FJ Cruiser for hard offroading

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O

ofer

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Oct 4, 2010
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29
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101
Hi Guys
I've decided to move replace my wrangler with Toyota :-)
The question now which one...
up until now I thought that I will go for the FJ 80 with the factory lockers bur recently I started to look also on the FJ Cruiser.
I saw one with 6 in lift and 35 tires.
how good it it for hard trails like the Rubicon?
basically I plan to use it as a DD but also for rock crawling in the Sierra, Moab, Rubicon and etc
what do you think about those two alternitives in general?
how does the quality and the maintenance of the FJ cruiser compare to the FJ 80?
I'll be happy to hear your opinions!!!!!
Thanks
Ofer
 
ofer said:
Hi Guys
I've decided to move replace my wrangler with Toyota :-)
The question now which one...
up until now I thought that I will go for the FJ 80 with the factory lockers bur recently I started to look also on the FJ Cruiser.
I saw one with 6 in lift and 35 tires.
how good it it for hard trails like the Rubicon?
basically I plan to use it as a DD but also for rock crawling in the Sierra, Moab, Rubicon and etc
what do you think about those two alternitives in general?
how does the quality and the maintenance of the FJ cruiser compare to the FJ 80?
I'll be happy to hear your opinions!!!!!
Thanks
Ofer
Click to expand...

I don't know if this is a serious question or bait from a troll, I'll treat it as serious for now.

A "rock crawler" does not make a fair DD, in either case (FJC OR FZJ80), you'll be lucky to get 15 mpg set up well for aggressive off-roaring.

My FJC is set up as you describe and I get 13 mpg on a good day. My FZJ80 is running 35's and a OME "J" lift and it gets around 11 mpg. Both are fine driving, just not very practical. That's why neither is a DD for me, my daughters drive the 80 as their DD but I'm good with putting my teen age daughters in 6200 lbs of steel with ABS and airbags.

You'll get lots of opinions on Toyota reliability, my FJC has been great, no warranty issues over the 65k miles thus far. I've driven it from NC to CA, did Rubithon '08, hit AZ, Moab and CO before driving back to NC, so it can be built to perform well but it will never be as good as a vehicle with 2 solid axles IMHO.

I've got both, love them both. The resources I've put into the FJC to make it as capable as it is, I could have built an FZJ80 including the purchase price of the 80. They both have their limitations and challenges to make them well versed on aggressive trails.

If one were to put a gun to my head, I'd sell the FJC and keep the FZJ80. Main reason would be versatility of the 80, better visibility in the 80, less up front purchase price and 2 solid axles...
 
The FJC takes a lot of grief for it's IFS and creature comforts but it fits the bill for DD and Rubicon. It is one of those rigs that you can drive 500 miles at 70+ mph in comfort and than air down and run 7 hard miles... and still drive back home.

I went on the Metal Tech Invitational to Rubicon with 4 other FJCs and had the time of our lives.

IMHO I believe the secret to a good IFS set up is not how high you go up but how much travel you achieve. Total Chaos' long travel kits let you stuff big tires in the wheel wells without raising the center of gravity more than necessary, flexes over rocks and ensures your wheels will keep in contact with the ground where they will do the most good.

my rig is a DD and sees all sorts of wheeling. I'd love an 80 for different reasons but I'd do the FJC all over again.

Good luck getting the rig you want.
 
Guys
First of all thanks for the info!
Great input!
Just to give some more light on my situation, today I'm driving a high lifted wrangler as a DD.
I love doing some hard trails like the rubicon from time to time.
Of course I have another van for the family trips.
So from what I understand the 80 will be better mainly because of the two solid axles but the FJC feels better on road
Still as I understand, with this setup the FjC can so do those Lind of hard trails!
I'd love to hear more ppnoions !
Thanks a lot!!!
Ofer
 
I own both also and got the 80 for its reliablity ,the fj cruiser has been in the shop more then any vehicle ive ever owned .....it's THE BIGGEST PILE OF JUNK ive owned to date. But for for some strange reason just cant get rid of it .. save your self the grief and get the 80 simple as that, the cruisers so bad ill never buy another toyota again....they havent even found out how to fix the many issues these rig have and dont think they ever will ..if you want a list of the many ,many thing that have gone wrong with mine pm and ill let ya now
 
ofer said:
Wowww
That's quite a surprise...
Is it common for FJC?
The more I read it sounds that 80 is a better choice...
Click to expand...

