4Cruisers
SILVER Star
I'd throw in 14mm and 17mm wrenches just to be sure.
Drive 2,400 miles home?
- Thread starter lawdawg
- Start date
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DRIVE IT!. I've logged over 35,000 miles in my 40 and that includes many multi-day and several thousand mile trips. My longest trip was a continuous 5,200 miles camping every night. I
t will beat you up and wear you down more than a normal car or truck but your goal of 250-300 miles per day is just about right. It will be an adventure and probably not without some hiccups but when you arrive home (or at least 6 months later) you'll look back on it fondly. I guarantee this.
Don't forget the earplugs
t will beat you up and wear you down more than a normal car or truck but your goal of 250-300 miles per day is just about right. It will be an adventure and probably not without some hiccups but when you arrive home (or at least 6 months later) you'll look back on it fondly. I guarantee this.
Don't forget the earplugs
Seriously - how old are you? I drove my '40 from Colo. to Upper Michigan in 1992, and it was a lot of fun, but a hot, exhausting trip. I would not do this trip at age 52, but at age 20-something, it was a hoot. Do you know some folks along the way, where you can stop and check your manifold bolts, as it were? That would help!
Dooooooo itttttttt
One of my favorite memories is Spring break my Junior year of college.. Flying from Missouri to Seattle Washington, picking up my FJ40 and driving home. I didn't even know how to use a manual choke! wow, that was 1994. Had a Cruiser or multiple's ever since.
I had to tape the windshield to the hardtop to keep snow from blowing in. The door panels had holes from a speaker that we taped up also to attempt to stay warm. Back then we could carry on a toolbox. I think you would be better off hitting harbor freight in the location of pickup instead of taking tools with you.
We have rescued Land Cruisers from all across the country. Some driven home, many towed.
Enjoy the trip, you will bond with the vehicle and make memories. Stop often and take pictures.
I had to tape the windshield to the hardtop to keep snow from blowing in. The door panels had holes from a speaker that we taped up also to attempt to stay warm. Back then we could carry on a toolbox. I think you would be better off hitting harbor freight in the location of pickup instead of taking tools with you.
We have rescued Land Cruisers from all across the country. Some driven home, many towed.
Enjoy the trip, you will bond with the vehicle and make memories. Stop often and take pictures.
- Thread starter
- #47
I'm in my early 40's, but a little adventure sounds good right about now. As of a minute ago, flights are booked, arrive in Wyoming next Wednesday to start the adventure 
Drive it! I bought a 76 fj40 in Sandpoint, ID in the early 2000s and drove it back to TX, about 1600 miles iirc. The seller baselined the cruiser and picked me up at the airport is Spokane. It took me about a week to get back but that included a 4 day bender with some old friends in Idaho City, ID. It was a great trip that I will always remember andits a great way to get to know your new rig!
If I was in your position and had just bought that FJ40, I'd be on the road already. Just need AAA, a credit card, and a cell phone. Read the sticky at the top of the 40 forum by Seaknight. Everytime he posted I wanted to hop in my 40 and start driving somewhere.
sterling
SILVER Star
Since law don't go round here law dawg I say drive er. She'll be right at home in Charleston!
Nice color by the way.
Nice color by the way.
I'm all for driving it. Except this time of year. I've driven my 40 thousands of miles all over the west. That said I don't know if you've looked at the weather outlook and road conditions out west. It has been a brutal winter. The interstates are kept clear if it quits snowing and blowing long enough for the plows to get out. The secondary roads, at least here in southeast Idaho, are pure ice under the snow pack. Just be aware. An Fj40 rodeo isn't much fun. Don't ask how I know. But if you do it, it will be legend...
- Thread starter
- #52
Rough plan is to head south towards the Oklahoma/New Mexico border ASAP, hopefully first 3 days. Then may try to head out on the Trans-America Trail through Arkansas. The reviews sound good for the trail and they are working on getting an 8274 on the front for the trip back before I get there next Wednesday. Heather has been awesome! I ordered the GPS points for the trail, instead of the map that goes east-west, and can hopefully convert it to west-east.
Cant wait to see some pictures and hear some stories! Good advice from others to double check the spare, lugs, jack, HF tools, etc. Your 40 looks in good shape, and should keep you pretty warm. Mine does. A roll of duct tape may be helpful to tape up any large "vents" or keep warm air going to the right places. I am in upstate SC and get down to Charleston a few times a year. We will have to have a beer one day.
If you get in a bind....just post up on MUD and I promise you will get some great advice, fast. Good luck!
If you get in a bind....just post up on MUD and I promise you will get some great advice, fast. Good luck!
