Diesel 80 series versus Dodge Cummins Camper?

[rstl99]

Hi all,
I'm confronting yet another vehicle choice situation and thought I'd solicit some views from people here.

I own a rather rare 80 Series diesel (1HZ, barn doors, "poverty pack" LHD) I picked up locally a couple of years ago. It has served me well, especially hauling stuff back and forth from a country property I bought last summer, which is near a lot of gentle trails that I could drive the 80 on. It's a 5 speed, no AC, relatively low kms (220k). Very good mechanical shape, and no body rust to speak of.

One of my long-standing wishes is to go on some long road trips in N-A (following early retirement in a year or so), up to Yukon/Alaska, Labrador, down to South-East US, etc. My plan was to fixup the Land-Cruiser (deal with a few axle seal issues and other odds and ends), get some spare parts, and either setup a sleeping platform/storage in the back, or pull a trailer with roof-top tent.

THe other option I've long contemplated is an older Dodge Cummins (12 valve) with truck camper on top. The advantages I see with that are that it can be used as a truck when not camping (hauling stuff around the cottage, etc.), Cummins is a great engine (though the truck is not as great), can be repaired anywhere in N-A should I suffer some kind of breakdown. Those truck campers are very comfortable for two people and can be taken off the truck when needed. And I have seen some truck/camper combinations of similar vintage to my LC (early 90's) sell for $8-10K (see attached). I figure I can probably sell my LC for more than that.

I can't justify owning two trucks, so one day will have to make the decision on one of these two options (there are probably others, but I've settled on those 2 at this point).

Any ideas or thoughts (realizing this is a LC-biased forum )?

 

[Root Moose]

Personally I'd do whatever it takes to keep them both.

They both serve distinct purposes without a huge amount of overlap.

If you decide to sell the 80 let me know. I am Ottawa-ish and might be game for that when/if it happens. I had my sights on a Jeep WJ but...

 

[Life_in_4Lo]

the big camper would be more comfortable but the LC is way better built and I don't see anything that would go wrong with it that couldn't be easily fixed in NA. (Diesel parts notwithstanding- but you would bring spares of common breakdown parts)

Driving in the US, I would be happier in the LC because
A-it's unique and you could, if you wanted, meet a lot of cruiserheads and go wheeling with them in various parts of the country you visit

B-You could pull into any town and park in any space, big or small, with ease.

C-It is bulletproof.

The drawbacks-
No AC, not nearly as comfy as having a full camper.

If you pull a trailer, all your camping issues would be pretty well taken care of.
Personally, I would try to go in the LC and equip it as best I could without a trailer but would never sell it.

good luck!

 

[chet]

I would keep the LC and buy a small bigfoot trailer to tow. It will be just as manuverable (sp?) as the big dodge beleive me I had one! A tall overhead camper like that is fine if you stick to basic gravel roads and rv parks. the LONG overhang can be a real drag (literally)

buy a cheap utility trailer for the cottage. I loved my dodge truck but it was way too big to even attampt to wheel with it. With the bigfoot camper you could unhook at a campground/ basecamp and go exploring and come back to the trailer. You can't take a slide in camper off easily it is a long process.

 

[rstl99]

Thanks

Thanks for the thoughts folks. I wish I could keep both trucks, but money and driveway space kind of dictate otherwise (I could store one at the cottage I suppose, but insurance/maintenance/repairs starts adding up...)

Based on your thoughts, I think I need to better consider that LC option, though the Dodge/Cummins has some definite advantages. Maybe the bottom line is: I can _always_ find a dodge cummins, but would have a very hard time finding a diesel Land-Cruiser like I have, were I to sell it... Just buying a 1HZ engine like I have in it would probably cost someone $6-8K.

Cheers!

 

[lowenbrau]

I have both and consider selling the Dodge all the time because the Cruiser with a utility trailer can do most of what the Dodge can (except haul my camper).

The reason I don't is that the Dodge gets way better fuel mileage, is pretty much worthless to resell, and is easily replaceable if it gets clobbered on my commute. I'll have some difficulty replacing the Cruiser if that happens.

 

[Nay]

I own a rather rare 80 Series diesel (1HZ, barn doors, "poverty pack" LHD)

Doesn't this answer the question?

:sombrero:

 

[Christian P.]

I have had several Land Cruiser but I think I may be trying the Dodge route now.

