next rig, FZJ80??

[Greg]

IMO... even the factory TRD Tacoma suspension rocks. I believe the factory coilovers are progressive, they handle whoops and jumps quite respectively from my experience.

 

[Bart]

I can't believe that twice today I have to agree with Cody. No doubt, I think the FZJ is a better built rig, but I really think a ZJ set up the same way will go just as many places. I've been toying with the idea of an FZJ or WJ for my wife, with a eco lift and 32s. Just something big enough to run Hole in the Rock if we wanted. The Toyotas seem to demand premium $$$ while the WJs are resonable,with at least as much power or more. I like the smaller body also. The FZJ seems about the same size as a Tahoe, which could be another option. I just hate the weak IFS set up for exploration.

 

[mbryson]

I can't believe that twice today I have to agree with Cody. No doubt, I think the FZJ is a better built rig, but I really think a ZJ set up the same way will go just as many places. I've been toying with the idea of an FZJ or WJ for my wife, with a eco lift and 32s. Just something big enough to run Hole in the Rock if we wanted. The Toyotas seem to demand premium $$$ while the WJs are resonable,with at least as much power or more. I like the smaller body also. The FZJ seems about the same size as a Tahoe, which could be another option. I just hate the weak IFS set up for exploration.

I really like our ZJ, but LOVE the WJ. A "driver" like Bart describes above has a lot of appeal to me. Mild trails, daily driver/exploration rigs are pretty handy.

 

[Cody]

The WJ is just slightly wider than the ZJ...but just slightly. The 4.7 is an awesome motor IMO, but the quadradrive (or whatever it's called) while pretty cool when it is working, offers a lot more points of failure vs. the more traditional 242/249 t-case and the non vari-lock axles.

Just a thought. I really like WJ's but I would try to find one w/o the quadradrive setup. If you could find a v8 WJ with a 242 t-case you would be sitting pretty.

 

[Tacoma]

I've got a Suburban I'll sell you.

I actually got 18mpg on the way up here. I about died from the shock.

Suburbans are a touch big for the mountains, but ROCK for southern/desert exploration.

 

[Cody]

Suburbans are a touch big for the mountains, but ROCK for southern/desert exploration.

I've found myself on some pretty narrow and tight areas exploring southern/desert mining roads that I don't know that an Suburbanator would be very happy with.

 

[Tacoma]

Yeah, they're definitely not perfect. Some of the roads in Greg's Kokopelli trail report look a mite skinny.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Yeah, they're definitely not perfect. Some of the roads in Greg's Kokopelli trail report look a mite skinny.

Why don't you come take a look at the 80 Series I have for sale before you run your mouth any more The longer I have it the more work I'll do to it, the more work I do the more expensive it gets

 

[Tacoma]

I'm going to try really hard not to see it. I'll imagine fluffy bunnies in its place.

 

[dungbeetle]

I have been wheelin my ZJ for 8 years on the original axles, but I'm not one to mash the gas pedal to get up stuff either. It's not usually the axles, but instead the housings, that bend. Is yours stock right now? Have you wheeled it much, or just relaying what you have "heard"?

Mine has stock axles, and I haven't wheeled it at all. I picked it up at a salvage auction, fixed it, and put a 4 inch Pro-something lift kit on it together with 31 inch tires. Everyone here says the axles won't hold up, and Cody say I need a V8. So, I find myself thinking "why should I waste my time pouring sand down a rat hole". Getting stranded somewhere out in the sticks is a big issue to me, so I'm inclined to write this ZJ off as a false start and spend my time building on a better platform. Your post about the FZJ80 caught my attention.

 

[Tacoma]

Maybe you should go see Kurt.

PLEASE GO SEE HIM!! I'm weak.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Mine has stock axles, and I haven't wheeled it at all. I picked it up at a salvage auction, fixed it, and put a 4 inch Pro-something lift kit on it together with 31 inch tires. Everyone here says the axles won't hold up, and Cody say I need a V8. So, I find myself thinking "why should I waste my time pouring sand down a rat hole". Getting stranded somewhere out in the sticks is a big issue to me, so I'm inclined to write this ZJ off as a false start and spend my time building on a better platform. Your post about the FZJ80 caught my attention.

So you lifted it and put bigger tires on it, yet never wheeled it? Take it on some trails and form your own opinion.

 

[mbryson]

So you lifted it and put bigger tires on it, yet never wheeled it? Take it on some trails and form your own opinion.

I'm with you. I've wheeled the sh!t out of the wife's "Up-Country" ZJ. I haven't since she rolled it over at about 60 mph, though. They're a decent if not impressive rig for a stocker (mines got the 242 t-case). I'd imagine modded they're downright respectable.

The D35 is a pile, but if you keep the tire size down and don't drive like a dumb@ss, I'd think you could make it live with smaller tires (32-33"). I'd still keep a spare shaft or two around, though.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I always carry an extra rear axle shaft and u-joints for the driveshafts and front axles, only needed a u-joint on the trail once, and that was because the u-joint strap came loose.

 

[dungbeetle]

So you lifted it and put bigger tires on it, yet never wheeled it? Take it on some trails and form your own opinion.

I'm with you. I've wheeled the sh!t out of the wife's "Up-Country" ZJ. I haven't since she rolled it over at about 60 mph, though. They're a decent if not impressive rig for a stocker (mines got the 242 t-case). I'd imagine modded they're downright respectable.

The D35 is a pile, but if you keep the tire size down and don't drive like a dumb@ss, I'd think you could make it live with smaller tires (32-33"). I'd still keep a spare shaft or two around, though.

I definitely will drive the rig for a while, but I trust the advice that I get here, and so I think I'll get an FZJ80 and try it out as well. I'm convinced that it is a sturdier platform to start with. I buy all my vehicles at the salvage auctions, so even if I bought one tomorrow, it would probably take me more than a few months to make it roadworthy. I'll probably have to pick up a couple of wrecks and build one out of the two.

 

[Tacoma]

I'm not kidding. GO SEE KURT. He has the perfect 80 to start with.

 

[Paul R]

Is the stock IFS on the Taco good for 33's?

It all depends on driving style but I have 255/85R16's on a taco (OME suspension) and it has been just fine. I ran 32's for a while and was not easy on it at all, yet never had a problem.

I would be extremely happy with a cruiser or a taco for where we go

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I definitely will drive the rig for a while, but I trust the advice that I get here, and so I think I'll get an FZJ80 and try it out as well. I'm convinced that it is a sturdier platform to start with. I buy all my vehicles at the salvage auctions, so even if I bought one tomorrow, it would probably take me more than a few months to make it roadworthy. I'll probably have to pick up a couple of wrecks and build one out of the two.

Sounds like a lot of work, let me know when you can find at least one, as not many end up wrecked.

 

[dungbeetle]

Sounds like a lot of work, let me know when you can find at least one, as not many end up wrecked.

Depends on how bad it's hit. Here's one in Portland that will sell on Wednesday. It's a 96 with 125k.

The damage is what you see... the rest of the truck is undamaged. It's driveable so I might consider flying up to pick it up. Can't tell whether it has lockers or not.

 

[Tacoma]

Seriously. Kurt has one that would probably work very, very well for your needs, at a freaking great price. And it's LOCAL.