First Moab trip in an 80

[cruiser-poor]

I agree with the above, it should be 80's will always out LAST heeps. Performance-wise, just depends on how each truck was built.

Now you're talking.

I love my 80 but it really is a little large for some situations. Narrow shelf roads, tight switchbacks and tight wooded trails come to mind.

I've never had a Jeep, don't frequent Jeep boards but I have to think our counterparts are on their forums somewhere bragging about how a Jeep will ALWAYS outperform a "L*nd Cr*sr". (Philistines.)

 

[motoloco]

Anyone who knows ANYTHING about well built factory rigs could never bash a cruiser, maybe just the "cost" of a cruiser and parts. It just is a totally different level of commitment than a dime-a-dozen jeep.

 

[nicholas]

Small lift and 33's have done the crack.

Did said vehicle have lockers? Any word on the effectiveness of an aussie locker in this situation?

 

[icu_runnin]

Regadless of what jeep owners may say (I d.d. a MJ and the wife drives a ZJ ) the 93 Cruiser was the first real vehicle that deserved the title Rubicon. Selectable lockers took till when to come on a heep? And how long before the Wrangler had coils on all four corners (97) when cruisers started in 90-91?? Oh wait they did have the ZJ in 93 with coils all around but they forgot one small thing.....a FRAME. I tell my boss who is a die hard jeep fanatic with a tj that you take ANY jeep they made in 94 and put it up against my stock 80 and I will win hands down. FZJ80's FTW

 

[millatruse]

I agree with the above, it should be 80's will always out LAST heeps. Performance-wise, just depends on how each truck was built.

One thing I love about cruisers are they are built to last...yes they can be exspensive at times. But they are tough as nails and dependable. Plus w/my jeep it was always...well..I want bigger tires ..buuuttt..my axles ar not strong enough $ upgrade! well..I want to get more lift...buuuttt..I will have to redo yolk..and drive shafts..and..and..and..Then after
Just
Emptying
Every
Pocket
Start family ..and ****..this wont work..start over! To get a jeep to compete with a cruiser you have to rebuild the whole damn thing! They are light duty, not Heavy duty! I was told in the late 90's to do the 80 thing..and I didnt..boy have I payed for that one!

 

[96r50]

Well.. what can I say! I have been to Moab numerous times (All of them in a jeep). The wheeling there is outstanding! Or so I thought. So since family was growing I ditched the jeep, and got an 80. Built it up, then started testing it out. Here in CO the 80 totally out performed the jeep. So took it out to Moab for the real test, no suprise, the 80 did AWESOME! I was finally able to do some of the obstacles I had to by-pass before (Thanks to better wheel base, and all around vehicle)! So enough preaching to the crowd, here are some pics!

Here is the standard postcard crack shot!

I just like this picture.

My friend/competitor's truck!

Let me know what you guys think.

Zane

Post more pics!!! I really like the way your truck is set up. I think the 80s look awesome with a 4" lift and 35s and stock bumpers. Dunno why, just looks really capable and clean at the same time.

More pics from Moab!

 

[Romer]

Did said vehicle have lockers? Any word on the effectiveness of an aussie locker in this situation?

an open vehicle has done it, but that depends a lot on the driver. I have seen a guy in a stock and open 40 go up Kennys Climb on Fins when trucks with just a rear locker couldnt do it. There is a guy withh 33 tires who takes his open 40 on the Rubicon every year. Those are both great drivers.

 

[Tools R Us]

...
BTW, does anyone know what minimum lift you would need to drive over that crack with 285's and factory bumpers? I have seen some video's of 80's driving over that crack but I wonder if they can do it with OME mediums, 285's, stock bumpers and no lockers. It seems like the stock rear bumper would drag a lot and the tires would spin a lot without lockers.

GeoRoss made it look easy on his first attempt at CM08, heavy lift, 285's, rear Aussie. I have seen a stock, locked, 285 rig do it. IMHO you really need a locker for spike, I'm sure it could be done without one, but there are tons of steps, etc so much more enjoyable with one.

With a short lift and tires, the bumpers will get marked on spike. When I ran the stock tupperware, I left the receiver hitch on, it took the brunt of the bangs!

 

[nicholas]

Thanks for the advice. But please, no more Moab pics and 80's. You are making me homesick and I am getting pretty burned out from school right now.

Sounds like at minimum an Aussie locker is the way to go to make things more enjoyable in Moab. I would definitely like to have at least a rear bumper and sliders by then.

 

[Tools R Us]

Thanks for the advice. But please, no more Moab pics and 80's. ...

Then this would be the tread for you? :whoops: you said NO more?

https://forum.ih8mud.com/az-copper-state-cruisers/218506-cm08-pix.html

 

[nicholas]

Then this would be the tread for you? :whoops: you said NO more?

https://forum.ih8mud.com/az-copper-state-cruisers/218506-cm08-pix.html

Umm yes I said no more. Those pics are exactly what I don't need to make me even more unmotivated to study for my respiratory block. The sucky thing is that I won't have time to do any wheeling when I visit my folks in UT this Dec. Oh well, you guys better keep your 80's because I look forward to meeting all of you in person on the trails of moab in the future after I have served my time.

