ROTW- Atoyot1031's Graceland Two and how it came about...

[Atoyot1031]

Well, here goes my first attempt at this ROTW thing…

I probably fell in love with Toyotas as a kid watching “Back to the Future” and seeing Marty McFly’s black Toyota dream truck. So in 1996 at the age of 19, I bought a 1987 Toyota truck. Frankentruck very slowly evolved over the last 12 years as I did to the wheeling world. I wheeled this truck all over Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming and came to believe that anyone who drives anything other than a Toyota offroad is a fool…

I met my wife in 2001. My major concern was the fact that she drove a 1993 Wrangler. The “Anti-Lemon” as I referred to it had made it about 130xxx miles without any major mechanical problems. When we were engaged in 2003, I convinced her to sell it and that we would buy an 80 series Land Cruiser.

In the summer of 2004, we purchased a 1997 Land Cruiser off Ebay and it was delivered to us in Aspen. It was clean with 65xxx miles, and factory F&R lockers. This was Graceland One. We drove it to St. Louis for our wedding in September and back. Then to the Grand Canyon for a brief honeymoon. Here’s a picture of it at the Grand Canyon:





I was very busy working on Frankentruck and building a family so Graceland One served us primarily as a DD and weekend camping warrior vehicle paired with our Cabelas tent seen here:





Of course, at this point in the Spring of 2005, truck mods weren’t nearly as important as family mods. We had wasted no time, and were anxiously expecting our first child on this camping trip. Although only 10 minutes from our house (and the hospital), my wife was quite the trooper to go camping nearly 9 months pregnant. She still talks about how sleeping in the Cruiser those nights were the most comfortable she was during the late periods of her pregnancy. Here's the Maroon Bells where we were camping that Memorial Day weekend with the wife and baby-to-be in the foreground:




Although I had tackled the usual PM issues, I hadn’t taken on any mods on the 80. Finally in 2007 with another baby on the way, I realized that Frankentruck’s days of wheeling were limited in this family and my focus needs to be turned to Graceland One. With the limited budget of a young family man, my efforts began.

This was my plan:
-Build roof rack to accommodate spare tire and gear.
-Build sliders
-With spare out of the way, build high clearance rear bumper
-Build tube front bumper

With my pregnant wife and baby boy out of town, my work began. My roof rack build can be seen in this thread:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-te...ack-build.html

I had already purchased the slider kit from 4xinnovations.com, but didn’t complete them until the day my baby girl was born. This build can be seen in this thread:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-te...thing-dun.html

After that, things slowed down for a bit. I bought the steel to build my rear bumper based on the concept of Land Speeder’s bumper. The idea was to chop the framerails, replace the crossmember with a burly piece of box steel that utilized an integrated hitch, and make tube bumperettes to cover and protect the rear quarter panels.

However, the best of plans are often met with adversity. On November 28, 2007, my wife was on the way to a chiropractor’s appointment when she lost control of the Cruiser on ice, and ran into a concrete retaining wall. The accident deployed both airbags, bent the framerails, and totaled Graceland One. By the grace of God, neither of our children were with here at the time and she was able to walk away from the accident without injury.

This accident convinced us that another 80 series was a safe and wise decision for us and our family. The aftermath of the accident and the search for a replacement 80 can be found in this thread:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-te...-one-asap.html

During these Cruiserless days, I had my good friend, mountjoy_99’s SC’d 1997 as a loaner vehicle. With the eventual plan to own a popup camper for the family, I decided that forced induction or a diesel conversion were necessary. I contacted Grease Cruiser who I knew was selling his Cummins converted 80, but alas, he had sold it about one month prior. I also knew that with a family, I would most likely retire before I built my 80 the way I wanted it, I decided that buying, not building as many mods as possible would be a wise choice.

Looking everywhere, I spotted this ad on Christo’s site:

Slee - Trucks for sale

I also found out that Christo was selling the Blueberry, which I had seen when I met Christo on his return trip from CM07 and I was coming back from a family desert trip while stopping for gas in Grand Junction.

After deciding that the best decision for the family was the 80, I worked earnestly with the help of SGT0311 and Christo and convinced my bank to loan me the money for the new 80, and so Graceland Two became the newest member of the family. The thread is here:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-te...not-built.html

Pretty nice Christmas present for 2007…

So, with just about every mod imaginable already completed, I have been hard pressed to find things to do.

