Next vehicle - Help me, I can't decide

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ccasteel

ccasteel

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So I'm having trouble making the final call. I've narrowed the list down to the following three.

95-97 FZJ80/LX 450
UZJ100/LX 470
Tacoma Crew cab

My need is for a daily driver. My want is for an expedition rig. I keep reading, but I can't seem to get off this three way fence. I turned 50 this past week and I made a commitment last year to climb all the 14ers in Colorado before I'm 65. So I will occasionally use it to travel to Colorado with my family and then head out for a few days at a time. FYI, Rosey has decided to take this challenge with me, but the other girls and my wife are not interested. My FJ40 is best suited for the kind of wheeling I would do in Colorado, (tight switchbacks and narrow trails) but there's no way I can load the family up for a road trip. Here's some of my thoughts. Add to it, share your thoughts and correct me where I'm wrong.

Taco - best for daily driving and occasional home depot runs. From what I can tell, seems to be the worst for off road with lighter duty components and smaller approach and departure angles. It also has the least towing capacity. This also seems to be the most expensive option because it would be the newest.

UZJ100 - most comfortable for daily driving and road trips with the fam. I'm most concerned about this A-TRAC stuff and the additional suspension complexity. Good towing capacity if I add a trailer down the road.

FZJ80 - it's in last place as far as daily driving. (although work is only 4 miles) It has the greatest aftermarket support and a load of knowledge within TAC. I like the solid front axle and the lockers seem much more simple than the A-TRAC. It's hard to spend the same money on an 80 as a 100.

I've been waffling on this for weeks, so hopefully you can enlighten me to things I'm not considering.
 
I'd get the 100. More comfortable and powerful for the long drives to Colorado and up to 10 years newer. Might also consider an FJ Cruiser. I like be mine for daily driving and it's a lot easier to manage at speed than the 80.
 
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If I didn't already have my 80 and hadn't done so much work to it, I'd be looking at a 100 series. Especially for taking the wife or kids out with me. If somebody came and wanted to trade me a nice 100 for my 80, I would seriously think about it. The more I travel with family or daily drive the more I want the newer LC. Of course the first time you encounter 2-3 foot boulders in the middle of a tight trail in CO your like, f$%# i'm in my 80 lets get some !!!
 
I have owned three 100's over the years and have had absolutely no regrets...wife actually drove them as her DD so comfort and maneuverability were excellent. Love what we've created in Mitch's 80 but no where near what my middle-aged body would want to spend 10-12hrs driving to CO in. The VSC/ABS works fantastic and never left us in a bad situation but we never "wheeled" them in the conditions the TAC outings generally participate in. My next build will likely revolve around a 100 again as it will be a decent tow vehicle to drag Mitch's 80 around with as well and suitable for Overlanding.

I've only had the LX470 versions (not by intention...just found the right combo of price and miles) and the AHC was not an issue on any of them and rides fantastic. No rear locker options on US models like the 98-99 LCs but have LSD and VSC which does its best to simulate a locked setup albeit robbing some engine power as its using the brakes to prevent a wheel from spinning and sucking it all up. With that said, I did remove the AHC system on one of them when I lifted it. It is not a difficult task and technically you can leave all the old AHC equipment in place but there is a market for the old serviceable globes/accumulators and parts. I think Slee now has a work-around for the idiot light on the dash but back then I tore into the cluster and handled it the old fashioned way. I did swap front torsion bars to Landcruiser versions and used OME springs and shocks but can't remember which ones off the top of my head. I did not lift enuf to warrant new UCAs or custom aftermarket torsion bars but did add the front diff drop. I will be the first to admit I like the fancy "pink panty" stuff so no shame in an LX vs LC sitting in my garage. I'm partial to the 03+ simply because I like the interior changes. A rear locked 98-99 LC would be interesting to consider as well but getting harder to find with decent miles.

Anyway, either 100 variant would be my choice and buy one down south! One of mine came out of St Louis area (the one I converted) and the undercarriage was an absolute mess of corrosion making it very difficult to work on. Top shock mounts were the worst.

Separate note...agree with @1MAC as well regarding the FJ Cruiser. Had one a couple years back with all the goodies, lifted a bit and really enjoyed what it offered. If you don't need the interior size of a "real" four door SUV, that would be at the top of my list as well. Rear Locker, A-Track, VSC, what's not to like...plus they just look cool.
 
What he said.
 
Gotta say, I'm surprised this is so weighted on favor of the 100. Any thoughts on the 98/99 with 2 spline front diff and rear locker/lsd vs. 2000 and up with 4 spline front diff, A-TRAC and no locker.
 
