Stock 80 Capabilities

[Elliott2001]

I was looking to keep my 80 as close to stock as possible. It is bone stock now, I was looking to add a stock height suspension lift so it will be a little bit taller and get better tires. I have been limited off road so far. Any pics of stock 80s wheeling? Here’s mine.
Thanks

 

[Travis 76]

Nice. They are pretty great even stock.

 

[bugsnbikes]

Screw stock......pick up some 185’s and Titanium valve springs and spin that 1fz to 8000rpms - momentum is your friend. And tons of room to flex without rubbing- just look at that clearance in those wheelwells!

Im not even aired down yet.....and still hangs with friends on 37’s.

 

[Elliott2001]

Screw stock......pick up some 185’s and spin that 1fz to 8000rpms - momentum is your friend. And tons of room to flex without rubbing- just look at that clearance in those wheelwells!!!

View attachment 1598317

P
I think I’m going to hold off on that look!

 

[bugsnbikes]

U fear the low Center of gravity or far superior final drive ratios I guess...

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS]

@Elliott2001 That's a sweet stock 91/92 you got there. Just a few ideas, with the stock 15x7 wheels, I like the skinny stock look of 33x10.50's. If you add a stock height lift, you will want some 1" spring spacers to keep your look the same as with the stock tires. For the most part, tire size and lift determine your off-road capability with the 80, then there's bumpers, sliders and lockers. Welcome to the addiction!

 

[stock]

I took my stock 91 FJ80 with only the center lock and added BFG AT's 33x10.5x15. I was very impressed when I went with the local group Keystone Cruisers. I thought I would keep it stock... lol. If you add a rear locker with the 33s (which does not affect look) and some under armor, you can keep up with most everyone. Sliders and skid plates are a must.

 

[DirtScaresMe]

Stock's cool but sheet metal bumpers don't hold up long and eventually you need a winch. I dunno, I don't think you need to go insane with regearing and 37s, but a couple grand in upgrades can increase your clearance, protect hood/lights/tail/quarters, and get you or a buddy out of a jam (winch).

 

[half k cruiser]

Very capable in stock form. They do look a lot better with stock height lift and some 285's, and it doesn't make them look outlandish.

 

[mudgudgeon]

For the most part, tire size and lift determine your off-road capability with the 80, then there's bumpers, sliders and lockers. Welcome to the addiction!

First and foremost, driver skill and wheel placement determines the capability of an 80. It's amazing where you can get a stock landcruiser.
After that, add sliders, a winch, then tyres, then lockers, then lift.

I have a 105 series, 2" lift, sliders, winch, lockers, 33" or 35" tyres.
It's been everywhere my 4" lifted 80 went, and pretty much everywhere my buddies with 37" tyres and big lifts go.

Lockers take you deeper into s***, winch to get you out, or even deeper depending on your temperament

 

[nukegoat]

You could buy a stock jeep instead and enjoy greater factory capability

 

[Lumpskie]

I've been wheeling with the OME stock height and, until today, stock bumpers. Sliders and skids have taken hard hits.

 

[bugsnbikes]

my favorite combo (having done everything from stock to 39’s)- hands down was 295/75/16s Toyos on stock height lift with 30mm spacers up front and a few trim packers in the rear. 295s have a nice balloony volume compared to 255/85s without being as cumbersome as 315s. And the 295s really were the best balance for onroad and offroad. Order of preference is :

1- 295-75-16- 30mmfront /10mm rear. Stock tokiko shocks-bang for buck sweet ride.
2- 255/85/16 — ome2.5” lift.
3- 37’s - Frankie’s 3.5-Fox2.0’s


ultimately it just depends on how you are using your rig with respect to balance of onroad and offroad use and if A/T, M/T , and clearance Is needed.

 

[Bludozer]

You could buy a stock jeep instead and enjoy greater factory capability

Stop trying to purposefully trigger me. It's working..

