60/ 62 Ownership Question

[Viggen]

Anyone here use their 60/ 62 as their only vehicle? I like the 60/ 62 and would like to build up one that will work as my reliable daily and overland vehicle. I like the bare bones, mechanical simplicity of the early FJs and all I really need is what comes in these trucks. Ive restored numerous MG's and the like and am good at working on cars and pretty competent with a wrench. If I keep up with the PM, it could be pretty stout and reliable...right?

Am I nuts?

 

[hank14]

I've driven mine nearly every day for 3 years. Lots of preventative maintenance to keep it dependable for me (although it would probably start right up and go anywhere if I hadn't done anything to it. either.

I have driven it up to a 1200 mile round trip, but most of my drives are around town (7 miles round trip to work). If I had much of a commute, I would have another daily driver and use the 60 on the weekends. YMMV.

 

[hank14]

Oh, and no, you are not nuts. Especially if you can do maintenance and repair yourself. TO drive one of these and pay someone else to do all the work on them would be nuts, unless you've got deep pockets, IMO.

 

[CardinalFJ60]

For sure.

My 60 was my only vehicle for about 10years and now about 50/50 DD since kiddo #2 came along (I got a car with airbags and safe stuff like that for them). My Cruiser has never, ever stranded me.

 

[CruisinFJ60]

Mine was a daily for over a year and a half and i drove about 36k miles in that time, now it has become more of a trail truck since i own 3 other vehicles. but its a good truck.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Decidedly not nuts.
I would however, recommend if you plan to wheel it hard or extensively mod it, then you have a backup ride. Weekend projects get dicey with the pressure of Monday morning DD duties.

 

[Off Duty]

whats your average daily mileage?
fuel cost can be rough.

I drove mine as a DD for over a year. Fairly dependable rig, albeit slow as a turd on a frosty morning.

Anywhere from 100-500 miles a day, all weather conditions, etc.
When fuel hit $4.00 +/gallon, bought a new DD (scion) and used the 62 as a fun truck

 

[Rigger]

Hi Viggen:

I daily drive a 1989 FJ62 that has a hundred and forty-something thousand miles on it. I have a 3 mile drive to work, so even if it blows up on me, I can walk home pretty easily.

My truck is fine around town, and it does okay on the two-lane country roads. On the interstate, though, it is out-gunned. It bogs down going up long hills, and it struggles to do 70 mph. (Passing with it is almost scary!) This is partly my fault because I run 33x1250's on it. But it also must be understood that this is a 22 year old truck, and when it was built, our national speed limit was 55 mph!

My truck likes fuel. It uses a lot of it, and it likes 88 octane, not the 85 stuff. It is not a gas sipper!

My truck let me down once. The alternator failed when I was 130 miles from home. Not the truck's fault, really. It took a long ride on a rollback that day!

All of that said, I love my Cruiser, and I have an emotional connection to it. Thus, I am willing to forgive its idiosyncrasies. You may feel otherwise, though.

 

[Michael Hanson]

All ours are daily drivers,have been for around 25 years. We do most of our own repairs.body work too.I see less repairs than when we drove Fords and Volvos. Three of the other cruisers were totalled,I know they saved our lives more than once. Some of our cruisers worked construction,pulled all kinds of trailers,and plowed through rice fields going duck hunting.The cruisers were never babied but always taken care of.People Still leave notes constantly on the cruisers wanting to buy them. mIke

 

[overhanger]

Hi Viggen:

<snip>

My truck let me down once. The alternator failed when I was 130 miles from home. Not the truck's fault, really. It took a long ride on a rollback that day!

All of that said, I love my Cruiser, and I have an emotional connection to it. Thus, I am willing to forgive its idiosyncrasies. You may feel otherwise, though.

Rigger, by rollback do you mean tow truck? If so, a charged spare battery could have gotten you home easily without the alternator working as long as you are willing to forego the A/C, stereo and other electrical non-essentials. Just so you know and if that isn't what rollback means, sorry!

