FJ Cruiser?

The standard tank is 19 gallons.
The problem is that they only get 15 - 20 mpg !!
Worst case is about 270 miles per tank.
Check your routes and decide if you need to carry a spare can.

Also, I'd carry some octane booster in case you can't find premium but it's pretty readily available.

They're just pretty small for hauling much gear without a roof basket and you will feel pretty "little" in the Toy compared to your Ford !!

But then, personally, I drive an F350 4x4 crew turbo diesel.

.

Another option...?

I have the '05 4 door Tacoma... it is totally comfy and roomy for a truck...

5 speed automatic, 4WD, 4.0 V-6, Regular gas, tons of power.

I did beef up the REAR suspension (at Off Road Warehouse) as the back would bottom out on bumps with a load... Upgraded the Bilstein shocks and added adjustable air bags... Works great now!

The truck is perfect for all roads in Baja! I have had it for 2 1/2 years and put on 73,000 miles, so far.

Oh, the tank hold 20 gallons and I get 16 mpg daily driving and up to 19 mpg on the highway.

[Edited on 4-26-2008 by David K]

How about one of each?

"Mrs. TacoFeliz has one..."

reading "between the lines"...

does this mean it's a "girls car"???

We had a 1981 FJ Toyota Landcruiser, and It totally rocked for baja travel, fit all 6 of us, and our gear, and two dogs. Really can't be stopped by anything!

My wife Jana and I took a three week cruise to Cabo from Big Bear Lake, Ca. this past Thanksgiving in her 07 FJ. We got about 21mpg. We drove about 3000 paved miles and about 800 off-road miles, and never were in any danger of running out of gas. The longest off-road run was 120 miles one way. And the longest gas run on one tank was from El Rosario to Guerrero Negro, where we were very close to running out because of severe head winds. We just went where the road took us and let's-see-what-we-find-when-we-get-there. The fishing camps were out of this world, and we ate so much free lobster that after 6 days of it we got sick of it. The bays we thought were one-of-a-kind, until we got to the next one. Met dozens of Surfers and fellow kayakers. The FJ was the best off-road vehicle we ever took! We had previously driven in a variety of different jeeps. The ride was like riding on a cloud. The FJ has two speeds that one can drive over rough terrain...either under 15MPH or over 45mph. We chose the 45-60MPH route and were extremely satisfied. We stayed where we ended up if the day was running too long. The rest of the time we hoped we would end up at a motel of some kind. Basic accomodations (bed & bath) cost $25-$35 where available. We would highly recommend the FJ to any one considering purchasing one. We traded in a Subaru Outback Eddie Bauer on the FJ (we also took it on many thousands of miles in Baja). The Subaru had softer seats which tired us out at the end of the day. The FJ's firmer seats were more suited to longer travel in Baja. This is the first Baja trip that we took that we felt totally refreshed when we returned home. We did not feel like we needed to take a few days off just to recuperate from the trip.
I would like to attach some photos of the trip but don't know how to do it. I can privately send you some if you want. I would also like to attach a photo under my name, but don't know how to that either

PIX Posting

FJ in trouble

Drove over a concealed mine shaft adit

From a fellow desert explorer:

I made a wide turn, just a few feet from the trail, when all of a sudden, the ground started to collapse. I had driven over a long forgotten mineshaft, which had been covered up with wood, and then dirt, so it was completely hidden. It seemed to happen in slo-mo. The front started to sink, I tried to shift into reverse, but just as I hit the gas, the rear lifted up, the front shot forward, then it tipped upside down. At first, I thought I had rolled into a ditch, but then I noticed the gapping black hole I was staring down.

My friends bolted out the passenger door, scared out of their wits, but I waited, worried too much movement was going to make the FJ go all the way in. When my friends had gotten out, I then unbuckled my seat belt, walked on my dash, and exited. I stepped out of the FJ, onto the front passenger tire, then to safety. Only later did I discover that that very wheel was the only thing that kept us from falling 60ft.

The next morning, we called the tow truck, two actually came out. Two winch lines went on the rear, and the flipped it right side up. Then one guy lowered himself into the shaft, and th hooked up a third line to the front end, and winched the FJ out. Thanks to Paul and Sons towing in Ridgecrest for saving my FJ.


[Edited on 4-27-2008 by bajaguy]

FJ in trouble #2

another view

FJ in trouble #3

Close-up

FJ Repaired and Repainted

Sorry for the multiple posts.....have not figured out multiple photos on one post.

This view shows the FJ repaired and repainted....ready to go!!!!

tatuna

B.S. It's about the only Toyota vehicle where you can still get a manual 4x4 selector. Toyota really went girly when they when all auto and all push button .

