Does anybody use there 40s for daily driver?

[crave reFleXion]

I daily drive mine and it puts a smile on my face every time I start him up. Also a great conversation starter in an age when a lot of us are either too serious, too busy or too stressed to say G'day to someone else. Just got to stay on top of the maintenance...

 

[4x4veteran]

I only have three cars now. A 2002 dodge Intrepid that was a year old when I got it from my parents, an 84 Fiat X1/9 that I converted to electric in 2000 and a 70 FJ40 that I have had since 1973.

In years past I have driven the 40 to every corner of the U.S. and just about every place in between.
I don't travel much anymore so my daily drive for a week probably doesn't amount to what some drive in a day but when I do drive it is a toss up between the X and the Toy.

The Dodge is all around the most comfortable but just a car while the Toy and the X are unique and when I am driving one I am usually thinking I should have taken the other.

Like I said, unique, so am always getting looks and compliments. Just yesterday I hooked up the car carrier to the Toy to go get a big bottle of co2 argon mix and a roll of carpet padding I was parked in the walmart lot while my wife picked up a couple last minute items when a guy walked by and said nice jeep.

Of course I set him straight.

 

[shelfboy1]

my daily driver for 40 years was an fj40 went everywhere even California and back twice .then to the Dakotas .used it for pulling .mudding rescue work and so many other things sad the we have road salt or I might still be using it for a dd

 

[FJBen]

I daily drove my 40's and loved every minute of it. Sure some days of 100 degree weather, or below zero were a bit tough, and having to use the ice scraper for the inside of the window was a pain, but I loved it. My furthest commute was only 10 miles each way, but in the city without airflow, hot days were brutal.

Currently I only have a BJ74, just took the top of so it's closer to a 40 but; It's WAY more comfortable and drives nicer than more 40's. It makes me miss some of the quirks of the 40s....sometimes.

 

[TCEd]

Having a flexible work start time would be key for using a FJ40 as a daily driver. If you punch a time clock your career could be in jeopardy. ed

 

[pigmony]

I do plan on buying another sti in the future for longer trips and Track,I do own a bunch of motorcycles for the quick and easy ,thinking mostly around the city during the week ,to work and back ,and mountains during the weekend,I do plan on driving her all winter ,any experience with winter driving?

Yeah, I've got a bit of winter driving experience. Montana doesn't like to use salt. Sometimes they don't like to plow either. The roads develop a base of packed snow which is pretty good to drive on if you have good tires. Good tires means soft rubber with sipping, plenty of tread left, and possibly studs. Studs are definitely nice, but something like the Bridgestone Blizzak works well without them. As the weather turns toward spring that base pack started to break up. You end up with "potholes" in the snow pack, which tend to be hiding potholes under the snowpack. In short, the roads get really rough. This is a situation that does not favor a short wheelbase. The shorter the wheelbase, the less deviation from straight ahead is required to start moving the vehicle left or right.

Example: It's late winter and you're driving the 40. You come up to an intersection in town that has a stop light. Your light is green and you're going straight, so you maintain speed. Lets call it 25 mph. The areas where cars generally stop for a red light have broken snowpack. You hit that broken, bumpy, mess of snow at 25 mph just before going into the intersection. The front end bounces right just a bit. You correct left just a bit. You hit another bump and the front end bounces just a bit left but you're already correcting left. The short wheelbase causes the truck to veer pretty significantly into the oncoming traffic. You now have to make a big correction right. Maybe you jab the brakes somewhere in the mix? Well, now the front brakes are locked up. Are you in 4WD? You're going to need to tap the gas to get the wheels spinning again so you can steer.

In Michigan they use TONS of salt so it's a different set of issues in the winter. The roads are either covered in snow because the plows haven't been through yet, absolutely clear, or slushy and icy because it's too cold for the salt to work. Studded tires are illegal in Michigan too. I liked to run really narrow tires in the winter in Michigan. My theory was that the narrow tires could cut through the slush better. They still needed to be soft rubber, sipped, and with plenty of tread on them.

