FJ/FZJ80 vs. Taco Double Cab

[Horribilis]

I've sent a few PM's on this subject and it was suggested that perhaps I make a post so that all can benefit from the various responses.

For those of your that I have PM'd, feel free to copy and paste, and or add to your responses here.

I am coming from the world of Jeeps...namely a family wheeling XJ. I spent about a year building one from stock to a 5" lifted, locked front and rear, armored and winched, rolling on 33" tires. Long story short, it was stolen about a month after I completed my build and some idiots used it in an attempted ATM theft. My hard work ended up being a total loss.

As I consider what my next build will be, I am leaning heavily towards these two Yota options. I believe both will work for my needs (mostly a DD and weekend warrior: overland wheeling, forest and BLM roads in various states of disrepair, OHV/4x4 trails, hunting in the fall, snow bashing with and without chains, and some mild rock crawling with local clubs).

My question then, is which of these Yota options provides the most cost effective route to a lifted, locked, armored, and rolling on 33" tires? What about moving up to 35" tires? In the event that I find a Taco or FJ/FZJ80 that do not have factory lockers, what lunch-box locker options are available for the rear? (my XJ had lunch box both front and rear, but with the FZJ's AWD that wouldn't be possible....at least not without modding it to part-time 4WD or putting in a selectable front locker, ala ARB). What of the Taco in this regard?

I should also mention that in the event that I went with the Taco I would get a topper for it. I have a tow/hauling vehicle already...a diesel Dodge pick-up. In some cases I will even double tow a camper what ever offroading rig being flat-towed behind the camper.

Our family right now consists of myself, wife, infant daughter, and two large dogs (another child in the near future is likely). In case you were wondering why I don't want to go back the XJ route, it felt a bit too small for my needs. Frankly the XJ was cramped in the rear for the dogs, and very little room for gear (in the rear seat and floorboard next to the kiddo, as well as the roof rack) hence my interest in the FJ/FZJ80 and double cab Taco, since they have larger rear storage areas and, at least in the case of the FJ/FZJ80, more interior space. In the Taco the mutts would end up in the bed under the topper.

Any help/info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all!

Travis

 

[ScottyDog]

I've sent a few PM's on this subject and it was suggested that perhaps I make a post so that all can benefit from the various responses.

For those of your that I have PM'd, feel free to copy and paste, and or add to your responses here.

I am coming from the world of Jeeps...namely a family wheeling XJ. I spent about a year building one from stock to a 5" lifted, locked front and rear, armored and winched, rolling on 33" tires. Long story short, it was stolen about a month after I completed my build and some idiots used it in an attempted ATM theft. My hard work ended up being a total loss.

As I consider what my next build will be, I am leaning heavily towards these two Yota options. I believe both will work for my needs (mostly a DD and weekend warrior: overland wheeling, forest and BLM roads in various states of disrepair, OHV/4x4 trails, hunting in the fall, snow bashing with and without chains, and some mild rock crawling with local clubs).

My question then, is which of these Yota options provides the most cost effective route to a lifted, locked, armored, and rolling on 33" tires? What about moving up to 35" tires? In the event that I find a Taco or FJ/FZJ80 that do not have factory lockers, what lunch-box locker options are available for the rear? (my XJ had lunch box both front and rear, but with the FZJ's AWD that wouldn't be possible....at least not without modding it to part-time 4WD or putting in a selectable front locker, ala ARB). What of the Taco in this regard?

I should also mention that in the event that I went with the Taco I would get a topper for it. I have a tow/hauling vehicle already...a diesel Dodge pick-up. In some cases I will even double tow a camper what ever offroading rig being flat-towed behind the camper.

Our family right now consists of myself, wife, infant daughter, and two large dogs (another child in the near future is likely). In case you were wondering why I don't want to go back the XJ route, it felt a bit too small for my needs. Frankly the XJ was cramped in the rear for the dogs, and very little room for gear (in the rear seat and floorboard next to the kiddo, as well as the roof rack) hence my interest in the FJ/FZJ80 and double cab Taco, since they have larger rear storage areas and, at least in the case of the FJ/FZJ80, more interior space. In the Taco the mutts would end up in the bed under the topper.