I'm keeping my all-manual-manly-Tacoma till it dies...Which being a Toyota might be another 20 years...

Quote:

Originally posted by Taco de Baja Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 FJ cruiser is a chicks car. Goofy looking chicks car too. B.S. It's about the only Toyota vehicle where you can still get a manual 4x4 selector. Toyota really went girly when they when all auto and all push button . I'm keeping my all-manual-manly-Tacoma till it dies...Which being a Toyota might be another 20 years...

What's wrong with push buttons? Is the lever some kind of phallus? Maybe chick cars should have phallic levers like yours

Mtn. Goat. Focus group data show that women make the final decision when us guys want to purchase a vehicle. The Tomb Raider was the girly Jeep on the Riverside Chrysler/Jeep lot, but Suzanne wholeheartedly supported buying it over the more utilitarian Rubicon I had my eye on.

The 4 Runner that went on the '07 Baja Grande run had all sorts of trouble negotiating Mission Impossible trail, while an FJ would have a much better time on that trail. The 4 Runner is more station wagon while the FJ is more "Land Cruiser". If I were tackling Mission Impossible in a stock vehicle, I would choose the FJ hands down.

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666 Quote: Originally posted by Taco de Baja Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 FJ cruiser is a chicks car. Goofy looking chicks car too. B.S. It's about the only Toyota vehicle where you can still get a manual 4x4 selector. Toyota really went girly when they when all auto and all push button . I'm keeping my all-manual-manly-Tacoma till it dies...Which being a Toyota might be another 20 years... What's wrong with push buttons? Is the lever some kind of phallus? Maybe chick cars should have phallic levers like yours

I have never seen a Post 2005 Tacoma with a manual lever on the floor; sure they have a "manual dial" on the dash, that's not what I mean. I do not want a solenoid or fuse to crap-out just when I need 4x4. Same reason I like my manual hubs; I don't have to wonder it there is a vacuum leak or electrical issue that will not allow the hubs to lock, or un-lock.

Yes, problems like this do happen. Even happened to me several times in my pre-Taco, POS Chevy, luckily I was not in the wilds of Baja when the failures occurred. Pretty funny now, but one time I was on a hard packed construction site with a thin layer of muddy clay that made the area as slick as ice. Went to shift to 4x4 to get out nothing happened because the hubs would not lock, so my rear wheels just spun; could not go forward, could not go backward. A 4x4 backhoe with a tow strap had to pull me out.

I can shift on the fly in my all manual Taco too as, long as the hubs are locked. I can even go into 4-Low at speeds under 5 mph; really good for situations where you do not want to stop (or shouldn’t), but need a lower range. And, if I ever wanted or needed to I could unlock the hubs and have 2-Low. 20 MPH in 5th gear! …Or, a really s---l---o---w crawl in 1st.

If I ever buy a new Taco, I’ll probably have to pay a fabricator several $1,000 to install a manual T-case, donated from a manly FJ Cruiser ...

These are popular in South America, too bad that don't import them here.....

Toyota Land Cruiser pick-ups with a solid front axel.

2002-2007



The 1967 pick-up version


The 1967 Cruiser (look familiar? )

Why not just buy a quality 4WD vehicle while out of the country? I saw **Plenty** of beautiful specimens while in Colombia at the miniature auto plazas. The prices in the newspapers were super cheap as well...

Barranquilla, CO




This is the HiLux with the special "Hi-Rider" Package:


Here is a real Baywatch Beauty - in Santa Marta, CO:


I saw this beauty for sale in Barranquilla. Why not just buy something while you're there???

You were very lucky, the area between Ridgecrest and Johansburg/ Red Mountain has thousands of these abandoned mines. The local search and rescue group pulls 10 or more dirt bikes from them every year and has tried to put fencing around as many as possible.

http://www.demotores.com.co/dm-284833-Toyota-Land-Cruiser.ht...

Hit the link, browse the Toyotas, and divide the price tag - 2,000 to 1.


This baby costs 14 Million Pesos or roughly $7,500.00!!

The best of both worlds....

I have the same set up on my F-250 and it is my tow rig for toys and our boat for Baja. We have an FJ, although it is my wifes car and has never been to Baja. Maybe I'll get my chance soon.

It is a fun and capable rig, but not good for any rear seat passengers other than small children.

[Edited on 5-1-2008 by RockhouseTom]

Hook,

Your right they have very bad visibility. If your tall you have to low ride it and you can't see to the rear quarters easily, but do you really want to look back going down Mex 1.