Should I do it?

D

Discokayaker

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2004
85
0
Danville, CA
Okay someone talk me out of this. . . I am thinking of buying a Land Cruiser FJ40 or a Jeep CJ :eek: No that I've said it, here is my situation. I have had a 2004 DII since last November and absolutly love it. I've wheeled it probably 12-15 times on increasingly difficult trails in the CA Sierra Nevada mountains (the most difficult being Mirror Lake outside Shaver Lake, CA if anyone is familiar). My DII is fairly well set up and has never let me down. Overall I am very happy with it and continue to amaze my friends with where I can/will take it. That said, lately the trails I am enjoying pose a significant threat of body damage which makes me nervous given I'm driving a virtually new rig as well as a daily driver.

My thought is use the DII on moderate trails where I need to carry overnight/family gear and purchase an FJ40/CJ for trails with a significant threat of damage. I recently spent a few days driving a friends CJ on some difficult trails and really enjoyed not having to worry about scratching/denting/bashing anything.

Anyone else been through this dilemna? Any thoughts?

. . . and no, a D90 is not in the budget :p

Thanks,
Lance
 
J

JacIntyre

Active member
Apr 20, 2004
40
0
Series?

Have you even considered a Land Rover Series? They are good vehicles and you can find one that you wouldn't mind getting bent up too much. Aside from that, I'd go for the fj40.
 
L

LRWheelman

Well-known member
Sep 7, 2004
93
0
61
Stoutland,MO,USA
What a choice, by all means, I think everyone should have several 4x4's in the stable! Older ones, newer ones, both large & small! Built to different levels of performance they can provide the "Perfect Choice" for both wheeling & your own recovery when needed. My .02. Thank You, LRW
 
Leslie

Leslie

Well-known member
Apr 28, 2004
3,473
0
52
Kingsport TN
If you're thinking about an FJ-40 or a CJ, then I'd have to suggest a Series Rover, too.....



But.....



You could get an older Discovery for about the same money, and build it to be even more trail-suited, and not be as concerned about potential risk to the vehicle......





FWIW.....


-L
 
utahdog2003

utahdog2003

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
1,842
0
North Florida
what about a Series Light-weight? There was one for sale here in Jax a little while back for not too much. Of course after this weekend its probably flat, under a toppled tree!
 
antichrist

antichrist

Well-known member
Sep 7, 2004
8,208
0
68
Atlanta, GA
Since you have a DII, there's not a huge advantage to getting a DI since so little is interchangeable. If you want a rag top, and money is a factor, go for the Jeep, it's cheaper. An FJ would cost you about the same as a Series rover these days (long gone are the days when I used to buy a Series for $500 and drive them home with no problem). If I had to choose between an FJ and a Series, I'd go with a series, at least you could off-road it at MAR ;-)
If you don't care about the rag top, you might want to go ahead and consider a D1, a '97 5-speed with 80k when for $5,200 from a dealer here in Atlanta. The drawback of course is all the computer crap. In my view, the ideal (short of a D90) would be a D1 5-speed with one of the IH diesels dropped in. Oh, and getting doors from the UK with windup windows.
Cheers.
 
D

Discokayaker

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2004
85
0
Danville, CA
Thanks everyone and keep the feedback coming. I am definitely leaning towards the FJ40 as so little needs to be done to them in order to make them very capable off-road. The Heep just seems to need so much as the drivetrains are all pretty weak in stock form. The FJs seem to be holding their value if not appreciating although this means a higher cost up front. They are just built very strong from the factory. . .

I really know nothing about Series Land Rovers except that they are fugly. :eek: Ducking for cover. . .

A DI doesn't interest me as I already have a DII and am looking for something a little more basic (ie. less electrical, easy to work on).

Thanks Again,
Lance
 
stansell

stansell

Well-known member
Jun 14, 2004
364
0
51
Norfolk, VA
Weeeell Lance,
Since you will not be using the DII for hard core offroading, no reason to have all those nice goodies anymore (rear bumper, winch bumper, winch), so just let me know when I can take them off your hands. :D

Rob
 
S

Snwbord24

Guest
I used to own an FJ40 and that thing was a beast. I wish I hadn't gotten rid of it. Definately FJ40. There are several kits for pretty cheap that will allow you to easily drop a chevy 350 in there and keep the stock transmission. It's pretty much just changing motor mounts and a new bell housing to fit the small block chevy. I never did it but looked into it about 10 years ago.
 
D

Discokayaker

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2004
85
0
Danville, CA
Rob. . . not a chance. Afterall, I do need someting for my wife to drive :p
In reality, I am going to guess that the DII will get more use off-road then whatever trail rig I buy. Part of me says just stick with the DII. . . but on the other hand for the price of repairing a minor amount of trail damage on the DIsco I can have a dedicated trail rig.

Decisions. . . decisions. . .

Lance
 
B

bri

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
6,184
155
US
Regardless of what rig you get, trail damage will be expensive. Even if it is an FJ or CJ, it might be less expensive than repairing the trail damage on the DII for sure.

However, the goal is to not have trail damage right? Maybe invest in kill armor and other goodies on the DII so that it is more difficult to damage. Maybe take some classes with Bill Burke so that you do not have to learn the hard way.

However, if you must have a second rig, you should consider a CJ8. Killer vehicle IMO.

Brian
 
D

Discokayaker

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2004
85
0
Danville, CA
Thanks Brian. I'm pretty well protected right now (bumper/skids/sliders/rear bumper on the way). I don't know if the trails I am interested in (Rubicon/Dusy Ershim/Fordyce) can be done consistently in a DII without damage. Better yet, I don't think I am willing to take the chance. I don't know. . .I suppose more experience in the DII will lessen the risk of damage. It's just an oftly expensive learning curve.



Lance
 
antichrist

antichrist

Well-known member
Sep 7, 2004
8,208
0
68
Atlanta, GA
Discokayaker said:
Rob. . . not a chance. Afterall, I do need someting for my wife to drive :p
In reality, I am going to guess that the DII will get more use off-road then whatever trail rig I buy. Part of me says just stick with the DII. . . but on the other hand for the price of repairing a minor amount of trail damage on the DIsco I can have a dedicated trail rig.

Decisions. . . decisions. . .

Lance
Click to expand...

Repairing trail damage? I actually never thought of that, aside from safety/mechanical damage. No wonder people look at my D1 funny...

I have to admit, I did repair my air portable when I rolled it, but that was just two pop rivets in the wing and a old door top half I had lying about.
 
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