What Would You Do?

[huntsonora]

I have too many vehicles.

I have a company car that I do the majority of my driving in.

I also have an 85 FJ60 with 135K, mostly stock cruiser with new 33x10.50 BFG ATs on it.

Finally I have an 07 Tundra with 17K on the odometer. I have some bigger tires and a leveling kit on it

I like having a personal vehicle but I dont need the wagon and the truck. Originally I was going to buy the truck and sell the cruiser but I have been having second thoughts. I use my truck for scouting and hunting here in CO as well as WY, NM, TX and Sonora Mexico so I put about 20K a year on it.

Recently I sustained quite a bit of hail damage to my new Tundra. I have a friend that will buy it "as is" and I can keep the insurance check. I am very tempted to do this and keep the 60 but the Tundra is a damn nice truck.

If I keep the 60 I would make it a semi-expedition rig, I wouldnt set it up like some do but I already have a roof top tent and am working on some storage for it. I love it but it would take some work. It also has some hail damage. The good thing is that its easier to beat up a 23 yr old truck and not worry about it.

Its a tough decision, I absolutely love the 60 and the truck

Any thoughts?

HS

 

[CruisinFJ60]

i have 3 vehicle all my own...

i wont sell my Fiona, wont sell the Z28, and will only sell the camry if i have another something to replace it like a Bike. all are street legal and reg. the camaro is being set up to be powerful but still daily drivable but back and forth to work i dont wanna get the interior all nasty as im a diesel mechanic and no matter how much i clean up i always find more grease or something someplace so i dont drive it to work often, the cruiser gets crappy miledge, and the camry is just a good reliable beater with a/c

just keep em both.

 

[devo]

you could sell me your 60 for cheap?

devo

 

[MANUCHAO]

I got a "85 FJ60" with a 5.3 in it... just finished the swap with a fellow mudder (Dynosoar).
Love it, love it, love it !!!

I have been driving a 2004 tundra 4x4 limited from work for the past 4 years... and you are right !!!
They are freaking awesome trucks........it is also going back to the dealership this week.
Work has the option of buying it for $17k and it only has 41k in it.
I thought of buying it until a drove my truck last week with the vortec in it...
Tundra is going back for sure to the dealership and I havent had any more thoughts of buying it..!!!

I would say keep the FJ60 and let the Tundra go......

Good luck to yah !!!

 

[hank14]

You still have the same white 60 I looked at in Lubbock? That's a great truck.

Have you thought about putting a 5 speed H55f tranny in it? It would make your scouting trips that much better. Or, for $everal grand you could do the V8 swap and really be able to cover some ground.

Do you work on your 60 yourself, or have someone else do it? If you're comfortable with the repairs and maintenance yourself, I would keep it and equip it for travel. If you don't wrench on it, I don't think I would rely on it for long trips like that.

My $0.02

Scott

 

[Heartworm]

If your top priority is reliable transportation for hunting trips in remote locations, I would vote for a much newer low mileage Tundra. That is the rational, realistic approach. That said, my heart would ache to sell a FJ60. I suspect that (a)you own your 60 outright, (b) the tag, taxes and insurance are a pittance, (c) you understand and can fix anything on your 60 (d) you won't burst into tears if the 60 gets a dent or scratch (e) the value of your 60 is not decreasing annually the way the Tundra's is (f) there are times in your life when having 2 vehicles makes life more convenient. Just some rationalizations to try to keep them both.

 

[Duane]

ah someone with my problem... I love vehicles..I think it is my vice as well..still better than a drug or gambling habit I suppose.
I'd say keep them both. I too am right now torn as to what to do with my Tundra as it's lease is coming due soon, I hardly drive it but I love it. Can't bear to take it crossing creeks etc or scratching it up in the trees..that's what the 4runner gets, the BJ60 has been sitting needing a radiator..it's a family keepsake so thus it hasn't been sold either.
Logic tells me to sell the 60's as they need more maintenance and the Tundra as it will depreciate more quickly and the 4runner does most anything I need it to do.. but jeez..I sure do like cruising around with the diesel and long road trips in the winter especially, with the reliable tundra is sweet too.. hmmm??

 

[Tinker]

You can always get another Tundra. Selling the 60 would be like cutting your nuts off: you probably won't ever grow new ones.

