I was just wondering if anyone can tell me why land cruisers are better then jeeps, blazers, land rover, etc.
Why are land cruisers better then jeeps and blazers (1 Viewer)
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reliability and dependability, not uncommon to have one go 200k plus miles with no major malfunctions, drivetrain still moving right along
thorvald
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just drive one, youll never go back to the "other" side
The fact that my FJ-62 had 300,000 miles on the motor/tranny/transfer case before its first rebuild!
If you compare stock jeeps & stock cruisers of the same vintage the axles, frame, tranny, driveshafts, and transfercases are beefier. The axles have ford 9" equivalent ring and pinions. The axles shafts are almost dana 60 size. I like the split t-case design that is all gear driven, opposed to the chain driven cases on the jeeps (at least I though most jeeps had chain driven t-cases, but I am not sure about the newer ones) The Rubicon jeeps are capable from the factory and I am sure they are good off-road. I have owned cruisers for 13 years now and I have had minimal problems. IMHO that is why I think cruisers are better than jeeps/rovers.
If you compare stock jeeps & stock cruisers of the same vintage the axles, frame, tranny, driveshafts, and transfercases are beefier. The axles have ford 9" equivalent ring and pinions. The axles shafts are almost dana 60 size. I like the split t-case design that is all gear driven, opposed to the chain driven cases on the jeeps (at least I though most jeeps had chain driven t-cases, but I am not sure about the newer ones) The Rubicon jeeps are capable from the factory and I am sure they are good off-road. I have owned cruisers for 13 years now and I have had minimal problems. IMHO that is why I think cruisers are better than jeeps/rovers.
Durability, design....and I just plain like the FJ60 better than anything else in it's class. I 've had many jeeps ranging from a '61 utility wagon (closest thing to FJ60 jeep ever made) cj's and pickups....they were simple to work on and worked well off road.....but... I like the FJ40 way better than a CJ.... the FJ60 has no peer in my opinion...I just plain like driving it. I had a Bronco once, it was a bore. I think there is much less of a gap with some of the more modern Iron...still, I think Toy is at the top of the heap.
Reliability (235,000 and still going strong). Stronger frame, stronger axles, better motor & drivtrain, and stock will offroad better than almost anything past and present. Just plain looks as well. Absolutly love the lines of a 60.
Ok, seeing how you are relatively new, I'll go easy!!
Forget the 4wd aspect (did I say that?)
Jeeps were built by AMC and then Chrysler.....think K car and Matadors......quality?
Blazers? Depends if you are talking old K5s, you cannot be seriously considering any S10-15...They do not even belong in the same class....I can share some horror stories about my 91 4wd Ext cab s-10...went to Toyota in 94 and have never looked back.
Think Toyota quality....OVER engineered and have the best reliability rating going, from the past into the present. Consumer reports' recommended buys these days pick a few or even just one car from each make. Every toyota product is listed. Every one. That quality extends to 4wd components. THe corolla is the #1 car in the world for over 25 years. Most video footage from the harshest places on the planet show Landcruisers or Toyotas in some sort of fashion.....even Afganistan and Irag.
American manufacturers tend to engineer their cars with just enough strength to serve the anticipated usage, (mall cruisin) and then the quality control lacks enough to make them fall short of even that. Any serious wheeling requires almost total replacement of some components.
Hate to compare, because there is no comparison.
Forget the 4wd aspect (did I say that?)
Jeeps were built by AMC and then Chrysler.....think K car and Matadors......quality?
Blazers? Depends if you are talking old K5s, you cannot be seriously considering any S10-15...They do not even belong in the same class....I can share some horror stories about my 91 4wd Ext cab s-10...went to Toyota in 94 and have never looked back.
Think Toyota quality....OVER engineered and have the best reliability rating going, from the past into the present. Consumer reports' recommended buys these days pick a few or even just one car from each make. Every toyota product is listed. Every one. That quality extends to 4wd components. THe corolla is the #1 car in the world for over 25 years. Most video footage from the harshest places on the planet show Landcruisers or Toyotas in some sort of fashion.....even Afganistan and Irag.