Thus far these are the mods I’ve completed:
-installing my roof rack from Graceland One to Graceland Two (http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-te...-new-80-a.html)
- installing my Uniden 520 into the asktray location
-installing a LX 450 center console, stereo head unit, with the OEM disc changer, sub, and amp
-installing a cruisercrap.com bottle opener on the Kaymar bumper

Future mods hopefully include:
-upgrade to LX sub
-installation of auxiliary fan
-installation of 3rd row seats on top of Outback Drawers with quick removal setup

Obviously, I’m pulling at straws here…

I whole-heartedly would like to thank the entire MUD community for being so welcoming and such a wealth of knowledge and help. I believe I have been fortunate to avoid a lot of costly mistakes by taking in what I can here and using others ideas to either mimic or modify to come up with the end result I desire.

There are too many to thank for there help along the way, but I believe you all know who you are. Everytime I’ve reached out for help for a project or problem there has been a quick response, so thanks to all of those that have ever received a PM from me or replied to my posts regardless of how knuckleheaded my questions were.

I also want to say thanks to everyone I had the good fortune of meeting at CM08. It was an amazing event for my whole family. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. Brownbear, treeroot, Matt Farr, Romer, Cruiserdan, Box Rocket, Dirty Toad, and the San Juan guys to name a few. My wife and I are already looking forward to next year.

When I get a chance I will post up some CM08 pics of Graceland Two in action and my mods.

Thanks MUD!!!
Nick Kertz



P.S. My salute to you all...

[slow91fj90]

Awesome write up, nice truck!

to you Nick!

[Atoyot1031]

Here I am ready to descend Buttscratcher on Gold Bar Rim


At full stuff on an obstacle on Kane Creek


And showing off on the Wedgie on Poison Spider Mesa

[Atoyot1031]

Here's the bottle opener


Here you can see the Lexus head unit and the CB. The CB mic clip is located on the PS mounted via the console mounting screw.

[Atoyot1031]

A list of pre-existing mods:

Brand New Short Block @ 68,000 miles (.004 over)
TRD Supercharger
Winch Master Switch
Warn M12000
Interior Winch Controls (w/ Toyota antenna switches)
ARB Front Bumper
IPF 900 Aux. Lights
ARB Air Compressor (w/ Manifold)
ARB Air Lockers (Front & Rear)
4.88 Ring & Pinion
Slee Transfer Case Skid Plate
5" Slee & Old Man Emu Lift
Kaymar Rear Bumper (w/ Tire Carrier & Can Holder)
Auxillary Long Ranger Fuel Tank (w/ Switching Fuel Gauge)
Outback Roller Drawers
Slee Sliders
315x 75x 16 Goodyear MTR's
16x 8 Mickey Thompson / Alcoa Forged Aluminum Wheels (Powder Coated Black Chrome)
Water Proof Seat Covers
All Toyota Auxillary Switches
OEM dash cupholder
OEM hand throttle
Slee SS brake lines
Diff breathers extended
Uniden 520 CB w/ Wilison antenna
Aux. fuse block under PS seat
Drilled and slotted brake rotors (F&R)




A list of PM items since purchase:

PHH
Starter rebuild
DOT 4 brake fluid and rear pads
John Deere HIR low beam bulbs
305 studded MTs for winter tires to keep the off the concrete retaining walls

[619TOY]

Good looking rig! Great write up too. I actually remember when it was up for sale.

Glad you had a good time in Moab. I was there last year. I kind of passed it up this year so I could run the 20th anniversary Rubithon. I did notice that your line was a little off on Kane Creek though; here's the desired line for that spot:

[Atoyot1031]

Right you are Steve!

The way I took it I scratched my mudflap...

I need more "thinking like I'm driving an 80" when on narrow trails like that. I'm definitely guilty of wheeling like I'm still in my itty-bitty Frankentruck. Of course 12 years of experience is hard to change overnight...

Thanks for your help on my LX stereo wiring project!

[Doc]

Good write up! Glad to have met you at CM08.

[pint]

Nice rig!

[Yossarian]

What a long "wheel" on 70 to STL from DEN huh? The wife and I did the same thing in 05 with ours, before $4 gal. gas

Nice rig.

[thestallionq8]

Nice write up!