 

[nukegoat]

Stop trying to purposefully trigger me. It's working..

Jeep. The honda accord of wheeling.

 

[Red Merle]

Jeep. The honda accord of wheeling.

Dammit, I was just about to get mad at you but then you found my soft spot for Accords. I still think the best car I have ever owned was a '94 Accord EX wagon with the peppy V-Tec. That was a nice car that could really cook if you wanted to go Dad fast.

 

[nukegoat]

Dammit, I was just about to get mad at you but then you found my soft spot for Accords. I still think the best car I have ever owned was a '94 Accord EX wagon with the peppy V-Tec. That was a nice car that could really cook if you wanted to go Dad fast.

I know the feeling. j32a owner here

 

[Red Merle]

I know the feeling. j32a owner here

Story time? Story time...

Back in the day, I was dating an old college flame after she got married, popped out a couple of kids with one of our buddies and then decided to get divorced and find out what I had been doing for the last 10 years... One thing led to another and I ended up getting engaged to her, even though I lived 130 miles away in the middle of the Great Recession. Times were tough and it wasn't becoming easy to move to be by her without nuking the businesses that I had spent the previous 10 years building(I was in residential remodeling and real estate, which were both imploding). I loved her though and I wanted to make it work, but the only way to even sorta keep the thing on the rails, I had to hustle up north every Friday and come back on Sunday night.

I had already sold my nice Tundra and had an old Toyota pick up as a work truck and the Honda as my runner as I was trying to reduce living expenses. One evening I was on my way up to see her and I got passed by a pair of cars that were clearly traveling as a tandem because they both had dealer plates from a dealership in the Twin Cities. The first car was a Porsche Panamera and the one behind was an Audi S4. They were exceeding the speed limit by quite a wide margin but it was a perfect night for driving and had driven the stretch of road so many times that I knew every bump, turn and twist and I knew where the cops hung out. I decided to get between them and try to keep up. The Porsche took off and I just went right up to where he set the cruise. I looked down and we were doing 95 MPH. The S4 got behind me quickly and she flashed her lights to get me to move over right as the Panamera bumped it up to 100. I didn't get out of the way, I just caught the Porsche. He decided to push it up again, and I just followed. I was clinking along, with the sunroof open and the car felt awesome. I looked down and the needle was wavering between 110-120 MPH for almost an hour as we just kept up that way. The Honda felt solid and I never once thought I was way outside of it's capabilities and I really don't think I was at the limit.

My exit came up finally and I gave the S4 a thumbs up and she gave me a nice honk and the same thumb in return.

That's a damn good car.

 

[greentruck]

First and foremost, driver skill and wheel placement determines the capability of an 80. SNIP

This^^^

The 80 was designed for conditions that far exceed those encountered by most North American drivers, even experienced ones who venture offroad intentionally and frequently. If you've been deployed overseas in the military or lived abroad in certain regions, these sorts of "roads" may be familiar, but most of us who own and drive 80s in the US have a tool in our hands that generally far exceeds what is necessary for the task at hand.

Want to make the most of this capability with the least effort? Then practice knowing where your tires are at all times when you're on the trail. It makes the drive smoother, more efficient, and less likely to get stuck. On a day-to-day basis, knowing how to "pick a line" is far more useful than a locked axle.

People do like to build their trucks and the 80 is a great platform to do that on. But you only need do much of anything to the 80 if you want to. It was already quite capable when it arrived fresh off the showroom floor.

 

[flintknapper]

I agree wholeheartedly, that 'driver's skill and experience' are important (the better driver will always accomplish more, all else equal) but make no mistake, locked differentials can make a HUGE difference.

Yes, they are not needed on certain terrain and they can actually be a liability in some circumstances. But I will take locked diffs (to choose to employ) every time... over open diffs.

The Land Cruiser is a 'capable' machine off-road but it isn't 'magical'. Blasphemy...I know. Any similarly equipped vehicle with the same articulation, will do the same thing.