sell the locked FZJ80 for an FJ?

[peepers]

I have searched and found minimal threads on this, most were back in '06 and had guys from the 80s list posting to them.

Please do not suggest I get both, I can't afford it.

The reason I am getting rid of the 80? Time, money and I just dont use it as it is intended. I have spent the past 2 years "baselining" and building up the 80. A full description can be found here: 1997 FZJ80
In short, it has a Slee 4" Lift, its locked center, front and rear, dual batteries, drawer system, all new brakes, steering compenents and A/C stuff... it's in great running shape right now... So, why get rid of it?

I want to get rid of it because I can't afford another failure, from a time perspective or a $$$$ perspective and I have never wheeled it in the 2 years I have had it and its not in the future for me either.

What do I need? I need a vehicle that can handle light wheeling, long distance drives in comfort at 70 - 80mph with enough room for a huge dog, bikes and camping gear (roof rack needed even for the 80).

Is the FJ the right vehicle or should I be looking for a Highlander or a 4 Runner.

Seriously, I never wheel like most people. Simple dirt roads, beaches... thats it.

Please advise

[jgordon]

Seems like it would take a lot less money to make the 80 bulletproof than to get into a new $30k truck. Am I coming at this correctly? What kind of calcs have you made to lead you to this conclusion?

[peepers]

Originally Posted by jgordon

Seems like it would take a lot less money to make the 80 bulletproof than to get into a new $30k truck. Am I coming at this correctly? What kind of calcs have you made to lead you to this conclusion?

i would get an FJ for exactly what I can sell the 80 for + a few grand I have laying around. there are some decent FJs with the rear locker and atrac local to me for around $25k... not to mention if i include san antonio, houston and dallas (i am in austin).

[LCCRUISER]

Hi, Sounds to me like you should be looking at a RAV4. Think of the fuel you'll save and the future resale value as gas prices keep going up. If you aren't using anything close to the capabilities of the 80, why keep it? LC

[moomtazz]

I don't know what mileage you get in the 80, but in my FJC w/ ARB, 3" lift, Bud Built Skids, 31.5" Yokohama MTs, I got 16 mpg on my last trip From Lafayette, LA to Houston, TX.

If your mpg are anywhere close to 16 I would just keep the 80. You've already poured alot of money into it, money that you will recoup maybe 50% of if you sell it.

[Cruiserdrew]

For the needs you describe, how about a 4 door Tacoma? Same basic underpinnings as the FJC and much better at handling cargo like bikes etc.

Also, check out what 80 series are going for, and you may want to scale down your wish list. My guess is you'll be lucky to get $10k for the 80, so even if you add another $5k, I doubt that will get you an FJC, but then I have not kept with the used FJC market.

Good luck whatever you do.

[joebob2586]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

For the needs you describe, how about a 4 door Tacoma? Same basic underpinnings as the FJC and much better at handling cargo like bikes etc.

Also, check out what 80 series are going for, and you may want to scale down your wish list. My guess is you'll be lucky to get $10k for the 80, so even if you add another $5k, I doubt that will get you an FJC, but then I have not kept with the used FJC market.

Good luck whatever you do.

x2 for hauling toys around. I mountain bike and unless you get a hitch reciever bike rack you wont fit more then one or two bikes in your trunk dissassembled. And the factory mount bike rack for the roof is rediculous wish i never bought it...

[peepers]

Originally Posted by LCCRUISER

Hi, Sounds to me like you should be looking at a RAV4. Think of the fuel you'll save and the future resale value as gas prices keep going up. If you aren't using anything close to the capabilities of the 80, why keep it? LC

Its a good idea. I am going to look into some of the newer ones I guess. I really don't like the older ones.

Originally Posted by moomtazz

If your mpg are anywhere close to 16 I would just keep the 80. You've already poured alot of money into it, money that you will recoup maybe 50% of if you sell it.

13-ish on a good day. The problem is not the gas, its the next big ticket failure... Head gasket, Tranny, T-Case. I would much rather be into a more modern vehicle with oh say 25k miles than one with 112k miles.

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

For the needs you describe, how about a 4 door Tacoma? Same basic underpinnings as the FJC and much better at handling cargo like bikes etc.

Also, check out what 80 series are going for, and you may want to scale down your wish list. My guess is you'll be lucky to get $10k for the 80, so even if you add another $5k, I doubt that will get you an FJC, but then I have not kept with the used FJC market.

Good luck whatever you do.

Thanks for the good luck... The Tacoma was my first choice but the doesnt want one.

Thanks for the comments on the asking price, I already have a buyer lined up at my price. For the right person that is going to use it as intended, it is worth every penny.

