Any Ex-Jeep Guys Miss Their Jeep?

[Hedge]

Unfortunately on a Toyota LC thread... its going to happen....:victory:

Yep.

It is instructive that the original poster who posed the question bought a LC wagon and seems mostly to be missing the open air, not the Jeep build quality. For him, there is the option of a 40. At the same time, all of the folks writing about how they love or miss their CJ/YJ/TJ are Jeepers who have not owned an LC against which a comparison might be formed.

I think that a dispassionate observer would agree with your point that the price:quality of each brand is commensurate.

I am not a Jeep hater--I absolutely love tooling around in borrowed/rented Jeeps. An open top and a manual trans is always a good time. Heck, if I hadn't bought an old 80 years ago, I might be driving a Jeep or a Ford Explorer today because I simply wouldn't know what I was missing.







I literally thank God I bought that first 80 and found 'mud/TLCA.

 

[Hondarider]

I've been alternating between Jeeps and Toyotas for 20 years or so and I find myself in the opposite scenario as the OP. I currently have a really nice JK on 35s and I'm longing for a LandCruiser. It's not that I don't love my Jeep...it's just that I want to travel and the wife and kids hate riding in it at any speed above 30mph. I can't even imagine driving from Massachusetts to Colorado with 4 people in the JK...even with my M416 in tow for the gear...however, I know that once I get there, I'll really want the Jeep. Lately I've been wondering if I could enjoy a LandCruiser instead. It must certainly be more comfortable for the long haul, but I can't escape the feeling that I'd miss the Jeep as soon as I get off the highway...I've got a doublecab Tundra so I suppose I could just tow the JK, but imagine the fuel costs and the extra headaches of leaving my truck and trailer behind. I'd love to pack up a single vehicle and spend a couple weeks on the road and in the mountains out west. I've never driven a Landcruiser though...maybe it's not as nice as I imagine...maybe it's no fun in the trails...it certainly lacks the open feel of no roof and no doors on a sunny day. I've regretted selling every Jeep I've owned...but then again...I've sold just about every Jeep I've owned too.

 

[Cimarron13]

I've been alternating between Jeeps and Toyotas for 20 years or so and I find myself in the opposite scenario as the OP. I currently have a really nice JK on 35s and I'm longing for a LandCruiser. It's not that I don't love my Jeep...it's just that I want to travel and the wife and kids hate riding in it at any speed above 30mph. I can't even imagine driving from Massachusetts to Colorado with 4 people in the JK...even with my M416 in tow for the gear...however, I know that once I get there, I'll really want the Jeep. Lately I've been wondering if I could enjoy a LandCruiser instead. It must certainly be more comfortable for the long haul, but I can't escape the feeling that I'd miss the Jeep as soon as I get off the highway...I've got a doublecab Tundra so I suppose I could just tow the JK, but imagine the fuel costs and the extra headaches of leaving my truck and trailer behind. I'd love to pack up a single vehicle and spend a couple weeks on the road and in the mountains out west. I've never driven a Landcruiser though...maybe it's not as nice as I imagine...maybe it's no fun in the trails...it certainly lacks the open feel of no roof and no doors on a sunny day. I've regretted selling every Jeep I've owned...but then again...I've sold just about every Jeep I've owned too.

Can't beat an open top vehicle while on the trail. That's when I miss my Rubicon. Other than that I don't miss it while driving my 80.

 

[Hound]

Definitely miss mine on nice days.

 

[MoGas]

Of all the Jeeps I have owned, I miss my '43 MB the most.

 

[Viggen]

I had an XJ that I did not like at all. It replaced a 91 Isuzu Rodeo that I had built up and on 33s (t boned in an intersection and flipped). The XJ was no where near as tough and sure footed as the Rodeo was. I tried though by upgrading everything, including a stroker 4.6. In the end, I sold it and really have not missed it one little bit. Theres something about flexing it up and then not being able to open or close the doors. That and the interior space for a 6'4" person is just not enough. Eventually got into the 60 but sold that a few months ago before I moved. I debate getting another 60 or downgrading in size to something else. The problem with the 60 is its leaf sprung which, I dont care which company made your springs, will ride like crap in many situations (for the record, it had the best OME w/ SR kit out there on it and rode better than many but it was still a cart suspension). The other problem is the gigantic butt on it. I went through a few trails while I had it (URE, RC, GWNF) and the most common sound was the rear hitting or dragging on something. At most I had 4 people and a dog inside and that was once. 99% of the time its just me and the fiance. Something like a BJ43 would fit the bill with enough room for three people and a fridge behind the seat but again, its leaf sprung and Im not down with spending $15k for a worn out stock one. Sure, they can be had for cheaper but I dont want a Flintstones mobile. So, Im looking at going back to Jeep but going with a Scrambler. The aftermarket is insane and insanely cheap (unlike LC stuff) with everything you could ever want an easy install away (including a CJ8 frame fully set up to bolt underneath a Scrambler and running any stock or aftermarket TJ suspension on the market). I could go 80 series for the better suspension but then Im looking at something that is even bigger and heavier than a 60 series without the advantage of the looks of a 60 (the 80 looks like a Stay Puft marshmallow to me). Im not bashing the Cruiser, it was a fantastic truck in every single way and I do miss it (mostly because it had a very nice diesel) but Im just more of a midsize kind of guy. The 60 was just too damn big.

