Bri Woolnough’s 1986 BJ71 Toyota Land Cruiser has led to an abundance of adventures, a crash course in mechanics, and a whole new world of possibilities. Words & Photos Bri Woolnough.

I’m writing this as my beloved truck, Sunny, is parked on a hill out the front of the house, perfectly positioned to bump-start it down the street. I’ve yet to figure out the culprit of this latest problem, and I find myself asking again – is it all worth it? I’d hate to know how much I’ve spent on repairs and maintenance over the four years of ownership, but at almost 40 years old, she’s still ticking along (mostly) and this truck has opened up so many opportunities and taken me to places I could never have dreamt to see.

I bought Sunny sight unseen from Christchurch in November 2020; I was living in Mangawhai at the time. After a year full of lockdowns, I had spent a lot of time dreaming of road trips and adventures. I wanted to explore the country and my initial idea was to buy a van, but instead I ended up with a little 4×4 that I didn’t know how to drive.

The first month was far from smooth sailing. I learnt to drive manual and with help from a friend we built drawers for the back. Not long after, old parts started breaking and Sunny was put on jack stands outside of my house for a month or so. I very quickly learnt all about wheel bearings, drive shafts and how to take out a gearbox.

Someone once described Sunny as a Swiss Army knife – ‘you don’t live in a short wheelbase, you live out of it’.

I don’t think anything could have prepared me for how much maintenance an older vehicle needs, especially one that had become my daily driver. But what followed after a crash course in mechanics, opened up a new world of possibilities and adventure. After my first road trip around the country in March 2021, I was inspired by this new way of life. Two months later I packed my life back into the truck and headed south to Wānaka.

All my spare time was spent exploring my new home. I’d go on day trips to places hours away and started venturing off the beaten track. I went on a lot of solo missions until I made friends with an incredible group of people who share the same love for old trucks and camping as I do. Six months after the move, photography became my full-time job and Sunny became an extension of my business – featuring in photoshoots and, eventually, influencing much of my work with brands in the automotive and 4×4/camping industries.

Becoming a photographer was always a dream of mine, but I never expected it to happen so soon. It’s been three years since I took the plunge into self-employment, and I honestly believe I have the truck to thank for that. I would have gotten there eventually, but this life I’m living right now wouldn’t have been possible without that little 4×4 I bought in 2020.

The truck is set up to live out of comfortably for weeks or months at a time. It has a 12V system, a fridge, drawers, and a power box. Solar panels on the roof fit perfectly next to my surf or snowboard. There’s 20 litres of water, a table, chairs, and just enough storage for clothes and camera gear. Someone once described Sunny as a Swiss Army knife – ‘you don’t live in a short wheelbase, you live out of it’.

The truck is full of character: from the imperfect paint job and a vice grip for a window winder to the beaten-up bumper that looks like an underbite, a heater that only works on full blast, and  years of memories scattered throughout its metal bones. Since moving south, I’ve spent every possible moment living out of this truck. A short wheelbase has its space and size restrictions, but everything I need fits within these walls, with my bed on the roof.

Next on the never-ending list is rust repair, and eventually, a new paint job. It’s a work in progress, but I can’t wait for where the roads will take us next. Owning an old vehicle is a labour of love. There are always things to fix, parts to replace, and just when you think you’ll be right for a while – something else breaks. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. If there’s one thing about an old Toyota, they’ll always get you home.

The last few years have consisted of an abundance of adventures – road trips every summer, braving the cold and camping in the snow through winter, exploring some of the best tracks Aotearoa has to offer and I have met incredible people who have joined me in making these memories. I’ve woken up on mountaintops or in valleys where time seems to slow down as you wait for the sun to reach you and I’ve grown to love the art of slow living. I have the most incredible job and my office is the outdoors. So that brings me back to my question – is it all worth it? Without a doubt.