Originally Posted by joebob2586

x2 for hauling toys around. I mountain bike and unless you get a hitch reciever bike rack you wont fit more then one or two bikes in your trunk dissassembled. And the factory mount bike rack for the roof is rediculous wish i never bought it...

I would get the receiver hitch rack.

How is the FJ around town and on extended trips? Say 8 hours + of driving?

[CID 96]

My 2 cents. Get a plane jane SR5 V8 4-Runner. I have driven Toyota pickups and Tacomas since I was 16, then I got a '06 4-runner and now I have a Tacoma (DD) and an 80 to wheel with. The V8 '06 4-runner was the best riding and driving (on the street) Toyota that I have ever had. I would still have it but it was totalled out in a wreck.

So my advice get a V8 4-runner. I got around 18 in town and 20 or 21 on trips.

[moomtazz]

The FJC is comfortable to me. I drove it 7 hours to Birmingham last fall. The best thing to do would be go down to the dealership and test drive the 4-runners, Tacomas, and FJCs. Take your time, maybe take a few different drives.

[tburrell]

I can't speak for an 80 other than I think they are pretty sweet once they have been properly modified. My FJ is the first toyota I've really owned (I had a Carolla in college but that was from my parents so it doesn't really count). I love this thing. My wife, 1 year old son, and I just took a two week vacation from Denver to Fruita (CO), down through Utah to Sedona, across to Santa Fe and back to Denver. We had a difficult time fitting everything but that wasn't b/c of the FJ -- it was b/c we have a 1 year old (who knew they needed so much stuff? crikey!). We were all quite comfortable (and I'm 6'7"). We brought our bikes (spare tire-mounted bike carrier) and a little bike trailer to tow my son in.

About the only bad thing I can say about it is ... gas mileage. I'm getting about 16 1/2 mpg (I'm wondering if the odometer/speedometer weren't calibrated for bigger tires? I have a 3" OME lift with 285 70 R17's -- anyone with thoughts on this?). I drive like (gulp) my father to try to get better mileage -- keep the rpm's at or below 2000 as much as possible, if the speed limit is only 55 drive 55 b/c it'll get better mileage, and I get the most expensive fuel, etc.

That's my 2 cents. Of course, if you offered me a penny for my thoughts, you'd have change coming.

[mobi-arc]

FJ is too small for what you need to haul. I'd stick with what you have....perhaps change to less aggressive, quieter tires.

[peepers]

Originally Posted by mobi-arc

FJ is too small for what you need to haul. I'd stick with what you have....perhaps change to less aggressive, quieter tires.

i do have the Nitto Terra Grapplers in the shed. I need to order some OEM steelies and get them on there.

[Brock]

I wont try to steer you away from FJ. I drove it 9 hours to Wash DC on I-95 a couple weeks ago for business trip as I was tired of flying all the time. Drove between 65-80 between the two legs. If I kept it below 2000 rpms (69mph) with my 3" ToyTec lift, 33" Terra Grapplers, roof rack, etc....I got about 18mpg give or take a couple tenths...and this is with less than 3000 miles on odometer. I am gradually getting better and better mileage the more I increase the miles and have not converted to synthetic oil yet...nor changed muffler though I did put in the AMSOIL oem air filter last week and saw a little .3-.5mpg bump it looks like.

I have 130lb bullmastiff that rides just fine in back...especially with seats down but nice as well sitting on seats in rear. It tows nice with factory hitch...motor has plenty of torgue and handles nicely.

I use for daily driver to work each day....family get around vehicle on weekend...and my hunting-camping vehicle otherwise.

I have no complaints and think it would work fine for you as well.... Good Luck.

[FJCcrawler]

Well getting a FJ isn't going to solve the problem of the cargo, if you have a lot of stuff to put in your truck, then you might want something like a 4runner or a UZJ100 to be able to fit all that stuff and be able to go wheeling at same time.

[bigjer]

I did the same thing, tradded my 80 and my chevy for a 08 fj cruiser. I do about the same wheeling the first post and I have a Great Dane and a lab and a basset hound and they all fit. ARB on the roof with the wind deflector.

[joebob2586]

the FJ is pretty comfortable on long drives ive driving up and down california non stop and havent had any problems...the only issue is the cargo space, like i said i mountain bike alot and it really isnt practical for that i need a hitch mount rack, that would help some.

[Brock]

Tuffy Security box on top or a basket rack with wind deflector will help with gear......hitch mount for bikes or other gear. It can be done without much trouble. I lived with a 94 Cherokee until last year as my DD and primary family vehicle with two daughters...a German Shorthair and a Bullmastiff.

I got a pic of us going camping in Savage River State Forest near Poplar Lick Run in Western Maryland in early April. Snow on ground....spring runoff to headlights in 5 stream crossings to get to camp site. Roof rack full.....back with kids and dogs....rear hitch mounted carry platform with coolers, sleeping bags, and other items in waterproof bags. Made that trip many a weekend and you LEARN how to pack and prepare with some experience. FJ is just as big as Cherokee I suspect...maybe slightly shorter in rear but not enough to make difference in real world.

