Grouseman said:
I pull a 3500 lb trailer with the 60. I just realize I am going to go slower than the rest. But hey, I'm in a 60 everyone else should be envious.
60 Series vs. the 80 Series
- Thread starter Grouseman
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
I pull a 3500 lb trailer with the 60. I just realize I am going to go slower than the rest. But hey, I'm in a 60 everyone else should be envious.
man,
If I had all my cruiser setting in front of me with simular equipment on em:
OME-ARB Bumpers/racks/lockers etc...
Oh man, tough decision.
Just never got the same feeling driving around in the 80/450 as I do the 60/62, looks I got in my 80's were more......rich mofo's, make me sick.
60/62 getting fuel, people will walk right past an 80 to ask you questions. (this has happend recently)
80's hands down for road trips....they are the road trip king of the road, equiped with all the ARB/Slee product and lifted......
I would say it would be the perfect combination...........my vote Moded 1997 road trips and wheeling combo...
Check out slee offroad...............www.sleeoffroad.com
If I had all my cruiser setting in front of me with simular equipment on em:
OME-ARB Bumpers/racks/lockers etc...
Oh man, tough decision.
Just never got the same feeling driving around in the 80/450 as I do the 60/62, looks I got in my 80's were more......rich mofo's, make me sick.
60/62 getting fuel, people will walk right past an 80 to ask you questions. (this has happend recently)
80's hands down for road trips....they are the road trip king of the road, equiped with all the ARB/Slee product and lifted......
I would say it would be the perfect combination...........my vote Moded 1997 road trips and wheeling combo...
Check out slee offroad...............www.sleeoffroad.com
The more I read this thread, the more I realize that only way to solve this is to get BOTH!!!!!
So now we should decide which one to buy first... LOL
So now we should decide which one to buy first... LOL
best mod in a 60
Other than a V8, the next best mod for comfortable driving is new front seats. I spent $100 on boneyard seats from a Mitsubishi Diamante for my 60 and have never looked back. It makes a HUGE difference on any trip longer than an hour. Did 3,200 miles in 2 weeks this summer and it was like being in a Lexus. Don't overlook ergonomic upgrades...
Other than a V8, the next best mod for comfortable driving is new front seats. I spent $100 on boneyard seats from a Mitsubishi Diamante for my 60 and have never looked back. It makes a HUGE difference on any trip longer than an hour. Did 3,200 miles in 2 weeks this summer and it was like being in a Lexus. Don't overlook ergonomic upgrades...
In terms of sizing up the 60 vs the 80, I have been a bit tortured about my 60 ownership lately too. I have spent (and am currently spending) heaps of money doing up my 62 with brakes, springs and new fuel injected V8. It has started to niggle at me a bit that I am spending all this money on renovating my 60 when I could outlay a bit extra initially and do all the same stuff to something much later model. I paid more for the engine alone than I did for my whole truck! In saying that, I think (or rather I am telling myself - LOL) that spending money on something that is old school is actually kinda cool, and I like to think that 60 series cruisers (like the 40 series cruisers of old) are starting to reach classic status.
I had a BJ60 for about 16 years. Finally sold it and bought an FZJ-80. Here's my thoughts:
- The 60 does look more classic and I like the style better but that's not enough in my books.
- The 80 rides way better and I mean much much better. I must be the coils in the 80.
- Road noise is much better in the 80 but then I had a diesel 60 series.
- The 60 is slightly larger in the back.
- The 80 is much nicer to cruise the highway in. Totally effortless, the 60 was much more a chore to drive. Way cool but still a hassle to drive. The power in 80 makes it safer as well.
- Simon is right on about the rust factor. My 60 was rusting bad and this was the main driver to replace it before I had to spend big $$ on it.
- mods are easier on the 80 series.
I find that I'm much more likely to head off on little wheeling/fishing trips in the 80 just because it's much more relaxing to go drive 4 hours to the mountains. In the 60 I had to really plan out trips to make it worthwhile. In the 80 I can just hop in spur of the moment and drive for 4 hours to my camp spot.
