It doesn't.
80 series Crawler
- Thread starter Broski
- Start date
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The '85 has about $4,500 in it & the '93 has about $9K in it. Buy & build an 80 w/the same amount of money & there's not really a comparison. The mini's win.
my tacoma cost me about 750 bucks to SAS... it all depends on how motivated you are to do things yourself and if you are willing to wait on a deal. 80s just hold more people is what it comes down to for me.
Why are we comparing apples and oranges?
An 80 will never beat a purpose built crawler, then again no production cars will. Sure it can go up a few rocks with relative ease but it's not a crawler nor is mine will ever be built that's way.
We are all here because the 80 is as good as it gets when comes to all around capability which includes hauling multiple people into remote area for camping with lots of comfort. When I go camping I like my comfort and room because I like ice-cream and cheese cakes after a nice meal while camping. Oh I also like my 10x10 canopy, my chairs, my cooler full of beverages(aside from the fridge), my tools, extra clothing, snacks, meats, eggs, vegetables, fruits......yes I bring a lot of crap with me.
I don't see anyone is comparing carrying capacity of a crawler buggy with the 80.
An 80 will never beat a purpose built crawler, then again no production cars will. Sure it can go up a few rocks with relative ease but it's not a crawler nor is mine will ever be built that's way.
We are all here because the 80 is as good as it gets when comes to all around capability which includes hauling multiple people into remote area for camping with lots of comfort. When I go camping I like my comfort and room because I like ice-cream and cheese cakes after a nice meal while camping. Oh I also like my 10x10 canopy, my chairs, my cooler full of beverages(aside from the fridge), my tools, extra clothing, snacks, meats, eggs, vegetables, fruits......yes I bring a lot of crap with me.
I don't see anyone is comparing carrying capacity of a crawler buggy with the 80.
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put simply, the 80 is a fantastic all around 4x4, expedition and camping vehicle. Very capable due to the front solid axle and optional factory lockers. That being said there are better choices for rock crawling.
The best advice is to decide what you are going to be using the vehicle for and then pick one to build up. No one vehicle will do everything the best.
The best advice is to decide what you are going to be using the vehicle for and then pick one to build up. No one vehicle will do everything the best.
+1, this is why everyone needs a buggy, an 80, a 200, a mini van, a convertible, big Sudan, track toy, classic muscle car, classic fararri.........I need to hit the lotto now!
I'd take my 80 over a mini every day of the week for what I use it for.
You know, the only reason that we keep replying back to this thread is because there really isn't any other better subject matter going on right now.
Compair an 80 to a 4Runner or Taco is like compairing
's to 
's or a
to
... They all serve well in their respective categories.
NEXT
Compair an 80 to a 4Runner or Taco is like compairing
's to 's or ato... They all serve well in their respective categories. NEXT
Your right, there's not much going on on here recently.
- Thread starter
- #30
Thanks for all the replies, although I am not new to 4 wheeling, I took 20 plus years off to raise my kids $$$$$ that are now in college. I never lost my passion for 4 wheeling. I have two full size 4 wheelers. I joined the local 4 wheel drive club, SLO 4 Wheelers to get back in the game. My full size rig was too big for most of the trails that they run. When I came across a factory locked '94 80 I scooped it up. Most of the guys in the club are running Toyota's first gen. or Jeeps. Before I invested a lot in the build, I just wanted to know that I could keep up. I don't have to be better or go farther, I just don't want to be the guy draggin' ass on the trail. Boy a lot has changed in 20 year
If you have driving skills and know how to treat the big pig on the trails you will keep up just fine. Your not going to be rock bouncing wide open with the 80. They are very capable though. I have put mine through some very crazy stuff. If I can't get it I just winch. Most of the time I'm winching the mild built mini's and Runner's. With that said I love my 80. I've owned mini's too. If your not planning on trailering your rig again 80 hands down. I'm on 37's, 5.29's, chromoly's, part time kit and the 80 drives like a caddy on the highway and back roads. I laugh a lot of times when I get home from 2-6 hrs up north after wheeling all weekend.
You will be the guy dragging ass following a mini truck or 4runner. Literally 80's have a huge ass. But all that aside you will be dragging it up the obstacle! I performed ass tuck surgery on mine with a DC Fab rear bumper and now drag much less
Coming from owning trailered Jeeps I LOVE my 80's ability to drive comfortably 2k miles across the country loaded with all the gear necessary for a month on the road and run some of the toughest trails when I get to them. Then comfortably drive back home. Seemed like every time I was loading a Jeep back on its trailer to go home something was broken and it NEEDED the trailer.
- Thread starter
- #34
Thread revival
Well almost ten years later the 80 has proven to be a contender, it easily keeps up with the mini trucks and 4runners and a lot of the times make it easier with less attempts
Love It !!
Well almost ten years later the 80 has proven to be a contender, it easily keeps up with the mini trucks and 4runners and a lot of the times make it easier with less attempts
Love It !!
Re-reading this thread after all the things I've done to mine and have on the list or sitting in a pile in the garage gives me a chuckle. And mine has been cheap all things considered. I know you wheel yours all over creation it seems and come back just fine. That's my favorite part, driving it home comfortably under it's own power from 8-12 hours away or further after a week of wheelingThread revival
Well almost ten years later the 80 has proven to be a contender, it easily keeps up with the mini trucks and 4runners and a lot of the times make it easier with less attempts
Love It !!
Thread revival
Well almost ten years later the 80 has proven to be a contender, it easily keeps up with the mini trucks and 4runners and a lot of the times make it easier with less attempts
Love It !!
I'm still a big fan of the 80 series as the best all around production 4x4 ever made, and it can be modded to perfection.
But in your case, i'm pretty sure the driving skills play a big part in making it easy.
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- Thread starter
- #37
Thanks for the kind words!I'm still a big fan in the 80 series als the best all around production 4x4 ever made, and it can be modded to perfection.
But in your case, i'm pretty sure the driving skills play a big part in making it easy.