 

[CardinalFJ60]

x2

You can always get another Tundra. Selling the 60 would be like cutting your nuts off: you probably won't ever grow new ones.

AMEN.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I think the Tundra needs to go. You can get out of it clean, and you won't get any real money for your 60. A company car (and gas) is like gold these days, so cut a big expense where you can.

I agree that Tundras are a dime a dozen and next year if you think you made a mistake, there will be hundreds to choose from.

A 60 will give you more freedom for less money than your Tundra.

 

[D'Animal]

Non -Op the one you want to quit driving.

 

[cody c]

sounds like a hard decision, i hear your situation though. Between the wife and I, weve got the company truck, the old ford diesel, the bj60 on 40" tires and 92fj80 getting the final touches on the 350 TBI.
The extra vehicle is super handy when something else is in the shop and for moving stuff but it's extra money for insurance and so on.

I would suggest parting with the tundra for a few reasons,
1. the new toyota diesels wil be coming out next year and i suspect everyone will be trading in their gassers therefore flooding the market and dropping the resale value of your tundra as they will not be in demand as much as the diesels.
2. depriciation of a newer vehicle
3. cruisers kick ass, of course were going to tell you to keep the 60 on this site
4. if you sell the cruiser you might not spend as much time on IH8MUD


Although, as soon as you have to get it in the shop to have something repaired or want to bring a quad or boat along you will be second guessing this decision.

This should probally make things harder rather than easier.

 

[wagon4wd]

I think the Tundra needs to go. You can get out of it clean, and you won't get any real money for your 60. A company car (and gas) is like gold these days, so cut a big expense where you can.

I agree that Tundras are a dime a dozen and next year if you think you made a mistake, there will be hundreds to choose from.

A 60 will give you more freedom for less money than your Tundra.

This is what I would do if I decided something needed to go. Newer trucks are quite plentiful, even ones with strange option sets.

Getting out from underneath a newer vehicle with hail damage fairly unscathed seems like a good deal.

Non -Op the one you want to quit driving.

The problem with this is you end up with a yard like mine. When you're considering cutting down a couple of trees to make more parking, it might be time to thin the herd a tad.

Also, if he non-ops/mothballs the tundra, it will probably depreciate just sitting there. 60s tend to be at the end of their depreciation scale (for the most part), so a year or two isn't likely to change the value of it.

 

[D'Animal]

I hear ya. I have 16 or 17 vehilces and three are on E-Bay right now. No Landcruisers though.

 

[IndianDoc]

You can always get another Tundra. Selling the 60 would be like cutting your nuts off: you probably won't ever grow new ones.

Seem's like we all have a similar problem, we love the 60's, that said get rid of the other stuff that can be replaced maybe even with a smoker. Lessen your stress you know you want to keep the 60. here I come.

 

[wagon4wd]

Seem's like we all have a similar problem, we love the 60's, that said get rid of the other stuff that can be replaced maybe even with a smoker. Lessen your stress you know you want to keep the 60. here I come.

Yeah. The 60 really is just about perfect. Some say that they're underpowered, but really power just breaks things. You really don't need a lot of power on the trail.

My 60 took priority on the project pad over an 83 cherokee (the big ones, not the little ones). Having had both big jeeps and the 60 for a while, there's really only a few things I miss about the big jeeps over the 60. You know, like all the fluid leaks, gauges that have a mind of their own, and carburetors that will be fine then eff up just because they want to.

I hear ya. I have 16 or 17 vehilces and three are on E-Bay right now. No Landcruisers though.

heh. glad I'm not the only crazy one with too many cars around. I somewhat feel bad that the 60 is parked with five jeeps, though this could explain why it always starts RIGHT up and accelerates briskly out of my driveway

 

[4xoddic]

JMHO

Well, lots of good opinions if one ignores 60-bias.

Anyone actually putting 20K miles/year on a FJ6X these days?

Having just parted with 2 FJ62s in exchange for my agreement to buy a 97 LX450; and with a 2000 Tundra as a 2nd vehicle; I've recently been down your path.

I have too many vehicles.

I use my truck for scouting and hunting here in CO as well as WY, NM, TX and Sonora Mexico so I put about 20K a year on it.

