Land Cruiser 60 Series vs Newer Tacoma

[DaveInDenver]

DaveInDenver-I agree with most of what you say except for the expense part. A nice FJ60/62/80 can be had for pocket change. Build ups are what you make them, but a $2500 FJ62 can be built into a Rubicon capable off-roader for another $5000. Easy. To make a Tacoma capable of the Rubicon, takes not only the $30k truck, but also a $10K build.

To me $10K is a lot of money, so it's a relative scale I suppose. I paid $5,000 for my truck originally and I have gotten my money's worth.

From what I've seen $2,500 is not going to be a hop in and go rig. Around here you should be expecting to pay maybe around twice that for any decent vintage 4x4 Toyota, be a FJ40/60/62/80 or 79-95 Pickup or 4Runner that you could just baseline the fluids and start driving straight away without needing work. No argument that a 2nd gen Tacoma is a step up in price, but they can be had with around 100,000 miles & TRD for $15,000 and a bit more, particularly if you get an Access Cab. The 4 door trucks command silly premiums IMHO. A first gen Double Cab is $15,000 if it's nice, which is silly when you can get a 4th gen 4Runner for that kind of money and get a 4.0L to boot.

To me the early 2nd gen Tacos seem to me to be the most effective way, zero to do upfront and are very capable and supremely comfortable. Sliders and a lift and you could in theory get it through the Rubicon for the same money as it would take to get an unmolested FJ62, fix it up to reliable standards and build it with similar armor, suspension and lockers. There is no advantage to a brand new truck other than the zero miles feeling and I don't know if that's the question the OP was asking.

To me, it makes no sense to off road a new/expensive truck. Things happen, dents happen, major breakage happens.

Wouldn't bother me, these things are just things, meant to be used. Why spend all the money for a pavement queen? If you're afraid to drive it off road then spend less on something used and use the savings for gasoline. I suspect that is something we totally agree on, though. I've found that my little truck even though it breaks more when pushed spends less downtime than my Cruiser ever did because it's easier to fix. It's only recently that Toyota is discontinuing parts for it, which is a bummer.

 

[Clutch]

DaveInDenver-I agree with most of what you say except for the expense part. A nice FJ60/62/80 can be had for pocket change. Build ups are what you make them, but a $2500 FJ62 can be built into a Rubicon capable off-roader for another $5000. Easy.
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I dunno the $2500 60 dyas seem to be over :ylsmoke:

I disagree. You would not take a desert racer out into Death Valley or Utah or anywhere else real people use real 4 wheel drives to see the country. Desert racers are highly specialized race trucks built to do one thing-go fast over desert terrain. They are great for racing but for normal use they are basically useless. Kind of like daily driving a F1 car. Real off roading as practiced here is usually about going slow and seeing what's out there, taking pictures, and enjoying the moment. Normal people don't need or want to go 75mph over the desert and then miss the awesome stuff that's actually there.
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You can drive a desert racer slow you know. We stop and smell the flowers too.

I have story somewhere of a couple of desert racers driving off-road from AZ to the Colorado highcountry, and they did very well mind you. (Or was it SoCal to CO...I can't remember)


Anyways...my original point was the Silverado isn't going to be that much different off-road than a typical 2nd gen. Tacoma...most guys toss on a 2.5-3" lift suspension on the Taco's, there heaps and heaps of those are there not? The same can be done with the Chevy...and the Chevy can haul more gear than the Tacoma....which is that what every overland needs and does...see how much crap they can get into the backcountry.


I do believe most people get caught up in the romanticism of how a vehicle's sheet metal is stamped, when what we already have will do a mighty fine job.

So if you 4-wheel a Chevy, you'll hang out with Chevy guys. If you like Cruisers, you'll hang out with the Cruiser guys.
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That is odd, because all my wheelin' buddies drive something different. Unless you belong to a specific vehicle owners club...we all run what we brung.

I clearly don't know my Chevy pick ups but the ones pictured look like desert racers, not real offroaders. I have to say I have never seen a modern Chevy off road. Not to say they arn't good, but they are not common. s.

Desert racing is certainly real off-roading. I would even venture to say the majority of overlanders will never see the abuse or difficulty that a typical desert race throws out.

There is nothing in the rulebook that it says you can't meld both disciplines together. Check this Chevy out in this link here!

Even Rikki Rockett has the Overland Bug...must not be a real off-roader since he has a Raptor, eh? (lighthearted sarcasm )

Rikki sums it up well, from the article: "Rikki: I'll tow a Polaris Razor when I go camping with my son. That way we can both experience it. If I take a motorcycle, I can't take him with me. If I'm on my own, I'll take the Triumph Tiger 800. That's an adventure bike.

