They'll get through a lot. Sliders are a must at stock height, a good spotter wont hurt either.
Stock 80 Capabilities
- Thread starter Elliott2001
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I think what sets the 80 apart isn't necessarily it's stock off road prowess, it's the combination of being a relatively modern vehicle in terms of creature comforts, it's very capable off road habits combined with its reliability and very robust build quality. In my mind this is the car to have if you want to own one car for the rest of your life. I just completed a 750 mile road trip in temps that never got above -5 degree F and I was warm and toasty and I love driving it. I was using cruise control and keeping it above 70 MPH with zero issues regarding feeling like I was over doing it. I surpassed 260K miles on the way home and I just don't see a way that I am even halfway through depleting this thing through its normal lifespan, given how solid it feels. Even my 71 year old mom told me that it seems like a new truck to her and she and my old man always buy a new Toyota van every 10 years
Those new Chrysler products are all going to be in the boneyard by the time my truck gives up the ghost or I do. I am 41 years old and I am done buying cars. As long as I can get parts, this will always be my go to rig and now that I know how it all works, I really don't want anything else.
As long as you like the way the 80 drives and what it takes to keep one on the road, it will never let you down, no matter what you have your sights set on as far as using it to live the life you want to live.
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^^^^^^ Well said.
I continue to be amazed at the number of 'original' parts on my 80 series ('97 model, just shy of 300K miles).
They are clearly over-built (read rugged) and reliable. And while the average driver will never subject one to its practical design limits, it remains...the vehicle was built with a certain amount of abuse in mind.
Another thing I find endearing about the 80 series...is that most parts are designed to rebuilt/repaired and not simply 'replaced' (non-serviceable). There was much thought given to the ability to perform 'field repairs' (enough to keep you going).
I appreciate that the engineers considered the MANY environments the vehicle would be subjected to. Actually, the U.S. version (with its limited options) is not the best example of what the Land Cruiser can be.
I am very much a fan of the 80 series and will have mine until I die, for exactly the reasons you cited. I am happy too that it is a 'good' off-road vehicle.
DirtScaresMe
Trouble Maker
Except for the whole reliability thing, sure.
Knowing what I now know because I have taken about 70% of this truck apart and put it all back together with little bits and parts that you guys have recommended, I now have a theory about how they developed the 80 Series. I think that the Japanese economy was in a phase that some economists would call a "super economy". I have read that the real estate value of Tokyo proper had more value in the mid 90s as the entire value of all of the real estate in the US. Just for that one town. Think about that...
I think their engineers were instructed to make two vehicles without any sort of consideration beyond what would take to make them the best for their intended purposes. The Supra and the Land Cruiser. I think they told the guys and gals working on the Land Cruiser to just make it how it should be without any regard for cost. They did that and they figured out the price tag after the fact and I don't think it mattered or it actually made any money for the company. I am pretty sure it was meant to be a testament to the prowess of Japanese engineering after dealing with the decades long shame that they felt after being defeated in WWII and couldn't have a military presence. The 80 and the Supra were their way of showing the world how far they had come since 1945. What they came up with is incredible. In the sports car world, some of those Supras are six figure vehicles now. For whatever reason, off road vehicles don't draw that type of coin, but the engineering that made the Supra among the most sought after cars in the world was shared with the Land Cruiser.
By buying an 80, you are buying something that will likely never be available again in our lifetimes. Their economy is in no where near as good of shape and the world in general is an entirely different place now. The chances of the stars aligning for all of that again in the future are slim to none. It was lightning in a bottle...
You can ride the lightning though...
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nukegoat
Should have bought a Jeep
None of us really need that level of reliability for toodling about in town
LINUS
Waiting for the Great Pumpkin
Tell that to the 40-something guys who bought these new for their slightly-past-prime trophy wives that now were soccer moms.
Some of those women have a single breakdown & "that thing" the husband bought is now yesterday's news, and she wants the new/latest/greatest so she can show off to her horde of cackling mannequins (aka wine-o girlfriends) -just how much 'he loves her'.
Those plastic women weren't about to put up with a single "call AAA from my Motorola flip-phone" (or the in-console cel in the 450)-event, not if it wasn't their idea to buy it in the 1st place.
Once at a Lowe's parking lot my brother and I saw this woman and her kids (along with the Lowe's boy) cram 1/2 of a swing set in the back of an '80, other 1/2 and the slide onto the roof.
