a thoughtful comparison of the FJ series and the FJC?
I own an '86 FJ60 (bought new) with 348k miles and an FJC with 1k miles. My work schedule on the railroad allows me 90 - 110 days annually on the trail, from pleasant drives on the gravel on Forest Service routes to medium/difficult trails up to 13000' such as Argentine Pass, Mt. Antero, Black Bear, and Red Cone, for example.
I modestly modified the 60 many years ago...3" OME lift, ARB brush bar and Warn 9000 winch, 42 gal. fuel tank. I have thus far intentionally left the FJC stock (including the Bridgestone all-weather tires) to evaluate its capabilities before modifications.
The 60 is an ideal off-road vehicle for a young family, plenty of room, plenty of sightlines for the kids in the back, plenty of room for extended camping trips for four. One night in the late '80s when a wet September snowstorm at Bill Moore Lake made the tent unbearable, myself, wife, and two children, aged 4 and 6, all squeezed into the back and spent a dry, warm, night in the security of the 60. It is a great rock crawler although gearing could be lower. It literally never let us down in the mountains. It also is a comfortable flat-land highway cruiser. Downside includes not enough horsepower, especially on mountain highways, 12 - 15mpg, and, as it has aged, the challenge of passing Colorado's emmission testing.
The FJC, on the other hand, is ideal for one- or two-person trips (the kids are grown), has performed as well as the 60 on the trails (BFG AT's will make it even better), runs 65 - 70mph up the highway mountain passes with power to spare, has ranged from 19.5 - 21.8 mpg, has the "creature comforts" I've come to appreciate as I've gotten older, has the locking rear diff I've not yet had the occasion to utilize but could have used a few times over the years in the 60, runs far cleaner, and (considering I cut my teeth on a 3-speed '65 CJ5 and drove the 4-speed in the 60 for 20 years) I very much enjoy and find the 5-speed automatic not just acceptable but ideal, given its outstanding engine braking capability. The only downside so far is, unlike the 60 where I could stretch out in the back, I have to sleep at a slight angle in the FJC.
it is, in my opinion and experience, a very, very capable on- and off-road vehicle that suits my needs perfectly. And best of all, it's a Toyota.
I own an '86 FJ60 (bought new) with 348k miles and an FJC with 1k miles. My work schedule on the railroad allows me 90 - 110 days annually on the trail, from pleasant drives on the gravel on Forest Service routes to medium/difficult trails up to 13000' such as Argentine Pass, Mt. Antero, Black Bear, and Red Cone, for example.
I modestly modified the 60 many years ago...3" OME lift, ARB brush bar and Warn 9000 winch, 42 gal. fuel tank. I have thus far intentionally left the FJC stock (including the Bridgestone all-weather tires) to evaluate its capabilities before modifications.
The 60 is an ideal off-road vehicle for a young family, plenty of room, plenty of sightlines for the kids in the back, plenty of room for extended camping trips for four. One night in the late '80s when a wet September snowstorm at Bill Moore Lake made the tent unbearable, myself, wife, and two children, aged 4 and 6, all squeezed into the back and spent a dry, warm, night in the security of the 60. It is a great rock crawler although gearing could be lower. It literally never let us down in the mountains. It also is a comfortable flat-land highway cruiser. Downside includes not enough horsepower, especially on mountain highways, 12 - 15mpg, and, as it has aged, the challenge of passing Colorado's emmission testing.
The FJC, on the other hand, is ideal for one- or two-person trips (the kids are grown), has performed as well as the 60 on the trails (BFG AT's will make it even better), runs 65 - 70mph up the highway mountain passes with power to spare, has ranged from 19.5 - 21.8 mpg, has the "creature comforts" I've come to appreciate as I've gotten older, has the locking rear diff I've not yet had the occasion to utilize but could have used a few times over the years in the 60, runs far cleaner, and (considering I cut my teeth on a 3-speed '65 CJ5 and drove the 4-speed in the 60 for 20 years) I very much enjoy and find the 5-speed automatic not just acceptable but ideal, given its outstanding engine braking capability. The only downside so far is, unlike the 60 where I could stretch out in the back, I have to sleep at a slight angle in the FJC.
it is, in my opinion and experience, a very, very capable on- and off-road vehicle that suits my needs perfectly. And best of all, it's a Toyota.
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