Any help/info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all!

Travis

Travis.. I know exactly where your coming from. Your story sounds similiar to mine, but I had 3 kids (2 teenagers and a youngster) a few years back now. The XJ was a great trail vehicle, but too small and cramped for anything else...

My mother-in-law passed away completely unexpected and since she managed the family finances all the accounts in her name... long story short, I had to sell the XJ cheap to help pay for the funeral. But soon after I was in the market for a new off road vehicle and thinking about the size of the growing family, 2 dogs (Boston Terriers), gear, etc.. I made the upgrade too. The FZJ80 was in my price range as a newer 4x4 Taco was just slightly out of what I wanted to pay.. (I hate car payments and didn't want any..) So I searched Mud and found my current FZJ80already lifted and meticulously maintained. Down side was the high mileage, but I've put 45K on it since I've had it and it hasn't let me down.

But on the flipside, I think my next vehicle of choice after the 80 would be a D/C 4x4 Taco with the 4.0L. As the stowage in the 80 is better than the XJ, but still no really great. I guess you just have to weigh out all pro's & con's... I guess.. this post probably didn't help you much other than make the decision worse!!

Anyway good luck with your search, either way I think you'll be happier. At least with the quality of how the vehicle holds up...Not sure about your XJ but mine felt like the entire interior was coming unglued and squeeked just riding down the street...

Scott

 

[Pskhaat]

You live in Colorado and though it is certainly not Minnesota, it is colder than Arizona. If you plan on "topping" the Taco anyway, there are some distinct benefits to a full wagon cab. Your dogs and gear (sleeping bags, clothing) also stays warmer, unless you plan on adding a few rear heaters to the taco. If you have plan for additional children (sounds like you do), the 3rd-row seating can be a trip-saver to separate the sibling rivalries.

Though we are not known for multi-country year-long trips, we had the pleasure before all the kids were in mandatory schooling to take some longer, multi-month extended adventures in our 80 (and 100). Safety aside, it is very nice to be able to wiggle oneself in the back to get yet another snack/lunch out of the cooler or get extra blankets for naptime or whatever without having to stop the car and go around to the bed to get it. With 2+ children, you really don't have the option of significant 2nd-row storage minus the floor space.

Interior cab volume (ignoring the far rear) is far greater in the LC80, sit in both and you'll see what I mean. You can fit 35s on an 80 with a minor lift, you'll "only" be in the 33s on the Taco with same effort; that's really splitting hairs though, I've seen both trucks "wheel" just as well on 32s as I have on 315s. The 80 has selective center diff lock if you're worried about single axle or self-engaging axle locking.

The taco undoubtedly will have more total storage capacity due to the bed. MPGs on the Taco will be better.

 

[Box Rocket]

Copy and Paste from my PM to Horribilis...

After giving this some thought, here's my two cents. A lot depends on the difficulty of the trails you want to run. If you're talking Moab, any of the options are going to work great on all but the very hardest trails that Moab has to offer. If you talking about some of the harder CO trails like Montrose etc. or the Rubicon then I'm not sure any of these options are ideal. They will do it, but they are not dedicated rock crawlers. I've done the Rubicon in FZJ80s and tacomas and they can do it, but it was a different experience in my built FJ40 with a shorter wheelbase, big tires and lockers. But I can do 90% of the same trails in either my Cruiser or my Tacoma that I could do in my heavily built FJ40, and most of those trails are much more enjoyable with the extra comfort of the FZJ80 and Tacoma.

However, I'll give you my opinion on the FZJ80 and the Tacoma since I own both.

