Stock 80 Capabilities

[Dave 2000]

Modifying cars in Spain is frowned upon, and the insurance hoops you have to jump through and legal costs deters most. Mine barring gadgets is pretty much stock all round, and I have surprised many a modded 80 driver as to the capabilities of these vehicles.

Front bumper corners get a pounding on pretty much every trip, rear mud flaps get ripped off, in other words just what you expect from a stock height truck. I had planned to make the bumper corners out of steel, before I did I wondered why Mr T did not make them stronger, and then realised they are meant to be sacrificial, if they were steel then they are in a perfect line to rip a tyre in the aforementioned off roading bump, so will go back on as per factory.

Re the lockers no lockers debate, mine has them and they get used, albeit mostly the rear one. Using momentum to get you through a difficult slippery section may look fine and dandy however, damage is much less likely if you pick your route carefully and let traction do the work, I get out a lot on my jack jones, so no spotters.

Regards

Dave

 

[Elliott2001]

46

• Cass007
• Sep 24, 2017

Not really wheeling here, but on 33" tires and stock suspension. When I went out in stock form (no front bumper, rear sides removed, rear hitch removed, deflared and running boards removed) I could do the basic green trails (beginner), but without a real front bumper, sliders and skid plates doing even the moderate trails was asking for damage.

Can the truck do it ... hell yes it can, no problem. Will I dent, damage, break or rip something off ... absolutely. Not sure what wheeling in Tennessee is like, but here in PA its woods, lots of rocks of varied sizes and many stumps. If you are on anything other than a logging road you should expect damage in some form eventually. That is what I can say in my very limited experience. I had a great time when I went out, but I won't go again without the right gear to do it safely and keep up with the group.

Also, as far as the lockers go. I only used them twice, but the difference was night and day. What took effort the first 2 tries was walked right up with the lockers on. It was only maybe 100' total using them, but without them it would have been more skinny pedal and more damage potential.

Wheeling in Tennessee sounds quite similar to pa. As I’ve talked to local guys and others it sounds like my best bet will be bumpers,sliders, winch,snorkel, skid plates and 33s. I’m a 16 year old kid making limited money part time and will have to work with what I have till I get the build completed.

 

[samiam09]

What part was so nightmarish?

lets start rear shock bolts striped from the factory, throw out bearing caught the pressure plate sheared the bearing retainer off the front the the trans.Seem like their engineers were not allowed to use a bolt size more then once on the bell housing to engine.I Hated ....hated wrenching on that thing.would rather do the pph then work on any part of that thing.Yes I was the original owner.I will never forgive myself for selling my 60 because I had too many cars after I bought the jeep.

 

[SaturnAscends]

My 98 single cab Taco felt very capable on the mild to moderate trails I took it on, and there was never a worry of body damage with the short wheelbase. However, the Cruiser is longer and seems lower to the ground: will I be significantly less capable than I was in the Tacoma even after I remove sidesteps?

apps like Onyx and Trails Offroad use a 1-10 difficulty rating. Any ideas on the hardest rated trail I could take the Cruiser on without suffering major body damage? I'm thinking maybe in CO for example I could get away with Pearl Pass, but maybe not Holy Cross or something like that.

It's a 97 K292, stock as a rock on 33s. No budget for armor or fancy upgrades for the time being.

 

[Heckraiser]

Cut my teeth wheeling in one of these. I will say stock for stock, even without lockers, I think the mini-bucket was at least as capable as the 80. But it was a rough ride, carb would flood if you pointed it up too steep a hill, could barely go 55mph, etc. So tradeoffs

My 98 single cab Taco felt very capable on the mild to moderate trails I took it on, and there was never a worry of body damage with the short wheelbase. However, the Cruiser is longer and seems lower to the ground: will I be significantly less capable than I was in the Tacoma even after I remove sidesteps?

apps like Onyx and Trails Offroad use a 1-10 difficulty rating. Any ideas on the hardest rated trail I could take the Cruiser on without suffering major body damage? I'm thinking maybe in CO for example I could get away with Pearl Pass, but maybe not Holy Cross or something like that.

It's a 97 K292, stock as a rock on 33s. No budget for armor or fancy upgrades for the time being.

A sagging 80 will have less ground clearance than your taco, but it should get you through about the same type of stuff. It'll just drag it's ass. And watch out for where the exhaust crosses under the frame and try not to hang it up on anything.

