Are they good trucks? Really?

[CruiseOrlando]

Thread summary:

- You can get further around here asking for help vs complaining

- You're driving a very expensive truck that's old. If you're not wheeling it, that means you're buying into the 'reliability' image. But the price tag on that vehicle hasn't changed, nor has its age.

- You really DON'T know what you're getting unless you bought it new. But you will learn... oh, how you will learn...

- All of this stuff above is why my wife leases a GLK ... she can't stand to be seen in my truck. In other words, you stand a better chance of not being frustrated if you keep things in perspective...

PS: Love mine. 182K, zero problems other than the ones I've created on the trail...

 

[Infidel]

If your A/C is weak, then it probably just needs a recharge. If it's from CA it probably got used all the time.

 

[cruiserdan]

My wife on a daily drive in hers:

 

[cruiserdan]

IN order to improve the reliability she changed the color....

 

[Azca]

Perhaps this is a better option for you, based on what you have stated in the thread.

ARRGGGG! I rented one of those recently, nice ride and handled fine other than that I was unimpressed. Not to mention it is UGLY!

To the OP, perhaps many have taken your comments the wrong way. The key thing to remember is old vehicles break down. Sad to say electrical insulation, motors, plastic gears etc are about as durable in these rigs as any other make. Get beyond this and you have one exceptional vehicle. They have their quirks and that is one of the endearing features about them. Many previous posts touch on the fact that at this age they are not daily drivers, I drive mine almost every day but I tend to agree with them. They are second and third vehicles now.

 

[mattafact]

Like a 1985 FJ60!

I've been daily driving my 85 FJ60 for over a month now. I daily drove my 87 for about 6 months a couple years ago. There is just something special about it.

 

[ChaseTruck]

... It has been eat, sleep, and think LC for a long time...

Now here's the real problem Doing just that, and reading this here board long enough, and pretty soon you'll be able to make the headgasket go poof just by thinking about it...

 

[2KCruiser]

So is this thing for sale or what. PM me, I will buy it.

 

[raynyc]

If it makes you feel any better , the first year my 540i 6spd BMW was out of warranty I spent over $17k in maintenance this didn't include the $3k suspension and $6k for rims and tires , oh and $5500 for big brake kit ... I sold it for $10k

 

[swamp-thing]

The reality is, it's never going to be perfect, don't sweat the small stuff, fix what you can, drive it a bunch and see if it grows on you. We all share in these fj80 personality flaws, some have more tolerance than others. At least your sun visor isn't sagging down and smacking your forehead... yet.

 

[BrotherRob]

Now here's the real problem Doing just that, and reading this here board long enough, and pretty soon you'll be able to make the headgasket go poof just by thinking about it...

You mean OCD is contagious?

 

[Ballsie]

So is this thing for sale or what. PM me, I will buy it.

Sorry, The truck isnt for sale. I was just frustrated with it the other day and lashed out!

You wouldnt believe all the PMs I got aout selling it.


Thanks to all the members that have offered to help fix things, but I repaired all the issues as they happened. My OCD wont let me drive around with a broken seat gear or a dash warning light. I feel like I already know the truck pretty well.

Next task is to tidy up the E-Brake. It doesn't hold the truck unless its on the very last click. Inspection is coming at the end of the month and I dont know if that will pass.

 

[94SRUNNER]

Good to hear you are keep her and bring her back to fighting shape!

 

[Stumpalama]

Sorry, The truck isnt for sale. I was just frustrated with it the other day and lashed out!

You wouldnt believe all the PMs I got aout selling it.


Thanks to all the members that have offered to help fix things, but I repaired all the issues as they happened. My OCD wont let me drive around with a broken seat gear or a dash warning light. I feel like I already know the truck pretty well.

Next task is to tidy up the E-Brake. It doesn't hold the truck unless its on the very last click. Inspection is coming at the end of the month and I dont know if that will pass.

Be sure to lube the axle pivot connection point with a penetrating lube. Also, the pivots on the rear backing plates are exposed to a lot of water and tend to bind... They can be gotten at by undoing the cable connection, moving the boot, spraying the pivot with a penetrating lube. You can also get at it by removing the brake disc, but I had success with the less intrusive method.

Though it may be worth pulling the disk to check the ebrake mechanism itself and make sure the self adjuster is able to move freely. You should be able adjust the ebrake by driving in reverse and pulling the e brake handle. There is also an adjuster on the ebrake handle, under the pleather cover. It has a plastic locking knob on it. Remove the knob and tighten the 10mm nuton the threads. I like to use a vice grip at the top to relieve pressur on the nut. A swivel retcheting 10mm box end wrench make easy work in the confined space.
HTH.

Oh, and once you've done these things to baseline it I suspect you will be VERY happy with the trucks performance and longevity.

 

[wagonteeth]

I drive my 80 about once a week. It had a somehwat hard life before it became mine, as is noted by the inverse custom body work around the rockers and rear quarters (and drivers door, hood, ARB and other spots). Every time I get in it and pull out of the driveway, it feels great to drive compared to my 4Runner. After a day and a couple hundred miles, I'l tired of driving it and it feels heavy, fat and lazy. I get in my 4Runner and it's peppy, responsive and quick. after a week of driving the 4R, I'm tired of it and get back in the 80.

It's a viscous cycle <-- (get it?)

 

[ericbirk]

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

I watch the news and what do I see, guys running around in various ancient Toyota LC's or pickups in the middle of nowhere. Just a guess but I don't think regular maintenance is something any of them do. The name Land Cruiser is world renowned for a reason.

I had a built 02 Taco before my 80. I saw my first 80 on a wheeling trip, with some guys I had just met, about 2 years ago and absolutely fell head over heels. See they never sold them here and the LX is rare. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING seemed better designed, and tougher than on my Taco. Now I did love that truck but the says only 1 toy at a time and I guess you know which way I went.

I love wrenching on it, I love driving it, I love wheeling it. My work truck is a 2012 F350, which sees about 50,000+km's a year. I get out of it and take my 80 to the grocery store simply because I love how it drives, everything about it is better, except fuel economy and power . In my opinion, for my needs, there isn't any other vehicle that can drive hrs down the highway in comfort, wheel/camp, and drive home.

My only issue is that I am already sad that at some point it will need to be replaced, and there isn't any other vehicle that can fill that void.

 

[gtfour43]

The best part about the 80 being older and prone to issues is that there's MUD. You can fix anything on your 80 with the help from MUD. I have never seen any other forum with as much knowledge available like here.

 

[DSRTRDR]

considering how many problems are posted on this forum, it just doesn't instill confidence that an 80 could be reliable

yeah, I bought one that died on the way to the bank (for the sale to me)

 

[jcardona1]

considering how many problems are posted on this forum, it just doesn't instill confidence that an 80 could be reliable

yeah, I bought one that died on the way to the bank (for the sale to me)

Should we start a thread every time we make a trip and the 80 got us back home without issues?

 

[TDavidson]

This thread should be required reading before purchase of an 80.

I bought mine for $3.5k sight unseen to have something to work on. So simple and robust. Probably put another $4k into her including winter tires. We use her to access the Canadian Rockies backcountry. A lot of issues left to fix but nothing that stops her. It's all in what you want and expect.