FZJ80 or something else?
Moderator: Club Officers
FZJ80 or something else?
So I bought an '03 Grand Cherokee this summer for a DD/mild wheeler until I could save up to buy a minitruck or a sami. But my parents decided to buy my little sister a new car a give me her '96 FZJ80 to wheel. This sounded ok, but I'm not sure it exactly fits my needs. There are few problems I see:
1. They are almost as expensive as the Grand to lift, $2700 for slee's 6"
2. It wouldnt be licensed and would be towed by the grand which is V8 but at close to 7000 lbs it is at the top of the payload for the GC not to mention the wear it would put on my tranny.
3. It doesn't have the optional e-lockers
so the options I see are, gut it and chop as much weight off it as possible and maybe bob the rear add lockers tires lift ect., or sell it for about three grand and buy a minitruck and build that for about a third of the cost. The second option makes a whole lot more sense to me, its just having to deal with a sale. Either way I am keeping the Cherokee and buying a trailer. This isn't happening right away, but is the plan to have worked out by the time I graduate.
1. They are almost as expensive as the Grand to lift, $2700 for slee's 6"
2. It wouldnt be licensed and would be towed by the grand which is V8 but at close to 7000 lbs it is at the top of the payload for the GC not to mention the wear it would put on my tranny.
3. It doesn't have the optional e-lockers
so the options I see are, gut it and chop as much weight off it as possible and maybe bob the rear add lockers tires lift ect., or sell it for about three grand and buy a minitruck and build that for about a third of the cost. The second option makes a whole lot more sense to me, its just having to deal with a sale. Either way I am keeping the Cherokee and buying a trailer. This isn't happening right away, but is the plan to have worked out by the time I graduate.
DD: 2003 GC Limited, 4.7L
Trail Rig: hmmm
Trail Rig: hmmm
Just put it up for trade on ih8mud. you might find someone with a rig similar to what you want for a wheeling rig. And they do fetch alot of money being parted out also...
You can always stick it at the end of your driveway with a for sale sign in it. awd toyota suv will sell during winter times. then build a pimp wheeler. or ill trade you for a wagoneer iwth a cage, 360 v8, dana 44's.
You can always stick it at the end of your driveway with a for sale sign in it. awd toyota suv will sell during winter times. then build a pimp wheeler. or ill trade you for a wagoneer iwth a cage, 360 v8, dana 44's.
member # dos
The only advantage I see in wheeling an 80 is being able to drive to the trail in comfort at 75mph. I say dump the 80 since you plan on towing. If it’s clean it should fetch at least $5000. There are quite a few guys on mud with built mini truck that now have a family and want to wagon. Ya might be able to work out a trade.
Matt
85 4Runner
97 4Runner
97 LX450 Diesel
85 4Runner
97 4Runner
97 LX450 Diesel
- Arya Ebrahimi
- Posts: 1896
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:58 pm
We need to know more about the FZJ80. Mileage, condition, etc.
Also, you would be VERY surprised where these things can go stock with just lockers. You might consider throwing a set of ARBs in it and some 33s under it(which fit stock) and wheelin it as is. Ask almost anyone in the club about the places I've taken mine stock and you will begin to understand.
Also, you would be VERY surprised where these things can go stock with just lockers. You might consider throwing a set of ARBs in it and some 33s under it(which fit stock) and wheelin it as is. Ask almost anyone in the club about the places I've taken mine stock and you will begin to understand.
its pretty clean, has close to 180k on it and has a slight oil leak. looses probably a quart every 800 miles. im guessing its one of the main seals and wouldn't be worth fixing. It just got new injectors, computer, and distrubutor. Exterior is pretty clean with a few dings here and there. The worst is the dented bumper. It could probably pull $4-5 if I cleaned it up nice. Arya I would do that if I wanted to DD it too, but I'm looking for a bit of a bigger build since its gonna be trailered
DD: 2003 GC Limited, 4.7L
Trail Rig: hmmm
Trail Rig: hmmm
- Arya Ebrahimi
- Posts: 1896
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:58 pm
Thats why I said was debating selling it, I could easily strip a lot of weight out of it as it doesn't need to be a dd. Either way its not in my budget to pay for insurance on two rigs for the next couple years.Arya Ebrahimi wrote:Dude, these trucks weigh 6500# by themselves. Add 2000 for a trailer and you're well into 3/4 ton tow-rig range. Keep it driveable, these things don't make good trail kings, they made great multi-use rigs.
DD: 2003 GC Limited, 4.7L
Trail Rig: hmmm
Trail Rig: hmmm
- Arya Ebrahimi
- Posts: 1896
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:58 pm
Sell the Jeep!Yoda wrote:Thats why I said was debating selling it, I could easily strip a lot of weight out of it as it doesn't need to be a dd. Either way its not in my budget to pay for insurance on two rigs for the next couple years.Arya Ebrahimi wrote:Dude, these trucks weigh 6500# by themselves. Add 2000 for a trailer and you're well into 3/4 ton tow-rig range. Keep it driveable, these things don't make good trail kings, they made great multi-use rigs.
Cruiser will be more reliable anyway, and you'll have a bunch of money left over to put in savings/invest.
Ary
The front brakes will die if you try to flat tow that much weight without trailer brakes. I can offer suggestions for better front brakes. This is a well known much discussed problem which DC thought they fixrd in 03 but I know they didn't.
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