While the 60 does have a more classic look consider function.... an 80 with lockers is WAY more capable than a 60 without... classic looks omly wins out in my books if it really it as functional but it's not. The 80 is way more capable off road. Even having fulltime drive is nice bacause it throws less rocks and the rear doesn't hop on gravel.
An 80 with mods can look pretty cool.
I'd get an 80. You can always eye the 60s from a far, I do. They do look neat but .... just not as capable and comfortable.
- The 60 does look more classic and I like the style better but that's not enough in my books.
- The 80 rides way better and I mean much much better. I must be the coils in the 80.
- Road noise is much better in the 80 but then I had a diesel 60 series.
- The 60 is slightly larger in the back.
- The 80 is much nicer to cruise the highway in. Totally effortless, the 60 was much more a chore to drive. Way cool but still a hassle to drive. The power in 80 makes it safer as well.
- Simon is right on about the rust factor. My 60 was rusting bad and this was the main driver to replace it before I had to spend big $$ on it.
- mods are easier on the 80 series.
I find that I'm much more likely to head off on little wheeling/fishing trips in the 80 just because it's much more relaxing to go drive 4 hours to the mountains. In the 60 I had to really plan out trips to make it worthwhile. In the 80 I can just hop in spur of the moment and drive for 4 hours to my camp spot.
While the 60 does have a more classic look consider function.... an 80 with lockers is WAY more capable than a 60 without... classic looks omly wins out in my books if it really it as functional but it's not. The 80 is way more capable off road. Even having fulltime drive is nice bacause it throws less rocks and the rear doesn't hop on gravel.
An 80 with mods can look pretty cool.
I'd get an 80. You can always eye the 60s from a far, I do. They do look neat but .... just not as capable and comfortable.
Do like me and find a 60 on Ebay with a TBI V8 conversion, rust free, for $3360. You have to get on when the auction is ending at 1 in the morning and the rest of the guys on this forum are in bed. I drove the 60 from northern Cal to Texas no prob. Even went through LA in traffic and visited Specter. Kind of loud but if you want quiet get a Lexus. The 60 is the ultimate wagon. I am 6'1" and sleep in the back on camping trips stretched out. One word: cavernous. Swallows cargo, guns, dogs, armoires, irregularly shaped objects of art, lumber, FJ40 parts (except axles), washer/dryer combos, cats (just kidding), deer feeders, girlfriends, and large stamp collections while still leaving room for more guns. Then there's the roof rack...
The 60 feels solid. Wheelbase is great for climbing and for on road stability. If you can find one with a V8 they are fun to drive fast around town and powerful on highway. 2F is probably great too. I have never driven an 80 but they are more complex as stated above and more to go wrong. Leaf springs are simple and very durable. I think coils probably flex more though.
I would never trade my 60 for and 80. I am a 40 guy who never thought of a 60 till the Ebay buy, now it's my go to truck. I drive it to work all the time. I am trying to resist becoming a wagon guy but its hard not to after you drive a 60.
The 60 feels solid. Wheelbase is great for climbing and for on road stability. If you can find one with a V8 they are fun to drive fast around town and powerful on highway. 2F is probably great too. I have never driven an 80 but they are more complex as stated above and more to go wrong. Leaf springs are simple and very durable. I think coils probably flex more though.
I would never trade my 60 for and 80. I am a 40 guy who never thought of a 60 till the Ebay buy, now it's my go to truck. I drive it to work all the time. I am trying to resist becoming a wagon guy but its hard not to after you drive a 60.
- Thread starter
- #48
Doc B,
So your truck already had a 350 in it, when you purchased it? What kind of mileage do you get on the highway? Is it hard to keep it at 70-80 m.p.h. on the interstate?
So your truck already had a 350 in it, when you purchased it? What kind of mileage do you get on the highway? Is it hard to keep it at 70-80 m.p.h. on the interstate?
Gman, I am going to impose upon you my opinion. DO NOT PUT A 350 IN YOUR CRUISER..... Why replace a reliable Toyota powerplant with a piece of shi.....sorry chevy.
Wrong forum to say this, but I don't think there is any comparison. 60 series have the worst of both the 40 and 80 series. They are slow and leaf sprung like the 40, and big, heavy and full of glass like the 80. The only things a 60 have going for them is price. You can get a Yugo cheap too, that doesn't mean it's a good buy.
