rubicon to landcruiser

[4Rescue]

If you' really sold on a Jeep, why not get an LJ??? All the benefits of the TJ with more room inside.

That said, the FZJ80 while maybe a bit gas hungry is hard ot beat anywhere on the planet, except with another Toyota... They really are that great a rig. I personaly will not go back to a Jeep after owning and driving my Toyota.

Cheers

DAve

 

[Sawyer]

I drive a 100 series and personally would never go with anything else. It is just so darn comfortable. It makes a perfect expedition rig. But, since you do like to crawl... the 80 would be a better choice for you. If I were wanting to run anything harder than a 6 rated trail I would choose an 80. But besides some custom pin striping my 100 with a 2.5" lift has been perfect on anything up to a 6. Heck, any cruiser would make a great expedition rig. Spend more time on ih8mud in the different sections and know what you will need to deal with for which ever route you go (60,80,100, etc). Oh and there were no 105's imported to the US....

 

[worry_no_more]

hmm yeah i didnt realize the 105s weren't imported, i do want a solid axel up front so that eliminates the 100 even though i like their looks a bit more...but i think i'm pretty set on an 80 series from my research anyways.

i just don't think i can tolerate the tj over a long distance, i love the jeep but its just not suitable for what i want to do. i think i'll be much happier driving the 80 a few thousand miles, now i just need to find a clean one.

are there any other good LC forums? i've been lurking ih8mud for awhile now. thanks for all the input guys

 

[rionorte]

Agree x100

If you had this vehicle since new or the upkeep of it has been great, you don't have to worry about mechanical unknowns which you have to address when buying used. Keeping everything up to par for the 80 can be expensive especially when you let others do it for you.

A link to someone who journeyed with a used 80 around the world:

http://transworldexpedition.com/

Well you figured if you asked in the Jeep section they would say "jeep", now you asked in the Cruiser section and you got "cruiser". I drink the Toyota koolaid and think they are great rigs, but I think you should drive what you have. You know your vehicle, it has been reliable to you, it is a good platform with selectable lockers. I would do just what you said and go OME and 31's. You should gain some mileage back with the 31's, lowering, and hard top. There are a lot of toys out there, but go KISS(keep it simple stupid) and focus on your trip. By the time you buy a Cruiser and outfit it then you would be spending a lot of time and money that could be spent somewhere else. I know you could sell your vehicle and get a cruiser for less but the aftermarket on you rig and ability to get used parts is as good as any.

If you want to carry a fridge, RTT(or autohome for quieter ride and better fuel economy), and all your stuff you should still be fine in the Jeep.

I cant say enough good things about every toyota Ive had and driven, but there are other great options, like your jeep. :elkgrin:

 

[Jim K in PA]

By way of full disclosure, I own a 2005 Jeep LJ Rubicon. However, I peruse the Cruiser and Landy sections as much or more than the Jeep section here. All three options can and are used for long, medium and short trips with all levels of competence.

One thing I did not see mentioned is how many people will be traveling in your TJ, should you choose to stay with the Jeep? IMO, 1 or 2 people will be fine in a TJ, but better in an LJ. More than that and I think logistics will be more difficult.

Get the TJ off the steroids. Did you buy it lifted? 3" is too much lift for a short arm. The front lowers must be pointing down at a severe degree with a 4" lift. Look at some progressive coil springs from AEV as well as some good quality shocks from Bilstein, and you will see a huge difference in ride quality. These changes will not hurt the value of the truck, and then you can decide if the TJ is still not something you want.

The small form factor of the Jeep is one of its biggest advantages in tight trails (as well as crowded cities and ferries). However, the limited interior room is the tradeoff.

Just remember, the journey is far more important than the chariot.

 

[2000UZJ]

hmm yeah i didnt realize the 105s weren't imported, i do want a solid axel up front so that eliminates the 100 even though i like their looks a bit more...but i think i'm pretty set on an 80 series from my research anyways.

i just don't think i can tolerate the tj over a long distance, i love the jeep but its just not suitable for what i want to do. i think i'll be much happier driving the 80 a few thousand miles, now i just need to find a clean one.

are there any other good LC forums? i've been lurking ih8mud for awhile now. thanks for all the input guys

I have taken my 100 where 80's have gone. It takes some patience and careful line planning but it can be done. You will be on 3 wheels more, and will have to take into effect that the 100 is larger on the trail than the 80. There are less parts for the 100 (now, but the aftermarket industry is growing fast) as well. There are drawbacks to each model, some say the 80 has more than the 100 and vise versa. For me its the 100, I wheel it hard, I have no mercy for it, it's a trail rig now, but also my DD (hard to make the body look good for the mall crowd) If you want a rig that can go 100% both ways (road queen or full time trail rig) go with the 80, it's a platform that can handle either setup with great success. The 100 is faster, more comfortable, larger inside, quieter on the highway, smoother offroad, stock vs stock just as capable as a 80 (I have seen it... no need to argue). mine is set up for expo/crawling style. I have yet to see a 80 walk me on the trails.

