Are they good trucks? Really?

[86tuning]

It's been said before by somebody (I forget who) that an old luxury car is like a high maintenance lady that doesn't know she's gotten old. Still requires the big bucks for upkeep...

Same applies to the 80. Mine has been problem free since the day I got it almost four years ago. All of the issues I've had have been self-induced (mostly from dragging the belly over rocks) so perhaps my experience isn't typical.

Actually I did replace the antenna pole when I first got it. And had to replace the wiper blades too. Used genuine parts, no issues since.

 

[thadscottmoore]

I apologize for potentially flaming you. But, you have to consider the age of a vehicle- things wear out over time... yes, we are potentially crazy for our passion in tinkering, at least I am. I bought mine with every intention of modifying it over time and building something that is unique and suits me. I love the straight axle build. These things were over engineered when they designed them. most new SUVs dont have nearly the metal that things came with stock. when I bought mine- I wasnt expecting a perfect family vehicle- I saw a diamond in the rough- and that caught my eye! it has the old 3FE which is practically a tractor engine- not the strongest motor- but, that thing has got me through some crud over the years. I do plan on doing a heart transplant with a cummins diesel power plant (would do a toyota diesel power plant- but, they are a little too proud of them for me to afford). Heck, I just inherited my fathers pride and joy truck (96 GMC extended cab with a 2007 Vet motor, transmission and rear end) and I just had to do a complete brake job on it- and it was a garage queen most of its life. it just was never driven- and that can be worse then high mileage... seals and gaskets need to be replaced due to its inactivity sitting in the garage and driven once in a blue moon to a show... if your not a mechanically inclined person- find something newer with a warranty. not trying to be mean, just saying...

 

[jcardona1]

It was a very simple question that has somehow bothered a lot of people.

No. You started a rant thread whining like a nancypants claiming the truck is unreliable because you had to fix the antenna, power seats and door locks. Don't you realize how absurd you sound talking about "reliability" when the issues you had have nothing to do with reliability?

What kind of responses did you expect. It's not just a Land Cruiser thing. Try it on any forum with any car and you'll get the same reaction.

 

[kidglove13]

There's lot of 80s up here, my old neighbor is the one with the lifted black 80.

Go to the middle east, 80's are on every corner petrol and diesel alike.

 

[retrofive]

I don't have electric seats in my 80; antenna is long gone, door locks?! well 1/2 of them work and not hard to fix.

A pile of records?! I never knew replacing a relay was on the schedule. My bad.

80's aren't for everyone. Treat it good and it will treat you back. 7 yrs now of ownership and never has left me stranded.

 

[C6H12O6]

It's also worth pointing out that regular, on-time, dealer maintenance (oil changes, brake jobs, front end service, etc.) seems to have worked as designed here. No catastrophic engine or transmission failures. No major suspension or steering issues. No mechanical failures of any major system at all.

Nothing on the OP's list of problems is even remotely addressed by routine maintenance. The Toyota service intervals don't call for antenna masts or seat gears being greased. There is no dealer door lock service on the list.

That said, I get where the OP is coming from. I've been experiencing a bit of a crisis of faith with the 80 lately. New car for the wife, some time behind the wheel of my friends FJ this summer and a newer Tundra for my fishing buddy have me wondering if the 80 is really worth dropping a small fortune into over the next few years to bring it back to the level I really want it to be. I could EASILY spend a new Tundra payment worth on the 80 every month for the next few years and still be driving a banged up old 20 year old truck. I love it, but not sure I love it enough. But then, I do keep ending up back at the 80 whenever I really try to figure out what I'd rather drive more.

 

[BullElk]

Ballsie, Since 1996 I have had six LX/LCs for me and my wife and still have three of the six today. All have been daily drivers with mine going hard in the woods 5-6 days per week managing timberland and wildlife, checking game cameras, etc. Without exception, every one of them have absolutely amazed me with their durability, reliability and low cost. My '96 with nearly 400k miles and very little to no problems nor cost. I could not ask more from any vehicle. However, I am convinced that praying earnestly for the right vehicle has been big part of it.

I am quite sure that if your LX has had more than averaged problems then it is definitely the exception. Also, even though 155k miles is not a lot, I think any GMC product with those miles and no problems is definitely the exception to the rule.