[Atoyot1031]

Originally Posted by Doc

Good write up! Glad to have met you at CM08.

I can't believe I left you off the CM08 list! It was nice to meet you as well. Are you a daddy x2 yet?!? If not, good luck and I'll keep praying for a smooth delivery.

I also left Vitesse6 off the CM list as well...

Originally Posted by Yossarian

What a long "wheel" on 70 to STL from DEN huh? The wife and I did the same thing in 05 with ours, before $4 gal. gas

Nice rig.

I get the pleasure of adding about 200 miles starting in Glenwood Springs. I last did the drive in 04 for our wedding. No $4 gas, no kids, and premium wasn't necessary as I wasn't SC'd...

[Doc]

Originally Posted by Atoyot1031

Are you a daddy x2 yet?!? .

Not yet. Late July or early August is the expected date of arrival. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!

[Romer]

Originally Posted by Atoyot1031

Right you are Steve!

The way I took it I scratched my mudflap...

Thanks for contributing and it was nice to meet you in Moab

If you are going to wheel that truck you should remove those mudflaps or they will get ripped off. I took mine off four years ago.

[cc93cruiser]

Originally Posted by 619TOY

Good looking rig! Great write up too. I actually remember when it was up for sale.

x2... I remember wondering who it went too, glad to see a fellow mudder have it...

[Box Rocket]

Nice writeup Nick. Nice to meet you in Moab and sorry I didn't get to chat with you longer.

Good looking truck.

[reffug]

Nice write up.

Very well put together and thought out.

As always thanks for contributing.

[Skillet]

Great rig and writeup...

Nice roofrack, I may be getting a similar rack very soon.

[stocknlocked94]

Nice write-up and how much wear do you get out of those MTR's. Bout to buy a pair but heard they wear very quickly??

[jsuthey]

Nice score on that rig!!!! Great write-up also,thanks for the help in posting up some pics. for me.I have saved your detailed e-mail
in hopes of someday to post my own pics.& put my rig on the rig of the week.

[CreeperSleeper]

You got a sweet rig! I was drooling over that one on Slee's site. I would like to get a mildly modded 80 as my daily someday... We'll see if it actually happens!

[Tapage]

Sweet Cruiser and better write up ..thanks for tharing ..

The best part ..

I met my wife in 2001. My major concern was the fact that she drove a 1993 Wrangler.

[Atoyot1031]

Originally Posted by stocknlocked94

Nice write-up and how much wear do you get out of those MTR's. Bout to buy a pair but heard they wear very quickly??

They do wear pretty quickly, but I'm pretty happy with their performance. I might try some of the Trxus next though.

Originally Posted by CreeperSleeper

You got a sweet rig! I was drooling over that one on Slee's site. I would like to get a mildly modded 80 as my daily someday... We'll see if it actually happens!

I laughed at the mildly modded (>$20,000 in mods), but knowing what your rig is I guess it is somewhat mild...

Originally Posted by Tapage

Sweet Cruiser and better write up ..thanks for tharing ..

The best part ..

I met my wife in 2001. My major concern was the fact that she drove a 1993 Wrangler.

That is too funny! It just goes to show, we may be in different hemispheres, but Cruiserheads think a like!

[84runner]

Originally Posted by Atoyot1031

... I probably fell in love with Toyotas as a kid watching “Back to the Future” and seeing Marty McFly’s black Toyota dream truck.

And remember that wasn't just any old Toyota, it was THE diamond in the rough;
1985 EFI extra cab... Last year of the solid axle first year of 'some' EFI...

Oh nice 80!!!

[Atoyot1031]

Originally Posted by Romer

Thanks for contributing and it was nice to meet you in Moab

If you are going to wheel that truck you should remove those mudflaps or they will get ripped off. I took mine off four years ago.

Well, despite three trips to Moab this spring and a trip to Flat Nasty last week, I haven't decided if I'm gonna wheel this truck or not...

Funny you mention the mudflap thing Romer. While at Flat Nasty, I used a special tool (giant boulder) to remove the DS mudflap. Yet despite my efforts with a similar special tool, I was unable to remove the PS mudflap. I'll have to see if I can find a rock back here in CO that is up to the task.

Also at Flat Nasty I utilized another boulder to relocate my AC dryer (miraculously I kept it intact). Now I need to order up a dryer skidplate from Christo before I