lots of problem's some big,some small. My biggest has been throwout bearing issues causing premature clutch and tranny failure.Mine is in the shop as I type for its 4 bearing and 3rd clutch (replaced this time buy my wishes with upgraded unit).Also have had the tranny replaced,got fender bulge, shot seatbelt tensioners,window seals ,all the pulleys, ac condenser , rear end is howling, cv boots leak, even the stereo has had to be replaced because it wouldn't play cd's.All this with only 55,000 miles.It has been wheeled but not nearly as hard as my mini truck ever was.my truck has been well taken care of, pm has always been done ,royal purple fluids since new.But like I said, I still love my fj even after all this, it has never left me stranded or even stuck on the side of the road. I have also not had a complete failure of anything yet.
I've come to expect a level of quality from toyota, thats just not in this vehicle...:frown:

check out fjcruiserforums.com lots of stuff on there about these problems
 
I have a built FJC, wheeled it hard for a few years, broke things, updated them, then broke other things, I definitely think it is a viable off-road vehicle, but unless your prepared to do a solid axle swap it has limitations. I agree with MTBCoach it has it's place as does the 80, you should do some research on the type of wheelin you want to do and where you will be going, check out the fjcruiser forum. I love my FJC, but went out and got a fj40 to wheel the hardcore stuff,
good luck,
 
I've got 40k on my 08 AT FJC and have yet to have a single issue with it, let alone any of the ones gotink has had. The throwoutbearing tends to be a common issue in MTs & fender buldges are a bit random, but for the most part I think gotink at the extreme end of the spectrum as far as issues go.

It is wheeled on a monthly basis and is still my daily driver.
 
FJNewb said:
I've got 40k on my 08 AT FJC and have yet to have a single issue with it, let alone any of the ones gotink has had. The throwoutbearing tends to be a common issue in MTs & fender buldges are a bit random, but for the most part I think gotink at the extreme end of the spectrum as far as issues go.

It is wheeled on a monthly basis and is still my daily driver.
Click to expand...

x2 :beer:
 
i will agree that my problems are on the extreme side off them....but toyota has helped with all of this ive had no nightmare problems with my dealer getting warr work done .so ill give them the thumbs up for that.
Its just not the old school quality of over building things like they use to....thats what made toyota ,toyota...
 
Now as for mtbcoach has said he has not had alot of problem with his rig, please explain to some of the people on this site ,HOW much of your rig is toyota parts still.theres not much oem left so i think it unfair for you to speak of toyota quality on your rig you have replacedjust about everything from your rearend, transfercase, cv axles, even your crossmembers ect ect.....it like apples to oranges.just not in the same boat my friend, most of the stuff thats gone on mine is oem . Plus you have an auto so you have not of had the nightmare problems of the throwout bearing haunting you....

Jerry this is not an attack on you ,just something to think about for all of us reading this post :beer:
 
gotink said:
Now as for mtbcoach has said he has not had alot of problem with his rig, please explain to some of the people on this site ,HOW much of your rig is toyota parts still.theres not much oem left so i think it unfair for you to speak of toyota quality on your rig you have replacedjust about everything from your rearend, transfercase, cv axles, even your crossmembers ect ect.....it like apples to oranges.just not in the same boat my friend, most of the stuff thats gone on mine is oem . Plus you have an auto so you have not of had the nightmare problems of the throwout bearing haunting you....

Jerry this is not an attack on you ,just something to think about for all of us reading this post :beer:
Click to expand...

Fair enough. For the record, 0 warranty issues, 65k on the odometer. And, yes, you are "calling me out" as misrepresenting my simple post, agreeing with FJNewb's post. No worries, I'm fine being called out.

Yet, people on this site know me, know my rigs and my build thread is clear, detailed and thorough on what has been done. This was my first Toyota, so I'm no fan boy. I've bought 7 new cars in my life, only one was sold before it was paid off. Brands included Dodge (3), Chevy (1), VW (2) and this Toyota. I share this only to show I'm a bit long in tooth and no novice to buying/driving/dealing with new cars.

I am sorry to hear of your issues and would be just as grumpy as you if I had the same issues. I don't think anyone one this forum is naive enough to think Toyota, their engineers nor the assemblers are perfect and sh!t happens when building thousands of vehicles each month. It sucks that you may have one of those "flawed" vehicles.

Now that we are almost 5 years since the "release" of the FJC, the overwhelming majority of vehicles are used every day w/o issues. The advent of Internet discussion boards gives the disgruntled owner a soap box to vent their issue for the world to hear/see. Yet, this can help get visibility to an issue and also be used to overplay a "non-issue".

Just as the massive public campaign regarding stuck accelerators and failing brakes. From my understanding, not one case has been atributed to any flaw in the vehicle as the governing body continues to examine ECU's of involved vehicles.

Back to the issue, being accused of beating the Toyota drum of reliability while driving an aftermarket built vehicle. Non-OEM parts on my rig include (in order of installation):

Demello hybrid sliders (not replacing OEM)
OME 885/N140, 895/N17e
Demello front bumper w/Warn winch
All Pro rear lower control arms
Kenwood head unit w/gps
Super Swamper Trxus MT, 255/85/16's
Demello rear bumper
ARB roof rack
Inchworm Lefty
ARB front locker
Regeared w/4.88's
Senoran Steel rear lower control arms
Super Swamper SSR 35 x 10.5
BudBuilt transmission crossover
Icon coilovers front
Total Chaos upper control arms
RCV Ultimate CV axles

I'm sure I missed something and the timeline may not be perfect but close. As one can see, bumpers, suspension and what I've upgraded are not items that have been labelled as flawed from Toyota.

