Hey now, mine passes smog and doesn't have a spec of rust. Guilty on everything else though.
Have to love a desert cruiser.
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Have to love a desert cruiser.
give it time...
you're freakin me out right now, OS...my 62 is like ben kanobe, it's my only friggin hope...
Hmm. What say you on road-tripping a rough secondhand FJ60?
I'm with others. Buy a reliable means of transport and an FJ60. Maybe logic says stick with the newer Jeep, but if we bought strictly on logic we would only consider safety and efficiency and that would be boring as hell
I love the 60 series wagons. Ive had 2 FJ40's 1 FZJ80 and I would love to have a 60 as well.
I scored MEGA deals on ALL my rigs just by being patient and waiting for the right one to pop up.
I have noticed as well scouring the net as I do the prices of all Landcruisers going UP and up but none so much as the FJ45 and the FJ60's. Seems like around here anyways..........
Spent 30 seconds on a search here in Cali and found this......
They are out there.!!!!
Landcruiser or NOTHING.
Good luck in your search!!!
1983 Toyota Land Cruiser Wagon FJ60, FJ 60
I scored MEGA deals on ALL my rigs just by being patient and waiting for the right one to pop up.
I have noticed as well scouring the net as I do the prices of all Landcruisers going UP and up but none so much as the FJ45 and the FJ60's. Seems like around here anyways..........
Spent 30 seconds on a search here in Cali and found this......
They are out there.!!!!
Landcruiser or NOTHING.
Good luck in your search!!!
1983 Toyota Land Cruiser Wagon FJ60, FJ 60
All sorts of great words above. All the things I don't need to say. I'm on my second 60. First one I did a few things to when she was dead and I was able to bring her back to life in a few hours time. I'm now on number two 60, she cost me nearly 4K more than my first. She's in fairly good shape for a western truck that's been in the east for 14 years. I had her down to her timing gears and her manifolds are in my laundry room now....
As a female in this 'mans' forum I have learned more from my Amanda (@CaptClose) and she's gotten me more dirty than I ever thought imaginable.
I love my 60. I would be a straight up JA if I sold her. The lessons this truck has taught me far outweigh all the hours therapy could ever provide me.
20k is huge... you can find them for less tho yes, w/ a lot more work involved... 20k will buy you a truck someone else fixed up for you. Where's the pleasure in that?
As a female in this 'mans' forum I have learned more from my Amanda (@CaptClose) and she's gotten me more dirty than I ever thought imaginable.
I love my 60. I would be a straight up JA if I sold her. The lessons this truck has taught me far outweigh all the hours therapy could ever provide me.
20k is huge... you can find them for less tho yes, w/ a lot more work involved... 20k will buy you a truck someone else fixed up for you. Where's the pleasure in that?
@landcrusher909 Rob, often knows of 60's out there for less than 20k.
No way am I daily driving a 60 series. For one thing, I'd never be able to afford the gas and for another it would seriously take the fun out of it.
$20k seems like a high price budget to me. As another mentioned, buy a daily driver that gets decent gas mileage and spend a little less on the cruiser. And remember, whatever you spend is an entry fee. I asked my mechanic "when will this end?" His response? "When you run out of imagination or money." That's about the size of it. My suggestion? Run the hell away from this.
$20k seems like a high price budget to me. As another mentioned, buy a daily driver that gets decent gas mileage and spend a little less on the cruiser. And remember, whatever you spend is an entry fee. I asked my mechanic "when will this end?" His response? "When you run out of imagination or money." That's about the size of it. My suggestion? Run the hell away from this.
Im gonna chime in with my 2 cents. I bought a 1985 for a grand, found another in Long beach with a clean body for 2500 spent another 4 grand taking the two and building one. Since then my wife and I have logged in thousands of miles our last trip to the Lone Star Round up was 2400 miles round trip and I Love this rig. I drive it daily my first thought is when it comes to fuel economy is " Dont care " LOL I love this rig Plans in the future are to make it our Road trip rig. The deals are out there you have to wait for them and it also helps to have a shop you trust like Valley Hybrids in Stockton Ca. I see them off and on for between 45 and 5 grand thats a good starting point. No matter what you find you gonna have to make some mods or upgrades
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
The JKUR is a great ride. It will run circles around an FJ60 on road and off. It is not going to have that rock like inner strength of a Land Cruiser, but it's still a great machine. I'd keep it.
But you should buy an FJ60. Something that's actually interesting to look at, work on and drive. Actually, my strong bias is that you should buy an FJ62. Fuel injection rules, and it has several significant chassis improvements, most notably a rear sway bar.
But the best advice I can give you is to always have another car to drive while the 60 is mid project, or if your parts don't come in on time or similar. Having a 60 as your only car is not a good plan. They are plenty reliable for a 30 year old station wagon, but they are still 35 years old.
But you should buy an FJ60. Something that's actually interesting to look at, work on and drive. Actually, my strong bias is that you should buy an FJ62. Fuel injection rules, and it has several significant chassis improvements, most notably a rear sway bar.
But the best advice I can give you is to always have another car to drive while the 60 is mid project, or if your parts don't come in on time or similar. Having a 60 as your only car is not a good plan. They are plenty reliable for a 30 year old station wagon, but they are still 35 years old.
Heard enough? Buy one! Having any old vehicle is a commitment though (in no small amounts of time and money, or money and time ) Don't underestimate that fact.
