Love your screen name, dude.
New Member Intro - deciding between 62 and 80
- Thread starter LLTB
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- Thread starter
- #22
IYKYK
I love the vintage look of the 60, but I don't like the horrible rear approach/departure angle. That rear overhang is just excessive. However, the 80's are just so much better vehicles in almost every way. (especially the LHD diesel models that are triple-locked like mine)
@LLTB did you drive any 60 or 80 series already?
62 with an LS swap is my vote
Get a 60/62 if you want an old school nostalgic classic. Go with a late model 80 if you want a modern truck that can be used daily. If you don’t mind crawling up inclines in the slow lane with the VW micro buses then the 62 will work for you
Better!
The third row seats of the 80 series are great if you have a big enough family to warrant it, or want to take your family plus kids. Safety aspect of the 80 is also probably better. 80s seem to deal with salt a lot better.
I had a 60 and liked it quite a bit, but mine was too down on power to be practical. I never looked into that. I did do a knuckle rebuild on it, although in retrospect probably didn't have to. I did get a lot of practice with balljoints that way!
Around here, the 80 is honestly a little bit big as a trail rig. But it depends on the roads and what you're doing. It makes a great, durable daily driver for gravel roads that would tear up other suspension setups.
The 60's suspension is not nearly as good, but it's still capable. And it's a little smaller. The split hatch/tailgate setup is fantastic. We have problems with regular hatches (4Runner and Sequoia) around here. They seem a lot more failure prone.
I do like having a manual. One option is to get a FJ80 and do a manual sway. You can do the same with the FZJ80.
We have a FJ80 and a FZJ80. We're thinking about pairing down to one. The FJ80 has a good motor and it's competent on the highway. It's not exactly a rig you pass cars with, though. I tow single axle trailers with both of them. I prefer the FJ80 and my wife prefers the FZJ80. A lot of that comes down to cloth vs leather, but also the paint.
The FJ60 is definitely more of a classic. I could never be happy with a FJ62 with an automatic, personally. I'd rather just have an 80 series. My FJ60 threw a main belt on my first drive. I found out that the accessory belts fit the essentials, so I was able to keep going. It was a $3k project rig. I do regret selling it, but the circumstances at the time made some sense. I moved to a place with emissions testing, and didn't want to deal with keeping a carbureted vehicle passing.
I had a 60 and liked it quite a bit, but mine was too down on power to be practical. I never looked into that. I did do a knuckle rebuild on it, although in retrospect probably didn't have to. I did get a lot of practice with balljoints that way!
Around here, the 80 is honestly a little bit big as a trail rig. But it depends on the roads and what you're doing. It makes a great, durable daily driver for gravel roads that would tear up other suspension setups.
The 60's suspension is not nearly as good, but it's still capable. And it's a little smaller. The split hatch/tailgate setup is fantastic. We have problems with regular hatches (4Runner and Sequoia) around here. They seem a lot more failure prone.
I do like having a manual. One option is to get a FJ80 and do a manual sway. You can do the same with the FZJ80.
We have a FJ80 and a FZJ80. We're thinking about pairing down to one. The FJ80 has a good motor and it's competent on the highway. It's not exactly a rig you pass cars with, though. I tow single axle trailers with both of them. I prefer the FJ80 and my wife prefers the FZJ80. A lot of that comes down to cloth vs leather, but also the paint.
The FJ60 is definitely more of a classic. I could never be happy with a FJ62 with an automatic, personally. I'd rather just have an 80 series. My FJ60 threw a main belt on my first drive. I found out that the accessory belts fit the essentials, so I was able to keep going. It was a $3k project rig. I do regret selling it, but the circumstances at the time made some sense. I moved to a place with emissions testing, and didn't want to deal with keeping a carbureted vehicle passing.
- Thread starter
- #29
I've decided to pull the trigger on this 80 from RS6tofj80 . Erich and I are working through the details. I appreciate the input here guys. Been reading a TON on the forum trying to absorb info.
Looking forward to picking this beast up and bringing it back to Utah.
Looking forward to picking this beast up and bringing it back to Utah.