American manufacturers tend to engineer their cars with just enough strength to serve the anticipated usage, (mall cruisin) and then the quality control lacks enough to make them fall short of even that. Any serious wheeling requires almost total replacement of some components.
Hate to compare, because there is no comparison.
My bumper sticker tells ya..
"Jeeps are sh*t!" (Courtesy of Cruiser Outfitters!)
"Jeeps are sh*t!" (Courtesy of Cruiser Outfitters!)
most things on the cruiser are better built and built right, hardly any crappy designs or "needed" upgrades to go wheelin, the stock cruisers are rugged and capable out of the box,
the look of a 40 is so much more apealing, to me classic lines, and understated stoutness
plus the cool factor!!!
the look of a 40 is so much more apealing, to me classic lines, and understated stoutness
plus the cool factor!!!
macneill
Rollin’ on 33s
I forgot which thread it was, but someone summed it up brilliantly with his comparison of the UAWs to the Japanese doing calisthenics in the morning.
The only good thing about Chevy is that parts are really cheap and Napa has every single one (so it seems so far), and every time I've asked them for something other that "plugs, wires, ect." for the LC, they "don't carry that part anymore, call the dealer".
Maybe my post should go into the "Napa/Autozone/Shucks" Rant?
j**ps suck, but I like my 78 Chevy with the bullet hole in the floorboard.
Maybe my post should go into the "Napa/Autozone/Shucks" Rant?
j**ps suck, but I like my 78 Chevy with the bullet hole in the floorboard.
Gus
SILVER Star
To add to what Cruisin'Carolina previously stated, The Toyotas are built to thrive in some of the most punishing environments on earth, the Australian outback, deserts of the Middle East, etc, etc. While I haven't visited most of these locations, from TV, books and talking with people who have been to such locations, they usually make reference to the abundance of Landcruisers and LandRovers; Jeeps, Broncos and Blazers are never in the picture. The Jeeps, Blazers and Broncos are largely designed to handle the paved streets (maybe a little of the smooth dirt roads) of North America. All opinions aside, Toyota's track record in comparison to the others speaks for it's self, higher resale, greater reliability, good consumer reports ratings, the list goes on and on.
i own a 99 jeep grand cherokee and an 85 fj60.
i'll take the 60 over the jeep anyday....wife drives the jeep anyway.
never had any issues with the jeep (except the rotors went bad at 16K miles!), bought it brand new too, but it is not used off road.
i don't think it will be running strong when its 20 years old like the 60 is today!
after buying the 60, i'm sold on toyota period. i was never sold on jeep anyway after owning a few...had a 96 cherokee sport that started to fall apart on me at 40k miles!
in the next 2 years i plan on buying an 80 to replace the wife's jeep!
i'll take the 60 over the jeep anyday....wife drives the jeep anyway.
never had any issues with the jeep (except the rotors went bad at 16K miles!), bought it brand new too, but it is not used off road.
i don't think it will be running strong when its 20 years old like the 60 is today!
after buying the 60, i'm sold on toyota period. i was never sold on jeep anyway after owning a few...had a 96 cherokee sport that started to fall apart on me at 40k miles!
in the next 2 years i plan on buying an 80 to replace the wife's jeep!
cruiser_guy
Out of Africa / North Africa
Look at any country where cars are not produced (to avoid the "Buy Local" mentality) and you will see that people when given the chance, buy a Toyota over a Jeep/Ford/Chevy etc. In Mexico Toyota pickups are everywhere but they were NEVER sold there and have NO dealer support. Next time you are at the Mexican border watch for a while and you will likely see a Toyota pickup coming south for good. Every Toyota pickup in the country was brought in from the states by someone that didn't want the domestic stuff that is available and has a parts network. That says alot to me.
Parts availability may be an issue in the states but here in Guatemala I can get anything I want for the 'Cruiser over the counter whereas those who have domestic stuff are having to go stateside for simple things like brake calipers!!
My 'Cruiser has over 400,000kM on it and I didn't hesitate to drive it from Vancouver, B.C. Canada to Guatemala City and I won't hesitiate to drive back to Vancouver with it this summer. How many drivers of a Jeep/Ford/Chevy etc. with that kind of mileage would attempt a drive of that duration?