Try that with a honda
Try that with a honda
I haven't hit nearly as many trails as i'd like to here in CO with my stock 80..but The trails that I have done it has handled with ease on 285/75/16 duratracs. The next thing Ill do will be either a winch in the stock bumper or build some sliders..Probably sliders since I really don't wanna crunch the body.
yeah but then you have to work on that jeep thing, and trust me I would rather work on a cruiser then a jeep.My tj rubicon was fully capable but a nightmare to work on from the get go.Finally got smart sold it bought a crusier........Much happier now,If I want to go pay in the rocks I have my truck.
^^^^^^ I have to wonder if this is why they put the 'teats' on the constant tension hose clamps in the most difficult position possible for the application! Every one of them! Nearly impossible to get them off and come out of it unscathed. Probably done just for the American market.
A little 'pay back', if you will .
Except for the fact I was on 33s these two runs were done bone stock. Comments regarding sliders are spot on. My running boards were thrashed after niagara rim.
hollister
niagara rim
hollister
niagara rim
Yeah, that sliders thing. Guess I learned that the hard way, early, in 1977 with my 2-week old FJ55. Slid that puppy over a dirt bank and - ARRGH! - there was a neat little dent about a foot long in my rocker panel right under the driver's door as a mark of my foolishness.
Compared to the FJ55, the 80 has much better rocker panels (may hold water if drains aren't clear, but generally don't rust in 4 years, have a protected finish that holds up, etc), but I don't test them to see how much better. I do tend to size up the situation in terms of maneuvering to avoid what protrudes into my path at about 18" high.
For serious rock work, yeah, they're a visually low-key investment past stock that's worth it if you plan to expose the truck to such trail conditions on a regular basis.
On the other, the trails HAAANK and dan1554 cite tend to be the exceptions, rather than the rule, even in Colorado. Another one to watch out for is Holy Cross City. Well over 90% of them can be done sliderless without fear and 98% can be done without damage with care to one's line. Watch out for those 18" high rocks in your path and the 6' ones will take care of themselves. We do far more expo type trails than rockcrawling so the jury is still out on whether to add that weight here, YMMV.
Compared to the FJ55, the 80 has much better rocker panels (may hold water if drains aren't clear, but generally don't rust in 4 years, have a protected finish that holds up, etc), but I don't test them to see how much better. I do tend to size up the situation in terms of maneuvering to avoid what protrudes into my path at about 18" high.
For serious rock work, yeah, they're a visually low-key investment past stock that's worth it if you plan to expose the truck to such trail conditions on a regular basis.On the other, the trails HAAANK and dan1554 cite tend to be the exceptions, rather than the rule, even in Colorado. Another one to watch out for is Holy Cross City. Well over 90% of them can be done sliderless without fear and 98% can be done without damage with care to one's line. Watch out for those 18" high rocks in your path and the 6' ones will take care of themselves. We do far more expo type trails than rockcrawling so the jury is still out on whether to add that weight here, YMMV.
I forgot to mention, I'm flareless on 315s. With the stock suspension, I have bent my front bumper on about half of my outings... bending it back as best as I can when I get home. Getting a high clearance bumper is handy when you're low:
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In some ways I enjoyed wheeling mine more when it was near stock. Sliders, skid, and 295's took me many places. More of a challenge. And getting there on the HWY was less stressful.
Kane Creek. By this point I had added the ARB. But still on stock suspension.
Kane Creek. By this point I had added the ARB. But still on stock suspension.
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nukegoat
Should have bought a Jeep
Are you talking about land cruisers still?
nukegoat
Should have bought a Jeep
What part was so nightmarish?
ewillis
SILVER Star
Sliders are underrated....
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.
Yeah, that sliders thing. Guess I learned that the hard way, early, in 1977 with my 2-week old FJ55. Slid that puppy over a dirt bank and - ARRGH! - there was a neat little dent about a foot long in my rocker panel right under the driver's door as a mark of my foolishness.
Compared to the FJ55, the 80 has much better rocker panels (may hold water if drains aren't clear, but generally don't rust in 4 years, have a protected finish that holds up, etc), but I don't test them to see how much better. I do tend to size up the situation in terms of maneuvering to avoid what protrudes into my path at about 18" high.
On the other, the trails HAAANK and dan1554 cite tend to be the exceptions, rather than the rule, even in Colorado. Another one to watch out for is Holy Cross City. Well over 90% of them can be done sliderless without fear and 98% can be done without damage with care to one's line. Watch out for those 18" high rocks in your path and the 6' ones will take care of themselves. We do far more expo type trails than rockcrawling so the jury is still out on whether to add that weight here, YMMV.
Line picking is key