 

[Dave 2000]

I load my 80 to the hilt as I used to camp out and intend to carry on in the future, suspension is stock and go out with everything I might need, weighbridge puts it at 3 ton, or a little over as the tank and on rack fuel containers are filled to the brim. I have gone every place other more more modified 80's have gone. Some of it I put down to having the three OE lockers, and the other to off road driving for around sixteen years and picking the right lines and so forth. The worst damage the 80 sustained is a buckled passenger side step, and the fuel tank guard has taken a beating. I think a simple 2" lift would put the 80 on par with the Tacoma, given I carry a fully loaded roof rack I prefer the lower centre of gravity, been close but not gone over yet. Me and my big mouth!

Regards

Dave

 

[Marco Lau]

My 80s back when it was stock...not much to write home about, only fireroad types as it was bone stock with no lockers.

 

[sogafarm]

My 98 single cab Taco felt very capable on the mild to moderate trails I took it on, and there was never a worry of body damage with the short wheelbase. However, the Cruiser is longer and seems lower to the ground: will I be significantly less capable than I was in the Tacoma even after I remove sidesteps?

apps like Onyx and Trails Offroad use a 1-10 difficulty rating. Any ideas on the hardest rated trail I could take the Cruiser on without suffering major body damage? I'm thinking maybe in CO for example I could get away with Pearl Pass, but maybe not Holy Cross or something like that.

It's a 97 K292, stock as a rock on 33s. No budget for armor or fancy upgrades for the time being.

If I could get my old FJ60 with 33/9.5's and aal's up Holy Cross Trail, then so can you. I only broke one motor mount.

 

[SaturnAscends]

I load my 80 to the hilt as I used to camp out and intend to carry on in the future, suspension is stock and go out with everything I might need, weighbridge puts it at 3 ton, or a little over as the tank and on rack fuel containers are filled to the brim. I have gone every place other more more modified 80's have gone. Some of it I put down to having the three OE lockers, and the other to off road driving for around sixteen years and picking the right lines and so forth. The worst damage the 80 sustained is a buckled passenger side step, and the fuel tank guard has taken a beating. I think a simple 2" lift would put the 80 on par with the Tacoma, given I carry a fully loaded roof rack I prefer the lower centre of gravity, been close but not gone over y.et. Me and my big mouth!

Regards

Dave

So no sliders either?

How often do you have to engage lockers?

 

[SaturnAscends]

My 80s back when it was stock...not much to write home about, only fireroad types as it was bone stock with no lockers.
View attachment 2900164

Is that all it can handle in stock form with decent tires? I'm wondering what's the most difficult trail you've been on that you'd be comfortable taking a stock truck.

 

[Marco Lau]

Is that all it can handle in stock form with decent tires? I'm wondering what's the most difficult trail you've been on that you'd be comfortable taking a stock truck.

Yeah, not much other than subaru trails really. At the very least, throw in some sliders. I have done most trails in SoCal in 35s and a 3" lift and sliders and at least a rear locker. But i wouldnt tackle any rocks without sliders

 

[SaturnAscends]

Yeah, not much other than subaru trails really. At the very least, throw in some sliders. I have done most trails in SoCal in 35s and a 3" lift and sliders and at least a rear locker. But i wouldnt tackle any rocks without sliders

Yea I took my truck on some trails around here that were def too sketchy for a Subaru, but not so hairy to require mods. Not saying you're wrong, I was just confused since posts above seem to suggest all but the gnarliest trails are doable on 33s.

You're saying the J80 is only worth running if you go 35s+ with armor etc.? A minitruck maybe seems like a better bet for mild trails and 33s and under.

 

[subzali]

My 98 single cab Taco felt very capable on the mild to moderate trails I took it on, and there was never a worry of body damage with the short wheelbase. However, the Cruiser is longer and seems lower to the ground: will I be significantly less capable than I was in the Tacoma even after I remove sidesteps?

apps like Onyx and Trails Offroad use a 1-10 difficulty rating. Any ideas on the hardest rated trail I could take the Cruiser on without suffering major body damage? I'm thinking maybe in CO for example I could get away with Pearl Pass, but maybe not Holy Cross or something like that.

It's a 97 K292, stock as a rock on 33s. No budget for armor or fancy upgrades for the time being.

I think you could up to 6/10 without too much fear of body damage with careful driving and no sliders. 7/10 sliders start being important, and up from there.

My reference is a stock height locked 80 on 285s doing the following in Colorado:
-Slaughterhouse 6
-Bill Moore/Mill Creek 6 though we found a spur where I used my sliders a bit, and crushed my exhaust a bit too
-Red Cone 7
-Pearl Pass is a 6 and it’s right there with those others. You might find yourself wanting sliders.

