Just an observation from a 52 year old who's been into Land Cruisers for 32 years; also currently owning old Dodge military trucks and a "built" 88 F350 -
Back when I started with my '69 FJ60, in 1969, there was NOTHING around in the way of aftermarket anything. Warn 8000 winch, 32" Armstrong Trutrac 11.00-15s; that was it. But we had NES FJ40s and 55s and later on 60s, new Ford 71-77 3/4 ton "highboy" pickups, new 66-77 Ford Broncos. Everything had solid axles.
Now: we have about 5 lockers per diff to choose from, AA Rockbox, NP203 reduction boxes, Rockhopper, Mark's gears, billet transfer cases, cast iron transfer cases, all sorts of suspension lifts, H55Fs, Np420/465 kits, NV4500 kits, all sorts of engine conversions, you can buy 3B, 2H, 1HZ, 1HD-T and 1HD-(F)T diesels, Cummins 3.9BT diesels, etc. Just for Landcruisers.
But are there ANY decent 4X4s available new in the US? Maybe F250/350s, especially when they go back to Dana 60 front axles. US version Land Cruisers are pussywagons, with gas V8s, autos, 8" front diffs, soft coil springs, IFS,etc. "Building" a Ford Excursion or a UZJ100 would be a major exercise in $$$$$.
Kind of ironic.
So here I am with enough $$ to own what I want 33 years later. But the average age of all my rigs is 36 years.
Charlie

general chit-chat???:rolleyes:

--- and since when is this news?...just sayin....

For the cash they want for a new truck and then all the cash you'd have to sink into it to make it a trail rig you might as well stick with your 30 year old trucks.

I'd be hard pressed to spend what they want for a new truck on my Cruiser.
I don't think there is that much to do.

I've got a 2001 F150 Supercrew and I call it a car.
It'll never go any further then the campsite off-road.
But thats what I bought it for.

:confused:

Charles:

You are one lucky dude to own 3 diesel Land Cruisers!

Yep, there arent too many trucks rolling off the production line right now that would make great wheeling rigs without a ton of mods. Yes, a lot of 4wd's built today are pussywagons. The 40's and 55's were tough, no frills rigs that are very capable right off the showroom floor. The 60 started to get more cushy, but still one heck of a ride. The reality today is that there is obviously no money to be made by Toyota bringing into the USA the "world class" trucks that are going everywhere else in the world (you know - solid front axle, 6 lug wheels, no-frills interiors, etc.). I believe the sales numbers for an original-style Toyota Land Cruiser would be low in the USA today - the cost of getting through the Federalization rules would probably push the cost of a basic FJ40 over $30K. Yes, people already pay this and way more for a mint, stock FJ40 - but how many buyers would there really be at say $35K? Toyota (and all the other auto maunfacturers) is looking to sell a high volume of units, not "boutique" vehicles.

As for all the items now available to modify and upgrade your rig - I guess that is a symptom of how popular this sport is, and the desire to push vehicles over tougher obstacles. It seems to me that as people build tougher and more capable rigs, they are inclined to tackle more difficult obstacles. Hence the "always upgrading/modifying our rigs" phenomena.

My general philosophy is to build a rig that can withstand some heavy duty (not necessarily extreme - a la ARCA stuff) wheeling and have fun. It will probably not be a bomb proof rig, but hopefully one that will hold together without having to stop on the trail every 100 yds to fix something! And, no, it is not one that started life on the showroom floor recently costing over $40K.

So, I am one of those folks who doesnt really give a crap about what is being made today, how good it is for wheeling, etc. I can not afford to spend big bucks on something I drive through the backcountry and bash around on rocks.

Just my 2 cents - most other folks will have a different outlook;)

if i were you and had $$$$$ and loved cruisers, i would find a base model, take it to CCOT and have it completely restored. i don't think for the price you can beat it and you will have a rig you already know and love.

