This is what I want to do, is the 60 a good choice?

[NBS2005]

Hi all, first post. This is a great site. I spent some time with the search engine but didn't find what I was looking for.

I'm considering a 60 or 80 series Cruiser. I like the look of the 60 better, like that you can get it with a manual or swap one in, and like that they are cheaper. This will be a daily driver pulling kid (2) and dog hauling duty, most or all family running around, and vacations and road trips. We do a lot of winter trips so I like having 4wd. We do go off road a bit, but nothing to extreme, mostly forest service type roads. I also need the thing to get 14-15 mpg in the city which I think is doable. Oh yeah, it will also tow my track car.

The 80 looks nice for the third row seat (is one available for the 60?) which is helpful when taking Grandma with us on day trips. It's also newer which will make the wife happy.

I think the perfect vehicle might be a FJ62 with a 5spd already swapped in (I'd hate to try and do something like this myself). Anyhow, looking for input on this.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[cruisinalong]

Hi all, first post. This is a great site. I spent some time with the search engine but didn't find what I was looking for.

I'm considering a 60 or 80 series Cruiser. I like the look of the 60 better, like that you can get it with a manual or swap one in, and like that they are cheaper. This will be a daily driver pulling kid (2) and dog hauling duty, most or all family running around, and vacations and road trips. We do a lot of winter trips so I like having 4wd. We do go off road a bit, but nothing to extreme, mostly forest service type roads. I also need the thing to get 14-15 mpg in the city which I think is doable. Oh yeah, it will also tow my track car.

The 80 looks nice for the third row seat (is one available for the 60?) which is helpful when taking Grandma with us on day trips. It's also newer which will make the wife happy.

I think the perfect vehicle might be a FJ62 with a 5spd already swapped in (I'd hate to try and do something like this myself). Anyhow, looking for input on this.

Thanks,

Jeff

from what i've read, the 60 is not a good tow vehicle. most do not have the 3rd row, but i have seen a few that have them installed from the factory. i know that the 80's, especially the later ones have a lot more power under the hood. my mom drives a 95 80 and it has pretty decent power. only thing is she's had a ton of problems with it, but i am sure they aren't all like that. im currently lookin for a 60 myself as a little project and a weekend wheeler, but the ones i have driven are pretty gutless compared to the power my moms 80 has. but yea, i definitely like the look of the 60 better. the 80 looks good modded, but i dont like the look of them stock. 60's look good, modded, rusted, painted, it doesnt matter.

 

[zuluzeugma]

Buy an 80.. 93+

 

[WES1977]

I heard auto tranny are the way to go for towing.

 

[sirenmoses]

another for an 80. unless you get a diesel 60 you won't see the mpg you want.

 

[NocalFJ60]

Depending on how much you are going to be towing and the weight. I wouldn't look at the 60/62 if you are going to be towing much. If I was going to get a FJ80, I would look for a 94+ model but right now I would spend a little more at get a 98+ with a V8.

 

[Dirty Toad]

you want an 80 for what you are doing.

Buy a 60 when you have less towing to do.

I get 15 mpg in the city, but I am also desmoged.

 

[NBS2005]

So the towing is the real bugaboo for the 60. Maybe a dedicated tow vehicle is a better way to go.

 

[bridges]

If you can find one, a 60 converted to a V8 qualifies for all of your requirements except the 3rd row. Which (I've owned 2 80s) isn't the easiest to get back to.

I'm running an '82, with 350, 4 spd stock tranny - I've towed about 2500 lbs comfortably and without trailer still get around 14-15 mpgs around town.

 

[cfdlighthouse]

So the towing is the real bugaboo for the 60. Maybe a dedicated tow vehicle is a better way to go.

really depends on weight of what you are towing, how far you have to tow it, and whether your interested in an engine upgrade or not. everything is situational but i think the 60's have a timeless look and are a great platform to build off of if you have time and a hint of skill, mud will get you the rest of the way!!!

im not a fan of the 80 just because i don't like the way it looks, no offense to those who have them.

 

[NBS2005]

Towing from Fort Collins CO to Pueblo at the longest. Around 4500 LBS to tow.

 

[RockDoc]

I don't think you would find a 60 to be a good highway vehicle without a tranny swap. A 62 is better on the highway stock. For what you want to do, I think you are getting the right advice.

 

[cfdlighthouse]

Towing from Fort Collins CO to Pueblo at the longest. Around 4500 LBS to tow.

towing 4500 is a little much for a 6 cyl tractor especially when the tractor weighs 4500. towing 4500 strains some of the little V8s esp in the mts.

rocdoc said it you will be hurtin at highway speeds....

a good tow vehicle might serve you better and a 60 for fun. 14 to 16 on highway depends on set up, looks more like 10 in town unless your bone stock and have a fresh engine or one thats a little more efficient.

just my .02

 

[Heartworm]

From your description of what you need in a vehicle, your expectations of a 60 are too great. I have my doubts that you will get 15-16mpg in all city driving; maybe, but don't count on it. Also, there is a "start-up" phase that can be expected after purchase of most used 60s that are on the market..i.e., you WILL need to spend money and time on something to make it a more reliable kid and family hauler (and to get the expected mileage also). Think brakes, knuckles, bearings, radiators, air pump, power steering pump, ad nauseum. Ditto the plan of a vacation-mobile. Nothing worse than a bunch of car trouble while you are on that much-anticipated family fun trip. You won't enjoy trying to pull 4500 lbs with a 60..trust me.

Don't know anything about a FJ62 other than spillover knowledge from similarities from the 60 and what I have heard on this board. The later 80 might be worth a look.

After 3 years of tinkering with my original FJ60, I am becoming confident that I can travel on trips with it. But this is after spending a lot of money and doing most of the work myself. Believe, a $3200 used FJ60 with over 100K on it will need work and will cost money that could be as well applied to something more modern.

Having said all the above, I would not trade my 60 (now) for an 80, 100 or any other more modern SUV.

Good Luck!

 

[bridges]

Towing from Fort Collins CO to Pueblo at the longest. Around 4500 LBS to tow.

Unfortunately, I don't think an 80 will tow that weight very well either.

 

[NBS2005]

Thanks for the info so far. It looks like a Cruiser may not be the answer for me right now. Does anyone have any feedback on the AWD Sequoia? That might be a better choice for a family car/winter driver/tow vehicle. I see gazillions of them when I drop my kids off at school.

Of course, what I really want is not readily available here in the states, a diesel SUV with a manual transmission that can tow 5000lbs.

 

[WES1977]

what about a 100 series?

 

[NocalFJ60]

Of course, what I really want is not readily available here in the states, a diesel SUV with a manual transmission that can tow 5000lbs.

I have heard they are going to start selling diesel crate engines so a conversion might be what you are looking for now. Buy a cheap 60 and have a diesel engine and 5 speed installed. Just depends on how much you want to spend.

 

[NBS2005]

I have heard they are going to start selling diesel crate engines so a conversion might be what you are looking for now. Buy a cheap 60 and have a diesel engine and 5 speed installed. Just depends on how much you want to spend.

Who's they !?!?!?!

 

[NocalFJ60]

Who's they !?!?!?!

They as in Mopar. Selling new crate diesel engines. Now you have to pull a diesel out of a old truck and rebuild it if you want to a diesel engine.
Cummins Diesel Conversions
Proffitt's Cruisers