For you FJ40 owners....

[e rock]

I've driven my 64 FJ40 as a daily driver for about 7 years. I used to commute about 30 miles each way in it, but that as slowly dropped and now I only drive it about 2 miles each way. But still everyday, even in the rain without a top or doors.

I've never had power steering, brakes, anything. I only recently got rid of the column-shifted 3speed. But I put in an SM420, so I didn't gain much as far as drivability goes, but it did add some nice gear noise. And even without a top or doors, I can still hear my stereo over the swampers and gear noise at 70mph.

 

[TOY4X4HOPEFULL]

I drive my 77Fj every day back and forth to work. It is loud rough and a pain in the A** but it is still COOL, I am trying to get a 60 myself actually.

 

[TxCruzr]

I daily drive my '69 40 7+ miles to school and work every day. Granted I'm 18 so the Texas heat and rare cold really doesnt bother me. I drove it last weekend 200+ miles in 100 degree weather to go see some friends. I think its worth it. Not having a top hurts but I do have a cheap bikini top on if it does rain. Its also my wheeler with 35s and sm420. But the 350 helps overcome those It just depends on how much you like your cruiser. I love mine and will drive it through a thunderstorm topless....done that plenty of times

Joseph

 

[Texican]

hmm...I drive my 40, sans top and doors right now, daily and my 60 is reserved for wheeling purposes. practicality.

blumel

FJ60 way more comfortable.......
DUH, you and Jeff Jones, he wheels his 80 and DD's a stock almost 73 FJ40...........in fact he named his 40 NADA, as in Nada trail rig...

Butch

 

[72cruiser]

lol
I got my 79 in 1988. Drove it until 1997 when I replaced it with a baja bug DD.
I drove that truck almost every day. Vegas heat, Lake Tahoe cold.

Drove it back and forth from Vegas to Reno at least 30 times.

If I only had one vehicle to drive it would be the 40.

you like the baja bug mace? i'm thinkin about goin that route for a while, if other DD options don't work while the 40 is down for a few months (maybe years at the rate i'm goin )


malphrus

 

[78 One owner]

Dd?

I've driven my '78 as a DD for most of the 26yrs I've owned it. It's always ready to go and has seldom let me down.

Go ahead and DD it! Make sure and wave at all the Heeps cause they'll hate your guts for it, even if they act like they can't see you.

 

[1974 fj40]

I daily drive my '69 40 7+ miles to school and work every day. Granted I'm 18 so the Texas heat and rare cold really doesnt bother me. I drove it last weekend 200+ miles in 100 degree weather to go see some friends. I think its worth it. Not having a top hurts but I do have a cheap bikini top on if it does rain. Its also my wheeler with 35s and sm420. But the 350 helps overcome those It just depends on how much you like your cruiser. I love mine and will drive it through a thunderstorm topless....done that plenty of times

Joseph

I remember being 18 once (I think) it is all so fuzzy now............

Ride on TxCruzr.

I have to drive the 62 today (soccer carpool). But at least I don't have to drive
the minivan. The girls on the soccer team all LOVE the 62!!!

 

[bad_religion_au]

i dd both my 76 40, and my 80 hj45. only the 40 has disks, neither has power steering, and they both rock, constant 300+ km trips too

 

[fsusteve]

Young guys seem to be able to tough the ride a little better than old farts like me. I did the 40 as a dd for about a month and had to demote it to weekend duties after that.

 

[IDave]

Dunno, Steve: 50 is looking me in the eye pretty closely.

 

[fsusteve]

Dunno, Steve: 50 is looking me in the eye pretty closely.

Those artic temps up north toughen you up more Dave, my sissy ass needs comfort.

 

[1974 fj40]

Drive On !!!!!!

The driving conditions make a major difference also.

My 40 has power nothing and all drum brakes. I drive a rural two lane
highway to work, but if I had to drive in multi-lane urban areas I would
definitely not enjoy the traffic much.

Non-self-adjusting drum brakes aren't much fun to say the least. I'm looking forward to
the day that I run across a mini to steal the front axle out of. I'm not looking right now since
it isn't in the budget right now.....

Out here driving the 40 is great though!!!!

Open country and open air: It just doesn't get any better than this.

Lovin' life with the Cruizers..........

 

[Benji]

Get a 40, drive which ever feels right for that day, and make both rigs trail worthy.....end of story

 

[IDave]

Get a 40, drive which ever feels right for that day, and make both rigs trail worthy.....end of story

That's taking the Bull by the lemmas!

 

[bernefj60]

FJ60 way more comfortable.......
DUH, you and Jeff Jones, he wheels his 80 and DD's a stock almost 73 FJ40...........in fact he named his 40 NADA, as in Nada trail rig...

Butch

Eh, when the 60 is on 36" swampers, the only comfort comes from the roof and AC. And at 50 mph, i've got enough AC, even in Washington, DC heat.

I've also got my 60 hauling about 1000lbs of tools, so it's a PITA to drive it. Don't get me wrong, for 5 years, she was the DD, but new springs means she doesn't fit in ANY garages. Eesh, the 40 needs 6'8" at least to fit, and i'm only running 34's on her.

Oh well, it's moot anyway. In 2 weeks, no more garages, no more suits, no more boss.

Now, all i gotta do is start restoring the 60, line the 40, and find a sweet FJ45LV as the shop truck.

Blumel

 

[gater75]

I drive my 40 as often as possible, and I have an 80. It is a status symbol, u would be driving an original legend EVERY DAY.
Rod

 

[Romer]

I drive my 40 on the weekends and usually 1 day to work. Otherwise, I drive my GMC. I enjoy driving the 40 even on the highway, but I have a choice and that might make a difference.

 

[78 One owner]

Young guys seem to be able to tough the ride a little better than old farts like me. I did the 40 as a dd for about a month and had to demote it to weekend duties after that.

Dunno, Steve: 50 is looking me in the eye pretty closely.

51 here. It was way more fun when I was 25. Waaay safer now with all my steering and suspension mods. PIA to climb in & out of though, and I'm going back to SOA and putting 38's on.

 

[IDave]

You know, my relatively un-modded rig is just not what I would call uncomfortable. I DON'T have large tires (29"). I have new, but standard-sized, springs. I think what has made the most improvement in comfort since getting the rig (it was not that comfortable at first), was replacing the shackles with greasable ones that moved like they are supposed to. The auxilliary steering stabilizer made a big difference, too.

 

[hammerhead]

Mine is DD too but I don't even get 1 mile of hiway per day. Heck, I haven't aired up in months. Hehehe. Come to think of it, my 40 hasn't seen town since... before Moab, had to get it inspected and licensed.