Newbie (Neverbie?) Buying Decision -- 45's for the oversized?

[4XLT]

Hi All,

Brand-Newbie to the site here. Did plenty of searching on the forum and didn't find more than some passing references to my question...

...I remember well the 55 my uncle had in the 70's and since I'm old enough now to shift from blaming my boyish impulses on not having grown up to blaming them on a mid-life crisis, I figure it's high time I find me a Land Cruiser of my own.

Problem is, and here's where I'm looking for help, I'm 6'7" (more in the legs) and none too slim, either. Will I even fit in a 45, my preferred type? I was younger and smaller when I "drove" my uncle's LC using an imaginary key making motor sounds with my mouth, and classic Cruisers are scarcer than hen's teeth here in IL where I am now, so I just don't know if I can make one work due to my size. I figure from what I've been able to gather that a Ute won't work, lwb or swb, given the cab size, but I'm more interested in a Troopy or Wagon anyway. Family considerations would apply when I was forced to share.

I have driven 60's with auto trannies in the past but never wanted to own one because the floor-mounted auto trans shifters were too tight a squeeze for my leg, though just barely, if I recall correctly.

Any over-sized 45 owners out there with insight? If necessary, anyone successfully modified the seat placement to make room? Is the cab particularly narrow, like does your shoulder go right up against the side when you're behind the wheel?

I'm getting my hopes up but need a dose of reality before I move any closer to a purchase, especially since I'd almost certainly have to travel a good distance to even see one for sale in person -- can't exactly stop by the used car lot and "try one on" here.

Any guidance or direct experience is most welcome, thanks!

 

[troopie]

Hi,

I'm 6'4" and i can't really fit in a 45 pickup. I've even shorted a steering column for a buddy of mine and even then i couldn't fit. You could probably not fit either with an extra 3 inches length.

The troopie on the other hand fits me fine. Mind i don't have the original seats anymore and i put a smaller steering wheel in it. With those modifications it's really comfy enough for a few hundred miles of driving. The longest i did was 7 hours in row without stopping. My legs were a bit cramped, but that was all.

HTH,

Mark

 

[erics]

Where are you in IL? There's a 45 that lives in Rock Island that you could definitely test fit. He also has a troopie headed his way.

One of the dealerships in the Quads was also jsut recently selling a V8 45 they'd had sitting on their showroom floor... not sure if that's still around/available.

If you're close out that direction I can get you intouch with the rock Island owner...

 

[legion]

The FJ45 SWB fixed cab would definitely be out of the question. I'm 5'11" and somewhere around the high end of the range they had in mind when they built it. The non-fixed cabs have maybe 3 more inches between the dash and the back of the cab so you might be able to play with that to help the fit.

 

[4XLT]

Thanks Troopie Legion and Erics. Anyone else out there deal with this?

Erics, the offer is much appreciated, though I'm stuck near the concrete jungle of Chicago so the distance is just enough to make it highly inconvenient though still possible. Where are you in Iowa? My in-laws are in Peoria so it's not out of the question to run an additional 1.5 hrs to Rock Island on a random weekend when we're down that way.
I saw that swb for sale which used to be at Hiland Toyota in Moline -- very nice and sooo tempting, but things being too small for me is the story of my life. Love them Troopies.

 

[erics]

I'm in Des Moines. The 45 (aling with a bunch of other cool trucks and a barn full of parts) is just south of Rock Island at another cruserhead's place. His Troopie hits Long Beach within a month or so, not sure when it will get hauled back this way. He'd be happy to compare notes and show you his stuff... as would I but I'mn a good bit farther away...

There's also a Troopie and 67 fj45 lpb just outside of Iowa City I could connect you with if you're interested.

 

[76FJ40]

I'm definitely on the short side and I'm cramped in my wife's 45 LPB. Someone was selling a streetched 45 cab within the past couple of days that might be what you need.

 

[40Flipper]

Troopy and LV should be fine and you can always make the seat sliders a bit longer to accomodate your legs. I'm 6'0" and can't really fit into a 45 pickup

 

[RufusTheDufus]

I didn't realize the Troopy seat placement was any different than a 40 series? I'm 6'3" and have a BJ42 and a 1980 Troopy. I'm cramped in the 42 but it's bearable. (Did 6,000 miles in it in one trip this summer.) I haven't driven the Troopy much but it does feel like I have more room. I just assumed the sensation of more room was due to the seat support springs being shot. Is there actually a difference between the bench seat in a 42 and the seat in a Troopy?

 

[troopie]

The seating position is indeed the same for the Troopie, but with a "regular" 40 and the Troopie there is space to move the seat further back. The 45 pick up cab is to small to move the seat further back than stock. I ditched the original seats in favour of some "ergonomical" seats which are so much more comfy that the stock seats and move back more.

Mark

I didn't realize the Troopy seat placement was any different than a 40 series? I'm 6'3" and have a BJ42 and a 1980 Troopy. I'm cramped in the 42 but it's bearable. (Did 6,000 miles in it in one trip this summer.) I haven't driven the Troopy much but it does feel like I have more room. I just assumed the sensation of more room was due to the seat support springs being shot. Is there actually a difference between the bench seat in a 42 and the seat in a Troopy?

 

[mano002]

I have a friend who is 6'8" tall who has attempted to drive my stock interior'd FJ40. I'm not sure if the length is comparable to an FJ45 or not, but I thouhgt I could pass on some info. For him to put the tranny into reverse, he has to put his right knee on the left side of the steering wheel. It's do-able in a pinch, but not something I'd want to do wile wheeling or daily driving.

 

[landcrusher909]

https://forum.ih8mud.com/trails-events-expeditions/229520-calif-iowa-fj-45-a.html I am 6'2'' and made the 4100 miles trip of a lifetime. Yea it was tough but it can be done, Good Luck in your quest

 

[D'Animal]

Welcome to MUD!

Send a PM to Bull here on MUD. He may have a picture of him in one of his FJ45's. He is not petite person. He is not fat, just large.

 

[D'Animal]

Look at the Orange Broom handle in relation to the door post adn the back of the cab or the back of the set.

The Blue Rig is a 1976 FJ40 with the seat brackets flipped for more leg room.

The Yellow Rig is a 1974 FJ45

The primered rig is a bobbed FJ40 to resemble an FJ45 extended cab. (Toyota never made an FJ45 Extended cab. I'm too big to fit in a regular FJ45 comfortably)

Hopefully this gives you an idea of the size.

I'm 6' and 230lbs

 

[ToyotaDon]

Hey, D'Animal won't the 45 X-cab be in Iowa next week? Maybe you found a buyer for it already.

Seriously, 4XLT, you could also get in touch with your local club. Their part of this site is found here: IL- Windy City Land Cruisers - IH8MUD™ Forums

 

[D'Animal]

Hey, D'Animal won't the 45 X-cab be in Iowa next week? Maybe you found a buyer for it already.

Seriously, 4XLT, you could also get in touch with your local club. Their part of this site is found here: IL- Windy City Land Cruisers - IH8MUD™ Forums

If all goes well I will be bringing it to Iowa behind the Tow rig. I plan to do a little wheeling in South East Iowa and on the return trip I will be stopping in Moab.

 

[island45]

wtf? my cab is spacious. (5' 6" and 165 lbs)

 

[D'Animal]

Put the roof back on and the seat back in it.

wtf? my cab is spacious. (5' 6" and 165 lbs)

 

[kellyo]

LOL Dan LOL!

 

[65swb45]

LOL Dan LOL!

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