Is a FJ62 a bad idea as a “expedition” rig?
- Thread starter rc51kid
- Start date
goodwoodweirdo
Adventurer
I was given some advise once, by a guy riding a Yamaha R1 around the world.
Sjaak http://www.sjaaklucassen.nl/ he basically said, ride / drive what you love, you're with it every day in all situations, overland vehicles become more than just a mode of transport. It becomes personal. OK Sjaak is quite mad !!! but he’s right, buy what you love … everything will need maintenance / break down or give troubles at some stage.
Most importantly do it, the rest will come together.
:ylsmoke:
TangoBlue
American Adventurist
The 62 makes me smile.Not that you should buy a truck for that reason.
IQUOTE]
You hit the nail on the head! But I argue it's the best reason to have it.
I feel better when I put it on... all the little annoying things in life just go away when you get behind the wheel; your mind begins to think of future trips... even to the store for a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread.
jh504
Explorer
The 62 makes me smile.
IQUOTE]
You hit the nail on the head! But I argue it's the best reason to have it.
I feel better when I put it on... all the little annoying things in life just go away when you get behind the wheel; your mind begins to think of future trips... even to the store for a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread.
I feel the same way. For some reason I hear the song barra barra whenever I get in the 62 heading for a trail.:costumed-smiley-007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7688ZyX5JE&feature=related:
I agree with driving what you love. That's why I ride this pig. Its heavy and under powered by today's standards. But it makes me smile every time I climb on it.
Thanks for all the info and keep giving it. Let me just clarify a little about what I would LIKE for my budget to be. I would like to find a clean RUST FREE 62 with reasonable mileage for around 3-4,000 (I think I have seen a few, mostly out west). That would leave me about 3-4,000 for fluids, belts, hoses, water pump, alternator, engine gaskets, brakes, OME suspension and tires. That is the basic idea. I figure if I am patient enough it should come along. I am currently just saving up cash and watching the market.
Having the girlfriend on board with the project will be big help, that is one reason to stick with the 62.
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Life_in_4Lo
Explorer
If you think a RC51 is a slow, heavy pig then you are in for a serious shock getting behind the wheel of a 62!!:cow::cow:
I think your budget sounds totally do-able. Good luck & look fwd to seeing your buildup!
:cow::cow:I think your budget sounds totally do-able. Good luck & look fwd to seeing your buildup!
My wife absolutely loves our 62, and she was set on getting one from the beginning. We have had ours for a little more than a year, and have driven it all over northern California as well as trips to Oregon. Easily carries all of our stuff with plenty of room left over (there is even enough room in the back to sleep!). Yeh, its slow and gets poor gas mileage, but our choice was all about the classic experience. We went with a new 2.5“ OME suspension with 33s when we bought it, and the ride is very good for a leaf spring suspension. Other than that, we have kept the truck stock and as original as possible.
RocKrawler
Supporting Sponsor
Having owned a 62 I can tell you these little tidbits from my experience;
1) With the gas engine mileage really sucks. not kidding, its bad.
2) With the auto transmission its the slowest vehicle I've ever owned. ever.
3) With the stock suspension the ride is harsh at best.
4) With the quad headlights you get ribbing from coworkers about your "lifted Volvo wagon"
But...
An H55 5 speed conversion solves problems #1 & 2
An Old Man Emu suspension solves issue #3
An FJ60 grill and headlight conversion solves issue #4
My wife loved the truck UNTIL she drove it (she made me take it for the test drive and I told her it ran & shifted well, should be great, but its obscenely slow - she thought I was exagerating until she drove it after we brought it home & realized I had it pegged to the floor to get it going as fast as I did on the test drive). If I had known about the 5 speed conversion we would still have owned the vehicle today. I wouldnt hesitate to buy another but the 5 speed conversion would be a condition, not an option. Here at Iron Pig we do both the 5 speed conversions and OME suspensions on them all the time, and its great to see the amazement on the owners face after they have test driven the truck upon pickup, every one says its like a completely different (for the better) vehicle afterward.
