Ok im looking into getting a new car and i want eather an FJC or a Tacoma. What im wondering is how good is the FJ off road? Like will it get stuck does it have pretty good stock clearance(sp)? Will it fit in smaller spaces? Like my friends ford ranger does? How is there power off road and on the road? Also how is the after market for the FJC? I need something with four doors being i have a daughter but i dont want to sacrifice fun and style. Thanks in advance.
How is the FJC off road?
- Thread starter Crazykevin
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I've wheeled with the FJCTT twice now, and have been impressed with it's performance....check out http://gallery.ih8mud.com and you'll find quite a few pics from GSMTR and other events where they've been taken offroad...
IMO, the FJC with the ATRAC and rear locker, the addition of a lift/tires and the bumper/winch, and you've got one VERY capable rig....
your only limitation will be your acceptance of body damage...
IMO, the FJC with the ATRAC and rear locker, the addition of a lift/tires and the bumper/winch, and you've got one VERY capable rig....
your only limitation will be your acceptance of body damage...
- Thread starter
- #3
Thats good to know. Does it fit in tighter spaces and will it compete with a ranger in terms of where it can go? I want to know because me and my friend will be going together off roading.
Clutchee
I'm fun sized!
CrazyKevin......goto the TLCA events section & find a event near you. Contact the event orginizers & see if the FJ Trail Team is participating in there specific event & then go drive it on the trails!
You will find that the trail team is very supportive of having people & possible buyers drive the machine on the trails.
Oh yea....drives nice but with already having his & her cruisers no need for 3rd.
You will find that the trail team is very supportive of having people & possible buyers drive the machine on the trails.
Oh yea....drives nice but with already having his & her cruisers no need for 3rd.
- Thread starter
- #5
Also what size tire will fit on the FJC with out a lift kit or any modding? Will a 31 inch tire fit?
I'm running an FJ with 285/70/17 BFG's (32.9") , no problems with rubbing, clearance etc. There are a lot of aftermarket parts coming available, the truck just hasn't been out that long, but check the other threads here to get an idea. I've had mine out 5 times, and it climbs like a billy goat. Clearance is good, but the vehicle is a little wider than a jeep, so jeep trimmed trails leave you with nice pinstripes. The rear seat should accomodate your daughter no problem, but the rear door can be awkward if you are parked side by side with other vehicles in a lot.Crazykevin said:
All that said, I love mine - and I have had a few 4x4s.
The FJ does awesome off road.. except for the fact that they put a camry alternator in there or something.. I went some mud and it appears that the fan kicked some mud around the engine bay, normal right?. So it seems that some mud got into the alternator and now I am left with the trouble of finding my own alternator because toyota doesn't want to cover when they advertise this an "off-road" vechicle. They also tried to tell me that they were going to check the the whole drivetrain and if they find mud, they were going to pull the warrranty. Ha, I got my truck out of that dealer faster than me jumping out the windows when my gf's parents blue balled my ass.
- Thread starter
- #10
That makes me want one even more. But i have another question (sorry i like to research before i buy something really expensive) what would be better an FJC or a Tacoma for off road use?
Crazykevin,
That sounds like a personal choice. Both can be had w/ suicide doors. Do you need a wagon or a pickup?
The FJC has coil springs and linked suspension (arguably better than Taco's rear leafs) but the Taco has much more cargo use flexibility.
That sounds like a personal choice. Both can be had w/ suicide doors. Do you need a wagon or a pickup?
The FJC has coil springs and linked suspension (arguably better than Taco's rear leafs) but the Taco has much more cargo use flexibility.
- Thread starter
- #12
Well i like the idea of having a pickup but i also like the idea of the suv look. But i does the off road package for the tacoma come with good off road eqipment(sp) like the FJC does?
Yeah, the Taco has the same RR diff lock option and slushbox or 6spd M.
The FJC's ATRAC is Toyota's best right now. It also has a different mix of the Toyota parts bin to give it a bit more flex and features for the offroad crowd.
Tacoma's enjoy a pretty big offroad market and the FJC is getting there too so modding either will not be a problem.
The FJC's ATRAC is Toyota's best right now. It also has a different mix of the Toyota parts bin to give it a bit more flex and features for the offroad crowd.
Tacoma's enjoy a pretty big offroad market and the FJC is getting there too so modding either will not be a problem.
k_os said:
I would kick the dealer's ass who spewed that nonsense, and call Toyota Corp on them. Utter nonsense about mud and pulling the warranty. Just go to another dealer. That dealer obviously don't want your business nor any other Toyota truck customer or future customer.
The dimensions and overhangs of the FJC will help it a lot out of the box offroad. Also Toyota made a number of changes to the suspension on the FJ compared to the Tacoma to optimize it for offroad. Needless to say the frame of the FJC is also a good improvement over the Tacoma.Crazykevin said:
So unless you absolutely need a pickup, get the FJC if offroad ability out of the box is your prime criteria.
The biggest thing I find disappointing on the FJC is the current average selling price.
Another thing to consider is the shorter wheel base and turning radius. You'll negotiate tight turns on trails much better with the FJ and be less likely to high center. Also, as alluded to earlier, the Taco is designed to perform with a load, thus an empty bed and half-ton leafs degrade ride and performance. The FJ will have a better unloaded weight distribution. but it really all dependes on the primary use for the vehicle.
It's interesting, compared to the 4Runner, the 4Runner has a tighter turning radius than the FJC. I think they widened the radius in an effort to minmize IFS breakage.
FJC will be more nimble, longer wheelbases are more stable. It's a bit of a tradeoff and as everyone says, it's more of what you want/need.
FJC will be more nimble, longer wheelbases are more stable. It's a bit of a tradeoff and as everyone says, it's more of what you want/need.
i am extremely impressed with my fj's off-roading capabilities, i have owned toyota trucks nissan truck, toyota fj 40 ,fj 55 , and i am currently wheeling my fj every weekend it is my favorite off- roader so far. drives and handles great a-trac is a great tool and the rear locker works just fine!!!! few weeks ago took to the sand dunes , last weekend up to mineral basin through 3ft. of snow drifts mud, rocks etc. saturday took up tucker canyon up on skyline drive ( all utah locations) . i have a broken windshield already a small dent in passenger door and lots of scratches on back bumper from steep inclines.this is a good offroader! this months dirt trucks magazine ran the fj cruiser up against the new land cruiser in 9 different offroad categories they scored it land cruiser 2 pts fj cruiser 7 pts . i personally didnt do the test and am sure i will take heat for that comparison but that is what the magazine reported. the two areas land cruiser won were vehicle ride and towing capabilities.
what should i avoid if i have an essentially stock FJ? (IE no lift, mud tires, snorkel ,bumper, winch etc.). a friend of mine has an old ford F250, with what he claims is a 4in lift (he didn't do the lift himself, a previous owner did ...it looks like a 6-8in though), and 31in mud tires. him, and a friend of mine who has a liberty, offroad in his backyard. at one section of this course, they said, "if you want to see the truck (the F250) get batted around like its a toy, then check this out when its rained." i stepped in the obviously well traveled but somewhat caked dry mud pit, and my foot sank somewhat. they were both staring at me doubting the abilities of the FJ. this was only the 2nd day i had the FJ, i wasn't willing to try it out. do you think i could make it through a mud pit like this if i were to put in 4-Lo and then put on A-trac? (or use of rear locker)?
if you have good mud tires go for it , you will make it, if you have the crappy street tires that came on mine then good luck.
these are the tires on mine now!!
these are the tires on mine now!!
