Hmm, Toyota or Jeep..Would really like some opinions please!

[Haggar]

My next worthless post(these things happen when I'm really bored..)


Between these two rigs, which would you rather have for wheeling?

Keep in mind the variables, such as weather, weight, length, wheelbase, clearance, etc...

Vehicle A:

Toyota truck: Ext cab, Wheelbase is about 108", Length is 14', weight 3600 lbs.



Flatfender: Wheelbase pushed to ~90", length is 11', weight is 2500 lbs. (This is not my jeep but exactly how mine would look if I built it..)



Either way, both would have the same drivetrain, 36" swampers, dual t-cases, Toyota axles @ 58" wide, etc...



No, not getting rid of the Toyota already :-) But I'm trying to think about my longer term plans. I have the TOyota, *AND* the CJ3a *AND* a Cherokee on 31s for lighter-duty 4-wheeling like snow runs. Honestly don't feel the need for 3 wheeling vehicles, so trying to narrow down the long term 'main wheeler'.

If I was to keep the Toyota as the main wheeler, then I'd go with a 2nd round of work.. V6, automatic, 4 link rear, other things..

If I was to build the flattie, I'd just wheel the Toyota as is, build the flattie, then transfer the whole drivetrain from the truck into the Jeep.


Opinions please!

[brimy311]

When I built my cruiser, I basically wanted a smaller less dentable body then a toyota mini truck. So I would say, the CJ3 would be easier to keep nice and wheel it hard. Mini trucks get beat up super fast.

The only probably I would see with the willys would be the wheel base. 90" is still very short, and might be pretty tough getting dual cases in there with a decent length rear dshaft. My cruiser is 103" long, my rear dshaft is 27" long. I have the L52 and dual cases. My motor is pretty far forward as well, which you wont be able to do in a willy's.

Whatever you do, as long as you keep an all toyota driveline, it will be just fine.

[Monkeyevil]

I'd build a willys this winter if I could fit my drivetrain it it... and fit myself in it comfortable.

[brimy311]

also, A 22re is about all you will be able to stuff under the hood of a willy's. I looked at mudtruks willys with 22re, and it was pretty much put in with a shoe horn. So you would not be able to go the v6 route very easily.

[Haggar]

Well, I figured 90" as a guesstimate. Figure I'd try to push the rear axle back close to 8-10" but not stretch the body..the front axle forward a little bit. Maybe a narrow electric fan to get a little more room for the motor to be forward..

I'd be a 4 link in the rear, which would help to push the axle back as much as needed.

Yeah, 22R/L52/Duals is whats in the truck now, and I'd swap it over..

Considering I previously ran a CJ-5 for years, with a 19" rear shaft with SOA, 35s, no real issues with climbing..

[Monkeyevil]

Originally Posted by Haggar

Considering I previously ran a CJ-5 for years, with a 19" rear shaft with SOA, 35s, no real issues with climbing..

I wish I had your problems... I have a 26" driveshaft and it's at 22deg at ride height. Which puts me pretty close to the 27deg max angle of a 1310 joint.

[cornfed]

IMHO, I'd wheel the Toyota. I hate seeing flatties with comp cuts.

[sodapop]

If it was my choice, I'd go with the Flattie, I'd comp cut the back and stretch it a bit more. If you're going to do all th work, 4 link it have the rear wheels way to the back. You could get a top for it or make one to help with winter wheeling. Even on cold winter days, I still wheel with my windows down. I doubt it would be much worse with no doors as long as you had the rest covered to hold in some sort of heat

[brimy311]

I was $5 away from a CJa3 on ebay before I got my cruiser. It is alot of fun running around with old iron. I get alot of ppl talking to me about my cruiser, they don't even know it is all 1985' mini truck parts. Building the Willys would be alot of fun, it would be very unique.

I had alot of ppl say "I can't believe you chopped a FJ." If it is so important that they don't get cut up, then those ppl need to invest there savings in buying them and storing them in a building.

[Haggar]

Alright, I was pretty much already there, yeah, I'm going to wheel the toyota as is, and build the willys.


Yeah, I loved the old 75 CJ-5... never had a top on that, wheeling it all year, just didn't go freeway speeds in the winter for cold reasons.

I do actually have a soft top on my flattie, but it needs to be reskinned or have new windows sewn in. With the doors and a bikini top, I'd be decent, though. Maybe use a windjammer to make a half-cab.

I saved most everything mechanical from my 83 toyota, so the hanging pedals, steering, heater, etc, I can adapt over to the Jeep. Wiring would be all new with a painless block, probably. I hate crappy wiring... every wire on there would be nice and run nicely.

Leafs up front, probably linked out back. Maybe use the 85 toyota rears up front to get the flex springs with an offset pin to move that axle up.


Driveshaft and drivetrain, well, I'll have to see what it works out to. See, my truck is at 108" and I have a 47.875" rear driveshaft. I'll have to see what measurements the CJ has to the firewall. I know the front clip is short on the CJ..

If I can keep the weight down, the CJ with the 22RE will have a better HP to weight ratio than the Toyota with a 4.3 V6..

OK, thanks for the opionions guys! And please keep them coming, always like to hear from the peanut gallery!

[smasheromalley]

OMG this makes my pants tight




Winter wheeling? Wear a coat :miff:

[Bones]

that willy's would be a blast on tight trails, but would suck in rocks and hills, strictly due to wheelbase

[Haggar]

Well, I wheeled my CJ-5 on stock 84" wheelbase and narrow trac axles with skinny tires for a long time, and liked it. Flopped it twice.

So, I'd go wired by 9" with this setup, much more stable, and longer, especially with the rear axle. Anti-squat numbers designed for climbing.

[Haggar]

Hey Brimy... what axle gears are you running? How is the overall performance with the 22RE?

[GreaseMonkey]

B

[Chop]

i would like the willys, just because i have always wanted one, the toy could be a cool build also tho.

[Haggar]

Well, thats my toy in the pics, its already done...

[brimy311]

Originally Posted by Haggar

Hey Brimy... what axle gears are you running? How is the overall performance with the 22RE?

toyota 8" axles. Front axle is 30spline chromo longs, elocker 5.29's. 1.5" wheel spacers. Rear axle is IFS rear, 1.5" spacers, 5.29's welded.

I have driven it on the road a couple of times, seem to get up to 55-60mph, just fine. Probably would not do great on a freeway lol. Offroading, with the right gearing and a light rig, HorsePower does not matter. I am going to guess i am somewhere in the 3000-3500lb range. Right now I just have two stock geared toy cases, but I am going to put 4.7:1 in the rear case to give me a lower desending speed.

I am a big advocate of toyota parts. The 22re is a great motor for offroading. But if you want to go 85mph on the freeway with 38" swampers, you better go with something else. I have never thought or said " I need more power" while wheeling. I use to have a TPI 350 jeep, and I will never ever ever ever ever ever put anything bigger then a 4cyl in my wheelin rigs.

[brimy311]

here is what my toyota truck looked like after about 3 trips wheeling it...It got beat up way too fast. I called this guy "PMC" project mall cruiser. took alot of time to make it nice. No matter what I did to try, the toyota sheetmetal managed to find stuff to dent on. Also a big probably I had with my truck was because of the bigger body, the turning radius was hard to deal with. Anyone that has wheeled with a toyota, knows what I am talking about.

[swampjeep]

wheel the yota, sell the flattie (I might know a buyer :tonka: )