85 Toyota Long Bed EFI, or 94 FJ80??

[randito]

Love your truck and how you have it set. If you're going to be traveling solo, there's no reason to drive a much bigger land cruiser. If you can't locate a shell locally, you might want to look into a custom made camper. I know that near me there is a fairly well known custom camper builder (Callen), so I would guess they exist elsewhere too. Even a boat/canvas shop may be able to make a nice soft top. If you have a sliding rear window, I'm sure you could build a little platform with a bed near the cab for your pouch.

I've owned an 85 pickup, 85 4runner and an 86 pickup. A few years ago I decided that I would like to try an FJ60. I thought, "Hey I've been maintaining 80's Toyota's for 15 years, an FJ60 won't be any harder". Well, I quickly learned that everything is much more expensive, especially buying from the dealer or any of the Cruiser specialty shops. I was planning every day off around what I needed to do to the cruiser, not really enjoying all the things that I had a four wheel drive for. I also never got used to 12 mpg. I finally decided to get rid of the FJ60 and keep driving the reliable, relatively efficient pickup truck.

This is just my experience and I know that the 80 your looking at might be in much better condition, but I still say keep the truck.

 

[JasonRedwood]

I would keep it.

 

[WU7X]

Save yourself lots of money. Go to a wrecking yard, find some comfortable bucket seats that will fit in the '85 and install them.

I just bought a '97 4Runner SR5 and love it. I'm selling my '85 longbed with 210+ K miles. It's rusty, the seals need replacing, but it still gets an honest 18 mpg in town. I don't think you can kill the beast. So why will I be selling it? Too many rigs, not enough time. The 4Runner gets close to the same mileage and will be a better rig for overlanding for this old body of mine. If my '85 looked as good as yours does, I probably would be keeping it.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Save yourself lots of money. Go to a wrecking yard, find some comfortable bucket seats that will fit in the '85 and install them.

On that note, the 88-89 4Runner SR5 seats are awesome and if you can find a decent set they're probably a direct bolt in or darn near

 

[toyota_jon]

Keep your 85. if you sell it everyday you look at your driveway you'll feel like something is missing. I've thought about selling my 85 4Runner, but every time I get in the drivers seat it puts a smile on my face and I just LOVE driving it. Be patient and you'll find a shell for it, and your truck will bring you many many more years of fun and reliable service.

 

[Area52]

I had an 85 long bed and a 80 series.

KEEP THE 85.

I sure miss mine, but I don't miss the 80.

Jim

 

[Naetzker]

Wow! Thanks guys, a lot of insight and good advice, I will hang on to the 85 and just enjoy the ride! Thinking of driving to the arctic ocean this summer, I will keep you all posted! :smiley_drive:

 

[dorton]

Do you have a link to a build, or more photos of your truck? Id love to see some more of it.

 

[toyota_jon]

Do you have a link to a build, or more photos of your truck? Id love to see some more of it.

X2!

 

[Naetzker]

Aw, thanks for the interest guys! I put a few more pics in an album on my profile- check em out and let me know what you think!

 

[dorton]

Very nice. Brings back memories of my lwb 85' that looked very similar.

 

[Naetzker]

Thanks! Do you have pics, or link to the build, of your 4runner? I sometimes wish I'd held out for one of those.

 

[dorton]

Thanks! Do you have pics, or link to the build, of your 4runner? I sometimes wish I'd held out for one of those.

It's going to be a while on it, but it's getting fixed up slowly.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/75582-My-Boomerang-1st-Gen-4runner-build

 

[Mountainhound]

Hello,

Its been a while!:smiley_drive:

I bought an 85 Long Bed, with EFI, in California back in 2010. It was a great trip across country and I have had many adventures since then in this truck. I've also spent a bit of time and money updating the maintenance schedules and upgrading here and there. I love this truck!

However, as many of you know- there are limitations to every rig and the lack of interior space, harsh- by todays standards- ride, difficulty in securing items in the bed from theft and weather, etc.

I keep coming back the FJ80- It would surely go to most of the secluded places I like to camp- but not all! - and with a great deal more comfort. I could also take my dog, who is not comfortable in the rear of my current rig, especially in the chilly temps we see here in Western New York. The big downer to the FJ is I would lose about half of my current mpg- yes, even with the rtt and 31's, I am still getting about 20+mpg with my 85.

I have a gentleman with a modified fj- rtt, armor, winch, lights, ome lift, etc. He is willing to trade for my 2011 Mazda, which gets 35 mpg. I would then feel the need to lose the 85- does it make sense to have two rigs?? I dunno- perhaps I should just take a less is more approach- I'm old enough to have experienced my possessions possessing me!

Any thoughts??!?
View attachment 97076
Here is a pic of my 85. Jeebus I love this truck!

If it was me (and it was just recently) I would keep both. I have a 95 tacoma xcab 5 speed love the truck but with my dog it was/is no fun but I will keep it till I kill it. It doesn't cost me to much for registration or insurance and I can use it for everything a truck is good for like dump runs, hualing brush, getting into those tight spots that my new to me 94 cruiser can't go too, which honestly is'nt many. But for me the tacoma only gets around 18 mpg and the cruiser 13, so mpg differance isn't to much and the cruiser is by far more comfortable. Now if I had to choose between only having my cruiser and your truck I would keep your truck.

 

[austintaco]

Is your bed the longer, 7' bed or the more common 6' bed? I had a Wildernest for the longer 7' bed, and that would have made a killer platform for your needs. They are out there, and not that many people have a use for a 7', small width Wildernest. Check the wildernest board. They come up ever so often.

here's one that popped up on dailylister. Not sure of the length:
That price is steep. I sold mine for half of that amount.

http://denver.craigslist.org/rvs/2920220499.html

If you have the 6'bed, you can fight off everyone else looking for that size in a Wildernest, or you can buy a used/new flippac. Either one would be sweet.