Parts availability may be an issue in the states but here in Guatemala I can get anything I want for the 'Cruiser over the counter whereas those who have domestic stuff are having to go stateside for simple things like brake calipers!!
My 'Cruiser has over 400,000kM on it and I didn't hesitate to drive it from Vancouver, B.C. Canada to Guatemala City and I won't hesitiate to drive back to Vancouver with it this summer. How many drivers of a Jeep/Ford/Chevy etc. with that kind of mileage would attempt a drive of that duration?
HZJ60 Guy
Tank Buster
I'd say that year for year there was no question that the land cruiser was built better than anything jeep could offer. But we must recognize that toyota has CHOSEN not to give us anything comparable to what jeep has continued to offer us here in the US. Would I agree that a BJ74/FJ74 is a better platform than a Jeep TJ, YES! But we havent ever gotten a BJ74/FJ74. Is the current Jeep TJ a better vehicle/platform than a twenty five + year old FJ40, of course. How could anyone think otherwise? That 4.0 six is bullet proof. The body is undercoated, six speed manual, four speed overdrive auto, dana 44's with lockers, 4.0 t-case, and that coil suspension is remarkable. That is the Rubicon package of course, but why not.
Toyota has not offered us here in the U.S. any rig worth a damn since the FJ80 stopped production in what 1998?
Sad but true.
TB
Toyota has not offered us here in the U.S. any rig worth a damn since the FJ80 stopped production in what 1998?
Sad but true.
TB
Land Cruisers (at least 62's) have gearing for off-roading right from the factory. 80's have stock lockers, along with many non-usa cruisers of all models, options like beefy FF axles, 5 speed trannies, PTO winches from the factory, the list goes on and on. The underlying fact is that LC's are pretty much made strictly for off-road use and the others aren't.
Besides, why would you ask a question like that on a CRUISER forum?
Besides, why would you ask a question like that on a CRUISER forum?
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Speaking in reference to the fact that cruisers are all over the world. This is true... but I have been to the Middle East(Saudi Arabia) and Australian Outback, Guatemala, Costa Rico, and Mexico. While I have personally witnessed Cruisers in all these locations. The vast majority of "Go anywhere vehicles" in both the Middle East and Australia are Land Rovers. I dont really know if its just British influence to the Australian bush, and better British relations in the Middle East. But, Rovers are way more dominante in these local's then Cruisers. As for the Centeral American countries you dont see many Cruisers or Rovers. Mostly Old Buses and vintage American cars and trucks (Chevys, Fords) and older Corolla's, Honda's etc. This is because there much poorer nations then the US, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. One note thou, the tour we took to the Mayan Ruins in Guatemala was in the FJ62.
That said; my opinion is that for the money an FJ60/62 is the best all-round vehical you can buy. Unless an H1 is an option you can afford. You can find 60's for $2k with 170k miles on them, and with very little money turn them in to the best all purpose vehicle(tune-up, fluid change, Lift, tires). A Land Rover Defender is between $15-20k in Utah (for the cheap ones) and a H1.... well I've never considered it a possiblity.
If you want a D.D. that cant run to 200-300k with little probs. get a 60/62. If you want a shorter wheel base get a 40 if you can find one for the right price... thats not falling apart. If you want to be just like everyone else go buy a Wrangler or a CJ. If you wanna be a posser with the challenge of trying to upgrade a vehicle, buy an early 90's range rover or discovery.
That said; my opinion is that for the money an FJ60/62 is the best all-round vehical you can buy. Unless an H1 is an option you can afford. You can find 60's for $2k with 170k miles on them, and with very little money turn them in to the best all purpose vehicle(tune-up, fluid change, Lift, tires). A Land Rover Defender is between $15-20k in Utah (for the cheap ones) and a H1.... well I've never considered it a possiblity.
If you want a D.D. that cant run to 200-300k with little probs. get a 60/62. If you want a shorter wheel base get a 40 if you can find one for the right price... thats not falling apart. If you want to be just like everyone else go buy a Wrangler or a CJ. If you wanna be a posser with the challenge of trying to upgrade a vehicle, buy an early 90's range rover or discovery.