If you want to get the total "60 series experience," buy one for under $2k with in excess of 350k miles on it and proceed to drive it 30k miles in the next two years, including some 1000 mile road days, wheeling trips, a coast to coast run and a dozen and a half states. You'll learn a lot along the way. I did, and still am. The bolts I haven't had off that truck pale in number to those I have. But he fact that I'm still driving it at all is testament to the toughness of these trucks and one of the reasons I am so fond of mine.
If you want to get the total "60 series experience," buy one for under $2k with in excess of 350k miles on it and proceed to drive it 30k miles in the next two years, including some 1000 mile road days, wheeling trips, a coast to coast run and a dozen and a half states. You'll learn a lot along the way. I did, and still am. The bolts I haven't had off that truck pale in number to those I have. But he fact that I'm still driving it at all is testament to the toughness of these trucks and one of the reasons I am so fond of mine.
Gretsch
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #32
Would like to thank everyone for their replies here. All good advice and confirming most of my suspicions. Again the reality of owning one of these trucks might be a little more than I can handle. I am an OK wrench, but time is typically my enemy when it comes to being able to work on vehicles. I do a lot of the work on my current Jeep (Jeep TJ Rubicon, not a JKU) myself but a lot of it I take to a mechanic simply because its faster and I need the truck for work. So based on all the feedback, I am not sure my current lifestyle would allow this very well. Perhaps the best scenario would be a 60 and a daily driver. My Jeep most likely would not command the kind of dollars able to fund both outright, and my wife is not a big proponent of two vehicles anyway, so alas, I am probably stuck.
Everyone said when I bought the Jeep that driving it everyday would be a beat down. Its sucks gas like nothing I have ever owned, is slow, and heavy, can't carry anything of note. But all that is washed away when I get in it a drive it. I think the same would hold true even more so with an FJ60. All the flaws would be outweighed by the pride of driving such an iconic vehicle. Its flaws don't frighten me. It makes no real sense, but is worth all the effort. If I am honest, a vehicle of this vintage coupled with my lifestyle may be a bad mix. While a lot has been confirmed here, I am still not completely talked out of owning one of these vehicles. Thanks again for all the therapy.
Everyone said when I bought the Jeep that driving it everyday would be a beat down. Its sucks gas like nothing I have ever owned, is slow, and heavy, can't carry anything of note. But all that is washed away when I get in it a drive it. I think the same would hold true even more so with an FJ60. All the flaws would be outweighed by the pride of driving such an iconic vehicle. Its flaws don't frighten me. It makes no real sense, but is worth all the effort. If I am honest, a vehicle of this vintage coupled with my lifestyle may be a bad mix. While a lot has been confirmed here, I am still not completely talked out of owning one of these vehicles. Thanks again for all the therapy.
Absolutely.
Just do it, man. If it ends up not working out for you, then put it back on the market. Someone else will buy it. Here's my last bit on this... I have an '87 FJ60 that I paid less than $10k for. It's my daily driver. I've got house projects, a wife, a son, a full time job, student debt, and other hobbies that eat at my wallet. I'm not an experienced wrencher. I'm not rollin' in dough. The truck does require my time occasionally, but it's worth it. You can save thousands of dollars doing the work yourself. And you'll learn to get things done quickly. Jeeps are cool and all, but you'll see hundreds (if not thousands) of them throughout the week. Sometimes I go several months without seeing another FJ60 on the road. Live a little.
I saw a post that said if you dont have a garage or a modern tool box then dont do it......
I bough my cruiser in November. I knew and had and have the intent to learn I want to learn. The things I need to know and own to fix and work on this FJ60 are things I want to know as a Man (of 26 I dont mean to belittle anyone, I just dont want to be another millenial that cant change the oil on his truck) , this is strictly me not everyone. I experience joy when I have to go buy a new tool or even something as trivial as an additional wrench, socket, drill bit, or antenna for that matter. I bought my 60 with the intention to need and purchase new tools and spend the time learning, reading ,and listening. It is my DD so procrastination is no option.
I don't have a garage I have storage space. I am making a modern toolbox.
I think you should be aware that its not going to be perfect always but you will always enjoy cruising, the sweet spot is a curvy 45 mph back road on the way to a dirt one.
Your budget is friggin huge man! I would buy an FJ60 for $12k and a s***ty reliable 15 year old camry for $2k for in-case situations! Seriously craigslist camrys are stupid cheap. Hell buy a 1995 sierra. Then you still have play money and mod money left over!
I bough my cruiser in November. I knew and had and have the intent to learn I want to learn. The things I need to know and own to fix and work on this FJ60 are things I want to know as a Man (of 26 I dont mean to belittle anyone, I just dont want to be another millenial that cant change the oil on his truck) , this is strictly me not everyone. I experience joy when I have to go buy a new tool or even something as trivial as an additional wrench, socket, drill bit, or antenna for that matter. I bought my 60 with the intention to need and purchase new tools and spend the time learning, reading ,and listening. It is my DD so procrastination is no option.
I don't have a garage I have storage space. I am making a modern toolbox.
I think you should be aware that its not going to be perfect always but you will always enjoy cruising, the sweet spot is a curvy 45 mph back road on the way to a dirt one.
Your budget is friggin huge man! I would buy an FJ60 for $12k and a s***ty reliable 15 year old camry for $2k for in-case situations! Seriously craigslist camrys are stupid cheap. Hell buy a 1995 sierra. Then you still have play money and mod money left over!
I'd never buy a fj60/62 as a DD.
Also plan time to talk to people about it. I stopped at the gas station for some coffee and wound up getting stopped by a guy who loved the truck and wanted to know about it. Haha.