There are loads of options with the truck camping lifestyle. I can haul this or trailer that. I can unload the camper and go 120 miles per hour across the desert, if I want to. That's what I love about a truck camper rig."

Need to venture out of the Toyota section and go to the domestic...plenty of guys out there exploring in Chevys, Fords...and hell, even Dodges! Hard to believe I know!

 

[p nut]

Yeah, I've been on plenty of what I thought were tough trails and only accessible by mini trucks or the ATV's we were on, but saw several full size crew cab F250's camped out far into the trail. Most were bling-lifts, chromed out wheels and brush-guards, but guess they get the job done. What I learned: Common misconception that only OME-lifted, ARB bumpered, snorkeled, with a "T" on the grill can have fun out in the woods. Plenty of domestic trucks out there exploring.

That said, seeing a 60 out on the trails is a thing of beauty.

 

[77cruiser77]

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/ottawa/1988-toyota-land-cruiser-vx-suv/594556237

This is an unheard of price. I don't think it would last long. 220,000 km, 12HT diesel, 5 speed, PTO winch, Locking diff front and rear

If you want a 60 then I'd get this

 

[RMP&O]

I can't say I agree with many of the arguments. A few points here or there I do agree with but not most.

I went from a decked out to the hilt Taco to a pretty sweet 60. The 60 was better for me overall. Go a lot farther than the Taco too but the 60 did have 2x ARB's, 35's, 4" of nice lift, ect ect. And the Taco had 2.5" lift, 33's and a rear locker.

The 60 certainly isn't for everyone and the same for the Taco. Hard to argue against the fact though (IMHO of course) that the 60 will go much farther much cheaper. You can buy a whole lift kit for the 60 on what it costs to only lift the front on the Taco.

I think it all comes down to personal preference.

Cheers

 

[Clutch]

Yeah, I've been on plenty of what I thought were tough trails and only accessible by mini trucks or the ATV's we were on, but saw several full size crew cab F250's camped out far into the trail. Most were bling-lifts, chromed out wheels and brush-guards, but guess they get the job done. What I learned: Common misconception that only OME-lifted, ARB bumpered, snorkeled, with a "T" on the grill can have fun out in the woods. Plenty of domestic trucks out there exploring.

...and then you see a guy with a VW Vanagon in even further. What is it with the domestics and their bling? There is a late model F250 RCLB running around here on 39 or 40's, camper shell, swing out sparetire, winch bumpers, etc...body all beat to hell...it is totally b!tchin'.

No doubt 60's are definitely cool...they stamped the sheet metal right on that one. They can have the rest of it though.

Now if you put it on an 80's chassis with V8 or diesel swap, got a winner there. Be too nice to hammer on, kinda think you should wheel something you don't care about smashing.

I
I went from a decked out to the hilt Taco to a pretty sweet 60. The 60 was better for me overall. Go a lot farther than the Taco too but the 60 did have 2x ARB's, 35's, 4" of nice lift, ect ect. And the Taco had 2.5" lift, 33's and a rear locker.

Doesn't that 60 have a V8 swapped in?

I don't know if I would say your Taco was built to the hilt though...pretty standard overland upgrades, it could of been taken further. Like long travel or SASed...V8 swap, etc...

 

[Arktikos]

This makes me lean a little more towards a 60. One of my initial concerns was that it would take a lot of work and modification to make it do what I want it to. And I think I would go for a diesel. Most of my adventures are 90% highway driving. Ya, there may be some fun off-roading involved too but usually it's a few hundred miles or so to get to the fun off-roading part. Plus I just have a thing for diesel motors, and a diesel LC is so rare in the US.

Sounds like you want a 3B or 2H 60 series with a 5 speed. Take your time to find one that's not too rusty. BTW, they're even slower than the US 2F/3FE engines.
Disagree with the claim that you'll always be tinkering with a 60. Just drive it, and don't mess with it too much.

 

[Clutch]

Disagree with the claim that you'll always be tinkering with a 60. Just drive it, and don't mess with it too much.

Tinkering goes for all older vehicles not just 60 series...you'll be fussing it. My Tacoma is getting old enough and up there in miles (around 282K now)...that I have to fuss with it, recently put $4000 in repairs in the ol' girl (I tend to go above and beyond with repairs though, replace items that should be replace even if they don't need it)...parts simply wear out no matter the model or manufacture.

Believe there is this false premise out there, that if you buy a Toyota Landcruiser (or Toyota whatever for that matter) they are immune to break downs.