 

[rusty_tlc]

I have taken my 100 where 80's have gone. It takes some patience and careful line planning but it can be done. You will be on 3 wheels more, and will have to take into effect that the 100 is larger on the trail than the 80. There are less parts for the 100 (now, but the aftermarket industry is growing fast) as well. There are drawbacks to each model, some say the 80 has more than the 100 and vise versa. For me its the 100, I wheel it hard, I have no mercy for it, it's a trail rig now, but also my DD (hard to make the body look good for the mall crowd) If you want a rig that can go 100% both ways (road queen or full time trail rig) go with the 80, it's a platform that can handle either setup with great success. The 100 is faster, more comfortable, larger inside, quieter on the highway, smoother offroad, stock vs stock just as capable as a 80 (I have seen it... no need to argue). mine is set up for expo/crawling style. I have yet to see a 80 walk me on the trails.

For the most part I agree however, I have seen almost stock 80's do stuff I could never do with my similarly modified 100. That said the average guys isn't going to take an 80 or 100 over the Rubicon.

The 100 blows the doors off any other Cruisers I have ever driven on the highway. Both with power and comfort.

 

[luk4mud]

Former TJ Owner

I faced the same issues a couple of years ago. I sold my well built TJ with 50k miles for a 1997 FJ80 with 115k miles. I do miss my TJ at times, but I can take the TLC just about anywhere I took the TJ. And the difference in the highway is much more enjoyable. I take many more long range trips now that used to pass on. It does take some time to get used to the 80 in the rocks with the long wheelbase though.

 

[greentruck]

The problem with a Grand Cherokee is that a 80 series Land Cruiser will hold twice as much gear inside.

And it's a Jeep.

MPG on our 80? 15 mpg on the highway, 10 mpg around town - and don't even ask about the past couple of months when it's been cold driving around town.

 

[worry_no_more]

i'll most likely have 3 people with me on the trip(s). i've already decided to sell the tj, if i can hardly tolerate it as a dd around town i know i won't be able to across the country. when i bought it i said heck with creature comforts who needs those but after awhile it gets to you.

its pretty much come down to an 80 series cruiser or a 2003 or 04 grand cherokee with the v8. i know the GC is smaller inside than an 80, but its also a lot bigger than a tj and there are pros and cons to both. my main concern with the 80 is finding one clean enough with low enough mileage to my satisfaction...and im pretty anal. with the grand cherokee im worried about how capable it is offroad compared to the 80 or my rubicon, i've never seen one on the trails and i'd need to at least put in a rear locker. has anyone seen or driven a GC offroad with minimal lift and lockers? how does it compare to an 80? i've been in the same group as an 80 and it climbed over everything my rubicon did just as well.

 

[worry_no_more]

i'm not trying to turn this into a this vs that thread, i'm just looking for honest opinions from people who have first hand experience

 

[ddog45]

I sold my rokmen short armed 2005 lj last fall and bought a 99 landcruiser, I loved the jeep for a weekend wheeler now I want to do longer trips and with a slee lift and 33 inch tires it will take me further away from home faster and I really like the sound of that.
Is that what you are looking for?

 

[4Rescue]

i'll most likely have 3 people with me on the trip(s). i've already decided to sell the tj, if i can hardly tolerate it as a dd around town i know i won't be able to across the country. when i bought it i said heck with creature comforts who needs those but after awhile it gets to you.

its pretty much come down to an 80 series cruiser or a 2003 or 04 grand cherokee with the v8. i know the GC is smaller inside than an 80, but its also a lot bigger than a tj and there are pros and cons to both. my main concern with the 80 is finding one clean enough with low enough mileage to my satisfaction...and im pretty anal. with the grand cherokee im worried about how capable it is offroad compared to the 80 or my rubicon, i've never seen one on the trails and i'd need to at least put in a rear locker. has anyone seen or driven a GC offroad with minimal lift and lockers? how does it compare to an 80? i've been in the same group as an 80 and it climbed over everything my rubicon did just as well.

If it were between a GC and an 80-series, TO ME, the answer is SImple... Toyota every time. It'll last longer, and hold it's value better. YES, the GC will have better power delivery and probably milage from it's V8, but the Toyota 80-series Cruiser really is probably THE best Expo platform ever offered in N.America next would be the G-wagen, bu that's not on your list so...

Cheers

DAve

 

[MattScott]

Perhaps you should really rethink your bias against the 100 series.

 

[CaliMobber]

Perhaps you should really rethink your bias against the 100 series.

x2 if you have the money a 100 will get you the lower mileage and nicer inside u are looking for.

main reason im looking for an 80 is price. 100 are just newer and cost more but its way more capable than the g Cherokee imo