I've been thinking of selling my FJ 40 as it sits in the garage more often then not and buying an 80's Toyota 4x4 truck. I've never owned or even riden in a 80's Toyota truck and I wondering if anyone on here could tell me how they compare to the FJ 40 as far as durability, also if any years are better then another? I was looking at getting an 1985 - 1989.
FJ40 vs 80's Toyota 4x4 Truck
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They both say Toyota on the emblem.
the 85 yota with solid axle and 22re engine is what you want, sort of the "holy grail" as that was the last year for the solid axle and first year with fuel injection.
I love my '86 Mini. I'd say its built better than a FJ40 (frame, body & suspension wise)
You can see the build up of mine in the link below.
You can see the build up of mine in the link below.
Your question really depends on what the purpose of the truck will be. If you are looking for a wheeling rig I'd go with a '86-'95 mini. This will encompass two different generations, but they all have the IFS steering box you will need to run hysteer. You would obviously have to find a solid axle and either buy a kit or make the components yourself. Either way it will cost you some coin, but it will be a hell of a wheeler. The '85 is a great year in that it has a solid axle already installed and higher equipped models had EFI, but you will still need to source an IFS steering box to run hysteer. EFI is night and day compared to a carb rig on so many levels. Gas mileage, wheeling ability, horse power (which is still low on a 22RE) are far superior to carb'd 22R's. 1988 made EFI standard. DO NOT BUY A V6 mini or 4Runner. The 3.0's were underpowered headgasket eaters.
One downfall with these models (and pretty much all Toyotas from the last few decades) is that the frames are prone to rot. Check the frame by the spring hangers and MAKE SURE you inspect the frame section which is hidden by the gas tank. That is notorious for rusting out because all the dirt and crud gets locked in there through the years.
All in all I'd say for an everyday driver and a decent wheeler, the mini is a great buy. You could sell your FJ40 and probably buy a mini with all the bells and whistles already installed. You may also have a few sheckles left to put in the bank. The one down side is obviously the other side of the coin which is resale. FJ40's are worth WAY more than any comparable mini.
One downfall with these models (and pretty much all Toyotas from the last few decades) is that the frames are prone to rot. Check the frame by the spring hangers and MAKE SURE you inspect the frame section which is hidden by the gas tank. That is notorious for rusting out because all the dirt and crud gets locked in there through the years.
All in all I'd say for an everyday driver and a decent wheeler, the mini is a great buy. You could sell your FJ40 and probably buy a mini with all the bells and whistles already installed. You may also have a few sheckles left to put in the bank. The one down side is obviously the other side of the coin which is resale. FJ40's are worth WAY more than any comparable mini.
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I've always loved the mini trucks a 4 runners!!
Sell a cruiser for it though... I donno!!
As stated above, what you want out of your rig makes all the difference.
The minis are super EASY to build where a cruiser takes a lot more if you want a crawler.
Cruisers in general are a lot more expensive and parts are harder to find on the fly.
Sell a cruiser for it though... I donno!!
As stated above, what you want out of your rig makes all the difference.
The minis are super EASY to build where a cruiser takes a lot more if you want a crawler.
Cruisers in general are a lot more expensive and parts are harder to find on the fly.
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- #8
I know what you mean. I've been debating about it for some time. However the cruiser spends most of it's time in the garage, I don't drive it in the winter when they salt the roads and I rarely drive off road so I was thinking about and older Toyota 4x4 truck. They're cheaper on gas and I think would make a good DD.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
If you rarely go off road and looking for something cheaper on gas that can be sacrificed to the salt I think your better off with a mini truck. Gas mileage was the driving factory why Toyota priced the FJ40 out of the market in the eighties and then never imported the 70 series. Kept the wagon as the flagship and pushed the mini 4X4 to keep their average gas mileage high.
My wife has an 82 pickup, I have a 69 FJ40... I have to say that they are both great. The pickup though is "eaiser" to deal with. I think the 40 is miles above it in wheeling ability, but it's still a very good wheeler. The pickup is just more comfortable, easier to drive, never breaks because it's got 90HP and no torque.. but then again we're going 45 over the summit at 5K RPM.
We use the truck a lot more for camping and easier. Plus.. the bed space is awesome for camping. I feel a little cramped in the cab of the pickup though, and I'm not tall (5'9). I just feel squished.. an extra cab would fix that though. I do hate that we don't have a safe place to lock up camping stuff, ect with the truck vs the 40 with the top on.
Her truck does get pretty killer MPG for around town. Overall... I think the cruiser is more fun. The truck is more easy. If you do sell the 40 and switch to a pickup, go with the EFI. It really is night and day. My friend has almost the same truck as my wifes but has had a 22RE swap... it's got SOOOOOO much more power then her's.
We use the truck a lot more for camping and easier. Plus.. the bed space is awesome for camping. I feel a little cramped in the cab of the pickup though, and I'm not tall (5'9). I just feel squished.. an extra cab would fix that though. I do hate that we don't have a safe place to lock up camping stuff, ect with the truck vs the 40 with the top on.
Her truck does get pretty killer MPG for around town. Overall... I think the cruiser is more fun. The truck is more easy. If you do sell the 40 and switch to a pickup, go with the EFI. It really is night and day. My friend has almost the same truck as my wifes but has had a 22RE swap... it's got SOOOOOO much more power then her's.
Maybe apples and oranges? I recently sold my old 1980 4x4 pickup and threw what I got for it into my black hole 40. When I bought the mini truck new on the the lot (in 1980) there was a brand new white 1980 FJ40 on the the same lot that I really wanted but it just seemed too "impractical" at the time - and it probably was in many ways. That little pickup was cool (IMHO) and lasted many years but I don't think the quality/build was ever as substantial as the Land Cruisers. And the more I drive the 40 around these days the more I feel all fuzzy warm (sometimes too warm 
) and at home inside. Still nothing "practical" about it.
