Dilemma! Landcruiser 100 or Tacoma build...

[harmen]

Hi Everyone,

I have a dilemma. I have read and followed many postings on this glorious website and now have an issue that needs some feedback so I can make a decision.

I have a 2001 LC 100 (A-Trac) with front arb bumper..no other mods or extras and it has 300 000kms or 199445 miles. I also own a 2013 tacoma sr5 stock long box double cab with 14000kms. I am about to build only one for my daily driver and offroad/overland/bug out vehicle. I will leave the other for the wife and kids. I will be doing the following for the one that gets chosen to be blessed with offroad goodies:

For the tacoma the main things will be: arb front and rear bumper and sliders, lockers front and rear, OME 3" lift, original rims plus tires (probably 33 inch General grabbers or duratracs). Budget about 6k doing work myself with a knowledgeable neighbor mechanic.

For the LC the main things will be: rear arb bumper and tire carrier (I already have arb front bumper), 2.5" or 3" OME medium (or heavy) lift, lockers front and rear, tires on original rims. Budget about 6k. Doing work myself with a knowledgeable neighbor mechanic.

...and other odds and ends for both.

More info:

Tacoma is pretty much new, reliable and again...new. I'd hate to really beat it up on trails. Its also the long box double cab...really long wheelbase so going offroading might be more problematic than the LC.

LC is older...runs like new...I don't want to dump money into it as it is getting up there for kms...condition is really good on the LC but I know things will be needing fixing and if I offroad it more things will come up as usual whereas the tacoma may have less problems in the future bc its younger...not sure if that makes sense but...

Is it wise to invest 6k into the LC which is only worth about 9k or should i put 6k into the tacoma which which is still new?

For offroad usage: medium use perhaps 1 or 2 times per month (i.e. some cool trails in and around Vancouver BC, taking up to camping, perhaps one or two serious runs a year.
Mostly I will be using 90% onroad and the rest offroad. Overland and some recreational use is aim of builds.

Which one do I build up?

Any insights would be helpful. Thanks!!

 

[r2m]

Dilemma??? What "dilemma"?
You're on a 100 series forum. The only answer you'll likely to hear is BUILD THE LC!!
My wife's 98 LC has 265k miles and mine has 216k miles and they both are as strong as the day the rolled off the factory. Don't worry about your LC mileage, it's just getting broken in!

Also, just as a heads up there is not a 3" suspension lift available from anyone. Best you can do is 2.5" and a body lift if you goal is to shod some 35" beasties on your rig.

BTW, if you go to the Taco forum you may read:
Dilemma??? What "dilemma"?
You're on a Tacoma forum. The only answer you'll likely to hear is BUILD THE TACOMA!!

 

[Fitzgerald]

Do you take the wife and kids wheeling? I do, so I sold my Taco for a 100. If I wheeled solo, I'd still have the Taco.

 

[harmen]

Hey! Thanks for the reply...yes..the LC is totally reliable. Liftwise yes...2.5 sorry...i was thinking with the one inch spacer at the back itll be 3 at back. 35's...ill do some research. So milage issue is addressed! Thanks for your input!

Harmen

Dilemma??? What "dilemma"?
You're on a 100 series forum. The only answer you'll likely to hear is BUILD THE LC!!
My wife's 98 LC has 265k miles and mine has 216k miles and they both are as strong as the day the rolled off the factory. Don't worry about your LC mileage, it's just getting broken in!

Also, just as a heads up there is not a 3" suspension lift available from anyone. Best you can do is 2.5" and a body lift if you goal is to shod some 35" beasties on your rig.

BTW, if you go to the Taco forum you may read:
Dilemma??? What "dilemma"?
You're on a Tacoma forum. The only answer you'll likely to hear is BUILD THE TACOMA!!

 

[harmen]

With the family sometimes...mostly with a few buddies 2 max bc they are overweight. Tacoma is indeed tight...and i do like the way the seats make you feel way more in control in the LC.

 

[12guns]

I've had both as well. Build the Cruiser.

 

[kz195688]

I have both too and I do prefer the LC for comfort, power, drivability. The LC is more expensive to build and heavy but the ride and durability is great. I do like the taco for the bed and ease and cost of build. It depends on what you want to do and intended purpose. I would build the LC.

 

[SALTY METHODS]

Taco. Way cheaper to build, more options to build, no real limitations on your build, and a lot lighter.

 

[rusty_tlc]

I'd say sell them both and build an FJ40, because the 40 will take on any trail any where.

Point being: what you build depends on where and how you want to use the truck.

 

[MTKID]

Always loved my various friends Taco's I have wheeled w/, but I have three kids so I have much preferred the interior space of both of my LC's.

 

[TwiceWithHair]

A 2004 single cab Tacoma will go anywhere in stock form in my experience. A couple inches of lift with front/rear lockers and I don't know that the 104" wheelbase can be stopped at all! But as others have stated, your needs will determine the right choice. I personally would not dump money into a long bed, double cab Tacoma to be my off-road truck. What is that, a 140" wheelbase?? Your break over angles and turning radius will be terrible.


