Toyota FJ Cruiser. Any experience with one?

[North]

Trick out the bed with a platform & futon with ski / gear storage underneath. Should be able to get @ least 350k.

https://asheville.craigslist.org/cto...230191229.html

1st Gen Tundras are great but not 200K for $10K great. WTF.

[stealurface831]

fuckin right.

what should i look to upgrade first? i'm thinking 2" lift, wheels and tires, bumper(s)(maybe front and back but definitely front), sliders, and rack.

[Mazderati]

Yeah. Don't worry. I'm way ahead. Really.

Yeah, I'm really just curious how much the RR has cost in repairs without a bumper to bumper warranty for 255k miles.

[North]

fuckin right.

what should i look to upgrade first? i'm thinking 2" lift, wheels and tires, bumper(s)(maybe front and back but definitely front), sliders, and rack.

If it's just FS and logging roads I'd go with the lift and tires. Wheels if you wanna de-soccer momify it a bit. Bumpers and and sliders are way overkill unless you just wanna build it for the hell of it, which is a totally fine justification.

[stealurface831]

If it's just FS and logging roads I'd go with the lift and tires. Wheels if you wanna de-soccer momify it a bit. Bumpers and and sliders are way overkill unless you just wanna build it for the hell of it, which is a totally fine justification.

i think i may want to actually take er into the hills some too. buncha trails around here.

[Touring_Sedan]

Yeah. Don't worry. I'm way ahead. Really.

My wife and I did the math a few months ago. We're so far ahead on our old ass Discovery II, we could probably put her in a new Autobiography Range....... at least that's what I'm telling her.

[exsparky]

You have a problem if you need a spreadsheet to find your keys.
FYI the470 is a station wagon.

[stealurface831]

[QUOTE=exsparky;6158136]
FYI the470 is a station wagon.QUOTE]

whatchu mean?

[Timberridge]

Yeah, I'm really just curious how much the RR has cost in repairs without a bumper to bumper warranty for 255k miles.

I don't have a detailed spreadsheet like above but I save every repair receipt. The only major repairs I replaced: rear diff (under warranty), air compressor, and alternator, the instrument cluster needed a repair (not warranty)--so maybe $3K out of pocket in unexpected repairs?

The other stuff is just normal consumables (serp belt, plugs, headlight bulbs, etc, etc.) which admittedly cost more than some other vehicles. Like tires, 275-45 snow and summer tires cost more than a Toyota FJ tire. It's heavy so it goes thru brake pads and rotors every 50-60K. It likes to get new swaybar bushings every 30-40K.

Some stuff is broken that I'm not getting fixed like the refrigerator, and a stone chipped the heated windshield which musta broke one of the tiny wires, but these things don't matter much to me that they don't work.

[Mazderati]

That OOP surprisingly low. Yours must have been made mid-week. Doug DeMuro's RR was easily into the tens of thousands and he was replacing steering columns and horns like they were consumables.

[alpinevibes]

My wife and I did the math a few months ago. We're so far ahead on our old ass Discovery II, we could probably put her in a new Autobiography Range....... at least that's what I'm telling her.

I love Land Rovers, especially the idea of a cheap Disco, but have resisted owning one on the advice of mechanics and current/previous LR owners. I say this as a observation, not criticism:

I don't doubt that you've come out ahead financially by keeping that thing on the road (vs replacement), but comparing your repairs from 80k-150k to the last 75k worth of repairs on my beater '05 Outback is frightening. On the Outback I've replaced a driver shaft and u joint, steering rack and the rear liftgate wiring. No other repairs besides tires, battery, oil change; and everything else, interior/exterior, is functioning normal despite abuse.

We're coming into 4Runner/GX/LC territory soon, and i know the cost of each line item will increase, but I believe and hope the line items will stay similar to other japanese cars.

[Touring_Sedan]

I love Land Rovers, especially the idea of a cheap Disco, but have resisted owning one on the advice of mechanics and current/previous LR owners. I say this as a observation, not criticism:

I don't doubt that you've come out ahead financially by keeping that thing on the road (vs replacement), but comparing your repairs from 80k-150k to the last 75k worth of repairs on my beater '05 Outback is frightening. On the Outback I've replaced a driver shaft and u joint, steering rack and the rear liftgate wiring. No other repairs besides tires, battery, oil change; and everything else, interior/exterior, is functioning normal despite abuse.