 

[brian]

there is a catch up period. where in anything and maybe everything could poo the bed. once you work through that, and it's best if you actually work through it, you will be golden.
this '87 is my dd, about 40miles daily. these days i do nothing but add gas and change the oil. although it still has a list things that could use attention, it does the job without question.
high milage is nothing for them, mine is over 220K.

 

[brian]

All of that said, I love my Cruiser, and I have an emotional connection to it. Thus, I am willing to forgive its idiosyncrasies.

that is a requirement to dd them.
if you expect to jump in one and treat it like a newer vehicle, and think it will like it, one would not be impressed.
the technology used in them, was old the day they rolled off the assembly line new. twenty something years later they are not getting any faster.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Mine's a DD since the day I bought it Viggen, 275,000+ miles and going strong on and off the pavement.

 

[phishincruisin]

the technology used in them, was old the day they rolled off the assembly line new. twenty something years later they are not getting any faster.

Thats why they need vee-ate power! I've daily driven mine since the day I got it 4 years ago. Traveled across the country 4 times with the 2F and once with the vortec and have never been stranded. I came close the first time across the country, but I was able to limp home.
I try and keep up with the PM, which isn't too bad since things start to make noises or get oily when they need fixed. I love daily driving mine, and its always fun when people come up and chat with you about your ride.

 

[Sethelberry]

You must like Saab's with a name like Viggen. I have had my 85 for 3 months now, it is the 21st vehicle I've owned and one of the most reliable. Like has been said, not new with any bells and whistles but a solid dependable truck. I just replaced my front wheel bearings and calipers and discs, took a day and a half and $300. Not bad considering. Plus all the help on this forum makes the more difficult jobs much easier.

 

[CruiserOfLand]

My '83's been my DD and only vehicle since it became my first car in high school (after being my uncle's since '83). Been drivin' it 6 years and plan to have it for the rest Just moved to Albuquerque for the summer and road tripped her here, 1500 miles after trails in AZ and UT. Now I commute through the desert heat every day and she's still solid as a rock.

Go for it, man.

 

[Rigger]

Rigger, by rollback do you mean tow truck? If so, a charged spare battery could have gotten you home easily without the alternator working as long as you are willing to forego the A/C, stereo and other electrical non-essentials. Just so you know and if that isn't what rollback means, sorry!

Overhanger, I appreciate that. Here's more info about that day: It was about 10 below zero and windy. I have AAA, so the rollback (tow truck) ride was mostly paid for. I do understand the electrical system, but I was taking no chances that day! The cab of the rollback was warm!

If you DD a 60's waggy, a AAA card is a good thing to have!

 

[Rigger]

there is a catch up period. where in anything and maybe everything could poo the bed. once you work through that, and it's best if you actually work through it, you will be golden.
this '87 is my dd, about 40miles daily. these days i do nothing but add gas and change the oil. although it still has a list things that could use attention, it does the job without question.
high milage is nothing for them, mine is over 220K.

X2 on all of this. Best to wrench it yourself, then you know what you have, and, more importantly, what you don't have.

 

[Benjaman]

Overhanger, I appreciate that. Here's more info about that day: It was about 10 below zero and windy. I have AAA, so the rollback (tow truck) ride was mostly paid for. I do understand the electrical system, but I was taking no chances that day! The cab of the rollback was warm!

If you DD a 60's waggy, a AAA card is a good thing to have!

A AAA card is good to have with any car! I see plenty of newer cars on the side of the road! I've driven my 85 Toyota 4x4 PU for over 19 years and only needed my aaa card once(rolled in the snow). The 85 PU has never broken down!

I'm still feeling a little anxiety over taking the 85 to the wrecker and moving up to a 88Lc as my new DD.

 

[expat]

Everyday (except when I bike) for 5 years now on my 61.