 

[RMP&O]

Doesn't that 60 have a V8 swapped in?

I don't know if I would say your Taco was built to the hilt though...pretty standard overland upgrades, it could of been taken further. Like long travel or SASed...V8 swap, etc...

Yup the 60 had a sweet v8 but the Taco had close to 100hp over stock. So they were very comparable in terms of power. Really the only thing that could have been done to my Taco was SaS it and some belly armor. Other than that it was built to the hilt. Built to the hilt as far as overlanding, yup. Not built to the hilt for rock crawling but isn't rock crawling kind of frowned upon on this forum? On the Taco I took a $15k truck and tossed close to $30k at it. I don't know what you consider built to the hilt but to me that qualifies.

BTW, I don't think I would ever want to try and shoehorn a v8 in a Taco. The 60/80 has a way larger engine bay making the swap much more feasible.

Whatever though. I am not really in this debate nor do I really want to be. They both have their places, the Taco and the 60. I believe the Taco is of a lesser build quality than Cruisers. But some guys maybe need a pickup and some guys like an SUV. Having had both, the Cruisers suit me much better.

Cheers

 

[RMP&O]

Believe there is this false premise out there, that if you buy a Toyota Landcruiser (or Toyota whatever for that matter) they are immune to break downs.

That is just fanboys being fanboys. Go look at the 60 or 80-sections on Mud. All kinds of problems reported daily! Some more common than others. Same goes for pickups. I believe Nissan Patrols to be of superior build quality over Cruisers but since we didn't get those here, a Cruiser is the next best thing. And hey Cruisers are in no way bad trucks but yeah, thinking they don't break down is foolish.

Cheers

 

[Clutch]

Yup the 60 had a sweet v8 but the Taco had close to 100hp over stock. So they were very comparable in terms of power. Really the only thing that could have been done to my Taco was SaS it and some belly armor. Other than that it was built to the hilt. Built to the hilt as far as overlanding, yup. Not built to the hilt for rock crawling but isn't rock crawling kind of frowned upon on this forum? On the Taco I took a $15k truck and tossed close to $30k at it. I don't know what you consider built to the hilt but to me that qualifies.

BTW, I don't think I would ever want to try and shoehorn a v8 in a Taco. The 60/80 has a way larger engine bay making the swap much more feasible.

Whatever though. I am not really in this debate nor do I really want to be. They both have their places, the Taco and the 60. I believe the Taco is of a lesser build quality than Cruisers. But some guys maybe need a pickup and some guys like an SUV. Having had both, the Cruisers suit me much better.

Cheers

For sure...your Taco was built way up there. Wouldn't take much more to be fully built...maybe a full front to rear cage, engine swap, long travel or coil sprung linked SAS.
Oh yeah, rock crawling is looked down upon on here...but Arctic Trucks aren't... go figure...apparently desert racers aren't high on the list either... they aren't real off-roaders.

The Cruisers are built a bit heavier than the Tacos no doubt...believe the marketing campaign for the first HiLuxes was Landcruiser-Lite.



Yep...all personal preference what style vehicle suits one needs. A Pick-Up seem to suit me better, we also have a SUV for back-up. If I could only have one, it would be a pick-up only...SUV interiors don't help up too well under my thumb.

 

[Arktikos]

I said you wouldn't necessarily be tinkering, not that they can't break down. My 20+ yrs experience with 80's-90's Toyotas, compared to Jeep and Scout is that they require much less work (tinkering) and they, well, haven't broken down. Brakes, starter, alternator, cooling system, steering components (much less frequently than other makes), get 'em good and run it. A lot of problems people report are the results of PO's screwing with and altering a stock truck.

 

[Clutch]

I said you wouldn't necessarily be tinkering, not that they can't break down. My 20+ yrs experience with 80's-90's Toyotas, compared to Jeep and Scout is that they require much less work (tinkering) and they, well, haven't broken down. Brakes, starter, alternator, cooling system, steering components (much less frequently than other makes), get 'em good and run it. A lot of problems people report are the results of PO's screwing with and altering a stock truck.

I have 25+ years with Toyotas (do I win?) j/k

Yep, the Toyotas of the same era vs. Jeep, Scout what have you, are built a little better.

Still, you'll be fussing a heck of a lot more than what the OP already has...pretty much just has to change the oil and put gas in the Chevy. I know my Tacoma has been very reliable...it is getting to the age where I don't trust it as much. Running out and buying a 60 I would trust it even less, you really have no idea what you're getting. Not saying that isn't a bad road to take...I totally "get" the mystique of old iron. Just know what you're getting into.

