For more than twenty years, one vehicle became a symbol of our team’s ability to reach people in some of the most challenging conditions Iceland has to offer.

Our 44-inch Nissan Patrol faithfully served Skagfirðingasveit through countless rescue missions, training exercises, storms, floods, and winter operations. It carried volunteers safely across glaciers, rivers, snowfields, and mountain tracks, becoming one of the most important pieces of equipment our team has ever owned.

As the Patrol reached the end of its service life, we began planning its replacement. We wanted a vehicle that could continue the same tradition of reliability while meeting the demands of modern search and rescue operations. After careful consideration, we chose the Toyota Land Cruiser 250 GX Plus.

The vehicle was delivered in standard form before beginning a complete transformation into a purpose-built Icelandic rescue vehicle. Arctic Trucks carried out the extensive 44-inch conversion, which included fitting 44-inch tires, modifying the suspension, relocating the rear axle, extending the driveline, installing heavy-duty suspension components, adding a crawler gearbox, and many other upgrades required to operate safely in Iceland’s harsh terrain.

Following the mechanical conversion, the vehicle was equipped with its operational systems. Fjöltak in Grindavík installed the communications and electrical equipment, including TETRA and VHF radios, 4G/5G connectivity, GPS navigation, and a rugged tablet. A powerful lighting system from Ljósameistarinn ensures excellent visibility during long winter nights and severe weather.

The Land Cruiser is also equipped with advanced medical equipment, recovery gear, winching equipment, tools, and all the specialized rescue equipment needed to support search and rescue operations far from paved roads.

Transforming a standard vehicle into a fully operational rescue truck is a lengthy process. From delivery to completion, the project took approximately one year, with every detail carefully designed to meet the demanding standards required by Icelandic volunteer search and rescue teams.

Today, the vehicle is fully operational and has already exceeded our expectations. It has proven to be exceptionally capable, comfortable, and reliable in the difficult conditions where we work. We are confident it will serve our volunteers and the people who depend on us just as faithfully as its predecessor did for more than two decades.

Every rescue vehicle represents much more than a means of transport. It represents the generosity of our supporters, the dedication of our volunteers, and our commitment to being ready—whenever and wherever help is needed.

— Skagfirðingasveit Search and Rescue Team