One thing that is really starting to get me is the lack of "not-so-modern-anymore" commodities - a/c, power windows, sound system, airbags, less noise. Things that have been deprived of in my last 2 expedition vehicles - my HJ75 and my Westfalia Syncro.

But above all that, what I am really after is power. I was getting crazy trying to push the HJ75 non-turbo up the hills in Rwanda and Ethiopia.
Given my Troop Carrier was really basic, your 80 is perhaps a bit more comfy and powerful.

I really want to be able to cruise freely at 75mph on the big north-american freeway where you will spend some good amount of time no matter what.

Also since I will be driving it in South America/Africa/Europe, I would benefit from what I called the "reversed-cool-factor".
Here we all dream about Land Cruiser...well guess what they dream about in places like South Africa...a big american truck.

It's all a matter of perspective...



In your situation though, I would really try to keep both. Or at least buy the truck before selling the Land Cruiser so if you don't like it you haven't lost the LC.

 

[gahi]

I have both, the cruiser for only 2 mos though. The dodge is great for hauling stuff, but the cruiser is way more comfortable. The dodge has such stiff suspension when running empty or lightly loaded that is becomes miserable off highway. I guess loaded down with a camper youd be OK though. If your are considering a dodge, youd be better off going with a 2nd gen 1994-1998.5 than the 1st gen style in the pic. There is alot more aftermarket support for these, and the suspension is a lot softer. If I had to choose only one, it would be the truck (but I would sell my 1st gen and get the 2nd gen, but I need to haul stuff all the time, car trailers, loads of materials. In my 1st gen, I can cruise on the hwy at 85 mph no problem and average 17 mpg empty / 12 mpg hauling a car. 2nd gen can do a little better especially if you turn it up a little.

 

[rstl99]

Thanks for all the thoughts - much appreciated!!

I have both and consider selling the Dodge all the time because the Cruiser with a utility trailer can do most of what the Dodge can (except haul my camper).

The reason I don't is that the Dodge gets way better fuel mileage, is pretty much worthless to resell, and is easily replaceable if it gets clobbered on my commute. I'll have some difficulty replacing the Cruiser if that happens.

Thanks for your thoughts. In the case of my Cruiser with the 1HZ engine, I would no doubt get better mileage than a Cummins Dodge (get around 25mpg highway, possibly more if I keep speeds reasonable). Once I'm retired next year, no more commute (for which I don't use my Cruiser, I have a Camry for that). But you make good points.

I have both, the cruiser for only 2 mos though. The dodge is great for hauling stuff, but the cruiser is way more comfortable. The dodge has such stiff suspension when running empty or lightly loaded that is becomes miserable off highway. I guess loaded down with a camper youd be OK though. If your are considering a dodge, youd be better off going with a 2nd gen 1994-1998.5 than the 1st gen style in the pic. There is alot more aftermarket support for these, and the suspension is a lot softer. If I had to choose only one, it would be the truck (but I would sell my 1st gen and get the 2nd gen, but I need to haul stuff all the time, car trailers, loads of materials. In my 1st gen, I can cruise on the hwy at 85 mph no problem and average 17 mpg empty / 12 mpg hauling a car. 2nd gen can do a little better especially if you turn it up a little.

Thanks for your thoughts. Indeed, 2nd gen Dodge seems to have more creature comforts than the more spartan 1st gen (especially one like the one I was indicating above, which is 3/4 ton with 1 ton suspension! - good for hauling the camper but would be a bone-shaking ride empty!!). I'm approaching mid-50's, and comfort is a criteria that is increasingly important to me. :ylsmoke:

I think the bottom line is there it no single truck that can do everything equally well, it's all a matter of tradeoffs and going with something that does as much as what you need really well. Plus be reasonably reliable, not a rust-bucket or money-pit for repairs, etc. I gather the more recent gen Dodge trucks are more sophisticated and more expensive to repair when something does go wrong. Then again, a LC is not cheap to repair, even if one is doing a lot of the work oneself (again, a consequence of getting older is that I"m not as keen as I used to be to crawl under a vehicle to do some repair...)

Anyway, good food for thought!!

I have had several Land Cruiser but I think I may be trying the Dodge route now.

In your situation though, I would really try to keep both. Or at least buy the truck before selling the Land Cruiser so if you don't like it you haven't lost the LC.

Hi Christian,
Loved the pictures on your site, you've done the kind of trip I've always dreamed about. As you say, it's all a matter of perspective indeed! My LC is rare on these shores in that configuration, but probably common as nails and cheap in the Middle East...