All of the arguments for the 100 make sense....but 80 all the way. I just love these darn trucks. When mine finally fails, or I decide to start another build on a much cleaner rig, for now it will be another 80. I just can't believe that I can drive 200 miles, wheel anything (for the most part) that I point it at, then drive 200 miles home a few days later...and to work on Monday. I know it's not as comfortable as the 100 series for long trips or overlanding, so one day my preference may change (if my wheeling style calms down, cause I definitely need/want front and rear lockers), but for now, 80 all the way!

But for your specific purposes, a 100 series probably makes more sense. I'm kinda like that guy hanging on, waiting for 8-track to make a comeback, but blissful in my ignorance!
 
ccasteel said:
So I'm having trouble making the final call. I've narrowed the list down to the following three.

95-97 FZJ80/LX 450
UZJ100/LX 470
Tacoma Crew cab

My need is for a daily driver. My want is for an expedition rig. I keep reading, but I can't seem to get off this three way fence. I turned 50 this past week and I made a commitment last year to climb all the 14ers in Colorado before I'm 65. So I will occasionally use it to travel to Colorado with my family and then head out for a few days at a time. FYI, Rosey has decided to take this challenge with me, but the other girls and my wife are not interested. My FJ40 is best suited for the kind of wheeling I would do in Colorado, (tight switchbacks and narrow trails) but there's no way I can load the family up for a road trip. Here's some of my thoughts. Add to it, share your thoughts and correct me where I'm wrong.

Taco - best for daily driving and occasional home depot runs. From what I can tell, seems to be the worst for off road with lighter duty components and smaller approach and departure angles. It also has the least towing capacity. This also seems to be the most expensive option because it would be the newest.

UZJ100 - most comfortable for daily driving and road trips with the fam. I'm most concerned about this A-TRAC stuff and the additional suspension complexity. Good towing capacity if I add a trailer down the road.

FZJ80 - it's in last place as far as daily driving. (although work is only 4 miles) It has the greatest aftermarket support and a load of knowledge within TAC. I like the solid front axle and the lockers seem much more simple than the A-TRAC. It's hard to spend the same money on an 80 as a 100.

I've been waffling on this for weeks, so hopefully you can enlighten me to things I'm not considering.
Click to expand...

Evolution of an Icon
 
I'll have to saddle up on the 100 fence. I think the 100 is a great vehicle. It's quiet, it's capable, it's durable, and it's reliable. Plus, it's one of the nicest vehicles produced in that window. It's going to do most of what an 80 will do on the trail and it'll clean up nice enough to take your CEO to lunch without looking "old or outdated."

On the other hand, the 80 is everything the 100 isn't. It's got tons of personality and is a beast. Like you said, there's a wealth of knowledge in KC about the 80s and they're just a blast to take to events.

A couple downsides to the 80 that are more quantitative are that they don't tow much compared to the 100 and the interior space isn't quite as big (so if you're sleeping in there, you'll need to reconsider).
 
Whichever you decide on.... 80 or 100 you'll have a blast on the trips with Rosey and will never regret them. And that's the main point. I imagine driving my 80 with 35's all the way to Colorado and wow, it makes me tired.
 
ccasteel said:
Gotta say, I'm surprised this is so weighted on favor of the 100. Any thoughts on the 98/99 with 2 spline front diff and rear locker/lsd vs. 2000 and up with 4 spline front diff, A-TRAC and no locker.
Click to expand...

Oops showing my ignorance above. Apparently it is 2 pin vs 4 pin. Not spline. I'll do some more searching, but can someone tell me what that means?
 
ccasteel said:
Oops showing my ignorance above. Apparently it is 2 pin vs 4 pin. Not spline. I'll do some more searching, but can someone tell me what that means?
Click to expand...

The 98-99 model years are know for grenading there front diff without any warning. This problem can be solved by installing an aftermarket unit like the ARB.

DLPDLP said:
Whichever you decide on.... 80 or 100 you'll have a blast on the trips with Rosey and will never regret them. And that's the main point. I imagine driving my 80 with 35's all the way to Colorado and wow, it makes me tired.
Click to expand...

Aside from the horrible lack of power, you really just need better seats. I found that and the Slee castor brackets made my highway driving a lot more enjoyable.
 
ccasteel said:
Oops showing my ignorance above. Apparently it is 2 pin vs 4 pin. Not spline. I'll do some more searching, but can someone tell me what that means?
Click to expand...
I believe there talking about 2 spider vs 4 spider gears in the front diff? Standard high pinion 8" open carrier may be able to be swapped in I have one laying around.
 
^^
Yep, I saw that one. Looks like a decent option. And therein lies my problem. It's out of my budget, but it's low miles at a decent price. I need to wait a few months and up my budget so I don't settle for high miles or rust. The family is getting tired of me buying cheap cars that I'm constantly tinkering with.
 
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