It is that whole new vs. old...tinkering vs. simply getting in and going. I like doing both myself, though it would be a 3rd hobby vehicle, not a stand alone do-it-all vehicle. Right after we sold our 3rd vehicle, a '73 Westfalia, my Tacoma went down for repairs...I thought it would take 2-3 days of work. However it was down for 6.5 weeks...all that time was mainly waiting on parts. Once I got into it, it started snowballing...well.... if I rip apart this, I might as well fix that sort of thing. Heck, I had the driveshaft rebuilt, the drive shaft shop waited 3 weeks for a one single part to come in. Why did it take so long, I don't know...

It is a good thing we have two vehicles, and motorcycles...plus I can ride my bicycle to work, if I had to. Even using Gen-U-Whine Toyota parts, you just never know how long a break down will take to fix to get back on the road again. I wouldn't trust a 60 as my stand alone vehicle, be nice hobby vehicle to tinker with though.

 

[slacker 24/7]

reading most of these posts, there is alot of great info from some really knowlegable folks, i have been in 40 series for alot of years and now own a 60 series, due to needing more room, but i also have a very long commute ( 160 RT miles a day ) so i drive a 99 honda civic at 37 mpg and 340,000 miles on it to work and back and have a 07 dodge 2500 cummins for work or towing. So my vehicle needs in the cruiser are mainly weekend adventure where i may fill it up with camping/fishing/hunting gear and /or dogs and hit the dirt or 2 lane... I wanted a rig i can work on regardless of what breaks or goes wrong, and something ultra reliable and simplistic.. the 60 fits that perfectly, but i dont think i could do near as much in the way of repairs etc, with a taco. As far as running on the hwy at 70 mph, with the 2f engine, and 4.11 gears, ( fj62 chunks) I just dont do it, its part of the appeal to me, a chance to just chill out some.. i dont even run the A/C in the summer , there is just something about open windows and an elbow hanging out the window. a few years ago i saw a guy on I-40 here in Arkansas that was in a VW bus and from Cali. he was doing about 60 mph all the windows down and his dog in the passanger seat, i had to give him a wave, he looked totally happy.. probably the same feeling i get in my cruiser.. Ive been the hard core rock crawling route as well, i guess ive grown out of that money pit of a sport, and pretty much go where my 60 with a auburn in the rear and 33's will take me which is 99.9 % of where i want to go. my original paint is faded but acceptable body is rust free, and drive train pretty darn solid, i cant think of a better vehicle for my needs than my 60

 

[Clutch]

reading most of these posts, there is alot of great info from some really knowlegable folks, i have been in 40 series for alot of years and now own a 60 series, due to needing more room, but i also have a very long commute ( 160 RT miles a day ) so i drive a 99 honda civic at 37 mpg and 340,000 miles on it to work and back and have a 07 dodge 2500 cummins for work or towing. So my vehicle needs in the cruiser are mainly weekend adventure where i may fill it up with camping/fishing/hunting gear and /or dogs and hit the dirt or 2 lane... I wanted a rig i can work on regardless of what breaks or goes wrong, and something ultra reliable and simplistic.. the 60 fits that perfectly, but i dont think i could do near as much in the way of repairs etc, with a taco. As far as running on the hwy at 70 mph, with the 2f engine, and 4.11 gears, ( fj62 chunks) I just dont do it, its part of the appeal to me, a chance to just chill out some.. i dont even run the A/C in the summer , there is just something about open windows and an elbow hanging out the window. a few years ago i saw a guy on I-40 here in Arkansas that was in a VW bus and from Cali. he was doing about 60 mph all the windows down and his dog in the passanger seat, i had to give him a wave, he looked totally happy.. probably the same feeling i get in my cruiser.. Ive been the hard core rock crawling route as well, i guess ive grown out of that money pit of a sport, and pretty much go where my 60 with a auburn in the rear and 33's will take me which is 99.9 % of where i want to go. my original paint is faded but acceptable body is rust free, and drive train pretty darn solid, i cant think of a better vehicle for my needs than my 60

Good post...I get the mystique of old iron...it might sound like I don't..but I really do, currently trying to decide whether to get a new truck or restore an older Ford. My heart is definitely with the old Ford...just have to convince the gut [feeling].

ooohh...Tacos are easy to fix...all of the repairs I have made recently (and I have a long list of those) they all have been mechanical, bearings, seals, rubber & plastic bits degrading, leaking gaskets sort of things. Plastic connectors are getting brittle, have to be super careful pulling them apart. Anything electronic was simple too...put a new alternator, plugs and wires on. Nothing too different than what is on a 60 series. No failures with the computer "yet"