Claire,
Your Hubby is right to fall in love - I first had a SWB Trooper and was so impressed I traded it for a LWB Bighorn. In their day they were amongst the most respected towcars and can hold their own with more moderns like the Sorento, Disco and Shogun. The 3.1 is the one to have - bullet proof reliabilty and should go to at least 250K miles with regular service - there is one reported case, on the owners club website, of a Farmer getting 750k before it got a "bit smoky" Aussie built Landrovers had a version of this engine fitted as it was so respected.
Basically with a kerbweight of about 2,2 tonnes, 130kg ball limit and tow limit of 3.5 tonnes they can tow any van on the market and are as economical as any big 4x4 can be, my auto does around 30mpg solo and 25 towing. It tows with little pitch and is not affected by sidewinds or truck deflections.
Don't be put off by the year, mine is 94, and aim for the lowest miles and best condition you can find.
Most Imports had a very easy life in Japan and have been strictly maintained although translations of service records are rare. Getting a freshly imported vehicle fully serviced after purchase is recommended.
Insurance is no more expensive - Tesco and Direct Line are two companies that will not differentiate between an import and it's UK equivalent model - there are others listed on the owners club website, which incidentally is a must visit site.(IOCUK)
If you are a DIY'er parts are readily available and cheap, how does
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