I doubt if I would spend the money CCOT wants to restore a TLC if I lived in Alaska.
As for a New vehicle, I have a hard time spending what the manufacturers want for a new truck. I will stick with my 31 year old Cruiser, and my 81 Toy, at least I can work on these without having to be a electronics wizard! A bigger bonus is they are paid for!!!:D Truck Payments suck!
By the way Charles, any good jobs where you are at, I always wanted to move to Alaska!:skull:

I guess I wish Toyota would read this and about 5000 other posts on the TLC Forum and import Troopcarriers (HZJ75s) before they ruin them by going to IFS. They already have front coils and front 8" diff and changed from the H55F (the best Land Cruiser gearbox ever made IMHO) to another 5spd, I think the R150 or R151 or whatever, not as good as the H55F.
Jobs in Alaska? What do you do? Contact me at m37@gci.net
Alaska's economy is kind of countercyclical to the US economy. Part of that is that it is oil driven, part of is the yearly injection of $1800-2000/person Permanent Fund Dividend in October.
Charlie
PS:I do know a couple 4X4 that are "perfect" as they sit.
The Unimogs aren't too bad. The French ACMAT series trucks, 1.5-5.5 ton 4X4s and 6X6s - leaf sprung, 12.5R20 Michelins (40.7"), Perkins 6.354, 5 spd. The 1.5 ton 4X4s are like M37s on steroids.

I think in the long run my two 76FJ40s will keep their value and physcially last longer than my wifes 2001 Tahoe. I would rather drive my Cruiser any day.
Time to start hoarding solid axles for our posterity.
I know my cruisers will outlast these grocery getters.
I went in to upgrade my wifes Tahoe and the dealer offered me $16K less than what I paid for it a year ago........WTF?:eek:

can you say....depreciating asset??

Mercedes 2002 G-class (http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/models/features/specs/overview_engine.jsp&modelCode=G500&class=02_G&menu=3_0&spec=0)

http://home.earthlink.net/~cruiserman/2002G.jpg

Here's your truck if you have the money ;).

Charles...

I agree whole hartedly with you. I have a 74 FJ40 and wanted something new so I could wheel/break my Cruiser without worrying about getting it back on the road for work on Monday. So, I looked around at what was available. I found nothing in a new truck that got me even slightly interested. I think for me, I'll end up with a FJ80 (probably not a FJZ) and do the Chevota thing to get a bit more power from the engine. That way I get solid front axle and newer features with a easily modified truck. Defenders (last imported in '97) have peaked my interest, but it appears as if there is almost work on a Rover as there is on a Jeep to get a tough trail truck.

BTW - I ended up buying a sports car (roadster) last year and regret it. I guess some people are destined to drive a truck.

dude, i noticed you mentioning a lot of diesels, and no petrol engine types :eek: i didnt think you guys knew what diesel was :D
my BJ42 (fj with a diesel, built after 81) was a 3B but im putting ina 2f right now, although i looked heabily at the 1hz/1hdt, they were a little out of my price range, although i would have LOVED one and 6kw less than a non turbo v8 chev diesel!! that would be cool,

yeah we get troopies and everything over here, but i dont see that many, my parents used to own one but have a 80 now, and are getting a 100 series or a prado :mad: but yeah, thye odnt mind!

what is a tahoe? is it a toyota?

Lots of dough to blow? try shoehorning this into one of those cruisers you have.

http://www.race-cars.com/engsales/chevyeng/tra427/tra427ss.htm

......throw on a plow.......and tell the wife its strictly for those snowy days. ;) ;)

A Tahoe is the derivative of the old full-sized Chevy Blazer. With IFS, no manual trans, gasoline engine only, lots of electronics and plastic. GM's motors and transmissions are all right, but the vehicle as a package is worthless as an offroadable 4X4 without massive modifications. One of the most important of which is a solid front axle, a rather major modification.
Charlie

I've got a BJ75 troopcarrier -90...does any one know the strength of the orginal axels compared to d60, chevy 12 bolt?

Just turned 50 myself and know what you mean. Bought myself a 45 wagon as a project. Plan to rebuild it as dailey driver to replace my d***E Durango. Before that, I had a 95 Izusu Trooper that was a much better choice than the Durango. It was much more capable off-road and was geared better.