 

[Stumpalama]

You bought a USED VEHICLE from some one who CLAIMS to have cared for it... Have you diagnosed the issues and determined a cause? Is it possibly a bad ground or worn wire? What have you done before you voice your issues to a larger audience?







Sent from my HTC6990LVW

 

[B Point]

I bought my HDJ81 6 months ago for $22,000. $12,000 for the truck and $10,000 put away in an account for stuff that will be needing service over the next few years. I love this truck but..my eyes are also wide open....

 

[surfpig]

Thanks for the constructive input, man.

I never asked if the truck was "reliable." Everyone is flaming me because apparently I said that LC's are not reliable.... Please go back and read the thread, because I never said that.

I seem to be getting crucified for asking if I should expect to continue to have things break literally EVERY OTHER WEEK. I have had the truck for 12 weeks and I have had to buy parts and repair 6 different things. I am not a pussy. I take care of my own cars. I just didnt expect to ALWAYS have to fix something on this truck.

It was a very simple question that has somehow bothered a lot of people.

I guess I dont fit in on this forum because Im not a rock crawling, Mountain Dew drinking, cool cruiser head that doesnt give a crap if the truck sinks in the lake as long as it runs. My wife drives it during the week and I haul deer out of the woods with it on weekends. Nothing more.

I want everything on my truck to work properly. I have a very nice 16 yr old specimen that is garage kept and still gets washed/waxed regularly.

Forgive me for annoying or offending anyone with my questions.

I sort of feel your pain. You just have to go through everything and fix it. Or not. Some of the s*** you are complaining about is totally pointless from a functional standpoint. I'm new to this 80 thing too, but from a different angle, my first cruiser was an FJ55 basket case.

Welcome to the sickness.

 

[Ballsie]

you seem to be coming around a bit.
you do seem to have a fondness for the 80

I would do a search on here and read, search for cost of ownership.

Like others have said including myself, there is not have to do anything reliable, and there is it will get me home and not leave me stranded reliable even with issues.

I will not bash you for not liking an 80, that is your choice.

I think that you have just hit a bad string of minor problems that has agitated you maybe not.

An 80 is not for everyone, please do a search and do some reading about ownership and what really goes into it.

I believe it is not what you really think it is, because it is not like owning a toyota pickup or 4runner.

There is a reason they were still making 80 series and selling them down in south america up until not to long ago for a reason.

If I recall they stopped making the 80 for south america in 2007

I just re-read my original post. I think it came across the wrong way. It sounds like I just stumbled upon my 80 and I don't give a crap about it.. When It has been eat, sleep, and think LC for a long time.

I know all the problems are minor, I just need a break from them so I can enjoy the truck this deer season.
I know it's old.
I know it uses a lot of gas.
I know it's not a good daily driver.

But I want to drive an 80, so I have to deal with that.

I couldn't believe the negative responses until I re-read my OP. I'm sorry. I should have worded it differently.

Didn't mean to offend anyone.

 

[BullElk]

No problem. Enjoy your deer season and take your smart phone with you so you can tap on your IH8MUD favorite places to learn more than you can comprehend from very smart and experienced 80 MUDDERS.

 

[RAYJON]

Having had 3 80 series, and my 93 has almost 300k miles on it, they arn't perfect but my wife's daily driver for 12 years was a 97 fzj80, three kids and two dogs abused it and it was still one of the best trucks I have ever had. All the stuff you mention does go bad but it's a age thing nothing wrong with the vehicle,
An fj80 is a tank, the reason I bought one originally was I saw one that had been in a accident, and it held up great the ford pickup that hit it didn't fair so well,
they are a great rig on and off road.. Mine has never failed to make it home from places most people will never see..
Give it a little time it will grow on you...

 

[retrofive]

I just re-read my original post. I think it came across the wrong way. It sounds like I just stumbled upon my 80 and I don't give a crap about it.. When It has been eat, sleep, and think LC for a long time.

I know all the problems are minor, I just need a break from them so I can enjoy the truck this deer season.
I know it's old.
I know it uses a lot of gas.
I know it's not a good daily driver.

But I want to drive an 80, so I have to deal with that.

I couldn't believe the negative responses until I re-read my OP. I'm sorry. I should have worded it differently.

Didn't mean to offend anyone.

