Are fj60's worth it?

[dwillmo]

are they worth it?

Like somebody said earlier--there's probably more reasonable and practicle vehicles out there, but who wants to drive around in a Taurus. There's not hardly anything that you can pull a sizeable boat or trailer with that gets less than 20 mpg and the difference in cost per mile is not that much and nothing out there looks as good as a cruiser I don't care if its a FJ40, FJ60 or FJ62. They are beautiful, rugged and unique and really fun to drive. If you have to drive 50 miles to work every day, a Cruiser is not a sensible decision. If you really like to work on vehicles, then the Cruiser is the best vehicle to own. But I've never had a vehicle I loved as much as my Cruiser. Its dirty, it needs a paint job and I still look at it and laugh. They are great trucks.

 

[Tofudebeest]

You know, dudes (and sometimes chicks) just have a 'thing' for their rides. A Cruiserhead is a unique breed of grease monkey.

 

[Rigger]

For the purpose of this post, I'm lumping 60's and 62's together. What is it is about Land Cruisers that makes them attractive to me; what is their appeal? I often joke about how these things are slow as turtles, they drink fuel like crazy, and they leak fluids man-o-man do they ever leak! Creature comforts? They have, well, few or none. Their suspensions deliver a firm, stiff ride. If you compare them to other cars, they seem to come up short on so many fronts. Indeed, many Land Cruiser owners will happily show off their Cruisers to you - they smile and say, "Let me show you my junk!" Nonetheless, my heart beats fast for the lone beat-up FJ60 amidst a hundred shiny Blazers, Explorers & Cherokees. The latter seem to have no appeal, no character, no personality. Why is that? I like the simplicity of the Cruiser's systems. Look underneath: two solid axles, four leaf springs, manual front hubs and a stick-operated transfer case. That is one simple and time-tested system. I like the look of the things, too. The sheet metal sculpting is plain and yet elegant, a clean straight beltline and graceful curves at the fenders. They are durable, too. Rugged. They never die, it seems. They are machines; machines that can be worked on when they fail. They have personality. They have mojo. They have moxie.

 

[BlueBoxFJ60]

... and chicks do seem to dig um

i thought of selling/trading mine once and my girlfriend tried to kill me. It also helped get in good graces with her dad, he is a die-hard Toyota loyalist too.

 

[Mikesta]

FJ60's worth it?

Wife owns a 87 60 5spd with a ton of goodies. She opted to sell the Minivan (automatic) and learn to drive standard... and tote around 3 kids under 4. Ask her if its worth it and she'll say HEYL Yea.

 

[kbill45]

60s

Best LC buy out there. Rust free 60s around the Phoenix area are available for under $2k. Got my 86 for $1300 with 10k on a factory rebuild. Had coolant leaking out of the back. Pulled the trans and it had a pin hole in the freeze plug.

Switched gears to 4:11 and added a 38MM Weber. Runs great.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

I have to stop talking about my truck around my gf. She caught me staring at a restaurant last weekend and when she found out it was a truck and not a girl she rolled her eyes.

These trucks are addictions and they are not cheap. If money is the deciding factor you probably shouldn't get one. I have 280,000 mi on my FJ62 and it's fighting like a champ. It's gone through a new radiator, starter, and fuel pump since I bought it six months ago. The only two things left that could go wrong are the engine and the trany.

Buy a truck with a strong drivetrain and engine and all the rest is peanuts.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

I have to stop talking about my truck around my gf. She caught me staring at a restaurant last weekend and when she found out it was a truck and not a girl she rolled her eyes.

that's funny, give her some time. My wife points them out if I miss them - cruisers not girls.

I agree, this year I spent more on my 62 than I did when I bought it. But now I have an FJ62 with a 5 speed which is great.

won't let me sell it if I wanted to.

 

[Tofudebeest]

My first Cruiser was a yellow 78 40, dual fuel. Noisy as all get out. The wife hated it and I got rid of it 3 days later. When I pulled up in Sheila (Aussie HJ60) the fist time, my wife said, "Oh yeah, THAT's MORE LIKE IT!!!" My kids love my truck and I think my neighbor gets a boner when he sees it. A clean, well-accessorized 60 or 62 is a special stunner.

 

[alaska60]

I have to agree with Dynosoar on this.... if your asking.???.... stay away!!! it will always be a way of life and driving. I call it an addiction to this rig! You know this at first sight or feel.

 

[tonyota]

I always wanted a 60...I never questioned if it was worth it...I just knew it was right. Mine is in the project stage right now, but when it gets back together this winter the 85 mini I drive now will be replaced with the 60. I wheel a 85 mini cause I hit things when I wheel. Tight wooded trails here in In.