The important thing of note is that I took the stock CV's out when I replaced them with the RCV units. I made a trip to CA for Rubithon '08, 3 trips to Moab and monthly local trips on the original OEM CV axles before the upgrade.

Just as the old customer service adage: one happy customer will share their "happy" story with 1 or 2 friends, one dissatisfied customer will share their "unhappy" story with anyone who will listen. There are tens of thousands of happy FJC owners who have no issues at all.

Hope this helps clarify things...
 
[QUOTE

Just as the old customer service adage: one happy customer will share their "happy" story with 1 or 2 friends, one dissatisfied customer will share their "unhappy" story with anyone who will listen. There are tens of thousands of happy FJC owners who have no issues at all.

Hope this helps clarify things...[/QUOTE]

well said and can agree with unhappy people speak louder but the problems ive had are just not up to par with toyota quality.Ist the little things that bother me most like seat belt tensioners ,stereo cheap cv boot bands.unsealed pulleys that stuff should be the last of my worriers buying a toyota....Evey body i wheel with up here has fender bulge all of us.. i know of 6 to 7 people just in the lowermainland that have gotten a hold of me about the bearing issues to point them to my dealer for warr work.Thats from the blue room alone.this is not the quality I bought my rig for. The stuff that should be breaking isnt Like cv shafts .transfercase output shafts the stuff you think should hasnt like i said it the small thing we buy toyotas for that gone to crap. Im not the only one buy far with these problems .Got to remember all the people that take toyota bull ,and go in pocket for this stuff.I think that what bugs me most the help some and not tother when they know off the problems...THEY JUST NEED TO MAKE THING RIGHT
 
I've wheeled my FJC and it's a blast but my 55 is still my favorite.

I've wheeled with several 80's and they perform well. They are a bit heavy and sometimes their size is an issue. However, the 80 has better sight lines than the FJC.

Overall, either the FJC or the 80 will fit the bill.

From a cost standpoint, a good used 80 with lockers will cost significantly less than a used FJC. Modifications start from there. If you have a budget in mind, you will have more money for modifying a 80 series than for a FJC.

If money is not an object, good for you.

So, if you really believe that solid axles are the only way to go, get an 80.
If you really want a manual transmission, get the FJC.

The FJC will have more get up and go for daily driving.

Just my $0.02
 
I have a 08 FJC with 80K. Not a single problem ever. Run 295's but no lift. Wifes daily driver but we us it on trail rides also. Daughter is in a built 80. Like them both for different reasons. Love the fact I can fix any issues that come up on the 80 on my own.

My choice would be 80 if its more trails and less DD and the FJC its more time for DD and less for trails. Whatever you choose it will be less than what you would deal with in your current mode of transportation.

MTBCOACH. couldnt agree more. Statement I live by:

"my daughters drive the 80 as their DD but I'm good with putting my teen age daughters in 6200 lbs of steel with ABS and airbags."
 
My experience with a FJC

I own and wheel an '07 FJC and have about 99K on it now. I like it because, for example, I can get in it and drive to Moab comfortably, get about 16 mpg on the road and wheel Pritchett, (in the rain) or other trails. I have a 3" lift and run 35" tires on the road with no problems. I live in central Iowa and go to CM (four years) Jamboree (3 years and signed up for this year). I wheel in Iowa, MO, Utah, TX and IL.
I have owned a '68 FJ40 that I completely rebuilt and it was great. I didn't want to trailer a rig to the trails I take, so decided to go with the FJC. I have owned an older 80 and a later 100 series and didn't off-road them. I didn't like the 80 well enough to wheel it. When I was actively farming I had a '80 and a '85 pickup and they were great. I wheeled the '85 some, and used both of them very hard on the farm.
I don't think the solid front end is that much of an advantage, depending on the obstacle. I would not consider modifying my FJC to a solid front axle. I have broken a front axle and lost the R&P which is weak on the early FJCs. It made it to about 90K so I don't feel too bad, considering the SC and all. I am well satisfied with the rig and would recommend it to others. It is not perfect, but what is.
-Larry
 
Closing 110,000k

I'm closing 110,000 k on my FJC.
I wheel a bit but not as much as I would like too.. (no Time)
Issues to date. A broken brake spring & a broken windshiels thanks to a passing car throwing a stone.

Has 3" lift and run Dyna pro MT's.
This truck is an 07.. I take it every where.
If you have to worry about miles per gallon this is no truck for you. If tank is needing gas I put it in and drive ..
Is a great truck and I still look forward to driving the thing.
I even toe a trailer every other weekend or so.. No issues..

:beer::beer:
 
If you've enjoyed the Wrangler, have you looked at the Unlimited Rubicon? 4 doors, decent road manners, solid axles, lockers, electronic sway bar, etc. Not as much power, but a solid choice that's capable off the showroom floor. ...and before someone asks, I'm not trying to pick a fight. I've owned a few of each and am acutely aware of the pros and cons of each.
 
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