Good Luck.

[ShottsUZJ100]

Originally Posted by peepers

What do I need?

I need a vehicle that can handle light wheeling
(100-series)

long distance drives in comfort at 70 - 80mph
(100-series by a huge margin..especially since you used the word COMFORT)

with enough room for a huge dog, bikes and camping gear (roof rack needed even for the 80).
(100 series again)

Is the FJ the right vehicle or should I be looking for a Highlander or a 4 Runner.
(I don't think so, for you)

Seriously, I never wheel like most people. Simple dirt roads, beaches... thats it.
(100-series)

I've read all the responses from other postees. A lot of good thoughts and ideas there. What I did not read is "you should get a 100-series". You have a Cruiser and compared to it a FJC or RAV4 or whatever will feel like you're driving a completely different type of vehicle. You mentioned gas isn't a biggee. I cannot imagine a better choice than a 100-series.

For YOUR application a used 100 would wipe an FJC IMO.

[peepers]

Originally Posted by ShottsUZJ100

I've read all the responses from other postees. A lot of good thoughts and ideas there. What I did not read is "you should get a 100-series". You have a Cruiser and compared to it a FJC or RAV4 or whatever will feel like you're driving a completely different type of vehicle. You mentioned gas isn't a biggee. I cannot imagine a better choice than a 100-series.

For YOUR application a used 100 would wipe an FJC IMO.

Hey Shotts thanks for the input! Before I bought the 80 I was looking into 100s. The problem is I am not sure i want something as expensive to maintain or more importantly fix if the 100 breaks. Correct me if I am wrong but to get a 100 in the $20k range it would have to be up there in miles... 90,000 - ish? That is right where damn near everything failed in my 80.

I am looking for something newer to the costs or repairs is lower. What do you think?

[cruiserloco]

[cruiserloco]

It's plenty of room in the fj for everything including a big dog.
I love the 80 too bud if you want a newer, practical cruiser the fj is a good choice. good luck.

[SteveLCetc]

A RAV-4 is just a Camry with slightly bigger tires and no transfer case. I'd strongly consider a 4Runner - even a 3rd gen. I had an 80 and the mpg's definitely suck. If you're not going to wheel it much an FJC seems like overkill in that department. With a 4Runner you can build it as much as you want as well - especially with a 3rd gen.

[Box Rocket]

I think too many people have been worked up into a frenzy over head-gasket failures in the 80s. Sure they happen, but the number of 80s out there that are running just fine far outnumber those with HG failures. And it seems to be a trend that on the rare occasion that someone posts in the 80 section it's to say that their HG blew. So it appears that there is this sharp increase in HG failures when I think it's a very exaggerated view. Just my two cents.

As for the other "big ticket" failures you mention, it is a RARE thing to have an 80 tranny or t-case fail. I can't even think of anyone that I know that has had either one fail. Look at Slee's Short Bus that was just sold. Christo absolutely wheeled the snot out of that truck with essentially stock drivetrain. Yeah he busted a few axles along the way but you'd expect that with the way he wheeled it. I don't know of any issues he ever had with the tranny or t-case. I think you're overly paranoid about this. How many miles are on your 80? Unless you're well over 200K miles I wouldn't even begin to worry about the possibility of a headgasket failure. I know they can happen earlier but it's just not common.

And I don't understand why you'd worry about the other things failing when you don't wheel the truck. If you run the tranny dry, then yeah it'll fail, but just do regular maintenance like you would even with a new car and it's gonna be just fine.

Too much worrying going on I think.

[Box Rocket]

Originally Posted by peepers

Hey Shotts thanks for the input! Before I bought the 80 I was looking into 100s. The problem is I am not sure i want something as expensive to maintain or more importantly fix if the 100 breaks. Correct me if I am wrong but to get a 100 in the $20k range it would have to be up there in miles... 90,000 - ish? That is right where damn near everything failed in my 80.

I am looking for something newer to the costs or repairs is lower. What do you think?

I missed this one earlier. 100 series isn't a bad idea. Almost EVERYTHING failed on your 80 at 90k miles?!?!?! Sounds to me like either you or the previous owner did not maintain the vehicle very well. There is no reason for substantial failures at that mileage, except for neglect. If you aren't on top of your maintenance, you could expect the same thing from a brand new FJ and I don't think the repair cost will be a whole lot different from fixing a 100 series. Seriously, we're talking about some of the most reliable vehicles in the world here. But you have to take care of them properly. C'mon domestics are the cars you worry about at 90K miles, not Toyotas.