As you accurately point out, for the kind of N-A road trips I want to do starting in the North-East (up to Yukon Alaska, around Labrador/Newfoundland, down to South-East US, etc.), that's a LOT of time spent on a highway, where ergonomic comfort and ability to keep up with traffic at good speed is very important.

I imagine your troop carrier is probably somewhat equivalent, creature-comfort wise, to a LandRover Defender (which I once owned, and was also significantly hill-challenged with its anemic 4 cyl diesel!). My HZJ80 is "poverty pack" but still has good bucket seats, adjustable steering wheel, power locks (though not windows...), no AC though. So probably a bit more comfortable than a troop carrier for long hauls. Could use some soundproofing in the back since the stainless exhaust I had put in and straight-through muffler is a little louder than stock.

But for sleeping out on the road, I'm not sure a sleeping platform in the back would cut it very long, and a roof top tent would be incompatible with my bladder :ylsmoke:. A truck camper has appeal in that respect.

As you suggest, I would be wise to keep the LC and try out a Dodge for a while, because I'd have a heck of a time ever getting a similarly equipped LC in the future...

The Turtle Expedition folks http://www.turtleexpedition.com/vehicles/ give some good food for thought in travel truck evolution. I don't have the deep pockets required for their more recent configuration though...

Cheers!!

 

[Cackalak Han]

Regarding the gas mileage comment, what do you average in the diesel LC?

I don't have an 80 or a diesel truck, but from a logical standpoint, I would think if you're going to be on-road most of the time with no tight trails, maybe the creature comforts of the Dodge and a comfortable living space would be a big benefit---especially the AC! If you like to explore around, the LC would be better, obviously.

The 100-Land Cruiser I have is super comfortable. I just did a 9-hour trip and I didn't get the sore-butt/numb legs like I did in my old truck. I am hoping to add something like a Chaser trailer in the future.

 

[timmy!!!!!!!]

How hard would it be to add a/c to the cruiser?

 

[OTR]

If you average 25mpg in the LC, that would be the one to keep IMO. You would get 1/2 that with the Dodge set-up with a truck camper like the one pictured unless you fitted it with a FWC or Northstar style pop-up truck camper. The LC better mileage is a lot of savings for a big road trip.

Another option is to look for a small camper (pop-up, scamp, etc..) or make your own trailer camper up like many others have done on this forum. You should still avg 20mpg or so if you keep the weight and areodynamic drag down.

 

[rstl99]

If you average 25mpg in the LC, that would be the one to keep IMO. You would get 1/2 that with the Dodge set-up with a truck camper like the one pictured unless you fitted it with a FWC or Northstar style pop-up truck camper. The LC better mileage is a lot of savings for a big road trip.

Another option is to look for a small camper (pop-up, scamp, etc..) or make your own trailer camper up like many others have done on this forum. You should still avg 20mpg or so if you keep the weight and areodynamic drag down.

You have a point re: the mileage. I recall doing some rough calculations some years ago, when I was again pondering vehicle choices, of what a difference 5 or 10mpg would make on a few thousand mile trip, and it was quite something. The more I think about it, the more I think I'd be advantaged to stick with the LC and maybe go with a small trailer as you suggest. All kinds of trailers out there for all kinds of prices. I recall reading about some nice off-road capable popup trailers from Australia that seemed quite interesting. More to think about...

 

[rstl99]

I don't have an 80 or a diesel truck, but from a logical standpoint, I would think if you're going to be on-road most of the time with no tight trails, maybe the creature comforts of the Dodge and a comfortable living space would be a big benefit---especially the AC! If you like to explore around, the LC would be better, obviously.

The 100-Land Cruiser I have is super comfortable. I just did a 9-hour trip and I didn't get the sore-butt/numb legs like I did in my old truck. I am hoping to add something like a Chaser trailer in the future.

Indeed, each truck solution has its pros and cons. I can imagine your 100 must be very comfortable. My 80 isn't too bad, though lacks some of the creature comforts of more fancy 80's and 100's. I do find it a bit tiring on road trips, but that may be partly due to the noise from the stainless steel exhaust I had installed last year (with straight through SS muffler). I plan on installing some sound-proofing products under the vinyl floor cover in the back and in the cargo area (being poverty pack, it comes with vinyl floor and not carpet...).
Cheers.