ClemsonCruiser
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Life is short and full of monotony take the time to have a real adventure. I promise you driving a FJ40 2,400 cross country will be that and more 
Drive 2,400 miles home?
- Thread starter lawdawg
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MOTOV8R
SILVER Star
My first 40 I bought while visiting family 300 miles from home. Drove it home. It was not very mechanically sound but it made the trip. I definitely knew what I needed to work on after the trip though!
oestlarsen
SILVER Star
I bought 3 vehicles long distance and drove them all home.
A Ducati, an FJ80 and an older 911.
All of the above said, I would drive it...the bonding and adventure factor is huge (good or bad) and it turns into memories and stories.
Btw...the 80 was the only ride that gave me troubles...go figure!
A Ducati, an FJ80 and an older 911.
All of the above said, I would drive it...the bonding and adventure factor is huge (good or bad) and it turns into memories and stories.
Btw...the 80 was the only ride that gave me troubles...go figure!
- Thread starter
- #24
that's a beautiful truck!
LoL
Boy what a neat drive that would be.......... in anything other than winter weather! Wouldn't be cheap or quick but sure would be memorable! Drove many times from PA to Colorado in various vehicles sure would take longer in a 40 than any of the 4Runners or Toy trucks in which I made my trips. For the record I wouldn't even consider driving my 40 that far, it wouldn't be a very comfortable journey. I especially wouldn't want to make the trip without some sort of cruise control (hand throttle would suffice). Keep us posted, this should be an interesting thread!
About fifteen years ago one of the metallurgists at our steel mill bought an FJ40 in Wyoming. Never owned a cruiser before but wanted one badly. Bought the truck on EBay for $2200, it had a V8 and 3 speed trans. Took his young son with him, flew to Denver, then a bus ride with two or three layovers on his trip to the end destination in Wyoming. Got to a bus stop at night and waited till the next morning for the owner to bring the 40 to him. Signed the title and headed home. Had drum brakes that barely stopped the truck. First time he stopped for gas the truck wouldn't start back up, had to find an alternator for it and ended up buying a small tool kit at a Sears store to replace it! Other than that initial problem and the cost of gas (and oil and brake fluid as I remember) they made it home to PA. He talked about it for years and so did his boy. I heard the story several times and enjoyed it immensely every time. As I recall it was about 2100 miles and took six days for the drive. You can't buy memories like that.
lawdwag ....
...these boots are made for walking
Cheers Peter
...these boots are made for walking
Cheers Peter
I drove my first 40 home from Pinedale Wyoming to Cullman Alabama. Only had three days to cover the 17xx odd miles. It was a blast and will never forget it. That trip inspired all my consecutive cross country trips in my 40. Didn't have much trouble until the last few hundred miles where I ran into a fuel starvation issue that ended up being a clogged pickup tube. Nevertheless made it home under its own power just had to stop a few times. My plan B was a one way uhaul truck with the 40 in the back which would have been relatively cheap.
Do it! Live life to it's fullest. I drove mine home from Southern California this fall. Would have been more fun if a buddy or my gal was with me but I don't regret it one bit. Bring or buy some basic tools and have at it. Killer looking rig by the way.
I agree, drive it. Drove mine about 700 miles home after buying it. Also drove it to from Montana to Vancouver Island and from Montana to Baja Mexico in the last year. On the way back from Mexico, my daughter and I did a 760 mile day while towing a trailer. Life is an adventure, live it.
Beautiful 40. Drive it. You didn't spend $20K+ to not use it, did you?
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Read @NLXTACY story about the day he bought his 60!
Adventures are adventures, good and/or bad. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. I have drven many thousands of miles crosscountry in my vintage LCs. But they are all known quantities. My 'worst' experience was in 1998, when i drove my HJ from LA to Denver and delivered home furnishings to my relocated brother-in-law. Then I drove up to Cheyenne with a load of landcruiser parts and...bought more landcruiser parts!
The truck struggled mightily under the load, and I made the executive decision to abort the drive. Rented a truck and trailer in Rock Springs, transferred my cargo into the truck and trailered the HJ home the last 1000 miles. I am sure I would have killed the engine if I had not stopped.
I think it was the single largest charge I ever put on my credit card. And it was an epic adventure. It only cost me some extra money, so in that respect it was cheap entertainment compared to a damaged vehicle or an accident.
If you do it, go with an open mind towards using plan B if things start getting funky.
Adventures are adventures, good and/or bad. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. I have drven many thousands of miles crosscountry in my vintage LCs. But they are all known quantities. My 'worst' experience was in 1998, when i drove my HJ from LA to Denver and delivered home furnishings to my relocated brother-in-law. Then I drove up to Cheyenne with a load of landcruiser parts and...bought more landcruiser parts!
The truck struggled mightily under the load, and I made the executive decision to abort the drive. Rented a truck and trailer in Rock Springs, transferred my cargo into the truck and trailered the HJ home the last 1000 miles. I am sure I would have killed the engine if I had not stopped.
I think it was the single largest charge I ever put on my credit card. And it was an epic adventure. It only cost me some extra money, so in that respect it was cheap entertainment compared to a damaged vehicle or an accident.
If you do it, go with an open mind towards using plan B if things start getting funky.
NLXTACY
Wits' End
I would drive it if you have the time. Double check all the usual stuff like fluids, belts and hoses. Get the AAA Plus coverage that includes tow service up to 100 miles, some 10mm and 12mm wrenches and a few spare parts. Fuses, belts, oil... Looking at that engine bay Id want to carry a few extra feet of vacuum hose.
Check out @hecrod 's thread Across North America in 5 Weeks, its a great read!
Check out @hecrod 's thread Across North America in 5 Weeks, its a great read!
Drive it, head south to get out of winter road conditions, and plan on less miles per day than a regular car.
For my second 40 I drove from Seattle to SF and did have problems but it was fun.
I installed trucklite headlights immediately before I started the trip for driving at night and that made a night and day difference. @Racer65 has a similar headlight now though that I would get instead.
For my second 40 I drove from Seattle to SF and did have problems but it was fun.
I installed trucklite headlights immediately before I started the trip for driving at night and that made a night and day difference. @Racer65 has a similar headlight now though that I would get instead.