To make a wall of text into a short statement. I don't drive my 40 very much in the winter. If I do drive it, I generally don't drive it to town.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

I drive mine daily within reason. Road conditions, weather, activities, etc.

If there's a slight chance that I may go fishing after work, I drive it, if I'm going fishing, I'm driving it.

 

[firestopper]

YES! everyday.

 

[TCEd]

In Michigan they use TONS of salt so it's a different set of issues in the winter. The roads are either covered in snow because the plows haven't been through yet, absolutely clear, or slushy and icy because it's too cold for the salt to work. Studded tires are illegal in Michigan too. I liked to run really narrow tires in the winter in Michigan. My theory was that the narrow tires could cut through the slush better. They still needed to be soft rubber, sipped, and with plenty of tread on them.

Not much salt up here and every spring I clean about a yard of sand from the garage floor. Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires are amazing.

 

[thecrazygreek]

This is more about you than the 40.

I daily my Dec of 78. It has a sniper fuel injection system installed which has made the difference for me.
I also added a pretty nice stereo system because I like my tunes.

Mine is not a restored rig but has original paint, so that makes it less worrisome to do whatever I want in it.

And the happiness I get driving it makes all the difference.

 

[Honger]

I drive mine daily within reason. Road conditions, weather, activities, etc.

If there's a slight chance that I may go fishing after work, I drive it, if I'm going fishing, I'm driving it.

I like the whole relationship you have between fishing and the 40... smart...

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

I like the whole relationship you have between fishing and the 40... smart...

I had to take a drive today.

 

[tls3601]

As I have a long commute 100 miles round trip per day, mine is not my DD. However on weekends I am either in my ‘78 or ‘76. If not driving I am doing something to them. They are both a labor of love. Keeps me out of trouble.

 

[Cody Quesnelle]

I daily drive mine and it puts a smile on my face every time I start him up. Also a great conversation starter in an age when a lot of us are either too serious, too busy or too stressed to say G'day to someone else. Just got to stay on top of the maintenance...

Lol ...most cars I’ve owned I get in and drive to my destination just looking at my forty makes me happy.and I definitely appreciate the reaction from other land cruiser fans when they see i

I only have three cars now. A 2002 dodge Intrepid that was a year old when I got it from my parents, an 84 Fiat X1/9 that I converted to electric in 2000 and a 70 FJ40 that I have had since 1973.

In years past I have driven the 40 to every corner of the U.S. and just about every place in between.
I don't travel much anymore so my daily drive for a week probably doesn't amount to what some drive in a day but when I do drive it is a toss up between the X and the Toy.

The Dodge is all around the most comfortable but just a car while the Toy and the X are unique and when I am driving one I am usually thinking I should have taken the other.

Like I said, unique, so am always getting looks and compliments. Just yesterday I hooked up the car carrier to the Toy to go get a big bottle of co2 argon mix and a roll of carpet padding I was parked in the walmart lot while my wife picked up a couple last minute items when a guy walked by and said nice jeep.

Of course I set him straight.

Right on my father had ...has a x19 cool little car

 

[OR tojo]

drive my '64 every day, to work and around town.. not to far out of town

as it tops out around 50 mph.

 

[Cody Quesnelle]

Nice I like reading that people on the regular .....nice 40 I think tan 40s look great

 

[Cody Quesnelle]

Nice I like reading that people on the regular .....nice 40 I think tan 40s look great

* use there 40s on the regular

 

[cuteo100]

Life is too short, drive the damn truck.

 

[FJ404345]

Driving a 40 daily becomes a way of life, I like to drive another 40 daily

 

[mrboatman]

Mine is my daily not restored just well maintained!! Blew the engine once transfer case blew up once. Repaired both and still drive it. When I retired I decided it was time to upgrade to power disk brakes and power steering, Lexus power seats and ARB`s front and rear. I had it painted but told my paint guy I don`t want to cry when I go off road.
JP