drone out of the cabin and makes it far more comfortable on a long run. Loop carpet is the hard-wearing choice and the one most people go with. Plush feels softer underfoot. Both come in 14 colours, and black or charcoal is the usual pick on a vehicle that still gets used.
A good compromise on a vehicle that does a bit of everything is carpet with a set of floor mats on top. It keeps the comfort and protects the carpet where it wears first.
Which floor fits yours
Floors changed with the body and the build date, so check yours before ordering:
- 40 Series (FJ40, BJ40, HJ40 and the 41 and 42): short and medium wheelbase. There are separate listings for 1969 to 1979 and 1980 to 1984.
- 45 and 47 Series utes and cab chassis: listed for 1969 to 1979 and 1980 to 1984. These are among our best sellers.
- 43 and 44 Series: see the 43 and 44 Series page.
- 60 Series wagon (1980 to 1990): front, rear and cargo floors on the 60 Series page.
Use the build date on the compliance plate rather than the year the vehicle was first registered, because they don't always line up. Some of these older floors take 5–7 business days to make instead of the usual 1–2; the product page tells you which.
Do the floor pan first
Lifting the old floor on an old LandCruiser usually turns up rust, especially under the driver's feet and along the edges. Fix it now. Then put underlay down before the new floor goes in: it stops the new floor drumming on the pan, cuts heat from the gearbox and transfer case, and makes the whole thing sit flatter. Underlay and sound deadening are listed on every floor's page.
Fitting tips
- Lay the new floor flat somewhere warm for a while after it arrives so the moulded shape relaxes.
- Test fit before you trim anything. Work it over the tunnel and into the footwells first.
- Mark seat, seatbelt and gear lever positions from underneath and keep the holes small.
- Vinyl is stiffer than carpet. A warm day makes it much easier to work.
The fitting guide covers the full job. Motor trimmers who want trade pricing can apply for a trade account.
