Land Cruiser 100 to Jeep Rubicon Unlimited: Capability? Comfort?

[Jeep or Tacoma]

I have owned both

I had a 98 100 series with a lift and 33.5 inch tires arb front bumper 10,000 lb warn winch dual batterys custom side rails that connected to the front bumper and a tjm rear bumper. center and rear diff lock.

I have an 08 rubicon with a warn bumper 10 k winch side rails 4 dr auto. 4 inch ome lift with heavy duty springs dual diff locks


The landcrusier was great but no match for the jeep. It was more comfortable with full leather much more complicated to work on think luxury but you know that I would go with the jeep again over the landcruiser. both are very capable the jeep more so. and with the new motor it is much better than the old 3.8 but I have a life time (99 yr warranty I looked it up) on the drive train. plus if you wan to go topless or what ever top you can conceive plus any parts for any thing and so many choices for bumpers etc. that is what is really cool.
by the time you ad a lift and you will the break over angle won't be an issue. I would dare say you'll see jeeps where you won't see any landcrusiers.

 

[Omar Brannstrom]

I have owned both...Will never buy a Jeep. A great trail rig but not comfy at all on getting to the trail. After all, there is a lot of highways to cover before one gets to the backcountry, trail, etc. Not sure of your budget, but have you thought of a 200 series cruiser. Power, comfort...Not sure what you are using it for...

Hi

Just wondering what Jeep You had before. I have a 2013 unlimited Rubicon and it is very nice on the road. The older jeeps are a another story

 

[Omar Brannstrom]

Hi

I understand that the LC 100 have a bigger rear cargo space than a Unlimited Jeep Wrangler

Just wondering if there are a space under the backseat for storage in the lc100. I had a 2 door 2012 Wrangler before and did not have a space under the backseat but my 2013 Rubicon unlimited has some rather big space under the backseat and that is hidden.

Under my backseat I have small chairs and a table and sleeping bags, madrasses etc . I also have some stuff under my front seats.


Whats my point It might be that the Jeep Wrangler unlimited rear cargo space + underseat cargo space will be closer the LC 100 rear cargospace if LC 100 have no underseat cargospace?

Looks like there is no space for storage under the rear seats in a LC 100??

Bestop makes bags that can be fitted under the front seats or the back seats, can probably fit 5 or 6 of them? have not tried.

 

[wADVr]

The devil you know is better than the devil you don't.

Sounds like your 11mpg jumped to 17 when you needed it. The JKU is cool but honestly I like driving my 'old' XJ as much as anything. Runs and drives like a top and fits like a glove. It needs maintenance but I know everything about it. Not trying to make this an XJ vs etc post but pointing out the value of your current equipment vs the unknown new shinny ___. Plus payments suck. I'd much rather pay for mods than principal and interest.

 

[Red Zebra]

Linky for those Bestop bags? I worked my Google-**** to no avail. Nada for Amazon too. =)

 

[Omar Brannstrom]

Hi

Bestop 54131-35 RoughRider Black Diamond Under Seat Organizer

Found it here

http://www.amazon.com/Bestop-54131-...6&sr=8-1&keywords=bestop+Under+Seat+Organizer

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bestop-5413...Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e870e3e9d&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bestop-5413...Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a36d3eac4&vxp=mtr

http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts/bestop_under_seat_storage/BESUN47084/bestopd345413135-.aspx

 

[shays4me]

I just stumbled on this thread today, and although it is old I thought I'd add my two cents. First of all, nice land cruiser! I really like it and I could easily be talked into one of those if a low miles, affordably priced truck were to come my way. I briefly looked around today and it looks like finding one that is in decent shape and under 150k miles is like finding a leprechauns gold! Another problem that I run into is that I don't know anything about them. I don't speak Toyota. I try to lurk over in the land cruiser area occasionally, but it hurts my brain. You guys all speak Greek to me! As far as the JKU goes, I really like mine and I feel it is the last true off roader. Toyota has priced themselves out of the common mans market with the 200 series and the FJ cruiser was just a big disappointment IMO. I would have loved to see a true FJ cruiser come back but the way it sits now, A Jeep JK is the only show in town for a new trail capable machine with solid axles and a removeable roof. The only warning I'll give about the JK is that it's a money pit. There is a ton of aftermarket support, but all of a sudden they want 1-2k for a bumper! It's a pretty capable out of the box 4x4 in the Rubicon trim, but there's a lot of aftermarket temptations and pretty soon you'll have a lengthy wish list going.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Eh, the interest rates are lower than inflation. We're talking like $1000 more over the life of the loan.

I've looked at 200s and like them. But you're talking atleast $35,000 for one with 90k miles and will need $10,000 in mods to match my current 100. So kind of out of the budget. Plus it's bigger. I don't need bigger at this point. 200, is my once we have kids plan.

