Considering a 100 - looking for advice!

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Bluelespaul

Joined
May 12, 2026
Threads
2
Messages
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Location
Denver, Colorado
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Prior TJ guy here (2001 Sport, 2006 Rubi, 2005 Rubi): don't let the new platform intimidate you. Yes, there is are more electronics, but really the biggest thing you'll notice is the high end build quality. That also makes it easier (for me) to justify keeping it running. Working on an older/beater domestic vehicle is not the same.
 
So for Poison Spider/Golden Spike/Steel Bender, the TLCA Event "Cruise Moab" requires at least a rear locker and 35's (315's) which isn't to say that it can't be done with less, just used that to identify that you're right at the top of what tire can fit under a 100 that retains IFS. Having said that, the 100 is an extremely capable Overlander with the benefit of the V8 and the comfort of a semi-modern 4X4 wagon. Great platform for camping. We 100 owners are starting to run into the NLA-situation on some of the common parts needed to maintain them.
 
99 have the weaker front diff from what I recall, so if you actually off road and do any rock crawling maybe something to think about. Putting in a front locker does strengthen it some I believe.

I wouldn't call the 100 series complicated to work on. Def will be sticker shock on the replacement parts coming from a jeep though. Every major part seems like double or triple. For a while it felt like I was dropping 1K left and right refreshing the drive train and suspension parts. But the good news is you can count on probably doing that once for the remainder of your ownership.
 
Patassa said:
99 have the weaker front diff from what I recall, so if you actually off road and do any rock crawling maybe something to think about. Putting in a front locker does strengthen it some I believe.

I wouldn't call the 100 series complicated to work on. Def will be sticker shock on the replacement parts coming from a jeep though. Every major part seems like double or triple. For a while it felt like I was dropping 1K left and right refreshing the drive train and suspension parts. But the good news is you can count on probably doing that once for the remainder of your ownership.
Click to expand...

So the '98-'99 comes with a 2 pinion front diff and it still performs really well, just doesn't like sudden changes in traction while spinning wheels. A locker in the front completely removes this "weak link" and transfers the "breaking point" out to the "easier-and-cheaper-to-replace" CV's. The other option is to install a 2000-2002 front diff that retains the 4.30 gears but is a 4 pinion unit.
 
Thanks guys, I really appreciate all the input!

Funny - I unknowingly ran into a gang of LCs during Cruise Moab a few years ago on Fins n Things. Seemed the Toyota guys were a bit more trail aware than most groups I've come across and let me and a few other TJs pass because we were going a bit faster than them.

I'm not terribly worried about hard rock crawling in the short term (don't want to scramble the baby's brains on rocks too bad!) but it is good to know that I'd only be a lift and 35s away from that kind of stuff being accessible in a few years.

Hoping the seller is up for a little price negotiation and I'll write back in if I can get the deal done!

Thanks again!
- Matt
 
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