Recently I sustained quite a bit of hail damage to my new Tundra. I have a friend that will buy it "as is" and I can keep the insurance check. I am very tempted to do this and keep the 60 but the Tundra is a damn nice truck.

Our LX450 sustained hail damage w/in a month of ownership. Haven't cashed the check yet. Went for a body shop estimate today & they don't want to give one, as they'd prefer to work from Ins. Co.'s estimate & then turn the higher bill over to Ins. Co. NOTE: Ins. Agt. & Body Shop Mgr. both admit Insurance Companies were light on damage estimates. = like you & me who are willing to accept a low-ball estimate check & run to the bank. Body shop decided that rather than hand out free estimates & never see the repair; they'll do this to save $ giving estimates. This rigamarole was explained to me by the new Body Shop gal who never worked there when I had my Tundra & FJ62 repaired in years past. Recent tornado & hail storm = $$$ to hire woman to turn jokers like me away & handle all the ins. co. paperwork. They're booked for August.

Translation: Your estimate check + deductible is less than actual cost to repair damage.

You can always get another Tundra.

+

I agree that Tundras are a dime a dozen

These seem like a rational viewpoints. However: have you spent any time looking for a used Tundra, equipped as you'd like it; and found one without extensive damage to bed/interior by someone who cares not what condition their Tundra is in? My Tundra has minor hail damage from first couple years of ownership, IF you know where to look for it. The overall condition is much better than units I've seen on the local Toyota lot. Finding a pickup in actual good condition and then not knowing DIDDLY about its upkeep is a double-edged sword. Can be done, but you'll come away with a few knicks in the hunt.

People will be trading in lots of Tundras as their gas bill gets to the point ownership is hopeless. For many owners, that will be past the point where they stopped spending $$$ on maintenance. Similar to the circumstances a repo'd vehicle reaches before the bank gets it back. Caveat emptor

1. the new toyota diesels

I like that reason. My own plan, but I'm practical enough to wait, what, maybe 5 years?

As for the FJ62s: In spite of all logic, I haven't missed them yet. Neither one ever stranded us in 18 years of ownership. Tundra has failed us once (in driveway). But the creature comforts & safety of modern vehicles have a lot going for them. I'm sure I would have had a hard time convincing my wife to sell the Tundra to rely on the FJ62s for long road trips. Heck, she wanted something more comfy & with more lockable space than the Tundra for that purpose.

Best wishes on your decision.

 

[CardinalFJ60]

FWIW...

I was scanning through the classifieds today...Used Tundra V8, (2005) 4 door, listed at 23,900. then, I flipped the page...local dealer ad has new ones (2008) similar package (4x4, V8, for sales at, guess what....23,900.

 

[wagon4wd]

Well, lots of good opinions if one ignores 60-bias.

Anyone actually putting 20K miles/year on a FJ6X these days?

Um, have you SEEN fuel prices these days? I'm thankful the Z71 jetta can still make it out of my driveway without much difficulty.

Once the suspension gets repaired on the 60, only one thing will keep me from feeling comfortable taking it somewhere - lack of A/C.

People will be trading in lots of Tundras as their gas bill gets to the point ownership is hopeless. For many owners, that will be past the point where they stopped spending $$$ on maintenance. Similar to the circumstances a repo'd vehicle reaches before the bank gets it back. Caveat emptor

Yeah, the blue dodge was a repo truck. Got an amazing deal on it, and I got the honor of taking care of a few repairs that were postponed because of it. Upside is I know how good of a job was done on those repairs.

 

[tomcolins]

Well, lots of good opinions if one ignores 60-bias.

Anyone actually putting 20K miles/year on a FJ6X these days?


Man, yeah fuel prices suck bad, but I paid very little for my fj62 and don't have a payment and have had no real trouble and yes, in the last year have put about 20k on the truck. Drove it to Va from Texas and back last winter, numerous trips to big bend from Austin, and drove it via the continental divide from Austin to Portland this summer. I just got back from a trip to the cascades this past weekend and BC two weeks before, so yes. Very f----ng reliable. It is crying for new u-joints and needs some tlc but starts every time. I do cringe at the pump but man, what a truck. You can travel with one quite well. They were designed to do just that!