There is definitely less cargo room in a JKU. The rear cargo area looks to be about half as wide as the 100. With my drawers, there is a ton of space in the 100. That's my biggest concern with the JKU. I think removing the 40% seat and putting my fridge there, and putting ARB drawers in the cargo area (not building my own drawers again, way too much work) would probably be adequate. I'd hope I could carry less tools and spares with a new truck than an old truck. But who knows.

My typical usage is that I daily drive it work 10mi each way on the highway or 7 miles a day on surface streets. Usually just me and my dog. I have to street park every day because anything over 6ft won't fit in our subterranean garage. I take it on 2 or 3 1500mile or longer "overland" trips a year. And maybe do an overnight wheeling/camping trip once a month. I like running everything from 60mph dirt roads to super remote destinations to 1mph rock crawling trails like Poison Spider. Although with a truck as big as the 100, more technical trails seem like you're asking for damage. Other than tapping the sliders and sliding off teh rear bumper, I haven't suffered any actual trail damage on the 100.

Since it's 70 degrees year round here, I think I'd enjoy running a Jeep naked, but who knows until you have one.

My mileage jumped from 11 highway to 17 because I took the roof rack off and awning off and switched to carrying all the out-of-the-truck stuff on the rear bumper.

I was thinking about the Jeep a lot today because I have some repairs from cruise moab and a big 180,000 mile service coming up. When I told my wife about the 180k timing belt change, she was pretty pissed that we'd have to spend $1500 or a whole weekend wrenching on the truck.

Also, the last two trips made it very clear that a front locker in a 100 is not a nice to have but a necessity. You never know when you'll grenade the oem front diff. The 33.5" tires and 6000+ lbs make regearing make sense. But that's $3000 in gearing/lockers, $1500 in maintenance, etc. It seems never ending.

The other thing I was thinking is that the 100 is a tank. Which is good sometimes but bad if you're at fault for an accident. And if I'm not at fault, I'm totally upside down in this truck. The mods are worth more than the truck is.

I definitely have had a love hate relationship with the 100 series. In retrospect, $12,000 worth of modifications doesn't make them much more capable than they are stock. Just more durable/protected and well organized for expeditions.

The lack of power and braking, and abundance of size and weight get old during daily driving. The JKUs I've driven seem comfortable enough. Like an 80-Series with more power and tighter steering.

We're at a place where $300 a month isn't a big deal. But spending 3 sundays a month wrenching is a big deal. I probably spend more than $300 a month maintaining the 100. So I don't know.

There definitely is something to say for knowing every nut and bolt on your truck. But if the transmission fails now, (2000s are known to have a higher failure rate) my wife would probably just rather kill me than spend another $3000 on the 100.

Thought I should add some pics of the truck in question:

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

On the other hand, the 100 is still mostly rattle free after 180,000 miles and a good deal of wheeling. But I wouldn't plan to keep a Jeep that long.

My plan for the hypothetical Jeep is to match the capability of the 100 and try to add some overland livability to it. But to keep it as light as possible since there isn't as much payload to work with. Based on wheeling with a stock Rubicon recently, the rubicon needs help with cargo, breakover angle, and ground clearance compared to the 100.

I'd get a Granite colored Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon with a hardtop, side airbags, seat heaters, clothe seats with aftermarket seat covers for the dog.

• AEV 2.0 or 2.5 lift to possibly fit 35s in the future and handle the added weight in the rear.
• Maybe 33 or 34" tires like 285/75/17s to get back to the sidewall height I have now.
• WARN winchplate on a stock front bumper to fit another VR10000 and a light bar in the interest of weight.
• AEV rear bumper with the fuel caddy to retain aux gas and water capacity and give somewhere to store the shovel, ax and hi-lift as well as provide some recovery and jacking points.
• Keep the OEM sliders, they seem burly enough to save the rocker panel until proven otherwise. And to keep weight down and clearance up.
• Remove the subwoofer and add ARB drawers to maintain some sort of cargo room. Maybe move the fridge to the 40% seat. I'd miss being able to sleep in the truck.
• AEV Front recovery brackets
• I'd really miss the tailgate, so adding a trail table would be a must.
• I saw you can pick up soft tops for like $300 on Craigslist. Maybe worth a look.

I'd also add my 2m HAM radio, fridge, and T-Maxx dual diehard plat batteries.

I definitely wouldn't get much attention at offroad expos with that build. But I could knock it out pretty quickly. And might be able to wait awhile on the larger tires. Although I'd like to get rid of the MTs and get some ATs for the terrain around here and better road manners.

