[dmc]

I know you've all been waiting on pins and needles for my ROTW. Believe me I have too. Or I've enjoyed the ROTW series so much that I figured the least I could do was contribute. Hopefully you'll find something of value. FZJFillmore wanted me to do my entire thread about the stickers on my truck. I would but that would take too much effort so here goes...

I was a late convert to the magnificent beast known as the US spec FZJ80 Land Cruiser. However when the bug bit I knew what I wanted and I got pretty lucky. After selling my 97 Tacoma, a truck I loved, here on MUD I gave myself 6 weeks to find the 40th Anniversary 80 with lockers that I wanted. There has always been something about the 1B2 (Antique Pearl Sage) paint color that I loved from the first time I saw it. My 40 almost ended up that color. Well my search lasted about 48 hours. Bret van Tuyle, President of the Green Country Cruisers, had his 80 become available. Within a week I was on a plane to Oklahoma City. Thanks to Woody for the classifieds. Sold and bought my rigs within a month on MUD!

As of April 4th, 2005 I was the proud owner of a 1997 FZJ80, 101,863 miles, lockers (of course), ARB Bumper with Ramsey Patriot 9500 winch, OME 850front, 863 rear, and Slee Sliders. The truck was ready to go. One the way home I even managed to take the 'scenic route' between Moab and Green River, UT. The trip back to Utah was enough to convince me that I had made the right decision. Then of course the battery died as soon as I pulled into the driveway.

So as of this morning I have 118,5** miles on the odometer and have made the following mods in no particular order

New battery
CDL
Swiched to M1 Synthetic
OME Front Js
Pioneer in dash DVD with IPOD adapter
rear storage
CB install
snorkel
PHH
HIR light upgrade, high and low beams
2in front spacers, rear J's and L shocks all around.
custom exhaust with magnaflow muffler
slee lighting harness

Not too much but I started with a good platform. One thing I did learn and I've posted it more than once is this.

BEST TECHNIQUE FOR REMOVING WOOD GRAIN - Forget the heat gun, forget the putty knife. set the heater on high, walk away for 30mins, come back, pull the wood grain off with your fingers. It's really that simple. I tried the heat gun and some 3m adhesive removal. Running the heater was far easier. Took maybe 10 mins to remove ALL the wood grain.

I think long term i'll remove the front spacers and go back to a rear 864 spring. I recently (2 weekend ago) went higher with one goal in mind, ACT 2006. I need room to clear 315 muds and wanted a bit more height. I prefer a bit lower stance for what I'll be using this truck for. Tire choice, as of now, for the 315 will be the Dunlop Mud Rover. I've had them on my 60 and my Taco and liked the way they performed. Plus they are relatively cheap.

Other long term plans include the following
Rear bumper with swing out
long range tank
roof rack (jmoose style)/tent
new rear storage for my latest purchase
dual battery
custom sub and amp


Like many others I'm building this as an 'expedition' truck. Which to me means a lot of wandering the Southwestern US but long term I intended to drive to South America. I tend to like to find the limits of my rigs early on. Between the Utah Cruiser Expedition and the latest Wasatch Cruisers run to Moab I've learned the limits of my truck fairly quickly. Just as I knew I would be I'm very impressed. Okay I used far too many words. Now time for the pics.

First trip in the truck, CM May 05

Moab October 05

Utah Cruiser Expedition Sept 05

[dmc]

The
deck.

the adapter

The IPOD is the 30gig photo. Install was done by a Cruiserhead at a local shop called Ratio

[nyk438]

Nice rig!

[dmc]

One pic of some stickers just for Cory and the reason I need to build new drawers, 63qt ARB! I have to show off the IH8MUD and giant TLCA sticker. I hope at least one of you Alaskan's will recognize the Mapco sticker.
dmc

[MaddBaggins]

Nice rig Dave! I enjoyed reading about your expedition in Utah and checking out the pics on the site. I'm thinking I need to get the iPod for my rig. The deck is iPod ready and I keep getting CD's stuck because of to much dust.

[dmc]

my easy simple drawers...

I'm into them about $160 in material and 3 or 4 evenings. I'm trying to figure out how i can save them and incorporate the Fridge but it's probably not going to happen. The joints are all biscuited and glued so the thing is like a rock, very solid. They aren't anything fancy. no slides, just wood on wood but so far i've been very happy with them.
dmc

[dmc]

Originally Posted by MaddBaggins

Nice rig Dave! I enjoyed reading about your expedition in Utah and checking out the pics on the site. I'm thinking I need to get the iPod for my rig. The deck is iPod ready and I keep getting CD's stuck because of to much dust.

I was anti MP3 for a long long time. It was fine for my pc at work but otherwise I was all about the audio. Most cd traders will understand what that means. I used to haul 500 cd with me on trips just in case I got a specific urge for a certain concert or album. Once I accepted that MP3 was good enough for my bad speakers in a truck with 33in tires and wind noise I was hooked. The IPOD adapter was one of the best decisions i've ever made. I'm considering upgrading from the 30gig photo to the 60 gig movie so I can load up all my live music.
dmc

[davegonz]

Nice rig Dave..I have always liked that color. Can't wait for my ipod...

[Trunk Monkey]

Good work Dave. You are a sticker artist. Dave and I are equal lovers of the 1B2, and I will always be envious.