...via IH8MUD app

 

[rusty_tlc]

A 2004 single cab Tacoma will go anywhere in stock form in my experience. A couple inches of lift with front/rear lockers and I don't know that the 104" wheelbase can be stopped at all! But as others have stated, your needs will determine the right choice. I personally would not dump money into a long bed, double cab Tacoma to be my off-road truck. What is that, a 140" wheelbase?? Your break over angles and turning radius will be terrible.


...via IH8MUD app

Lets do Fordyce sometime, you bring a 2004 Taco and I'll bring my 75 FJ40.

 

[TwiceWithHair]

rusty, i feel like we are saying the same thing. and thats "shorter wheel base = mo bettah"

 

[bjarnep]

Kind of easy, Wife and children should always have the best and the most safe
Then you can play with your Tacoma.

 

[rusty_tlc]

rusty, i feel like we are saying the same thing. and thats "shorter wheel base = mo bettah"

No I'm saying pick the right truck for what you do.
For some a pick up is the right choice ex: you want to haul a lot of gear and not many people. A long wheel base isn't as big a deal if you want to explore, we covered a lot of miles with our long bed extended cab GMC. On the other hand if you want to do more technical trails the LC might be a better choice. For hard core trails you might want to build something different.

 

[harmen]

Hey guys great advice and a little more as to where my dilemma came from, the use i need it for and finally my choice based on the great advice from you guys.

FJ 40...very nice!

...before the 100 and the tacoma i had a prado and I also had an HDJ81 triple locked, 4.2L diesel, RHD, 3inch lift, snorkel, power rod modification, 3" exhaust, transfer and tranny skids, sliders, roof rack, bumpers, 33" duratracs...gauges...200 000 kms...winch, ice cube maker and fridge!!! i had to sell to pay for the transfer tax on a new house...house or truck...tuck had to go, very traumatic to say the least. It was the best offroad thing ever. Now with two kids and the wife the 100 and the tacoma have really made an impression. i like them both.

The biggest thing is I had the lockers in the hdj and the diesel engine..they were great...I am unfamiliar with this Atrac stuff...thats why the next build will have locked front and rear for sure...the vsc, airbags, stability, smoothness on road etc is way better for the family than the hdj...offroad they would both (taco and 100) have lockers so yaa...i guess its a step up from the 80 except for the solid front axle which, when i win the lottery may be changed out lol.

I want to use for moderate offroad 2 times per month and then "serious" stuff once every 4 months or so.

The 100 is nice it has the vsc which is huge for highway and regular driving safety and also the atrac...once the lockers are in itll be ALMOST like the indestructible 80 probably more capable as it has atrac?? not sure gonna have to find out i guess.

It was a hard choice but the LC 100 is the project and the taco goes to the wife and kids.

1. more seating room
2. better seat position and comfort
3. more power
4. atrac
5. shorter wheelbase
6. already has the arb front bumper
7. taco is still good for kids n wife, they can also use the LC as well once its built (and alarmed and immobilizer installed)
8. LC can be banged up as its "old"
9. It can hold enough...the taco is great for storage but overland stuff will not be my main goal.
10. Turning radius is a factor. where i live there are trees...big ass trees everywhere and the trails zigzag through these often. a taco would be really hard to drive through some of the trails.
11. Vsc for on road safety enroute to the wilderness
12. heated seats
13. sunroof
14. Its a Landcruiser

Thanks for the feedback! This was my first post (long time reader) and thanks for the input. The votes were 6 LC and 2 for Taco.

As soon as i figure out how to better post stuff ill do a build thread.

Happy wheeling.

Harmen

 

[fireball]

Harmen,

Good luck! Based on your intended uses I think you made the right decision. We have a similar situation, 2 kids and a big dog and the 100 series is our family adventure, off roading and camping vehicle. I've been impressed all the places it can go with armor and 33s.

Incidentally, I just bought a BJ74 and it's in Vancouver. I'm coming up your way next month to pick it up. Your note about the immobilizer and alarm scared me a bit, didn't realize that was an issue in those parts!

 

[Spanktron9]

Do you really need 35's on your LC? That's a lot of rubber to turn over and unless you are doing some crazy aggressive stuff, you can handle most trails with 33's and a lift. IMHO, 35's are just more tire than needed and have more downsides daily.

 

[harmen]

Hi,

Congrats on the new purchase! As far as the alarm goes its really not a big issue but after putting om so much kit id just be safe rather than sorry. Also you might want to pop into EBI (extreme bends) to see Steve. Hes the go to guy for everything landcruiser down here. If you need parts or an inspection or just to pick hiw brain....great resource and hes also the head of Coastal Cruisers Association.

Have a good one!

Harmen,

Good luck! Based on your intended uses I think you made the right decision. We have a similar situation, 2 kids and a big dog and the 100 series is our family adventure, off roading and camping vehicle. I've been impressed all the places it can go with armor and 33s.

Incidentally, I just bought a BJ74 and it's in Vancouver. I'm coming up your way next month to pick it up. Your note about the immobilizer and alarm scared me a bit, didn't realize that was an issue in those parts!

 

[harmen]

Hi i am going with 33's. I would live 35 on the trails but overall the truck will be a daily driver as well so yes....33 it is