Toyota Stalking, er...um, SPOTTING with Charlie™ (Land Cruiser and Lexus LX/GX Edition)!

Hey Speedy would you say a Land Cruiser is generally more capable off road than a Tacoma stock for stock, both having open diffs? I know the LC has the solid axle and better flex, but the minitruck felt so light, like it could just scamper over almost anything. The Cruiser feels heavy and clunky by comparison.

I took my single cab 98 on 31s on some moderate trails like Stony Pass in CO and never came close to hitting the rocker panels or doing any damage except pinstripes. The LC is also 10 inches wider which is another concern. Do you think I'd get bogged or high-centered more easily in my unlocked 80 series on 33s?

 

I'm a weirdo because I daily my LC and wheel my Tacoma. The Land Cruiser is far more capable than my truck was stock though. The long wheel base and relatively short suspension travel of the truck makes it easy to get hungup in breakover situation and on approach angle. The LC front wheels are very close to the front to minimize that and it is a shorter wheelbase with offset drivelines to avoid damage and tuck up the transfercase to avoid being snagged. The LC isn't a ton wider really, I'd question if it actually is 10", I know compared to my tacoma the axle/tire width was only 3" more.

The cruiser is heavier for sure and is on much more flexible coils allround, stock I think it needs larger shocks to feel more nimble, but don't let its heavy feel let you think it isn't capable. It has no issue keeping wheels on the ground and because of that even sans lockers it can get around far more easily than a tacoma. My stock LC on 33s follows my friends in built wheeling rigs with no issues. That's not to say I don't prefer my tacoma more, but that's just becuase it isn't stock and has surpassed a stock LC for capability and comfort, took money and time to do that. It wouldn't be hard to build your cruiser to surpass a built tacoma for flexibility and comfort, they do however struggle with higher speed offroading that the tacoma is just excellent at (why I wheel the tacoma)

 

My Tacoma was a regular cab with a 103 inch wheelbase so I didn't have much of an issue with breakover angles. That's why I was wondering if I'd notice the longer wheelbase on the Cruiser.

I figured the 80 would be better in the rocks, but what about in mud and sand? Would you say the Tacoma is better in that context since it's so much lighter?

Btw that 93 you have looks pristine! Does the paint still look as good as in the picture? I thought that red color was notorious for peeling.

 

The only time I really haven't liked the 80 very much is soft sand, its not bad but it just doesn't rev up super high so spinning to get moving can be harder, that said with fat tires it isn't a huge concern anyway. I still was able to pull out a completely beached Expedition but it wasn't like driving the tacoma. Which probably couldnt have pulled out the Expedition without using a winch but would have been more nimble on the sand. They're both excellent in mud and the torque of the 80 is great when youre sunk in the soupy shit, I've had some hard escapes from really muddy roads and hillsides.

Thanks!, Toyota reds are all awful for longevity, I had it repainted 5 years ago. Still looks pretty good I think, but I'll admit it needs a full buff now

 

Nice pictures! Would you say you use the lockers a lot? (I thought I remember you saying it had them).

Also, was that a MAACO paint job or one of the showroom jobs that cost like $10k? Either way, it looks great!

 

Thanks, I don't use the lockers a ton, my rear has been seized for a long time anyway. I use the center lock a lot and occasionally the front for climbing.

The paint job is closer to MAACO quality for sure in terms of masking, but the paint quality is good and the prep was pretty good too. But it could have been better, I still like it more than the junked chalky red it was.

 

Prado Cruiser?

 

That looks like an Isuzu D-Max

 

2013 Lexus LX570; Spotted on the back lot at Thompson Lexus license plate and in bad need of a cleaning, so I'm guessing it was a trade that hasn't been prepped for sale yet...


November 29th, 2021:

Doylestown, Pennsylvania

 

I saw this when I stopped at a Wawa for a bathroom break during yesterday's DoorDash run, but I forget which Wawa it was (I believe it was Horsham, Pennsylvania)...



Anyway, the owner happened to come out and not only did he let me take a picture for my collection, but I got to question him about the specs...

It is a 1994 model with only 148K miles, everything works, and unfortunately it is not triple-locked, but it is one of the cleanest examples I've seen in a while! The owner said he absolutely loved it and never wanted to get rid of it...


December 11th, 2021:

 

Well that's very clean! Love me a good early FZJ.

 

I wonder what the undercarriage looked like being a PA truck.

 

Same FZJ80 at the same Wawa a week later; I had previously forgotten which Wawa I found this rig at, but it turns out it was the new Wawa on County Line Road in Chalfont...


December 18th, 2021:

Chalfont, Pennsylvania

 

Yeah, but triple-locking diffs; @Speedytech7 says those ones are the best!

 

I just did what appears to be a Lexus LX570 on the Happy Color app; I am not particularly wild about the color, but still pretty cool...

 

My friend's 1984 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 with factory 4-speed and cold A/C; Currently not being driven because it needs carburetor work...

My friend is presently driving the white 1981 Toyota SR5 pickup seen parked directly in front of the cruiser!

 

@Taco critter

Got my old middle school buddy from the Northwest to send me some more pics of his Cruiser, in addition to the 1981 SR5!

 

@Speedytech7

What I'd really like to do is put an FJ60 body on an FZJ80 chassis!