When looking at them in rust prone areas, the normal body rust spots are tail and lift gate in the rear, lower rear quarters and rockers, lower door corners, around the windshield, rain gutters and the leading edger of the hood. Underneath on the frame pay special attention to the double wall/layer section on the inside of the frame rails on either side of the spare tire underneath. Thats the main location they rust out badly because water gets trapped between the 2 layers of steel and things go bad quick in states with salted roads. This is VERY common:
If you need any help, have any questions or need any parts or advice for your build, feel free to give me a call at the shop or PM me here on the board anytime, I'll be happy to help!
1) With the gas engine mileage really sucks. not kidding, its bad.
2) With the auto transmission its the slowest vehicle I've ever owned. ever.
3) With the stock suspension the ride is harsh at best.
4) With the quad headlights you get ribbing from coworkers about your "lifted Volvo wagon"
But...
An H55 5 speed conversion solves problems #1 & 2
An Old Man Emu suspension solves issue #3
An FJ60 grill and headlight conversion solves issue #4
My wife loved the truck UNTIL she drove it (she made me take it for the test drive and I told her it ran & shifted well, should be great, but its obscenely slow - she thought I was exagerating until she drove it after we brought it home & realized I had it pegged to the floor to get it going as fast as I did on the test drive). If I had known about the 5 speed conversion we would still have owned the vehicle today. I wouldnt hesitate to buy another but the 5 speed conversion would be a condition, not an option. Here at Iron Pig we do both the 5 speed conversions and OME suspensions on them all the time, and its great to see the amazement on the owners face after they have test driven the truck upon pickup, every one says its like a completely different (for the better) vehicle afterward.
When looking at them in rust prone areas, the normal body rust spots are tail and lift gate in the rear, lower rear quarters and rockers, lower door corners, around the windshield, rain gutters and the leading edger of the hood. Underneath on the frame pay special attention to the double wall/layer section on the inside of the frame rails on either side of the spare tire underneath. Thats the main location they rust out badly because water gets trapped between the 2 layers of steel and things go bad quick in states with salted roads. This is VERY common:
If you need any help, have any questions or need any parts or advice for your build, feel free to give me a call at the shop or PM me here on the board anytime, I'll be happy to help!
My 62 is kind of an "expedition lite" vehicle as I don't bring much camping gear camping. Tarp, tent, stove, water, food, gas.
Is the mileage that bad?
I have a 88 62 w/180K, 32s and 4 inch lift. bought it for $2000(good deal for pretty much rust free) and have about $500 into it. Last tank I got 17mpg mostly highway with about 20 miles of wheeling 4low. It is pretty slow in the mountains I but when i jump in the 62 life slows down and I don't feel like I have to do anything fast. Its great. The girlfriend loves it too.
I wouldn't be scared to drive this across the USA right now and do some wheeling on the way.
As for A/C, it works fine for me but invest in some window tint as 62s are quite the greenhouses and maybe see if you could get a recharge or change to R134.
Sounds to me like you are like me. At some point I might want a more comfortable truck, but for right now a tough, reliable, decent gas mileage(better than an early fj80s), great offroad, inexpensive truck that I can stuff all my camping, backpacking, mountain biking, climbing, tools, etc... in is plenty good for me.
-Max
Is the mileage that bad?
I have a 88 62 w/180K, 32s and 4 inch lift. bought it for $2000(good deal for pretty much rust free) and have about $500 into it. Last tank I got 17mpg mostly highway with about 20 miles of wheeling 4low. It is pretty slow in the mountains I but when i jump in the 62 life slows down and I don't feel like I have to do anything fast. Its great. The girlfriend loves it too.
I wouldn't be scared to drive this across the USA right now and do some wheeling on the way.
As for A/C, it works fine for me but invest in some window tint as 62s are quite the greenhouses and maybe see if you could get a recharge or change to R134.
Sounds to me like you are like me. At some point I might want a more comfortable truck, but for right now a tough, reliable, decent gas mileage(better than an early fj80s), great offroad, inexpensive truck that I can stuff all my camping, backpacking, mountain biking, climbing, tools, etc... in is plenty good for me.