I never thought I would miss Utah so much until I left. So much open recreational land and cool trails. On second thought keep the moab pics coming. It gives me something to look forward to.

 

[millatruse]

Then this would be the tread for you? :whoops: you said NO more?

https://forum.ih8mud.com/az-copper-state-cruisers/218506-cm08-pix.html

Great thread, Tools. Love the pics!

 

[Tools R Us]

Great thread, Tools. Love the pics!

Thanks, that trip was a blast, but wheeling is always more fun than work!

 

[millatruse]

Thanks, that trip was a blast, but wheeling is always more fun than work!

My ..was also impressed,we will have to try some of those trails in the future! I agree..I hate work and love wheeling, unless im working on wheeling!

 

[Tools R Us]

My ..was also impressed,we will have to try some of those trails in the future! I agree..I hate work and love wheeling, unless im working on wheeling!

My isn't that wild about most wheeling, but likes the touring type stuff. She has been to Moab four times and loves it.

 

[ba450]

Good thing you had a good photographer there! That was a FUN trip! Can't wait for our trip in the spring, summer, fall, winter...

 

[nicholas]

My isn't that wild about most wheeling, but likes the touring type stuff. She has been to Moab four times and loves it.

I'm still working on getting the to like wheeling more. She is solid for a couple runs a year but I'd like to go more. If all else fails I can take my boy out in a few years for some father-son bonding.

 

[ba450]

Nice thread, Love seeing other peoples wheeling pics!

Then this would be the tread for you? :whoops: you said NO more?

https://forum.ih8mud.com/az-copper-state-cruisers/218506-cm08-pix.html

 

[millatruse]

That was a FUN trip! Can't wait for our trip in the spring, summer, fall, winter...

Yes it was! Now we just have to get a lift under your "pink panties"

 

[Nay]

Regadless of what jeep owners may say (I d.d. a MJ and the wife drives a ZJ ) the 93 Cruiser was the first real vehicle that deserved the title Rubicon. Selectable lockers took till when to come on a heep? And how long before the Wrangler had coils on all four corners (97) when cruisers started in 90-91?? Oh wait they did have the ZJ in 93 with coils all around but they forgot one small thing.....a FRAME. I tell my boss who is a die hard jeep fanatic with a tj that you take ANY jeep they made in 94 and put it up against my stock 80 and I will win hands down. FZJ80's FTW

You know, Jeep people are not obsessed about claiming how they are better than Toyotas the way Toyota people are obsessed with claiming superiority with Jeeps. Some are of course, but Toyota people seem obsessed with being better than Jeeps. Who cares?

People need to stop saying that stock 80's will outperform all Jeeps. The sole reason the 80 performs so well with moderate modifications is because it has dual lockers if you are lucky enough to have that option. It isn't because it is built better, it isn't because of coil springs, it isn't because of Toyota. It is because of factory dual lockers.

If you take any of the XJ/ZJ/WJ family and upgrade the axles for strength and with dual ARBs you will go anywhere a similarly modified 80 series Land Cruiser will go. And a lot of places it won't due to size and weight issues, and you won't be dragging around a ridiculously low hanging frame the entire time, either.

The only thing you have to do to the Jeep unibody subframe mount structures is reinforce a few of the mounts, and you get all the benefits of major extra clearance. Everytime you hear that nice slamming of metal underbody on rocks, think about how lucky you are to have that 80 series frame and it's low hanging rear control arm mounts.

I ran Spike in an XJ on 31's with nothing but a useless factory limited slip. In my 80, I needed both lockers on in some of the same really step climb spots because it is so heavy, and this was on 35's with much lower gearing.

Now, I love my 80. The 80 is a far superior dual purpose rig to any Jeep SUV. It doesn't have wimpy axles or a crappy chain driven transfer case, and it is remarkably competent for its size as a rock crawler. You can put on 35's without wearing out all of the front end components every six months, add a small lift, gear it, and wheel it. You can also do this in a Jeep, but outside of the jk's, you are going to be forklift upgrading your axles and probably your transfer case, and it still won't be as dual purpose balanced as an 80.

The problem I have with these threads is by the "heeps suck" logic, 100% of other Toyotas are also junk, because if you don't dual lock them you can forget about having a serious trail rig (they can be good, but dual locked is always the game changer). Take any Land Cruiser with open diffs on a hardcore trail and they are going to suck. 60's and 40's break all the time, when I am on runs with them I try to ensure I am ahead of them because you know it's coming.

Enjoy your truck, the 80 is such a solid platform. It doesn't have to be better than everything else as some silly badge of honor. It just has to be right for you.