First the FZJ80. These are GREAT trucks. It's going to feel very underpowered especially if you're comparing it to your Dodge. The I6 that is in it is a great motor that is very reliable but it isn't fast and towing with it can be slow. You will hear people talk about head gasket issues with the FZJ80. Those issues exist, but IMO are not anywhere close to the epidemic that the message boards might lead you to believe. Also, keep in mind that even the newest FZJ80 is going to be 14 years old. These really are extremely reliable and strong/rugged vehicles. They have always been Toyotas flagship SUV and you can tell. My 1993 FZJ80 with 270K miles still feels more solid and rattle free than my Tacoma that is 10 years newer with barely 100K miles. But that's why the Land Cruisers cost so much more when new. The quality of construction shows and it's one of the reasons they are still so popular as offroad vehicles. They're just strong and they can handle tons of abuse.

there is really good aftermarket support for the Land Cruiser. If you can find one with factory lockers, you can add a lift and tires and be virtually unstoppable on most trails. Add a little trail armor and your even better off. If you wheel as a family the Land Cruiser will be hard to beat. They are very comfortable and you're wife will enjoy being on the trail with you in the Land Cruiser. They are very roomy and should give you adequate room inside. I hit the trails with my wife and we have 4 kids and a dog. We fit fine but it can get a little tight with lots of gear.

In the rocks, the Cruiser will suprise you with how capable it is, expecially one with lockers. When you talk about making your jeep friends jealous, this will do it. You'll be able to tackle everything they are but you'll be doing it in far better comfort and style. For overlanding type use, it's great too. Tons of payload capacity. You can load these things up with a lot of gear and they will still get you where you want to go. the coil suspension is really comfortable on washboard roads. It just does so well in almost any situation. It won't be a hardcore rock buggy, but it will suprise you constantly with what it can do in the rocks.

One of the biggest benefits of the FZJ80 is also one of it's biggest liablilities, and that's its size. The extra space is great, but on the really tight trails you'll find yourself maybe wishing for a little less body to worry about.

Now for the Tacoma. I have been really happy with mine. I was skeptical of it's capabilities when I got it because of the IFS. I have always had trucks with solid axles and was worries that I'd be very limited with the IFS. I've been pleasantly suprised that the Tacoma is MUCH more capable than I thought it would be in difficult terrain. the wheelsbase is a big help on steep climbs, and the TRD version with the rear locker helps a ton. Aftermarket is good with lots of suspension options and SAS kits if you want to go that route. I prefer the tacoma's size to that of the Land Cruiser. It just feels more nimble with it's smaller size and lighter weight. But the trade off is the interior space which is much better in the LC. For overland travel both truck works really well but I prefer the Tacoma. It soaks up the bumps at higher speeds better than the LC. And now that I have a little more time in the rocks with the Tacoma I think it is almost on par with the LC in it's capabilties.

So the short answer is if I had to pick just one, I would probably pick the Tacoma because I like the size and it's versatility. But for almost equal performance in all terrain with better comfort and space the LC would be better. Also if you're trying to make your friends jealous, the LC would do that better than the Tacoma is my guess.

Good luck.

 

[Box Rocket]

I'll also add the we hit the trails as a family as often as we can and the extra interior room in the LC is nicer than the Tacoma which is slightly smaller. The LC is just more comfortable overal for the whole family. If it's just me, or me and a passenger, I prefer the Tacoma. Otherwise the LC gets the nod.

My wife prefers the LC...

We have 4 kids, 11, 10 and 3 yr old twins. Typically our setup the twins in the center and driverside seat of the middle row. One of the older boys next to them on the middle row. We only use one side of the third row for my other son and the empty third row space for the dog/gear.

The Tacoma does not fit my family of 6 since it only has 5 belts. So I take the Tacoma when it's just me, or me and the wife, or me and my older boys.

 

[Pskhaat]

Adam, why did I now know you had kids? Good on you with 4 :bike_rider:

 

[Ryanmb21]

:26_7_2: Nice posts dudes! Very interesting and I'm not even looking for a new truck!

 

[Topgun514]

I am in the same boat, current XJ guy looking for a toyota switch between a cruiser and Taco.

I have thought about saving up for a 100 series cruiser for less issues, more power. But trade it off for IFS. The Taco seems like a great fit but interior size is something that really comes in handy. Reaching into the back seat or trunk space is a major player, and leaky truck beds sometimes can really ruin soft goods. The 80 Series requires a bit more upkeep to get it baselined, mainly due to how old it is.