Redgrrr
I have a problem with 40s
Throw some tools In a USPS flat rate box and ship them to Heathers shop and drive that sucker home. Im just west in Rapid City, SD on I-90 if you head that direction if you need anything.
One thing i did on my trip was hit up the 1st Canadian tire i saw and plopped down $400 on tools. Just to have everything i need just in case. Never opened one of them and returned them when i got home.
Cant wait for the thread on your trip man!
Cant wait for the thread on your trip man!
Captn Conch
Life Begins Above Timberline.
No, Don't listen to all these rah rah tales. You are talking about a nice FJ 40. You don't really know it's history or what has actually been done and how well it was done. ship it home, drive it, adjust it, get to know it, fix the inevitable problems, do a shake down cruise, you don't want to be stranded on the side of the road with a blown engine, tranny, transfer, electrical situation...etc. Don't beat it down the road on blind faith. If it's a keeper, get it home become familiar with it, then grab the baton and go on an adventure where ever you can access some true Land Cruiser country. Fact is these are not highway Cruisers, the interstate highways you will encounter are not what they were intended for. Save the wear and tear, The honeymoon may end way too soon. Get it home then explore it's capabilities. Go from that direction and have a very long term relationship with a very special vehicle.
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
It's a super dumb idea to drive it home. But you should do it anyway. What a great adventure/road trip. Don't push it hard, and get it done. My guess is, you'll have no issues at all other than fatigue. Take enough cash to buy all the gas you'll need to get it home. That will go a long way to resolving any problems along the way. In the life of a Land Cruiser, 2000 miles is <1%, so go do it.
I drove my 42 home only thing i knew is it had 200,000km on it haha.
Worst cade it breaks down and is getting shipped home from there. Maybe you make it half way maybe you make it all the way.
Its not like your driving it through the triangle of death... Lotsa cruiser peeps to help yah along the way if an issue pops up.
Worst cade it breaks down and is getting shipped home from there. Maybe you make it half way maybe you make it all the way.
Its not like your driving it through the triangle of death... Lotsa cruiser peeps to help yah along the way if an issue pops up.
Drive it!! Drive it!! I'm 54, I took the roof off my BJ74, it was only -11. Life is an adventure, that is what that 40
was made for. For that kind of coin, you should be able to check the oil, kick the tires, fill it up and drive to Alaska.
Come on, if you got the time take the drive. This is the kind of opportunity that doesn't come often.
Besides, any where in between there are hundreds of guys on this forum to provide support.
Just go for it. J
was made for. For that kind of coin, you should be able to check the oil, kick the tires, fill it up and drive to Alaska.
Come on, if you got the time take the drive. This is the kind of opportunity that doesn't come often.
Besides, any where in between there are hundreds of guys on this forum to provide support.
Just go for it. J
Drive it and think positive. All you need is your wallet, cell phone and charger and some clothing..
I purchased a 77 930 years ago on the east coast. Flew out with a bud, grabbed the car, drove all over the east coast and then headed west. Car's issues were adding up but we were having a blast. Finally had concerns about fuel consumption vs speed.. Drinking lots of fuel over 100.
Finally gave up and called a tow truck with a flat bed that was willing to drive a few hundred miles. Guy was happy to do it and was happy to make a deal on the tow. We slept through a bunch of Ohio and all of Indiana til the driver was dosing off and bounced off the center divider. Finally got to my driveway 6 or 7 hours later.
Tow bill was awesome. Trip was epic. And my bud and I are still talking about that road trip. Most likely a dumb thing to do. Not the safest thing to do. But the best road trip to date for me. Memories are well worth it. You can make some extra money to cover the issues that might arise. So think of the trip as a bad ass adventure and if all else fails, ship it from where it dies and fly home.
Have fun and be safe. Take pics and bring back pain meds..
Goebs
I purchased a 77 930 years ago on the east coast. Flew out with a bud, grabbed the car, drove all over the east coast and then headed west. Car's issues were adding up but we were having a blast. Finally had concerns about fuel consumption vs speed.. Drinking lots of fuel over 100.
Finally gave up and called a tow truck with a flat bed that was willing to drive a few hundred miles. Guy was happy to do it and was happy to make a deal on the tow. We slept through a bunch of Ohio and all of Indiana til the driver was dosing off and bounced off the center divider. Finally got to my driveway 6 or 7 hours later.
Tow bill was awesome. Trip was epic. And my bud and I are still talking about that road trip. Most likely a dumb thing to do. Not the safest thing to do. But the best road trip to date for me. Memories are well worth it. You can make some extra money to cover the issues that might arise. So think of the trip as a bad ass adventure and if all else fails, ship it from where it dies and fly home.
Have fun and be safe. Take pics and bring back pain meds..
Goebs