-Max
Yup, get off that 62 idea and get on board with an 80 series
Bunch of them for sale here in ABQ, NM:http://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-trailers-sale-wanted/408349-80s-100s-sale-near-abq-nm.html
esh
Explorer
I had very different experience than RocKrawler's above.
My FJ62 came from Oregon high desert, dry, beautiful clean body, every bolt came clean, every time. The truck would routinely get 17-19mpg on 31s *when* I was back in high country. I live at about 100ft altitude and it would get 16-17. Not a typical result, but it was a very nicely maintained truck before I got it. As height and weight increased I think I ended up down at 15mpg before the diesel swap. I was on OME HDs on 33x10.5 ATs and about 6200lbs.
Your plan of maintenance is a good one. If you are buying, and keeping the engine/trans in the truck for a while, make every system solid. Do that first. Maybe get some 31s if the truck doesn't come with them. Keep track of performance, mileage, range, rpms at certain speeds, etc. Then do the lift and bigger tires. Again take notice of the differences and note measurable differences in mileage, rpms, etc. Then do bumpers and accessories as budget and time allows. As you increase weight, if you increase weight, keep track of the performance differences agsin. The lift and tires are going to drive your desire for all the other accessories because you'll start taking it into places you would have kept away from.
Maybe that sounds like a total anal approach.. I'm a fan of knowing and measuring differences where I can.
My FJ62 came from Oregon high desert, dry, beautiful clean body, every bolt came clean, every time. The truck would routinely get 17-19mpg on 31s *when* I was back in high country. I live at about 100ft altitude and it would get 16-17. Not a typical result, but it was a very nicely maintained truck before I got it. As height and weight increased I think I ended up down at 15mpg before the diesel swap. I was on OME HDs on 33x10.5 ATs and about 6200lbs.
Your plan of maintenance is a good one. If you are buying, and keeping the engine/trans in the truck for a while, make every system solid. Do that first. Maybe get some 31s if the truck doesn't come with them. Keep track of performance, mileage, range, rpms at certain speeds, etc. Then do the lift and bigger tires. Again take notice of the differences and note measurable differences in mileage, rpms, etc. Then do bumpers and accessories as budget and time allows. As you increase weight, if you increase weight, keep track of the performance differences agsin. The lift and tires are going to drive your desire for all the other accessories because you'll start taking it into places you would have kept away from.
Maybe that sounds like a total anal approach.. I'm a fan of knowing and measuring differences where I can.
My wife also wants a 60 series.
I'd find a fj60, simplier easy to fix if things go wrong. Swap in a 5speed, some nice springs and go from there.
Tons of ways to expo it out. If your girl really likes the look of the 62 better just swap the grills over :victory: Seen a few like that.
I'd find a fj60, simplier easy to fix if things go wrong. Swap in a 5speed, some nice springs and go from there.
Tons of ways to expo it out. If your girl really likes the look of the 62 better just swap the grills over :victory: Seen a few like that.
Not at all.
But if you want a 60 or 62(there is also a 61) just for the shape ,its bad way to start off for a hunt for an expo vehicle.
The 80 series seem to be much more rust resistant and the coil springs are much more comfy.
You get a lot more for your dollar. Looking at US prices ,there is only a few grand between an 80 or 60 in good nick.
Often,exceptional 60s will be way more expensive as they are entering that collectable phase due to their age.
Make sure your girl gets to drive both before you make a decision.
RocKrawler
Supporting Sponsor
Very true - if that was the case I'd be driving an RRC and living in a cardboard box
Not more rust resistant, they are just newer and havent had the same amount of exposure, YET. The coils are more comfy, but there's a lot more electronics to the 80, so if you want simple the 60 is a better choice. If you want comfy, than the 80 wins, although the OME isnt a bad ride, its still isnt coil comfy as Rosco said!
Definitely good advice.Make sure your girl gets to drive both before you make a decision.