I got my 150,000 mile 60 with fresh interior, SROR sliders & an aussie in the rear for $1700.00 & very little rust. I have already fixed the rust, am resealing the engine (using Toyota gaskets) & a spring over is in the process. I friggin love it & can't wait to drive it everyday. 60s rule. Toyotas Forever. It's not just a vehicle ...it's a lifestyle, it's a Cruiser.

 

[chicago]

This thread KICKS ASS and perfectly sums up every emotion regarding these rigs.
Though I love my 62 I was considering to trade/ sell mine off this past summer for something a little lighter and smaller and easier to get taller gears in...My wife was about ready to DIVORCE me, and a good friend on here (locrawlin) who is a cruiser guy, but also has a good realistic view of wheelin and rigs, talked me out of it. Glad he did.
Sometimes it seems that the 60s are viewed as the "ugly step child" of the crusiers because of their weight and size and do not get the respect they deserve.
If you love em, you love em.
Its been life altering experience for me and will never again be without one. Id sell my 06 Tacoma before that happens.

Chicago

 

[jvazquez53]

I had a 40 before, which I still miss, my 60 is the next best thing. I also have an 80 but to me, maybe I'm wrong my 60 is more off road capable. The 80 is far more comfortable. Would I get rid of my 60? HELL NO!!!!

 

[BlueHZT60]

Alright, how's this for 60-itis: My first cruiser was a dark blue 87-60 in about 1994. I sold it in 1999 - built and nice for big$$'s. The thought was horse trailer = truck. Well the GMC slut truck fell apart in less than 30 days. I then bought an 84 - blue60 (not to mention probably 3-60's in between there). That one has morphed into my diesel 60. The fun part - I bought back my original truck about 3 months ago at a super price - considering all the goodies and the condition of the goodies. It now has a damaged title, so it is going to be parted into a bronze-87 I've got stashed and then sold. No idea what it is about blue-60's, but I've owned a total of 4 over the years. And Blue 60#2 was re-purchased by its original owner also.

Bob
84-hzt60-built & used & ready for a few key parts from the one below
87-60 OME, Aux tank, ARB, Winch bumper, slider windows, desmog, grant steering, no rust, bad title
87-60, stock, dead engine, bronze - ready to come back to the real world with help from the one above
78-45 - waiting for me to drop in another HZ and be revitalized
95-80, locked, ARB - the comfort mobile

 

[IndianDoc]

Alright, how's this for 60-itis: My first cruiser was a dark blue 87-60 in about 1994. I sold it in 1999 - built and nice for big$$'s. The thought was horse trailer = truck. Well the GMC slut truck fell apart in less than 30 days. I then bought an 84 - blue60 (not to mention probably 3-60's in between there). That one has morphed into my diesel 60. The fun part - I bought back my original truck about 3 months ago at a super price - considering all the goodies and the condition of the goodies. It now has a damaged title, so it is going to be parted into a bronze-87 I've got stashed and then sold. No idea what it is about blue-60's, but I've owned a total of 4 over the years. And Blue 60#2 was re-purchased by its original owner also.

Bob
84-hzt60-built & used & ready for a few key parts from the one below
87-60 OME, Aux tank, ARB, Winch bumper, slider windows, desmog, grant steering, no rust, bad title
87-60, stock, dead engine, bronze - ready to come back to the real world with help from the one above
78-45 - waiting for me to drop in another HZ and be revitalized
95-80, locked, ARB - the comfort mobile

Yer one up on me the third is being restored/modified currently, have had other cruisers but the 60 still makes me smile from ear to ear.

 

[Coyote808]

I've had my 87 FJ60 for a little over two months now, and I only had the chance to drive it about a 1/4 of the way to my house before the radiator hoses decided they had seen better days. They blew up on me and I was stuck on a back alley on the edge of downtown Honolulu. But I loved how it felt. To me, it felt more like what driving was all about. Even more than my 96 Dodge Dakota. There's no way to describe it. The lack of electronics other than those sensors telling you what the engine is doing, nothing controlling anything but you controlling it. It was a wonderful sensation driving it a mere 10 miles, but I loved it, and told my dad, who had been following me on the way back after the purchase, that I don't care if it doesn't run right now, I'll buy the parts and fix it myself. She's a keeper. So far, I'm still waiting on the parts she needs to come in from the mainland, but all the prep work has been as simple as ever. Just been a stubborn rig because it had been sitting for over a year, because the prior owner, a Marine, had just gotten back from Iraq, and he didn't have the time to work on the rig himself. So there it sat for several more months until I gave the guy a call and a low ball offer. Now it's mine.
I guess, to sum it up, if you have to ask, take a quality example one for a test drive and see if you connect with it like many of us have on here. I don't think the sight has anything to do with, more the experience of driving one. And from there, I think you'll have your REAL answer. Except maybe the one from your better half.