I've looked at a few 60 series lately, and people still want too much money for what they are. I saw one two weeks ago with no doors or gate at all that the guy wanted $2500 for.
Granted a 60 is still a LC and not a Yugo, but if the choice is between a 60 and an 80, the 80 is the best out-of-the-box Toyota ever imported into the US.
All that being said, I just got a great deal on a 60 (free), and my wife wants me to put a new engine in it so she can drive it. She choose it over a 55 series I was looking at.
I've looked at a few 60 series lately, and people still want too much money for what they are. I saw one two weeks ago with no doors or gate at all that the guy wanted $2500 for.
Granted a 60 is still a LC and not a Yugo, but if the choice is between a 60 and an 80, the 80 is the best out-of-the-box Toyota ever imported into the US.
All that being said, I just got a great deal on a 60 (free), and my wife wants me to put a new engine in it so she can drive it. She choose it over a 55 series I was looking at.
Where is dieselcruiserguy now? A while ago I merely opined that I preferred a Toyota engine over a SBC and he wanted to argue that the SBC was the greatest engine of all time!
overhanger said:
The only thing that the SBC has going for it is cheap parts. Which is needed since you will be fixing it all the time.
- Thread starter
- #53
Gumby,
The 60 is full of glass, actually has more sq. in. than the 80. I like that, more visibility, right?
The 60 I drove, you could feel a few bumps on a rough road, was not bad at all, but I am comparing the ride to my 4-Runner.
So from what I am reading here the big drawback to the 60 is the suspension, which is rough, compared to the 80, and the undersized motor, and lockers.
Does that sum it up?
The 60 is full of glass, actually has more sq. in. than the 80. I like that, more visibility, right?
The 60 I drove, you could feel a few bumps on a rough road, was not bad at all, but I am comparing the ride to my 4-Runner.
So from what I am reading here the big drawback to the 60 is the suspension, which is rough, compared to the 80, and the undersized motor, and lockers.
Does that sum it up?
Grouseman said:
Pretty much. The 80 is an extremely capable 4x4 with all of the creature comforts of a luxury vehicle.
The 60 is a vehicle thats draw is hard to put into words. I recently retired my 60 from DD status, but I miss driving it so much that I take it for a spin almost daily.
Im gonna go ahead and disagree with gumby on this one....the weight of the 60 causes the springs to flex more than the 40s. the 60 has a much better ride than any 40 ive ever been in.
- Thread starter
- #56
Ride
Yes I rode in a 40 series, and it was like riding in a logging truck. No offense guys. The 40 is a great off road truck. But I would not want to ride on the highway for many miles. The 60 did not feel that way.
Yes I rode in a 40 series, and it was like riding in a logging truck. No offense guys. The 40 is a great off road truck. But I would not want to ride on the highway for many miles. The 60 did not feel that way.
Deep South Cruisers
1978 FJ40 ~ 283 V8
daily driving my 60 for almost 10 years now and it's wearing on me but if you drive a 40 for awhile an hop in the 60 the ride almost feels cushy (if that's possible).
I've never been behind the wheel of a 80 series but I'm sure there is no comparison on ride quality or m.p.g. and with guys like Christo Slee hardcore wheeling these rigs and building aftermarket pieces the 80 series is the luxury offroad rig of the future with coils, a.c. and heated seats
I've never been behind the wheel of a 80 series but I'm sure there is no comparison on ride quality or m.p.g. and with guys like Christo Slee hardcore wheeling these rigs and building aftermarket pieces the 80 series is the luxury offroad rig of the future with coils, a.c. and heated seats
- Thread starter
- #58
Ok,
What kind of mpg do you get on your 60 on the highway?
What kind of mpg do you get on your 80 on the highway?
What kind of mpg do you get on your 60 on the highway?
What kind of mpg do you get on your 80 on the highway?
The sig line tells of my preference between the 60/62 and 80 series options. If you want to draw attention to whatever you decide upon, put a snorkel on it and reel 'em in - biggest magnet going.
