Would you drive 500 miles in your cruiser?

[Markh]

The reason I bought my cruiser, other than the fact that I always wanted one, was to drive from the Nebraska panhandle to northern New Mexico for vacations. It was 600 miles one way and I usually made the drive during the winter.
I did all the major mods to the 6 to get the best mileage; header, distributor, Holley carb, Fairley overdrive, aux fuel tank. The first time I made the trip I was stopping every 150 miles for gas. The last time I made the trip I only had to stop once.
When I moved back to New Mexico I pulled a U-Haul 6x12 trailer with everything I owned in it behind the 40. Not the smartest thing to do but it worked out. The bad part was I had to pull the trailer all the way back because I only had it for the weekend and I had to get back for a few final things.
My 40 has never left me stranded. It has, however, acted up a few times. There was one time when I couldn't get it into 4WD going up La Veta pass in a snow storm. That was exciting. I had to drive from there to Denver in 2WD on snowpacked and icy I25. The other time was when the carburator needle seat decided to unscrew itself from the carb body. The lower the seat got the more it held the float down. It would run great on the highway but it wouldn't idle because of the fuel pouring in the carb.

I've owned my 40 for 23 years and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[surfpig]

Just got back from a weeklong trip to Death Valley, Our first true family roadtrip in my '77 Fj55. Somehow I talked the wife into it, and as a result we got a little deeper into the backcountry than usual. Spent almost the entire trip in 4wd, got to see Steele Pass and Eureka dunes for the first time. Steele pass and the canyon is FUN (can't remember the name of the canyon right now -- narrow!). Almost turned around a few miles outside Placerville, fuel filter. Did a quick roadside fix with a trail spare, semi-limped to Bishop, picked up a couple of extras there, and we were on our way. Checked out a few hot springs, saw the wildflowers, relaxed in sweet solitude, sure I'd do it again. Tomorrow.

Nial '77 Fj55
Sacramento

 

[65swb45]

I just drove 480 miles roundtrip to the Lone Star Land Cruiser Roundup with no problems. I was feeling pretty good about it 'til Butch Baker told me a guy drove his 40 from California and back. With an F engine no less. I wanted to shake his hand, but never did meet him. Was that you 65swb45?
Take a piece of foam rubber to put behind your back.

Yup. That was me. Gonna do it May with the old 3 on the tree, stock bench seat FJ45 to Moab and back.

 

[65swb45]

Most of the guys that trailer their rigs generally do more difficult trails are better setup. The guys that drive to trails generally stick to easy trails for obvious reasons.

There are exceptions. I've done Rubicon at least 10 times in my 40, and have NEVER trailered my rig to or from the event. One time I flat towed my buddy's 40 300 miles home from Bishop when his motor.

There is no 'easy' way to run the Rubicon.

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Hell yes! 500 miles in two days would be EASY! Choose a nice scenic, non-interstate freeway route, pull-over every so often to let the butthead tailgaters pass, then 'cruise on! Drive at around 50 mph for best fuel mileage.

Have a great trip!

Regards,

Alan
Seattle

 

[snailwagon]

I've never done more than about a 200 mile trip in the fj55, but have driven it many times for good 6-8hr runs that only amount to minimal miles. Very reliable, and if it breaks all one needs is a 14mm, 17mm, and 12mm wrench and a screwdriver to fix it. Now for comfort, 2 inches of suspension up travel, no power steering, not enough horsepower to merge, louder than a garage punk band, and enough rattles. Forkin gratifying though.

 

[hatfieldcb]

Drove my '69 FJ55 over 1600 miles r/t to Round Up. Nice ride, actually. Did around 70mph most of the time. The old pig held up pretty well. I've driven her to and from Moab a few times, too.

Chris

 

[PabloCruise]

I think it is about 400 to Moab, did it twice in my stocker...

 

[Plowboy]

Leaving in an hour from So. Cal to Spokane Wa. About 1100 mile one way. Pulling a 15 ft flatbed loaded with my extra cruiser parts to the retirement home in Nampa idaho, then up to the north. Cruiser looks like a quarter mile race, butt on the ground, nose in the air. (well, we are a pretty elite group)

 

[fj40charles]

There are exceptions. I've done Rubicon at least 10 times in my 40, and have NEVER trailered my rig to or from the event. One time I flat towed my buddy's 40 300 miles home from Bishop when his motor.