 

[SaturnAscends]

I think you could up to 6/10 without too much fear of body damage with careful driving and no sliders. 7/10 sliders start being important, and up from there.

My reference is a stock height locked 80 on 285s doing the following in Colorado:
-Slaughterhouse 6
-Bill Moore/Mill Creek 6 though we found a spur where I used my sliders a bit, and crushed my exhaust a bit too
-Red Cone 7
-Pearl Pass is a 6 and it’s right there with those others. You might find yourself wanting sliders.

Yeah the margin of error can be small with a stock height truck I imagine. I did Stoney pass in my truck on 31s with no issues.

How often did you have to engage the lockers on the trails you listed? Thanks

 

[subzali]

Yeah the margin of error can be small with a stock height truck I imagine. I did Stoney pass in my truck on 31s with no issues.

How often did you have to engage the lockers on the trails you listed? Thanks

Yeah, Stoney Pass (near Bailey) is a dirt road. It’s challenging in winter.

Slaughterhouse-lockers for the optional fun lines
Red Cone-maybe on one obstacle. The Jeep in our group was acting up so we had to turn back before getting to the top. Lockers would have been needed for an optional line near the top.
Red Elephant Hill-we took an alternate route that had some exposure so had lockers for that bit. The rest of Bill Moore and Mill Creek Loop they are not needed.

 

[mudgudgeon]

To say an 80 is no more capable than a Subaru is horseshìt.

A stock 80 with a skilled driver will out drive a moderately built 4x4 with a shït driver.

A stock 80 vs stock taco, I'll take the 80 any day, thanks. All else being equal (wheels, lift, lockers, sliders etc) I'll still take the fat ass 80

The thing that will most easily stop an unlocked 80 (or any rig) is loss of ground pressure under one tyre on the front, and one on the rear axle.
The classic example of this is front right unloaded, rear left unloaded, visa v.
Then you'll have a wheel on each side spinning due to loss of traction.
Clever lines, and wheel placement can avoid this in a LOT of situations.
Then fairly supple suspension in stock form (overall) will allow more articulation in these scenarios than many other vehicles to keep traction longer.

The 80 suspension has fairly long links in the rear, and, five link (four link with panhard) in the rear gives a lot of articulation, and let's you stuff rear wheels high into fat fender wells.
No taco in stock form is gonna match it.
Front radius arms are a good length, but the bushing arrangement on the front makes them stiffer than the rear, but still gives a lot of articulation when loaded up.

Have wheeled with many versions of hilux (taco) 4runner, landcruisers of all types, prado, Nissan Patrol (safari), land rovers etc
Compare stock for stock in the era before electronic traction control, a '90s land rover defender is about the only stock, readily available, mass production 4x4 that I would say out drives an 80. Nissan patrol of the same vintage is very similar, but slightly hamstrung by shorter suspension links and coils, and weaker birfs.

Linked rear 4 runners, and hilux surf (similar to 4runner) were obviously hamstrung by having shorter rear links, and short armed IFS, and reduced articulation at both ends

 

[subzali]

Middle St Vrain/Coney Flats is rated as a 6 and I’ve seen Subarus (all built for off-road) taking that trail. But I think that is the top end for Subaru’s. That is just where it’s starting to get fun for Land Cruisers.

 

[SaturnAscends]

Middle St Vrain/Coney Flats is rated as a 6 and I’ve seen Subarus (all built for off-road) taking that trail. But I think that is the top end for Subaru’s. That is just where it’s starting to get fun for Land Cruisers.

I'm thinking a mild lift and sliders, along with maybe a grizzly locker in the rear would get me all but the most extreme trails in CO.

 

[Dave 2000]

So no sliders either?

How often do you have to engage lockers?

No sliders, I would need to have them approved by the ITV (Inspection station) and insurance, it can be done but I can't be bothered, I have got through the last 11...ish years without them so I doubt I would bother now?

Re lockers, as and when needed really, a lot of the time the centre and rear, the front rarely, I prefer momentum after a walk up a rocky path or steep slope.

Regards

Dave

 

[Marco Lau]

Yea I took my truck on some trails around here that were def too sketchy for a Subaru, but not so hairy to require mods. Not saying you're wrong, I was just confused since posts above seem to suggest all but the gnarliest trails are doable on 33s.

You're saying the J80 is only worth running if you go 35s+ with armor etc.? A minitruck maybe seems like a better bet for mild trails and 33s and under.

why risk it, sliders are cheap insurance compared to most mods or head gasket maintenance...lol