OEM front bumper with winch etc. Seems like a nice light simple solution. JKS don't have the crappy stock approach angle Land Cruisers do. And I've second guessed having a bombproof front bumper. In an accident, I'd rather total the bumper and not total the entire truck (bent frame).

 

[shays4me]

On the other hand, the 100 is still mostly rattle free after 180,000 miles and a good deal of wheeling. But I wouldn't plan to keep a Jeep that long.

My plan for the hypothetical Jeep is to match the capability of the 100 and try to add some overland livability to a Jeep. But to keep it as light as possible since there isn't as much payload to work with.

I'd get a Granite colored Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon with a hardtop, side airbags, seat heaters, clothe seats with aftermarket seat covers for the dog.

• AEV 2.0 or 2.5 lift to possibly fit 35s in the future and handle the added weight in the rear.
• Maybe 33 or 34" tires like 285/75/17s to get back to the sidewall height I have now.
• WARN winchplate on a stock front bumper to fit another VR10000 and a light bar in the interest of weight.
• AEV rear bumper with the fuel caddy to retain aux gas and water capacity and give somewhere to store the shovel, ax and hi-lift as well as provide some recovery and jacking points.
• Keep the OEM sliders, they seem burly enough to save the rocker panel until proven otherwise. And to keep weight down and clearance up.
• Remove the subwoofer and add ARB drawers to maintain some sort of cargo room. Maybe move the fridge to the 40% seat. I'd miss being able to sleep in the truck.
• I'd really miss the tailgate, so adding a trail table would be a must.
• I saw you can pick up soft tops for like $300 on Craigslist. Maybe worth a look.

That list is basically where I'm at, though I may just do some OME coils first and try them versus the uber expensive AEV lift. I do have AEV's rear tire carrier and bumper and have found it to be worth every penny. It's strong, light weight and has plenty of great features for overlanding. I plan to add a stainless tailgate table as soon as funds allow as well as a Warn Elite series bumper with bull bar. The Warn Bumper is actually lighter than the AEV once the winch plate is added on, not as pretty though, but half the price. I have a Warn winch plate and M8000 on the front right now. I got them for a steal used and plan to swap the cable out for light weight winch rope. I just have to keep reminding myself that many times less is more and keep it light.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

That list is basically where I'm at, though I may just do some OME coils first and try them versus the uber expensive AEV lift. I do have AEV's rear tire carrier and bumper and have found it to be worth every penny. It's strong, light weight and has plenty of great features for overlanding. ... keep reminding myself that many times less is more and keep it light.

Nice, yeah that is basically my plan but in a different color. Ha.

I'm not super impressed with OME's products. My rear shocks corroded quickly, the bushings squeak, and the ride is pretty harsh unless you're really loaded down. Fully loaded up going fast across washboards seems to be what it's valved for. AEV's claims of OEM suspension geometry is pretty tempting. And I'm used to overpaying. Nothing comes cheap on Land Cruisers.

 

[shays4me]

My wife loves the granite color, she has told me I need to trade mine in on one. Granite would be my choice this year, but I'm glad I bought the commando green. Oh, and fwiw, the AEV and ARB bumpers both have the crush cans as well if that's your issue with a bull bar.

 

[ANDYROO]

AEV 2.5" Dualsport lift
AEV Front and Rear bumpers
AEV Snorkel
Warn 9.5ct Winch

5000 miles on it and loving the Rubi. Extremely capable off road…..worth every penny IMHO.

 

[kojackJKU]

I have a 2011 with 130k on the clock. I wheel it ALOT. I am running the teraflex leveling kit and Monroe reflex monotube shocks. My jeep rides great, handles off road great and gives me a permasmile every time I drive it. I have 33"/285s on it, no need for more really. I am modding the bumper with some vdp high clearance end caps and an internally mounted winch. for the load capacity in the back im running a set of air lift air bags. just add the 19/60 spring set from mopar and the airbags and you will be happy. The ride of the JKU is great in this setup. I drive a lot on the roads and highways and I hate getting into other rigs. mine is soooo comfortable.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Yeah. I've run airbags in my 100. Not a fan. I've never completed a trail without one of them ripping the airline out on articulation. Most of my rear load is constant with the drawers and recovery gear staying in the truck. So I've opted to just running stiffer rear springs.

My issue isn't with bullbars. But that bumper on my 100 is all 3/16 and 3/8" boxed steel. It's much stronger than the 1/8" steel frame. I'd guess that in an accident, the bumper would stay intact and the frame would absorb all the impact. One of my buddies bent the rear of his 100's frame towing (drifting in sand) a trailer with his rear slee bumper.

I guess it comes down to being willing to give away all the work, time and money I've put into the 100. And being okay with a car payment.