And also on 'mud

https://forum.ih8mud.com/hunting-fishing/

 

[nakman]

Ballsie where are you located? We can fix those seats, man.. easy

 

[RolandFJ40]

Ballsie where are you located? We can fix those seats, man.. easy

See this is why I love this effing forum!

 

[BrotherRob]

I just re-read my original post. I think it came across the wrong way. It sounds like I just stumbled upon my 80 and I don't give a crap about it.. When It has been eat, sleep, and think LC for a long time.

I know all the problems are minor, I just need a break from them so I can enjoy the truck this deer season.
I know it's old.
I know it uses a lot of gas.
I know it's not a good daily driver.

But I want to drive an 80, so I have to deal with that.

I couldn't believe the negative responses until I re-read my OP. I'm sorry. I should have worded it differently.

Didn't mean to offend anyone.

This forum is full of threads from frustrated owners ranting about their POS 80. They all get kicked in the shins, talked off the cliff and given a healthy dose of common sense.

You're coming around, hopefully it's the first step on the road to 80 nirvana.

 

[Romer]

I know this has been a very chatty thread. To the originator, you did strike a cord with the way you stated your post

Let me help get it back on track. There is a section on here in the FAQ sticky thread near the top of the forum on thinking of buying a vehicle. Basically it states when you get a used vehicle and you don't know the history (perfect maintenance) you should expect to spend about $2000 on it. Maybe spend less, but that expectation is real

When I bought mine I had to rebuild the front axle, replace the fan clutch, the EGR valve, Spark Plug wires, PCV valve and replace all the fluids. Once I went through everything and brought it up to the condition and I expected it to be and also everything baselined so I could go on a normal maintenance schedule of fluid changes, it was extremely reliable and had very few issues.

The items you list are minor and most of those you could fix fairly cheaply with the help of this forum. This forum was one of the reasons I decided to be a much older vehicle, because I saw it as a recourse to help me solve any problem.

I would expect there are more problems lying in there and you didn't really say you had gone through everything.

You can either finish base lining and deal with a few issues now and then or get rid of it. If you decide to keep it, this forum would be a great resource to help you. It's a personal decision

It is nice to see you realized your first post in this thread was kind of throwing stones. I doubt that was your intent.

For those giving him a hard time, back off

By the way, do post your location. There are a lot of local clubs and guys that will come over and help and share a pizza and beer

 

[80t0ylc]

I know this has been a very chatty thread. ........................By the way, do post your location. There are a lot of local clubs and guys that will come over and help and share a pizza and beer

Excellent post, Romer! But then, that's what mods do, right - keep things in perspective?

To the OP: I've read through this whole thread, but was bothered by people that referenced your 1st post as claiming you got the rig for a DD for your wife. It wasn't in your 1st post, but in your 2nd you mentioned:

..............This is my wifes daily driver and I dont want to be working on it all the time. I thought this was going to be your average 250k mile Toyota with no major issues. I planned on spending time and money modding it, not just keeping it on the road.

Im going to move it and get something that isn't going to break the bank on gas and parts.

Anyway, I guess my point is that when I bought my '94 in 1999, it was 5 yrs old and had 129k miles on it already and was a pavement princess, but well cared for. Mine's been extremely reliable - even for the little things. Your '97 you bought this year is 16 years old with approx same milage that mine had 14 yrs ago. Some one in this thread mentioned the "use it or lose it" philosophy and I think that might have some bearing. Even though your previous original owner took "good care" and the maintenance was well documented, the rig obviously did a lot of sitting around. That can be harder on the components than regular use. Especially if it is now used as a DD. As you've seen, you're gonna have some fall out. And there will probably be some other issues that surface. But I have to agree with others that have posted their loyalties to the 80. For me, it has been hands down, the best rig of any kind, that I've owned.

 

[OGBeno]

Everyone who is even considering buying an 80 should merely turn to the Shaman for insightful thoughts brought to you by Coors and Arakawa Auto Body (they built CDan as the Land Cruiser parts guru prototype for training and museum purposes).



https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/124556-should-i-buy-80-costs-ownership.html (probably one of the greatest threads about 80 series ownership, period)

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/773072-30-414-03-a.html (money into it)

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/768043-keeping-your-80-up.html (keeping it going into the future)