 

[luk4mud]

There are a handful of days every year I miss mine. Don't miss it on long drives, packing likes sardines for a big trip, fussing with torx bolts, removing the diff cover to change fluid, trying to find a ground for the cb, trying to find the latest source of a water leak, not being to hear the radio on the freeway ... you get the idea. Still, cant beat it on a sunny day on the trail.

 

[neatus]

Out of the CJ5, the CJ7, the XJ and the KJ I have owned I miss my KJ the most....Looking for a Cruiser or XJ now

 

[ddog45]

I went from from a built lj rubicon to a 99 landcruiser now Im thinking I want an double cab tacoma. Anyone want to buy a landcruiser with lift rear locker fridge, sliders, ibs dual, home grown drawer?

 

[2025 deleted member]

I thought I wanted a dc tacoma too, but didnt care for the driving position. Maybe you will, but it will be different than the LC and way different than the lj.

 

[Scott_sFZJ80]

Back in high school I had a '55 M38A1 with no rust on it at all! It used to be owned by a fire station and even had the fording package on it.

Out of all the vehicles I have owned (and that is a lot) I regret selling that one the most.

 

[CA-RJ]

This was my first Jeep. I bought it new and it took me on many adventures. I drove it across the country twice and to and from Alaska. It was a 1999, 2.5L, 5 speed with 33" tires, 4.88 gears and double locked. It was my daily driver for seven years. Of the three Jeeps I've had (including what I thought would be my holy grail Rubicon Unlimited), I miss it the most. Mainly, because of the memories I have from it.

 

[ddog45]

So the wife and I have decided we are going to keep her lx470 and are going to sell my 99lc. We have the chance to buy our 05 rubicon back. The plan is to have one rig for the rocks and one for the family four wheelin trips.

 

[MoGas]

So the wife and I have decided we are going to keep her lx470 and are going to sell my 99lc. We have the chance to buy our 05 rubicon back. The plan is to have one rig for the rocks and one for the family four wheelin trips.

PM me with the specifics on the '99 please.

 

[locrwln]

Like others, I have gone through a few vehicles.

1990 Wrangler, SOA, FI, lockers, 35's, etc.: Miss the hell out of it and really regret selling. Extremely reliable in 90k of ownership over every desert/rock trail I could find (broke a motor mount once).

1988 4Runner, v6, 5spd, SAS, dual cases, lockers, 35's, etc. Had to rebuild the transmission at 100k (stock at the time) and replace the starter. Liked the extra wheelbase, but hated it otherwise. Owned a couple of years and put about 40k on it. Don't miss it at all.

1997 LX450, 2.5" lift, 33's factory lockers. Nice vehicle, blew the HG at 103k miles. Required major surgery, sold it due to poor mileage/power. Don't miss it.

2002 Tacoma ex-cab TRD, v6, 5spd. Hated the seats among other things and only kept it a few months, sold it and do not regret/miss it at all.

1996 LC FZJ80, 4" lift, factory lockers, gears, 35's, dual tanks, OBA, armored up, dual batteries, etc. Alternator, complete brakes, starter (intermittent and left me stranded) complete cooling system, steering and driveline repair/replace. Struggled with trying to get the fan clutch to keep it cool with AC on, while not so much that it took the power/mileage with it, never did find that balance even with an electric pusher fan in front of the radiator. Don't miss it.

Current: 2007 Chevy D-max/allison with FWC. Loving it and realize that it is too big for hardcore trails, so a Jeep will be in my future.

I don't think I was meant to have a Toyota, none of mine have been that reliable (excluding the tacoma and I only had that a few months) and I am beyond anal about maintenence and care of my vehicles.

Jack