There is no 'easy' way to run the Rubicon.

I thought there was a bypass on all of obstacles. Also, didn't a stock Mercedes benz drive through the con a few years ago?

I guess if I wanted to get 10 mpg driving and leave my wife at home and carry limited amount of supplies (camping/food/etc.,) I could drive a near stock 40 to an event. Much more enjoyable IMHO towing, doing 80 mph and having air conditioning. I just don't buy the argument that guys that trailer their rigs are not as, "cool."

 

[masscrusher]

When I brought my other LC from PR, I drove from Pennsauken, NJ to my house in MA. It is supposed to be a 5 hour, 380 mile trip. A wong turn in CT and i ended adding 200 miles and 3 hours to the trip. Plus traffic on 95 getting out of NY... make it 10 hour, 600 mile trip.

 

[dieseldog]

When I purchased my BJ-42, I flew to San Diego to pick it up. Over the space of two days I drove from Balboa Park to Memorial Park (Houston). That's a distance of just over 1500 miles. Of course it has power steering and the fifth gear. Since that trip in '02, the truck now has AC and is turbocharged; therefore I would not hesitate to make the trip again. I second the motion regarding ear plugs.

When I bought the HJ-45 in '03, I flew to Little Rock and drove the 500+ miles to Houston. Since that trip, the truck now has the fifth gear, AC and seats redone for comfort. Would love to drive it cross country again.

Both of these trucks have made the 250-mile trek (one way) up to Dallas several times--up one day and back the next.

For both of these trucks, the purchase trips were the first time I'd laid eyes on the vehicles and then set out for home. That's one of the things I love about Cruisers.

 

[TonkaC]

Traveling

I went from Corvallis Oregon to Ottawa Ontario in a stock '70 fj40 on 32" swampers... long ride. I have 36" sx, SBC and SOA and I'm looking forward to the trip back someday.

 

[John Smith]

I do 10 hours every year one way to GSMTR and back so I am used to that trip. It seems to go faster every year. That is about as long of a day I want to put in behind the wheel of my 40. I would not hesitate to drive it to CA and back and unless I have a tow rig and trailer I will do exactly that one of these years so I can run the Rubicon and Moab.

The heat and the noise are what wear me out. Nothing like a 80 or 90 degree day with the heat pouring off the firewall cooking your feet in sandals. I would'nt trade it for the world.

 

[bad_religion_au]

hell yes. top up the radiator, stereo to 15, check tire pressure and make sure there's oil in it, and point the nose in the general direction you want to head.

since moving interstate i've taken the 40 home a couple of times, 1300 k's (about 800 miles) in one day. good seats help.

 

[Dianna]

I'm planning on driving my 40 from CA to Ohio when I move this fall.

Why would you move from Cali to Ohio? It's about 29 degrees with freezing rain right now!

 

[78crzr]

Done 430 miles in one day multiple times in my old 40. Would wear you out by the end of the day, but would do it again in a heart beat if I still had it. Shoudn't have sold that damn thing!!!!! (huge seller's remorse)

 

[fsusteve]

could but wouldnt

Pretty much me too now.

I've done a two hour drive to a trail, wheeled for 6-7 hours then drove back.

First part was fun, then it kinda sucked and by the end it felt like I lost a fight with a rottweiller.

To me, the idea of it is much more exciting then the actual act.......but then again I'm gettin old.

 

[Throttleman_610]

I'm driving out to the beach and have two days to get there. Would you do in in a 76 FJ40 with SOA and 130k miles? I plan on having trans overhauled new ujoints and all new fluids.

I drove my 71 40 from Orange County CA to the Bay of Los Angelos in mid Baja with three of us in my cruiser. Had no problems whatsoever.. Except excess of course.

 

[yooper]

It's refreshing that most of the answers above are in the "Hell yes!" category, but the rest of you are a bunch of soft ass wusses.

Read this book, available here: http://www.tlca.org/cgi-bin/merchandise#Books

I think it was something like 42,000 miles.