Land Cruiser 4x4 system better than the rest? (2 Viewers)

[Altaf]

I'm curious to know if you think the Land Cruiser (80 series) is more capable off-road than other SUVs? I understand the benefits of having lockers, but let's assume that an 80 series doesn't have them. Is the 4 wheel drive system in the Cruiser any better than a typical SUV with 4-lo?

Which SUVs could hang with the Cruiser? Which SUVs would leave the Cruiser behind? Let's keep the comparison to production SUVs available in North America from 1990 - present.

Fire away...

 

[cruiserdan]

No contest, Period. There is more to it than the "system" as you call it. It is a balance of size, suspension, powerplant, transmission, ease of modification, ad nausium. Comparing apples-to apples, I doubt that any "current" un-locked suv can one-up an un-locked 80 and I'm certain that any "current" SUV will not best a locked 80.


When it comes to "production" vehicles, it just don't get any better........

 

[Junk]

Which SUVs could hang with the Cruiser? Which SUVs would leave the Cruiser behind? Let's keep the comparison to production SUVs available in North America from 1990 - present.

Here's the list:

and yes, that is complete
Either you have never been around other vehicles offroad or you have never been around other vehicles offroad.

 

[cruiserdan]

Let's see a Ford Exploder do this:

 

[Junk]

who's the dork in the hat?

 

[cruiserdan]

who's the dork in the hat?

Um,

The guy that has your credit card number and expiration date?...

 

[Koffer]

Let's see a Ford Exploder do this:

What ? run over some old guy's head just laying in the way of the trail

 

[blupaddler]

Dan that pic is REALLY COOL!!!


Someone told me a while ago that the LandRover has a better stock suspension than the 80 series. You just need to remember to always bring the mechanic along. Not to mention spares for everything.

 

[cruiserdan]

Dan that pic is REALLY COOL!!!

I Can't take credit for that at all. My VERY good friend Juane Tobascofish took that particular shot a few weeks ago on a particularly nasty trail called "Tank trap" near Santa Fe, NM. He is an outstanding photographer, to say the very least. He also wheels a built 80 with Barbie stickers all over it......

 

[Junk]

Um,

The guy that has your credit card number and expiration date?...

Hey, it's only plastic Then again, I do need some bolts.

 

[cruiserdan]

Hey, it's only plastic Then again, I do need some bolts.

At the rate you are going you may need them for quite some time.......

 

[Altaf]

Here's the list:

and yes, that is complete
Either you have never been around other vehicles offroad or you have never been around other vehicles offroad.

You're right... I haven't seen a lot of different trucks go off-roading. My only group ride without Cruisers has been at Paragon. I did notice a few trucks having difficulty in some sections while me and my buddy's Cruisers were getting bored (Group 1 ride ).

I agree with CDan that the Cruiser has the complete package. Just curious to know what (in particular) makes it kick @$$ off-road!

 

[Junk]

Cbiz, don't make me start using that voodoo doll I have here. Some may call it the love doll, but I prefer voodoo

BigGunna - it's the whole package that makes it better. Not one specific component, but everything put together. Heck we have taken near stock 80's through mid blues at PAP on a consistent basis. Some 80's have done their black and red trails too. It's the truck to the spotter exponential factor all divided by speed (more speed decreases the success ratio etc).

 

[Gumby]

I have seen stock 4-skinners do pretty well, but they get limited by their lack of front suspension. Pretty much nothing else right out of the box. having said that, i have never seen a G-wagon on the trail.

i just read in motor trend that the approach, departure and breakover angles mean that the H3 "should do as well offroad as the H2". it made me laugh out loud.

 

[Lars]

This is like asking on a ford msg board if a mustang is better than a camaro.

 

[cruiserdan]

This is like asking on a ford msg board if a mustang is better than a camaro.

True,


But the answer is a whole lot easier to figure out....

 

[Gumby]

While that is very true, i wonder how the question would be answered on the H2 or LR boards.

 

[cruiserdan]

While that is very true, i wonder how the question would be answered on the H2 or LR boards.

Well,

Since 80's do not usually puke their front ball joints out in the parking lot, I guess the answer would depend on the truthfullness of the respondents.

 

[Biff]

Here is a pic of a stock G-Waggon offroad

 

[Rich]

Jeep Rubicon comes stock with lockers. It will go most places an 80 will go and many places an 80 is too large to fit. Obviously dosen't have the interior room of a cruiser.

Coming soon is a Dodge Powerwagon with factory lockers and winch. I expect an 80 would fit in some places that a Powerwagon would not. I expect that Power wagon will work very well of road where it fits.

Of course, neither of these vehicles are directly comparable, as one is much smaller, and the other is a pickup truck, but each probably represents the best that the US has to offer in real off road vehicles.

The other truck that comes to mind is the Mercedes G Wagon. A bit pricey, but I would presume that it too is quite adequate for off road use. Of the three, this is the one most comparable in function to the 80 series cruiser. Too much $$$ though.