Rollover Damage, Will it buff out??? (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Feb 21, 2015
Threads
4
Messages
51
Location
Grand Junction, CO
On Monday my new wife informed me that she was leaving due to not feeling able to parent my kids who have special needs. With that I took the rest of the week off in an attempt to salvage what was left of the summer vacation for my kids. We headed south to do some four wheeling in the San Juan Mountains.

After two days of enjoying the scenic trails in the Alpine triangle we headed back to camp. I left my older children at camp while I took my youngest daughter to look for an acquaintance who was camped up the road. I was backing up on the road when my rear passenger tire slipped on the edge of the road. I hit the brakes to stop, but it was too late the momentum carried me over. I was fortunate enough to roll back on my wheels again and was able to get back on the road unassisted. Fortunately my daughter and I were both wearing our seatbelts and there were no injuries.

Before:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn6/rockymtnfamily/Summer2015 204_zpsm69mci4h.jpg
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn6/rockymtnfamily/Summer2015 230_zpsdudoddls.jpg
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn6/rockymtnfamily/Summer2015 211_zpsvn8pjovj.jpg

After:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn6/rockymtnfamily/Summer2015 242_zps5ha0nwes.jpg
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn6/rockymtnfamily/Summer2015 248_zpssrnw9fer.jpg
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn6/rockymtnfamily/Summer2015 249_zpsuyxilmxz.jpg
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn6/rockymtnfamily/Summer2015 250_zpsquzbqphb.jpg

So, at this point I am considering my options:
1. Push the roof back out and continue to have fun on the trails.
2. Cut off the top, put a roll cage on and continue to have fun as a trailer queen.
3. Buy another LandCruiser and switch out the locking axles, suspension and tires to the other rig.

So, with that I come to the board for the collective wisdom to guide me. The vehicle still runs good and drives straight. As you can see in the pictures there is minimal damage on the sides so getting it back on the road might be a viable option. This is not my daily driver as I have a mall crawler (mini van) and a tow rig to get around.

Thanks for your input and/or making fun of me.
 
Depends on your space, time, money and ability.

If you have space, time and ability, chop the top and cap it back off at home
If you have money and time, fix the roof
If you have money buy a 100 series and mod

:)
 
Your A pillar is weakened now, it needs real structural repair to survive another crash as well. If you push the roof up, think reinforcement of the front too.

But yeah, crappy week dude...:cheers:
 
Capture_zpsyaqtrcaq.jpg


Should take care of your issues.
 
:(
 
Cruiserparts.net advertises an 80 body for $1000. That's cheaper than bringing a 100 up to the trail capability of an 80.
 
Chop the top. Full roll cage. Half doors. Safari top. Bad ass.
 
I was going to say just chop the top and put one of those pop-top roof tents up there...but the damage around the windshield and door would be a ton of work. Sorry about your truck, good luck on whatever venture you choose next.
 
Fuggit. Make it a truggy.
 
New body or find a parts truck.

Only way I see that buffing out is a roll cage. Suppose a leaky window wouldn't matter at that point so straighten the best you can to secure a windshield I suppose.
 
And sorry about your week. Sounds rough.
 
Life's a bitch (sounds like your wife is too). I would say straighten out as best you can to secure a windshield, then get an interior roll cage. Functionally it will be better than before, just a little uglier and a little shorter on interior space.

Or body swap.

I don't own a tow rig or trailer and really cant fathom justifying the cost of those two items in addition to your already expensive hobby of wheeling in a LC, so the truggy route seems bonkers to me. I've never really understood the trail truggy concept. You've got a cruiser with windows, AC, you don't get wet when it rains and you don't get dirt in your teeth. Chopping the roof off your cruiser will not make it any more capable off road (except that you will be less fearful of body damage and your COG might be a hair lower).
 
Duggy & Jefro pretty much said my POV -

Do you WANT a truggy/open top - or a real 80 cab?

We can all find any $3k fj80 or even a few cheap fzj's to transplant your axles & powertrain - more of duggy's reply for you there though, --do you have the inclination to do the work now even more since the tenuous family constraints?

Or are you blessed with enough cash to pull the axles, send the body off to a yard & buy a different 80 armed with locker axles in case the new one doesn't have them?

Jefro was right though - that A pillar is already battle scarred, to the point it may buckle if it sees another incident - the cost to repair that cab exceeds cost of a replacement body, unless you again have parts cab & a welder & can graft that section.

We all see the body damage, how is the frame?

That would be my big question.

Frame still straight = chop or replace cab, depending on if you're into all that.
Got the scratch? = buy another 80.
 
Yeah, that should buff right out - instead of a buffing pad, use a cutoff blade in the 'polisher' to remove the damage (i.e. the roof).

Sorry to see/read of the damage, glad everyone is safe and sound - seat belts ARE a good idea off road, glad you both had them on.

I HATE having to turn around on mountain trails that invariably have a cliff or multi-hundred foot drop off the side. Have had to do it and made often becomes a 10 point turn... I try to 'reverse' into/up the upslope side so I can see how close I am to the edge over the front versus looking out the back. I've had my kids get out and confirm 'clearance' when things get more risky.

cheers,
george.
 
No. 3 keep It safe for your kids, part out whats left. You need time with your family now. Good Luck. !
 
Raw deal all around man. I'm sorry for all your troubles, you sound like your family and yourself are better off without that particular person in your life. As for the cruiser, I personally would get a donor and swap everything over. The idea of a caged trailer queen is nice, but a proper cage and safety equipment isn't cheap unless you have the ability to fabricate one yourself and have a cheap metal supplier
 

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