[wileetoyote]

Nice rig dmc.

Would you mind posting a full dash pic so we can get a glimpse of what your 'woodless' dash looks like?

Thx
WET

[dmc]

Originally Posted by wileetoyote

Nice rig dmc.

Would you mind posting a full dash pic so we can get a glimpse of what your 'woodless' dash looks like?

Thx
WET

For some reason I can't find these pics on my PC right now but this thread shows the majority of the dash.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/41504-indash-slide-out-screen.html

I painted the section around the shifter with a light coat of black. I'll take a pic tonight and show it tomorrow.
dmc

[NorCalSam]

How do you like your Pioneer and would you do it again?

I have the older dash so the flip up would not be the best for me but I was looking at the other one.

cheers
Sam

[Josh83]

Looks like your wood removal method works a bit better than Junks gouging it off with a screwdriver method. Did the plastic under the wood look good everywhere.

[beno]

Nice rig Dave...though I prefer the 'well-worn-in' look from the recent TT.


-onur
akron, oh

[dmc]

Originally Posted by NorCalSam

How do you like your Pioneer and would you do it again?

I have the older dash so the flip up would not be the best for me but I was looking at the other one.

cheers
Sam

I've always had Pioneer Premiere head units in my trucks and have always loved them. The current DVD is not a Premiere unit but I've been very happy with it. The video quality is excellent as is the functionality. 90% of the funcitonality I use can be controlled with the screen slid in so when I get off road I don't usually run with it out. I have read some reviews the the ipod controls on non touch screen units can be somewhat burdensome. I went single din so I would have a convenient easy way to store the ipod.
dmc

[dmc]

Originally Posted by beno

Nice rig Dave...though I prefer the 'well-worn-in' look from the recent TT.


-onur
akron, oh

just for you onur. nice and muddy...

[Romer]

Nice rig. Didn't we do Kane Creek together at CM05 along with Cruiser Dan?

[dmc]

Originally Posted by Josh83

Looks like your wood removal method works a bit better than Junks gouging it off with a screwdriver method. Did the plastic under the wood look good everywhere.

Everything underneath looks great except for the ashtray. That piece needed some persuasion with the putty knife and I scratched it just a bit. Not sure why but it did not want to come off. The heater trick is genius. I just wish it were my idea. I'm just a fan. Simple, easy, quick. Perfect for a man as lazy as me.
dmc

[beno]

Originally Posted by dmc

just for you onur. nice and muddy...

Perfect!

[dmc]

Originally Posted by Romer

Nice rig. Didn't we do Kane Creek together at CM05 along with Cruiser Dan?

Yep that was me. I gave props to you fellas in my "leaning 80" thread a few days ago. I seem to remember you and CDan a bit disappointed in my desire to completely cover my truck in mud that day. Well, you were right. There is still plenty of it stuck underneath my truck. 18 cars washes down 34 more to go and it might be clean. That was a good group and trail run.
dmc

[clarkrw3]

Looks great...thanks for cross posting on the Expedition Portal

[blupaddler]

DMC...

Nice rig. I also enjoyed your write-up in TT.




Ditto on what Clarkrw3 said too.

[reffug]

Very impressive write up and rig.

Nicely done sir.

I too love that sage.

[NorCalDoug]

Great rig!
nicely done.

[WildYoats]

As a recent 80 newbie, I must say that Dave's rig was one my local inspirations. It is a great rig and looks great (when he washes it ). I've had an opportunity to see this rig and driver in action in Moab and was just as impressed. Good job sir!

A couple more of this fine machine:

[dmc]

for those who liked the write up in Trails I posted a lot more pics from the trip here.

I was sitting home last night thinking of what else I could offer to the 80 forum that might be unique and one of the few things would be about the winch. I've known the name Ramsey but can't say that I've ever heard much them good or bad. I know most people recommend the Warn m12000 for an 80 because it's a heavy truck. I have the fortune or misfotune of using my winch 5 times since I purchased the 80 and have been very pleased with the performance. Three times I needed it to extract myself (maybe I should learn to drive) and twice was helping others including a very stuck, fully loaded 80.



dmc

[cabron]

That is a bad a** rig. I want to do something similar if I get an 80

[Safado]

Nice Dave...Now we should get a list going of all those that have put dent's and dings into your truck.

[Riverrock97]

Dave-

Since I don't have my 80 any more (and you do) I hardly venture over to this side of MUD, and look what I've been missing!

I love what you've done to my old truck, Dave. Looks great, and you've done a super job turning it into what I wanted to do. Keep it up!

Bret Van Tuyle
Green Country Cruisers
1979 FJ40
1964 FJ40

[dmc]

Originally Posted by Riverrock97

Dave-

Since I don't have my 80 any more (and you do) I hardly venture over to this side of MUD, and look what I've been missing!

I love what you've done to my old truck, Dave. Looks great, and you've done a super job turning it into what I wanted to do. Keep it up!

Bret Van Tuyle
Green Country Cruisers
1979 FJ40
1964 FJ40

Bret,

Nice to see you survived the fires. I'm trying to use the truck like it was meant to be used. I must have 50 stickers on that thing now but more people have commented on the FJ25 script "toyota" bubble sticker that you put on there than anything else. i'm telling you, you could make a fortune selling those things.
dmc