We're coming into 4Runner/GX/LC territory soon, and i know the cost of each line item will increase, but I believe and hope the line items will stay similar to other japanese cars.

Well, duh... your Japanese box is more reliable than my British brick.

[AK47bp]

My wife and I did the math a few months ago. We're so far ahead on our old ass Discovery II, we could probably put her in a new Autobiography Range....... at least that's what I'm telling her.

Hmm that’s great and all but I’m not seeing your TruCoat refresh cost in there?

you got more lube than than a geriatric brothel on that list.


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[AK47bp]

Well done, yugely better rig, especially since it was a mall cruiser. Unless your gma likes to mud.


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Apparently you never met stealurface’s granny.




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[SkiLyft]

Hahahaha dead [emoji88]


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[Touring_Sedan]

Hmm that’s great and all but I’m not seeing your TruCoat refresh cost in there?

you got more lube than than a geriatric brothel on that list.


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Most of it is outside of the engine. I prefer the term "self lubricating chassis."

[The Reverend Floater]

i think i may want to actually take er into the hills some too. buncha trails around here.

Conundrum has a lot more offroad experience than me but IMO, sliders are expensive, heavy and not needed....until you do need them and they save you a shit ton of money. Smashing your rocker panels is very bad news on multiple fronts.

If you think there's a real possibility of contact with an obstacle where you'll be driving, sliders and skids are well worth the money and weight. Or alternatively, just don't drive there.

[Sirshredalot]

Conundrum has a lot more offroad experience than me but IMO, sliders are expensive, heavy and not needed....until you do need them and they save you a shit ton of money. Smashing your rocker panels is very bad news on multiple fronts.

If you think there's a real possibility of contact with an obstacle where you'll be driving, sliders and skids are well worth the money and weight. Or alternatively, just don't drive there.

I've got a similar-mileage GX that I've owned for about a year.

Things I've done:
2nd timing belt service

Stereo (do you have the NAV? If so, you're kind of stuck. If not, you've just got a double DIN head unit to swap).

Tires

On my to-do list:
Trim running board. Add sliders.

Maybe fix the leaking seal at the t case? Seems like that's kind of a bitch, though.

Decide what I'm doing with the suspension. I've got a leaky airbag.

Thing I'm not entirely in love with:
The amount of oxidation I can see on the underside of the vehicle.

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[Conundrum]

I’m certainly not an authority but I think sliders are a decision point. The decision is are you willing to go somewhere where a slip up means body damage but you don’t want that body damage to allow elements into the cab. If you are okay driving places where body damage is a real possibility, sliders are for you. If you want to look like you are that driver but are really not, save money and weight and maybe look at skid plates or skip all of the armor. My 80 doesn’t have a big bumper for wheeling, it’s for making jerky at 65 mph. The sliders are for keeping water out of the cab in creek crossing because I didn’t bust my rocker panels and seals up from getting to the creek. My buddy has a very similar rig to me with no sliders and no issues...yet. There’s something to be said for clearance just as much as protection too.

But it is hard to overland if it just looks like you’re car camping.

[stealurface831]

Apparently you never met stealurface’s granny.

did she send you this photo?

[Mazderati]

What was she, like, 30 in that pic?

[stealurface831]

What was she, like, 30 in that pic?

no, 20, right after her 13th child.

[The Reverend Floater]

.

But it is hard to overland if it just looks like you’re car camping.

Preach! That could be my new signature.

Also, how people call it overlanding without a Jerry can or Maxxtraxx visible is just insane. That's just driving.

[AdironRider]

The sliders on my Wrangler were, by far, the best money I have spent on the thing. 2nd would be my winch. Both have saved me multiple thousands of dollars. That comment about the decision point is true though, you either want to go there, or dont, but if you do, best be prepared.

This 'hidden' mount is pretty slick and saves you a g at least by not requiring that heavy steel bumper the overlanders love to have but never use.

https://www.southernstyleoffroad.com...-hidden-winch/

I'd buy sliders, skids and a winch long before I ever touched the suspension.

[papapoopski]

Congrats on the GX, thats a great vehicle.

The most bashed thing that I have found are my rocker panels. I would get sliders first. Those low hanging side steps are pretty prone to taking a good smashing from a kicked up log. Skids are great too, I don't have them yet. I keep a hand winch in the back of my 4runner, plus shackles, pulleys, tree saver. I can attach the winch line front or back. It's slower but more versatile for me.