Originally posted by jbt
I've got a BJ75 troopcarrier -90...does any one know the strength of the orginal axels compared to d60, chevy 12 bolt?

they will easily stand up tio anything your 3B can throw at them, my 3B had 125 horsepower, and was very turbo'ed but yeah never had any dramas, i also had 75 series running gear, discs etc!
and i wrote 2F before, but im putting in a turbo 2H :D

F250 turbo diesel 6 speed manual

....it will crawl.....and tow....and is a decent price

Solid axle Fords are the only light duty trucks made in the US currently that can hold a candle to solid axle Land Cruisers, with 7.3, 6 spd; and will get better in '02 or '03 when they go back to the Dana 60 front axle.
We used to make all sorts of good trucks, from IH Scouts to F250s to Chevys, etc.
Charlie

Hi Charlie, I'm new to 4X4ing, and all the "axle tech stuff". I seem to have gotten a "diesel bug"... especially with turbos! I've always loved the way LC's looked, and I've owned Toy cars, so I know their reputation.
Apparenly it is hard to import "gray market" diesel (anything) LC's. You mentioned all the diesel motors, which one do you like the best? I'm looking at the J80 series. Is it cool? Are the Cummings motors better, or certain Toyota motors better? It might be easier to just "drop in" a diesel, into an existing chassie?
Any plce you know where I might find turbo diesel J80's?... or how to bring them in from, say, Canada... (AAAeee, as they say there)?

Thanks for any help, Philip Jones
email: thearc@access1.net

There are a few BJ42's here in Texas. Brought down from
Canada, nice rigs.

There was a BJ60 on eBay last month. Was shocked to realize it really was a Diesel w/ automatic. All the FJ60's here had 4 spd,
All FJ62's ('88-'90) had automatics...

I finally decided that a stock FJ60 isn't an ideal tow vehicle for
a FJ40, so time to "upgrade" the tow vehicle to a 2002 2500HD
Crew Cab. Sigh, I really wanted a Duramax as they are one of
the few diesel's I can be near. Alas, at cold start & winter fuel I have too much of a reaction to diesel fumes. So I'll be "slowly"
coming up the grade with a gas 6.0 (I still have to use this for
most of my daily driving). Nothing fancy, but got the $32K list
on this down to $25K (invoice price, less 2K rebate).

So time to sell the'84 FJ60 (clean rust free body, $4800),
and a 3FE-EFI motor ($2200) that is rebuilt with 0 miles.
Need to get a trailer to haul the FJ40! (Anyone who has
gone camping with two kids, dog, camping gear, stuff,
etc in a FJ40 will understand why I like a crew cab! ;-)

Tom Walter
Austin, TX

i still think the dodge wins hands down, if they would put a set of manual locking hubs on it. with the diesel, six speed and 4x4. face it the cumming will out last two power stokes. and the duramax has not done that well out of the gate, will see when they get some more time on them. i have driven dodges with 600k on the stock cummings and it busted right off. it is true the dodge was falling apart around the motor but hell, thats a lot of miles. the b series cummings is the best motor ever put in a light truck period. you can get 900 fpt with simple bolt ons and it will still live. they get better miliage than any of the others. i just don't see any thing else that compares. if they would just get off there ass and make a real crew cab, i would jump on one.

I HATE, trust me HATE to say it, but im sitting here with my Feb 4Wheel, and they are going to come out with a Jepe Wrangler Rubicon. Dana 44's front and rear with 4.10's in them with Pheunmatically locking diffs front and rear, 4 wheel discs, 4:1 low range, 31's, and with 1330 u joints all over. Hate to say it, but thats not that bad, Matt:skull:

Originally posted by roundrocktom
So I'll be "slowly"
coming up the grade with a gas 6.0 (I still have to use this for
most of my daily driving). Nothing fancy, but got the $32K list
on this down to $25K (invoice price, less 2K rebate).

Tom Walter
Austin, TX

Tom, thats what the company gives me to drive (minus the crew cab). I was VERY impressed with the power it has over the "older" GM V-8's. Gross wt. of the truck with all the crap I haul around (pipe, pipe threading machine, fittings etc..) is 8,800 lbs. Even with all that, it still has alot of get up and go.

Nick