And maybe it's just my experience but I've had an easier time finding parts for the FJ40.
) and at home inside. Still nothing "practical" about it.And maybe it's just my experience but I've had an easier time finding parts for the FJ40.
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- #12
I've had 3 FJ40's and an FJ60. The 60 is more practical but the MPG is no better then the 40. I think the truck would be more easy and I can use it to haul stuff. I just know from the past whenever I sold my other 40's I always missed them and the one I have now is exactly the one I've always wanted, color, year, all stock and never had any rust.
I have a 40 and a 100, totally different purpose trucks. The 40 is cool and nostalgic and the 100 is my camping rig. Wagons are super cool. The 80 is a nice compromise with the capability and the size. Nice cruiser if you have to choose one.
A former roommate of mine had an 82 long box. Rebuilt motor, tough little truck. Took out all he threw at it.
Smallish cab. Nice on road. Bounced around a lot compared to my 4700lb 40. Also, too long for many of the tight trails in this area.
More practical fr the way most of use our trucks... Not as tough as a 40, but tough.
I'm keeping my 40, but can understand why you'd want a box, and for the most part better fuel economy.
Smallish cab. Nice on road. Bounced around a lot compared to my 4700lb 40. Also, too long for many of the tight trails in this area.
More practical fr the way most of use our trucks... Not as tough as a 40, but tough.
I'm keeping my 40, but can understand why you'd want a box, and for the most part better fuel economy.
Maybe apples and oranges? I recently sold my old 1980 4x4 pickup and threw what I got for it into my black hole 40. When I bought the mini truck new on the the lot (in 1980) there was a brand new white 1980 FJ40 on the the same lot that I really wanted but it just seemed too "impractical" at the time - and it probably was in many ways. That little pickup was cool (IMHO) and lasted many years but I don't think the quality/build was ever as substantial as the Land Cruisers. And the more I drive the 40 around these days the more I feel all fuzzy warm (sometimes too warm
And maybe it's just my experience but I've had an easier time finding parts for the FJ40.
Hey Gusb
What was the price difference between the mini and the cruiser back in 1980?
I love both, but I'd say an EFI mini is a better daily driver than a 40. From what the poster said he's looking for a daily driver to use for some light wheeling. If he sells his cruiser he could buy a really nice mini and put a nice chunck of change in the bank.
1911
chupacabra
I have owned a number of mini-trucks and can only echo what others have already said. Completely different beast than a 40.
Mini-truck pluses:
Fuel economy.
22RE one of the best motors Toyota has ever made; reliable, easy to work on.
Good ride, good stock gearing, much better highway vehicle/DD than a 40.
Good heat and A/C.
Convenience of bed for hauling stuff.
Mini-truck minuses:
Small cab ("Xtra" cab on later models is nice in town/on the road).
Not as heavily built as a Cruiser; very light.
22R/RE opposite of an F/2F in that it is a small high-revving motor that needs to turn rpms to make power. Not a really a minus, just different than your 40. You have to drive it differently too.
All in my opinion only of course.
Good luck with your decision. Personally, I have bought and sold a few mini-trucks, and while I liked them all it was not very emotional to see them go when the time came. I would be very sad if I ever had to sell my 40 though, not sure that I could. To each his own though and YMMV.
Mini-truck pluses:
Fuel economy.
22RE one of the best motors Toyota has ever made; reliable, easy to work on.
Good ride, good stock gearing, much better highway vehicle/DD than a 40.
Good heat and A/C.
Convenience of bed for hauling stuff.
Mini-truck minuses:
Small cab ("Xtra" cab on later models is nice in town/on the road).
Not as heavily built as a Cruiser; very light.
22R/RE opposite of an F/2F in that it is a small high-revving motor that needs to turn rpms to make power. Not a really a minus, just different than your 40. You have to drive it differently too.
All in my opinion only of course.
Good luck with your decision. Personally, I have bought and sold a few mini-trucks, and while I liked them all it was not very emotional to see them go when the time came. I would be very sad if I ever had to sell my 40 though, not sure that I could. To each his own though and YMMV.
1911 sums it up pretty well. Do what I did, both! I DD a stock '85 4Runner, which I love, and I wheel a modified 40 which I also love. My older son has an '86 4Runner modified to wheel and he loves that as well. They are both great choices with unique personalities.
The '79 long bed Toyota that I owned was one of the only vehicles (Samurai being the other) that rode more poorly than my '78 FJ40. Not a great turning radius on the pickup, either. Carbureted minitrucks can have pretty poor mileage (or mine did, at least).
I would vote for an '86+ IFS minitruck or 4Runner, to replace the 40, if you want to stay semi-primitive.
I would vote for an '86+ IFS minitruck or 4Runner, to replace the 40, if you want to stay semi-primitive.
I have had many minitrucks. It really depends on what you intend to do with it though. I've always been amazed where these things will go with nothing more than a decent 31" A/T tire on them. If it's going to be a DD an 86-up truck is the way to go. The IFS rides a lot better and an EFI 4 cylinder is a lot easier to come by. The solid axle trucks don't ride (or steer) much different than a stock FJ40. The 22RE is a great engine but certainly underpowered by today's standards. With the right gearing and a header/cam combo they work really well though. Although I love the looks of the 79-83 trucks and have very fond memories of my 82 longbed my favorites are the 89-95 trucks. You got a regular cab that someone 6 feet tall could actually drive and an extended cab that people could be crammed into.
