Going to Maui! (1 Viewer)

[COSkier1]

So it looks like I'm moving to Maui. My dilemna is to take my LC there and risk it with the rust? Leave it in storage stateside? Sell it stateside? Or sell it in Maui?

I know there's a couple Hawaii LC owners here, so I'm curious to hear from you.
What do you think?

 

[justin85-60]

You could definately have some fun with a cruiser on maui. Personally, it would depend on the condition of your current cruiser. There are so many factors here. Are you coming back soon? If coming back, maybe store the cruiser and buy a taco or something over there. If not coming back, you must decide no more cruiser or take the risk. That is a personal dilema which we can't decide for you. If it was me and I wasn't coming back, I would take it. If it wasn't show quality nice, I would wheel the S--t out of it in the jungle and the desert. You have the best of both worlds there. Plus the beach etc etc. I am jealous. If it was uber nice, store it there and drive it on Sundays and buy a taco or rust bucket LC (If you can find one) to daily drive and wheel.
PS What will you be doing there?

 

[COSkier1]

I'll be there for at least 1 year, but no more than 5 yrs.
Right now, the cruiser is in great condition. A couple spots of rust on the tailgate, but that's it. It runs great and is my DD. I drove it to Georgia and back this year with zero complaints.
It would be hard to part with it, for sure.

 

[cruiserjunktion]

Hello,

Take the cruiser with you.


Whatever you do, don't pick up this trinket!

 

[COSkier1]

Bump
76 reads only 2 other posters?
I know you have opinions.
Does anyone know the Hawaii cruisers?

 

[AA996]

I'm in the same boat sort of, I'm headed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in March. I'm gonna take the FJ62, I can't live without it. Right now I'm soaking the daylights out of the doors and rear quarters with Fluid Film. I'll coat as much of the inside of the frame as I can and then give the whole underside a thorough coating just before it gets loaded on the ship. With equal parts of wax, Fluid Film and lovin' I think we'll keep the rust at bay.

In preparation I'm replacing all hoses, belts, and anything that wears, i.e. alternator, water pump, battery, etc. I'm also stockpiling spare VSV's, an ECU, AC compressor and other tidbits. The speed limit down there is 25mph so performance isn't much of a factor, but air conditioning will be!

Good luck if you decide to bring your rig to the island, I think the Land Cruiser is a great machine to have there. The chicks'll dig it!

 

[sterling]

COSKIER1

I lived on Lanai for a year and a half, we used to take the ferry to Lahaina quite often. What I can tell you is that Maui and some surrounding islands have very built toyotas that never see much dirt, kinda for show,fishing, etc. SEE:35's, lockers,interior roll bars etc on early yotas with solid front axles, 4runners and the like.

Guys on Lanai used to buy built rigs off island, ship em over, and use em like they should(only three paved roads!). You should be able to find a decent yoda for 3k or so I think.
On the other hand You could coat the rig with por15 on the underside and frame and I think you should be good for at least 5years.Killer surf rig fo sho!

Take lots of pics and dont be afraid to try new things!
SEE: night diving with a three prong etc.Don"t screw the local brah dahs sisters.
You will never regret the time you spend their. Congrats!

 

[Toadhopper]

I lived on Maui for a couple years and IF you're gonna bring your LC make sure to really rust proof it before you go! Do a search, there was a mudder who was in your position and got some good advise.
My Datsun PU I bought there was almost rust free (it was a 77 that I bought in 89 and was on Maui its whole life). I didn't take as good of care as I should of and within a year rust was showing up all over!
Even after you rust proof the frame and underside you've gotta keep it rinsed and waxed almost constatly in order to keep pukas (holes) from happening. If you're gonna keep your LC, store it and buy something once you get there (IMHO).

 

[samba]

it will rust, and it will rust fast on the island.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

It costs a lot to get a rig there- at least 1K from the West Coast. If you'll have a covered area to park it there, it might be worthwhile. If you regularly wash and wax, I don't think you'll have any problems with rust. Unless, of course, you do a lot of beach driving. And that's not really as much of an option as it used to be. Even the locals seem to have developed some environmental sensitivities. They love their jacked up trucks though! And the sound of Super Swampers going down the highway.

