Looking for a new Expedition vehicle and can't decide, Help :)

[yossarian19]

From the sound of it, you want a vehicle that's going to be reliable first and foremost. You don't need to worry much about after market support because you don't need a lift if you don't go out looking for rocks to climb over. I'd look at a crew cab truck with a shell on the back - think Tacoma, Colorado or Frontier. I'd avoid the Ranger, especially with the 4.0 V6, on reliability issues.
I don't know if you've driven an FJ, but you can't see squat out of them. Not enough window - definitely a case of style overriding function. I'd drop that one, maybe look at a 4runner (same chassis, better eyelines) and I'd drop the Lexus / Land Cruiser twins on fuel economy and expense of maintenance.
Toyotas are good trucks but hold their value, in my view, beyond what they are actually worth relative to other vehicles.
Colorado quad cab & 4wd with a shell, 4Runner, Xterra (the supercharged is nice to drive), etc.
Or get an FJ60 and swap in a Chevy 5.3 / 4L60E, if you want something that takes a lot of work to get going but rocks your socks afterwards.

 

[Lyric]

From the sound of it, you want a vehicle that's going to be reliable first and foremost. You don't need to worry much about after market support because you don't need a lift if you don't go out looking for rocks to climb over. I'd look at a crew cab truck with a shell on the back - think Tacoma, Colorado or Frontier. I'd avoid the Ranger, especially with the 4.0 V6, on reliability issues.
I don't know if you've driven an FJ, but you can't see squat out of them. Not enough window - definitely a case of style overriding function. I'd drop that one, maybe look at a 4runner (same chassis, better eyelines) and I'd drop the Lexus / Land Cruiser twins on fuel economy and expense of maintenance.
Toyotas are good trucks but hold their value, in my view, beyond what they are actually worth relative to other vehicles.
Colorado quad cab & 4wd with a shell, 4Runner, Xterra (the supercharged is nice to drive), etc.
Or get an FJ60 and swap in a Chevy 5.3 / 4L60E, if you want something that takes a lot of work to get going but rocks your socks afterwards.

Yeah don't get me wrong but vans just are not my thing. lol but thanks

On getting an FJ I would plan on doing a slight lift of 2" or 2.5". I do go off road from time to time but not any kind of rock crawling. Most people would be pretty shocked with the area I live in, most people think its pretty flat but we do have nice hills and plenty of places to off road. Some places are serious off road and you would for sure need a rock crawler. Rock crawling is not my thing but getting into places that a typical vehicle will not is my thing. Slight to moderate off road driving and going off the grid a little.

The visibility is not the best on the FJ but honestly it's nothing horrible. Yes, I have driven a couple of them but if you count having two dogs and sometimes other passengers at the same time, well no vehicle has great visibility out the back. lol. Because in my current 4Runner with my two dogs, plus including or not including passengers I can't see squat out the back. Forget you have a rear window. lol

 

[SoCalMonty]

Glad to see you made a decision! A friend of mine had an FJC and I must admit, it's not a bad truck at all!

 

[codename607]

Can't go wrong with an FJC. Although, I love mine I do wish it had more cargo area. But that just gives me a reason to get an off road trailer.

I hope the mod bug doesn't bite you because FJ's have a lot of add ons.

Here is a recent pic of mine during a camping trip:

 

[Lyric]

Can't go wrong with an FJC. Although, I love mine I do wish it had more cargo area. But that just gives me a reason to get an off road trailer.

I hope the mod bug doesn't bite you because FJ's have a lot of add ons.

Here is a recent pic of mine during a camping trip:
View attachment 181990

Sweet FJC. Love the blacked out look. What did you use to black the top of the FJC and rest of the parts? Or did it come like, like a Trail Teams or so.ething?

 

[codename607]

Sweet FJC. Love the blacked out look. What did you use to black the top of the FJC and rest of the parts? Or did it come like, like a Trail Teams or so.ething?

Thanks! My top was painted by a shop and the rest is the black out kit that you can purchase. The kit is kind of pricy so a lot of people just paint all the silver parts to include the roof with plasti dip or even a rattle can bed liner. Check out some of the builds over on the fjcruiser forums, they have some great looking FJs on there.

Link for the kit: http://www.purefjcruiser.com/black-...5.html?zenid=c989014b99df45c3edcaf0474a1dc100

 

[Lyric]

Thanks! My top was painted by a shop and the rest is the black out kit that you can purchase. The kit is kind of pricy so a lot of people just paint all the silver parts to include the roof with plasti dip or even a rattle can bed liner. Check out some of the builds over on the fjcruiser forums, they have some great looking FJs on there.

Link for the kit: http://www.purefjcruiser.com/black-...5.html?zenid=c989014b99df45c3edcaf0474a1dc100

Wow there is more aftermarket parts than what I thought. Lol. I always thought the Wrangler was the big aftermarket leader but the FJC seems to be holding its fair share.

Yeah that black out kit is pretty costly. I would probably sand the silver parta down and give them a really nice black super durable paint job.

I like aome of the aftermarket bumpers and will probably buy one but damn some are super expensive. Some I wouldn't even consider to be that expensive. lol. I plan to make a sweet ride but want to give it my own touch.

 

[SoCalMonty]

Can't go wrong with an FJC. Although, I love mine I do wish it had more cargo area.

That was one of the Acheille's Heels of the Jeep XJ for me...just too darn small for anything but day trips or solo (+ dog) weekend trips.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Personally I would be wary about getting an 07 FJC. 07 was the first year, and my practice has always been to never buy the first year iteration of any vehicle.

There are inevitably problems or "issues" that come up with any new model and the people who buy the 1st year vehicles get to be the "guinea pigs."

 

[RangeBrover]

I'm no FJ Cruiser expert but weren't the early model years notorious for cracks in the wheel wells.

 

[Hilldweller]

I'm no FJ Cruiser expert but weren't the early model years notorious for cracks in the wheel wells.

That's the link I posted for him.

 

[Lyric]

Personally I would be wary about getting an 07 FJC. 07 was the first year, and my practice has always been to never buy the first year iteration of any vehicle.

There are inevitably problems or "issues" that come up with any new model and the people who buy the 1st year vehicles get to be the "guinea pigs."

Well I wouldn't be worried about the Motor or Transmission as these are both barrowed by the 4th Gen 4Runner which is a very reliable setup. The frame and everything was barrowed from the Prado which a very reliable vehicle. The only thing different is the body itself. So otherwise its reliable.

 

[Lyric]

Yes I have heard of issues such as this and plan to do a little research. I am wondering what the cost might be to fix the wheel wells if this were to ever occur. Although I do know a few people with 2007 models and no issues with the wheel wells.

 

[Lyric]

Some of you are starting to worry me over the wheel well issue, lol.

 

[Hilldweller]

Some of you are starting to worry me over the wheel well issue, lol.

They were sorta breaking in half.