[douglashuft]

"The Story"
I did not "grow up with cruisers" but did occasionally get a ride in the woods with my uncle to go shooting (rifles) in his battered blue fj40. I don't remember many of the cars from childhood but the cruiser always seemed to stick for some reason.
At the ripe old age of 27 I finally managed to buy a brand new minitruck. Regular cab, short bed, 22re 5spd, no ac, manual windows, etc. It was affordable and seemed like good choice for all my ski trips, mountain biking and kayak hauling. i still have the truck and it is still my daily driver.
A couple years later i got married, cranked out a couple kids and outgrew the mini. We added a 89 fj62 to the fleet, paid too much for it and then replaced the tranny, radiator, springs, etc (basically everything). The 3fe list was invaluable. Rarely wheeled it since "4 wheeling is scary and unsafe and the cruiser might get hurt".
Well, She got the cruiser and I got the house.
After so much time together working out the problems, the feel of her in my hands, Those curves, the way she purred. The way she she got dirty and how she cleaned up I really missed her. I am talking about the cruiser of course.
Moving on a couple years. Cramming the two older kids into a "legal" seatbelted jump seat bolted into the back of the mini and my new and our 3 year old in a childseat between us on the bench got old pretty fast. I also never felt good towing the tent trailer with this setup.
The search was on. After looking at 4 runners (i like the size of the mini on the trail), 55's and 60's (not cheap enough), besides already done that I decided the most bang for the buck was an fzj80 .
I looked at low mileage, high mileage, battered, pristine, finally found an "affordable" prewheeled one. Lockers definitely worked and it was a bit of history being one of the first 80's to traverse the Rubicon trail. It felt more like taking stewardship of the cruiser than buying a car. I assured the owner (Demetre) that I would wheel it and when he saw the mods (and some dents, but not too many) on my mini I think it helped appease him and felt it was going to a good family.

[douglashuft]

1993 fzj8o, 137,000 miles when purchased (141,000 now) for $6,000
The good: cloth seats, factory lockers, maintenence records/receipts, phh already done, no airbags (i like simple), 3 belts in the 3rd row, some dents so I dont have to worry too much.
The bad: rocker panel damage, light rust under the roof rack,old cracked worn 265 pirelli scorpians.
mods done by po: angle iron power steering line protection, extended diff breathers, ome mediums
my mods/maintenence:
baseline fluids done
fix slow window done
fix rear door light switch done
fix shaky DS mirror done
repair rocker panels done
clean rocker drains done
adjust lspv done
replace rear brakes done
service birfields done
inner axle seal done
front hubs done
service rear hubs done
replace lug nuts/wheel locks done
repair wheel stud done
(and some fun stuff)
trailer brake controller done
extra 12volt interior plugs done
cdl switch done
"install" inverter done
raise spare tire done
deflare done
roofrackectomy done
durabak done
285/75 cooper stt done
metaltech sliders done
4 pioneer door speakers (6.5") done
Pioneer single din Head unit done
Budbuilt tie rod done
Budbuilt relay rod done
airlift bags (in rear coils for towing) done


(phase 2 still on a "to do list")

caster correction, blues done
front sway bar quick release pin done
front sway lowered done
tcase skid
locker skid
bumpers
auto up window
low beam hir done
blue fan clutch
temp gauge mod
cargo light
fix leaky rear slider waist trim? leak
Yellow box

(Phase 3, need to remodel my house first, unless I wear down the 285's first)
bigger tires with appropriate lift and gears

[douglashuft]

pretty sure this is the po on the con

[douglashuft]

Attachment 234926
a little smushed
http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.p...6&d=1207775909

[douglashuft]

pulling the dents
http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.p...7&d=1207776017
por 15 high strength filler
http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.p...9&d=1207776139
factory roof racks suck

[douglashuft]

ready for tires and liner

[douglashuft]

plugs in 3rd row
http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.p...4&d=1212267275
front
http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.p...3&d=1212267275
2nd row
http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.p...2&d=1212267275

[douglashuft]

trailer wiring

[douglashuft]

inverter, enough for a laptop or cell phone. The black plastic piece screwed into the bottom "snaps" it into place in the 93 cup holder. For urban duty it is easily removed or transferable to another vehicle. All new plugs are wired to a fuse block on the firewall.

[douglashuft]

some action shots. Tahoe in the winter and wentworth springs during memorial day.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.p...6&d=1208979395
waking up in the snow
http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.p...0&d=1211952762
a bit of wheeling
http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.p...4&d=1211960860
http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.p...3&d=1211960860

[douglashuft]

http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.p...9&d=1211952762

[douglashuft]

Thats all for now, It is of course a work in progress. And i apologize for the mix of links and attachments, I could not figure out how post previously uploaded ih8mud images.

[cc93cruiser]

Doug nice cruiser indeed! I too was there at Wentworth Springs and saw you there.. Wish we could have stayed a little bit longer, but the weather was crappy....Well, till next time....

[jsuthey]

Nice write up and pics.Doug.Looks like a clean rig,your truck did the whole Rubicon trail,stock rear bump.285's? Glad you scored such a nice rig for the family,good job man!!!!!

[Skillet]

Good stuff.

Thanks for posting. Every rig has its own personality.

[thestallionq8]

I wish I lived in a place that has your environment! All my rig sees is concrete, asphalt, and sand! Not much mud, no rocks at all nor any forests/jungles!

