Considering a 100 - looking for advice!

[Bluelespaul]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been lurking these forums for a bit as I try to decide whether or not a 100 is right for me and I think I need some advice from you all.

I recently sold my Jeep TJ (lifted & locked on 33s) to make room in the garage for a four door 4x4. We had a baby last year and want to be able to go camping & off roading with the whole family, the TJ was just too small.

On paper the 100 seems to meet all our needs - big, safe, reliable, decently capable offroad - I'll want to get back onto Steel Bender & Poison Spider eventually! Gas mileage isn’t an issue, the TJ got about 14 on a good highway trip.

My questions are a bit more nuanced I think. The 100 I’m looking at is a 1999 with 245k miles. It’s a Texas truck so no rust at all, good service records, and a rear locker as a bonus. Side quest, is $14k a reasonable ask there? Located in the Denver metro area, if that makes a difference.

I’m a decent wrench, at least on smaller, simpler cars, and the only reason I was able to modify and wheel my TJ as hard as I did was because I would do all the work on it myself - was able to save a ton of money of shop labor, ya know. It seems like 100s are more thoroughly built and are significantly more complicated to work on. Is that actually the case or am I just nervous moving into a new platform?

Another option for us is a 3rd or 4th gen 4Runner. They look they could also fit our needs and seem cheaper to buy and maintain but tbh, are not as exciting as a 100.

Any thoughts? Advice? Things I might be overlooking or not thinking about?

Thanks!
- Matt

 

[BullElk]

Although I am not a rock crawler in any way, I have had a '99 LC with the rear locker and several hundys with ATRAC. My personal preference is a 2000 model or newer with ATRAC for the same price. However, any good condition hundy is a great overland camping vehicle.

 

[excessive]

I have a 98 Landcruiser (w/ rear locker) and a 2000 3rd Gen 4runner. they are both great, but the 4Runner is a little toy compared to the size , weight, and capability of the LC.
it all depends on what you're going to do with it, how many people you need to carry, etc. I love both, but the LC beats the 4Runner is pretty much every area. I have off-roaded both, and they are both capable, but the LC is so much more confident and comfortable off-road. and they both get about the same gas mileage. The 98-99s are usually found for a lot less, they are the most simplistic and IMO the most bulletproof version of the 100 series, as there are fewer electronic bull$hit to break.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Have a look at FB market place in DFW/ Houston. Huge car market. 100’s are cheaper. What you describe is not uncommon to go for $8k-10k. Pick up drive back.