 

[tlcruzr]

I don't quite understand why everybody is so concerned with rust. Yes, Hawaii is a very humid/tropical environment, but I wouldn't say that it is any more humid than some places back on the mainland. I've lived over here on Oahu for three years (military) and have never had any problems with rust on my FJ-62. That being said, getting your vehicle over here may be a bit expensive, as there is only two major carriers that will bring your vehicle over from the west coast for under 1k. The good news is that there is the new Hawaii Super Ferry that runs between Oahu and Maui, with plans to eventually make runs into Kauai as well. This is a cost efective means of transporting your vehicle (and yourself) between islands if you are ever interested in "island-jumping". Personally, Kauai is my favorite island for visiting with the family. Okay, now for the bad news. There are not a whole lot of off-roading opportunities available to you out here, at least on Oahu and Maui. (Most of the property is privatley owned) So, if you plan on bringing your truck to explore the great outdoors, don't expect to use your 4WD. Personally, I'd say bring your truck, although if you have a cheaper, more econmical means of transportation, you may want to explore your other options. Gasoline is currently around $3.35 a gallon. Like another poster mentioned, there are a lot of "built" Toyota pick-ups out here, but they are mostly for show. Let me know if you have any specific questions. Regards, Joel

 

[tlcruzr]

Oh, and Justin85-60, I take offense at your avatar! Go Beavers!!! I trust that you aren't a Duck fan...

 

[Front Range 4x4]

My son lives in Maui and I'd say store it and buy a couple Toyota pickups that are clean to ship over. They bring top dollar and you can cover shipping costs for a couple with the sale of one and have some cash left over.

Maui wheeling?

 

[AustinBear]

I'm don't live in HI, but I still have some opinions...

Like one person said, it's a personal choice. However, regardless of what you do - make sure you have a 4WD vehicle while you're there. If not, you'll waste precious opportunity. We rent Jeeps when we go (Kauai) and we use the cr** out of them - we go places where it's mostly just us and hunters (stay on the trail...).

In regards to rust, it's going to unless you can super-seal it. I don't think you can compare living in Honolulu to being on Maui or Kauai. There are freeways on Oahu. The other islands have smaller roads, many very close to the shore and are more apt to have more salt on the roads...It's all about sea exposure, not just about the humidity. It's probably just as humid or more so here in Austin, but we don't really get rust. No salt...

In any case, expect the worst in regards to rust unless you're going to do what others have suggested - seal, wash and wax religiously. All you have to do is go there and look at the cars to figure it out. They rust!

If you do bring your LC, you'll have one of the coolest rigs on the island. It might just be worth sacrificing it to the islands for the experience you'll have. I dream about having my LC over there, for sure...

 

[Devils Paw 80]

My son lives in Maui and I'd say store it and buy a couple Toyota pickups that are clean to ship over..

Your best advice yet.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Your best advice yet.

Thanks and I'm serious. My son's quoted me prices for Toy pickups there and I'm seriously thinking of buying a couple to ship to him. They are a favored truck there but very high priced. He won't buy any car or truck that's spent it's life on the island ever again.

 

[Butt Ugly Chuck]

I kind of like Sterling's advice. Instead of spending $ to ship one over, buy one already there.

Butt

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Thanks and I'm serious. My son's quoted me prices for Toy pickups there and I'm seriously thinking of buying a couple to ship to him. They are a favored truck there but very high priced. He won't buy any car or truck that's spent it's life on the island ever again.

I'm totally with you. You guys could have a cottage industry selling Toy 4x4 pickups in Hawaii. It's not easy finding one for sale, much less for a reasonable price. Rarer yet is to find an older one that's in decent shape. Oahu is the best bet for finding something worthwhile.

 

[Toadhopper]

I'm totally with you. You guys could have a cottage industry selling Toy 4x4 pickups in Hawaii. It's not easy finding one for sale, much less for a reasonable price. Rarer yet is to find an older one that's in decent shape. Oahu is the best bet for finding something worthwhile.

I wonder what the best model and year to look for would be?

 

[Front Range 4x4]

COSkier1, is this a choice, business, fling? Just curious so you don't have to answer that part.

If you want to become a rice burner owner my son would be happy to trade his Eclipse for a Toyota pickup