Great rig though!

[Dusty]

nice truck

[douglashuft]

Originally Posted by cc93cruiser

Doug nice cruiser indeed! I too was there at Wentworth Springs and saw you there.. Wish we could have stayed a little bit longer, but the weather was crappy....Well, till next time....

Yes the weather was definitely crappy, we also would have bailed early if we had not had the trailer.

[douglashuft]

Originally Posted by jsuthey

Nice write up and pics.Doug.Looks like a clean rig,your truck did the whole Rubicon trail,stock rear bump.285's? Glad you scored such a nice rig for the family,good job man!!!!!

Thanks, We only did the smallest section of it, but many 80's (mine included) have run the entire trail with 285's. I really wanted 35's but was concerned with gearing and towing. It turns out that it towed (3,000 lbs) so well with the 285's that I feel like I probably could have lived with 35's (of course I am used to towing with a 22re). Until I get a rear bumper I also have no place to hang a 35' tire plus even the 285's rub a bit with the ome medium springs so being on budget I called on a bit of self restraint when tire shopping. The family is definitely happier in the cruiser.

[Romer]

Nice write-up Doug. My 80 will visit the Rubicon for the first time in two weeks.

[douglashuft]

It is a fun trail. Due to child visitation issues causing us to miss the wagon run (and I actually did not expect to get the cruiser ready in time for at least a quick run down cadillac hill on Saturday) We will reluctantly be missing this years Rubithon. Instead we will be heading to some lakes a bit south (and the slick rock trail) instead.
Utica Reservoir - CA
4x4Wire - Slickrock & Deer Valley Trails
californiajeeper.com :: Slick Rock Road Maps

[cc93cruiser]

Originally Posted by douglashuft

It is a fun trail. Due to child visitation issues causing us to miss the wagon run (and I actually did not expect to get the cruiser ready in time for at least a quick run down cadillac hill on Saturday) We will reluctantly be missing this years Rubithon. Instead we will be heading to some lakes a bit south (and the slick rock trail) instead.
Utica Reservoir - CA
4x4Wire - Slickrock & Deer Valley Trails
californiajeeper.com :: Slick Rock Road Maps

Doug I could probably join you for slick rock if the time is right....LMK

[douglashuft]

I imagine we will do slick rock June 22 or 23rd. Kinda like load up the kids and take the "shortcut" to bear valley for ice cream. I have never been on this trail but am under the impression that it is moderate and only takes a couple hours. Unfortunately, I have no radio and cell phones don't work up there.

[latinoguy]

Doug,
Nice rig. Can add more comments regarding the trailer wiring...Where did you get the wiring kit? Was it an all in one kit? I like how you installed it off the bumper...I am considering doing something similar to this.

[douglashuft]

Originally Posted by latinoguy

Doug,
Nice rig. Can add more comments regarding the trailer wiring...Where did you get the wiring kit? Was it an all in one kit? I like how you installed it off the bumper...I am considering doing something similar to this.

The spot on the bumper was chosen because the corner brace for the crossmember would accommodate it. Simply the easiest spot to mount it with no interference and hopefully the bumperette will slightly protect the plug. As far as the kit, there was none, I cleaned the connections up tied into the "port installed" trailer wiring. I had the cheap controller from a previous vehicle, bought the 7 way plug. The brakes and 12volt trailer power were fresh wires that I ran along with the factory loom under the carpet. I did pull a bit of wire through the truck (and installed breakers where they connect to the battery. Aux plugs all run off a fused block on the firewall. If I had known about the slee method under the passenger seat I would have gone that route.

[rhyary]

Doug,
Can you elaborate on the trailer harness. I recently re did mine and I like your fixed plug vs. my dangling setup.
Rami

[AKcruiserfreak]

Nice rig!

TK

[gnx7]

Nice rig Doug! My parents have a cabin in Arnold (Bear Valley) and I go wheeling and camping up by Uttica a few times a year. That place is awesome.

I'm in SF out by Ocean Beach BTW. I haven't "bumped" into your rig yet. Mine is a champagne LX450 with specs in the sig.

[douglashuft]

Originally Posted by rhyary

Doug,
Can you elaborate on the trailer harness. I recently re did mine and I like your fixed plug vs. my dangling setup.
Rami

Not much to elaborate on. Drill the hole in the bumper that fits a 7 way plug and bolt it in. As far as the wire is concerned, All auto parts stores usually sell a 7 way plug that has wires already installed. Rather than use these wires with splices, I prefer to disassemble the plug and screw in the wires directly that run to the battery, controller, etc. A lot of these harnesses have a 4wire plug that connect to the existing 4way (and can be disconnected if you run that style of trailer).

[douglashuft]

Originally Posted by gnx7

Nice rig Doug! My parents have a cabin in Arnold (Bear Valley) and I go wheeling and camping up by Uttica a few times a year. That place is awesome.

I'm in SF out by Ocean Beach BTW. I haven't "bumped" into your rig yet. Mine is a champagne LX450 with specs in the sig.

Last couple of years we have headed out to union/uttica rather than the tlca rubithon for various reasons. It was my consolation trip since I was missing the rubithon but turned out to be a nice "discovery". The kids have a great time.
I have only had the cruiser since late November 2007 and the bed liner was done a few weeks ago so you probably have not had much chance to see it in its current state. Not to mention I commute in my mini to save a little gas.