Thanks for the link! Awesome!
Dedicated 4X4 expedition FJ60 or do everything 100?
- Thread starter KlausVanWinkle
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Thanks for the link! Awesome!
- Thread starter
- #22
Yup. Always looking for an excuse to get another LC.
100 v 60
Keep the 100. It will go everywhere you want to go in CA and then some. My goal, as written in my build thread, is to keep the truck as simple and stock as possible, only modifying as needed based on feedback from my trips (i.e. I wont get a front bumper until the cheap plastic one get sufficiently damaged or ripped off). It sounds like you are thinking along similar lines. I went through the 60 v 80 v 100 thing when I went to buy a new truck and when you put all the numbers in a spreadsheet and consider things like comfort and safety the 100 easily beats the other two. The 60 is a nice romantic overland dream but its going to cost a lot more than you think to get it to be reliable, comfortable and functional for exploring. I did a pretty detailed number crunching exercise on it.
You are very close to having your truck ready to hit the trails and have some fun. Just new tires alone will open a lot more opportunities out here. Add a lift and you are ready to go. I have 2.5" and 295's and the places I can take the truck as it stands now keeps amazing me.
So throw on some new shoes and lets hit the trails.
Keep the 100. It will go everywhere you want to go in CA and then some. My goal, as written in my build thread, is to keep the truck as simple and stock as possible, only modifying as needed based on feedback from my trips (i.e. I wont get a front bumper until the cheap plastic one get sufficiently damaged or ripped off). It sounds like you are thinking along similar lines. I went through the 60 v 80 v 100 thing when I went to buy a new truck and when you put all the numbers in a spreadsheet and consider things like comfort and safety the 100 easily beats the other two. The 60 is a nice romantic overland dream but its going to cost a lot more than you think to get it to be reliable, comfortable and functional for exploring. I did a pretty detailed number crunching exercise on it.
You are very close to having your truck ready to hit the trails and have some fun. Just new tires alone will open a lot more opportunities out here. Add a lift and you are ready to go. I have 2.5" and 295's and the places I can take the truck as it stands now keeps amazing me.
So throw on some new shoes and lets hit the trails.
Did you post this in the 60 forum?
I recently bought a 100, but love my BJ60, would take both anywhere. Currently anywhere consists of camping for me though, with 2 small children and one a on the way its hard to get anything else in.
Cant go wrong either way, and if you like the look of the 60 give it try.
Just my humble, inexperience thought.
I recently bought a 100, but love my BJ60, would take both anywhere. Currently anywhere consists of camping for me though, with 2 small children and one a on the way its hard to get anything else in.
Cant go wrong either way, and if you like the look of the 60 give it try.
Just my humble, inexperience thought.
- Thread starter
- #28
I like your thinking!
@samwise. I think we'd all love a BJ60. 20+mpg?!
Don't worry everyone. I'm keeping the 100 and building it up as we speak. This thread got more traction than I expected.
Read my sig line
Spressomon makes a good point, the 2F in the FJ60 is not a power house, even without the 1000 # of gear he suggest you will be switching between 3 and 4 a lot on grades.
Spressomon makes a good point, the 2F in the FJ60 is not a power house, even without the 1000 # of gear he suggest you will be switching between 3 and 4 a lot on grades.
I'd stick with just the 100. I've had a 60, I liked it, I wouldn't want to deal with the additional expense and trouble of owning a 60 in addition to the 100.
KlausVanWinkle said:
The folks at Overland Journal installed a diesel in a well worn 60. Think it was a crate motor. Once it was broken in they saw 25+ mpg!
What a dream!
Speaking strictly as a family man, build up the 100. All of the "cons" of going with the 100 will be outweighed by the lack of complaints from the comfort of the 100 by all family members. That is something you can't put a price tag on.
If I were a single man? 60 all the way.
If I were a single man? 60 all the way.
the 100 won't go everywhere in CA. I would never take my 100 on the Rubicon, Fordyce, Dusy Ershim etc... these are beautiful trails that an overlanding 100 would get destroyed on. I love my 100 but I also have an 85 4runner for the tougher stuff. Two vehicles is the way to go. In fact I tow my 4runner with my 100 to the trailhead or campground when I want to explore the rough stuff. Now thats truly the best of both worlds.
Last edited:
I agree with this, HOWEVER, the OP is looking for a vehicle to "...explore all the ORV parks, trails, ghost towns, etc that CA and the west has to offer. " I think he IS looking for more of an overlanding vehicle rahter than a hardcore 'Con slaying rock-crawler. If he wants a crawler, get a mini rather than a 60.
My 4runner only has 33" tires, not really a rock crawler. I am just saying that it would be a shame to miss out on the beauty of these places because of the limitations of your vehicle. It's too bad the FJ cruiser is so damn ugly, has horrible visibility, only two real doors and is full of hard plastic. It is also too bad the 200 series is way too big(like the new 4runner) and cumbersome and expensive. Why can't Toyota just make us a vehicle that is well built not too big not to small not too ugly and not too expensive. Like a 100 series (interior luxuries included) at about 85% of it's original size with the drivetrain of the fj. that sounds good to me. I know ,way off topic.
If only they sold it stateside...
I guess they already do build the perfect vehicle. Too bad they think most Americans would rather have an Fgay Cruiser than a 70. It's also too bad that they are probably right.
I still think barring some of the more hardcore trails, building up a 100 would be a great balance between travel comfort and off-road capabilities. But I do wish, sometimes, for a slimmer rig, and preferably with an open top. Which pisses me off that Toyota put a faux-hardtop on the FJ's and suicide doors. Been looking for a family fun vehicle lately and the 4-door JK keeps popping into my head.
I am with you on that one. That new JK motor sure has sweetened the deal. I have always been dedicated to Toyota but they sure have forgotten what made us like them in the first place. By the way, where did the mini truck go?
- Thread starter
- #40
Yup I'm still waiting for the soft top FJC they promised back in 2004 or 5.
I wonder how many orders Toyota would need to import the HZJ76 to the US. The G550s sell like hot cakes over here in West LA. The 76 is probably more capable and a fraction of the cost for he same look. Drape that thing in leather and send it over. Preferably the V8 Diesel but even the new 4runner V6 would be nice.