Now the XJ will probably feel better on slow, plodding trails, but the crampedness, noise, and onroad ride can really take it out of the driver. Out west, when on the washboards, the back end wants to hop offtrack. The XJ will also be cheaper to own, but the LC really is at home out west when you want more than 1 person to come with you on trips.

 

[Box Rocket]

Adam, why did I now know you had kids? Good on you with 4 :bike_rider:

Yeah, seems like they all showed up overnight. Crazy. My wife and I looked at each other this morning after looking at our twins (today is their birthday) and just shook our heads wondering how the hell it happened. They're a blast though.

 

[Pokey]

if you are going to load them down---the 80 would be cheaper to mod (heavier duty springs-lift-wheels) and can roll on 35s without any expensive gearing mods.

fulyl stock- either works well

but if you are going down the mild mods road---80 should be cheaper to mod while retaining its bulletproofness.

a sub 140k miler with lockers can be found for under $6k and might even have some of the mods done.

 

[18seeds]

... and two large dogs (another child in the near future is likely). ......In the Taco the mutts would end up in the bed under the topper......

If you are OK with the dogs being in the bed and if the dogs are OK with being in the bed than I think the taco is a no brainer. 2 adults, 2 kids, 2 LARGE dogs, plus gear in a 80 seems like a messy nightmare IMO

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Now we are talking

My PM reply (expanded)

They really are just two totally platforms and tasked for different needs. If you need a truck bed for occasional hauling, firewood, etc your going to be left hanging with the 80. Similarly if your looking to run 35's the Tacoma is going to leave you wanting as its really best suited for the 31-33" tire range whereas the 80 Series is right at home with 33-35's with minimal drivetrain/steering upgrades. Hauling 4 adults? The 80 wins there, hauling *** down the highway or a washboarded road with 2 adult and a couple of kids... the Tacoma wins out. Now I'm on my 2nd Tacoma, close to picking up #3 and I've owned just a single 80 and it was a short love affair. Nothing at all wrong with the 80 but at the time I had a built/locked FJ62 on 37's and my built 40 on 35's... I just didn't have need for another 'SUV' capable of more difficult trails than the Tacoma.

'Efficient Route' is all subjective, it by all means cheaper to find an older high mileage 80 Series that has been built or even find an 80 and build it however the miles are going to be double or triple of that of the average Tacoma on the market. Now you can find low mileage 80's on the market but they fetch a premium and often still need some upkeep/pm that likely won't be needed on a lower mileage Tacoma. Again just different platforms. The newest 80 Series is the same age as the oldest Tacoma's. If we were comparing a 96' Tacoma with a Tacoma with a 96' 80 of similar mileage and the truck bed isn't a need, the 80.

'Lunch-box' lockers are available for both ends of both the 80 and the Tacoma but as mentioned its not an ideal locker in the front of the Full-Time 4WD 80 Series and thus a selectable locker really should be the only locker installed in the front of the 80 Series imo. The Tacoma works well with a variety of lockers, due to the road handling characteristics and wear related issues with any auto locker I'm still a proponent of retrofitting the OE e-locker or running the ARB Air Lockers.

 

[Topgun514]

How would a Taco be better on washboards than the 80? I feel like the 80 would excel in the snow and washboards because its got a bit more balenced weight and coils. No sliding truckbed out back? Could someone help me out with this?

 

[2025 deleted member]

How would a Taco be better on washboards than the 80? I feel like the 80 would excel in the snow and washboards because its got a bit more balenced weight and coils. No sliding truckbed out back? Could someone help me out with this?

The IFS would probably be better than the solid axle.

 

[tacollie]

Tacos do suprisingly well on wash board and in the snow. My Tacoma did way better than my 4runner. I think the longer wheel base helps. I personally prefer a Tacoma over an 80. I prefer lighter vehicles over heavier ones. If you have a familly the Land Cruiser is going to be better. You kids will appreciate the back seat more.