rubicon to landcruiser

[sleeoffroad]

What is your take on a preventative HG replacement on a 150k or 200k 80 series?

I would only do it if you are planning to travel to really remote places or outside of the country. If you are just using the truck for general use, I would not open a perfectly good motor without any signs of head gasket issues just to do it preventative.

The HG issue is blow out of proportion. Yes, they do blow, but honestly there are tons of 80's driving around with stock hg.

 

[Rwayout]

Before we bought our 80 series , we had a 06 rubicon unlimited. I liked the jeep as long as I didn't take it on the highway. Which was all the time. Because we needed more room and wanted to get into more serious offroading and expeditioning, we bought a cruiser. I have wheeled it along side big lifted JK's , YJ, etc and gone everywhere they did on 33 all terrain.
Last year, our first big trip was Moab and death valley for a month. We did around 600 miles of trails and off Roading. You know what broke ? An exhaust cushion. That's it
We have done routine maintenance , of course, and replaced the birfields , but we wheel it hard alot, in the Rockies, in the deep snow, deep water, deep mud, etc etc and it has never failed us, broke down, complained. Last year, the alternator crapped out on a trail. we got it home on battery power, and I just rebuilt that unit.
My girlfriend drives it to work every day. She loves it so much, our next one will be a 100 .... And the 80 will be used for trail only. It's one of those things where I really loved my jeep.... Until I drove a cruiser. Never looked back. Now, I'm not one to comment on the mileage , as I have a 1hd-t diesel And get 24 mpg on pavement and around 8-10 mpg off road fully loaded.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Not to further muddy the waters but the FJ60 can be built int a passable truck for technical trails and still maintain it's on-road manners. It's not the cushy ride of the 80 or 100 but it is a simple truck with no complicated systems to fail, it has a ton of aftermarket support, and I find the interior to actually feel roomier than my 100.

The FJ60's in-line 6 is a bit anemic but not much more so than the 80 and with a SBC V8 conversion it is a very good option IMHO. BTW the SBC conversion on the 60 is much better documents and has a lot more support than for the 80.

 

[worry_no_more]

Not to further muddy the waters but the FJ60 can be built int a passable truck for technical trails and still maintain it's on-road manners. It's not the cushy ride of the 80 or 100 but it is a simple truck with no complicated systems to fail, it has a ton of aftermarket support, and I find the interior to actually feel roomier than my 100.

The FJ60's in-line 6 is a bit anemic but not much more so than the 80 and with a SBC V8 conversion it is a very good option IMHO. BTW the SBC conversion on the 60 is much better documents and has a lot more support than for the 80.

I do like fj60s, I don't have any experience with them but I just can't imagine one having better manners than my jeep.

 

[worry_no_more]

I know I was leaning towards the 80, but I'm going to look at a 100 next week. I'm in no rush though it's going to come down to the cleanest 80, 100 or Grand Cherokee I find that I feel comfortable with.

 

[MattScott]

I know I was leaning towards the 80, but I'm going to look at a 100 next week. I'm in no rush though it's going to come down to the cleanest 80, 100 or Grand Cherokee I find that I feel comfortable with.

Nevermind the Grand Cherokee, Focus on the 80 and the 100, if you´re looking for a true platform to build on, look no further.

 

[2000UZJ]

I know I was leaning towards the 80, but I'm going to look at a 100 next week. I'm in no rush though it's going to come down to the cleanest 80, 100 or Grand Cherokee I find that I feel comfortable with.

hard comparison on the street, the 100 will win in ride quality, power, comfort, size, etc. Hook up with a Landcruiser club and find a run with both, watch and take notes as both series (80-100) behave differently on the trails. The 100 likes to get a wheel in the air before a 80. ATRAC (2000+) can be a limiting factor if you are into true rock crawling (if your rock crawling in a 100, your doing it all wrong). If you are looking at a 98-99 put a arb locker in the front, a set of sliders and you can go 85% of the places a locked 80 can go (stock 80 with sliders and lockers that is).

Overall I think the 100 is a better vehicle in terms of DD, weekend wheeling, and traveling.
In my mind I know the 80 is a rig that can be everything with reasonable modifications.

 

[Ducks]

I do like fj60s, I don't have any experience with them but I just can't imagine one having better manners than my jeep.

I drove all the way to Alaska and back last summer in my 60 and didn't feel tired at all from ride quality. I think the longer wheelbase helps. Although it is still leaf springs instead of coil, the 60 can ride pretty nice. The 60 would initially be cheaper than an 80 or 100. But still the 80 is probably your best bet.

:beer: Chad