Like most, we need to post the night before as we leave early for work. All of the previous ROTW’s are awesome. You all just make people want more and more and more.
Teresa or “Tree” or little boss and I both grew up in the country side of Nevada County, in Northern California. I grew up in fact on a 300 acre ranch with my rifle and my dog. I am a Construction Superintendent (Carpenter by trade) and Teresa is a Registered Veterinary Technician and runs a clinic in Auburn. We love the outdoors (camping, fishing, shooting, backpacking, and skiing etc.) I am 31 and Teresa is 30. We have two children Autumn 7 and Sayer 3.
Don’t get bored, there’s a small story. We moved out and rented our first house in 1994. Down the road from our house were our dreams. We watched them drive by every day. His and Hers 94 FZJ80 cruisers. They were beautiful. I think Burgundy and Dark Green. We could only wish. With $6.50 and $8.00 per hour jobs, a cruiser wasn’t likely in our near future.
Well about two years ago I started looking for a SUV for the family after fixing one of my fairly new trucks one to many times. Realizing that finally with my new job and promotion etc. that we can actually afford to get and drive what we want (within reason). Always before we had bought only because it was what we could afford and/or it was a great deal. I started looking with this criteria in mind.
1. I wanted a real SUV/wagon / troop-carrier (something actually used by militaries )
2. Something mid-sized not to big not to small. I hate American (boat) SUVs that need bow thrusters to turn. They are not good on the trail or in the city, just to big.
3. Extremely high build quality- like my German and Japanese power tools
4. Reliability
5. Good Off- Road Performance. We live at 3,000’ elevation in the Sierra Nevada Foothills and we drive off road much more than most
6. Heavy and strong- the heavy, not so good for off-roading, but a plus as a DD to protect my family.
8. Availability of parts and mods like (lift kits, bumpers, and roof racks etc.)
9.Diesel if possible or convert to diesel
10. I wanted to be able to lift it about 3” run at least 33” tires for expedition use but with a good driver and a winch be able to make it through class 5 trails if I needed to or felt the need to prove that I can.
I first looked at used H1s. But prices were still very high for a rig that is too wide for most roads and or tails in my area. And not exactly what you would call reliable.
2. Mercedes G-wagon cost of new ones to high and no diesel option in the US? Could not find any reasonably price old ones in or around the US. And availability of parts and accessories. Yes I was dreaming.
3. Land Rover Defender 110s. We really like the look of these rigs but again the cost of these in the US for a old truck was too high parts are not readily available and the stories of there reliability were shocking.
4. Land Cruisers. I first looked at getting a FJ60 to restore and build-up drop in a diesel etc. But Little Boss shot that down. Then we really started to look at that truck we loved so much now 12 years ago. We found that they still hold their value very well especially in California. Looked at many including one with lockers, 184,000 for $10,000. Doing research at that time, that is pretty much what they were going for. We found our truck, Burgundy 1994 with lockers 146,000. They wanted $11,000 we paid $10,000 (we had to throw in the old horse trailer though).
So it took 10 years until we could afford the vehicle we had wanted, though the spending didn’t stop there. Luckily Tree really likes mods(she likes chainsaws and weedeaters for mothers day etc). Two months after purchase, she went into CD Performance, ( local Grass Valley 4x4 shop) for a OME 2.5 inch HD lift on the truck. Instead of the OME shocks, we had Rancho RS 9000’s put on. The reason was we wanted a higher performance shock with adjustability and preferably with remote reservoirs for different road conditions and payload conditions. This adjustable shock system was in-cab capable if we every wanted to add the remote kit. When Tree picked the truck up from the shop, she was surprised with an ARB front bumper. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! She was very happy to have a serious deer popper.
Our next main mod was the custom rear bumper from our neighbor Luke Porter owner of 4X4 labs. We wanted a rear ladder for loading the top rack. Tree’s special request was that he modify his original template and add extra side protection in the rear. This was the first bumper of this kind. She also wanted to bumper to be made to accommodate the original mud flaps. Basically, with the rear bumper came the sliders. We selected Hannah Quality Sliders, primarily because of the cat skid plates. Secondly, Luke highly recommended Kens sliders. Upon Tree’s (Little Boss, or the Cruiser esthetics Nazi) approval, we ordered a set.
Unfortunately we do not have pictures of the first mods that we did. We only recently (about 6-8 months ago) were introduced to IH8MUD. Kudos to people like manrigdude and others that have an extensive photo library of mods. I saw a great truck in Roseville and left my phone number on it. Fortunately Doug Johnston of the NorCalLandcruiserWagons, gave me a call. We are so happy to be a part of a great group of people (like mined cruiser heads) that like to do the same type of wheeling we like to do. Until that day all of our friends or people we knew that had rigs ran class 6 trails (not really a trail at all heavily modified rigs with winch broken parts likely do not attempt alone.) We have to say that this group is the nicest group of people we have ever met. And IH8mud is a invaluable resource and a great service to all cruiser owners. We were hoping to have our vehicle completed for ROTW, however our house that we’ve been building for over 2 years is first in line. Secondly, a couple of the mods we want haven’t been available (outback rack, Toyota Aux fuel tank).
Current Mods Rating(1-5)
1. 2.5 inch Heavy Duty OME with Rancho RS9000 shocks. (4)
We wish that it set about ½” to 1” higher and had just a little more travel
2. Toyo Mt 285 75r 16 tires on steel rims (5)
3. Factory rims with summer/AT set N/A
4. 1 ½ inch wheel spacers (4)
Got these before we know about or should say used IH8MUD wish I had 1.25”
CD performance only had 1.5 or 2.5”
5. ARB front bumper, winch compatible (5)
6. PIAA 520 foul weather/fog light (3.5)
(the lights were bought to increase the weakness of the low beams, we thought that a foul weather/fog light would be more usefull than an offroad light, they work good on rainy nights, but don’t help much in fog due to the height of the light, and we will still need off road lights on the safari rack when we get it.
7. Hannah sliders (5)
8. PIAA HID low beam bulbs (0)
(Too much money for how long they lasted, 6 months)
9. Safari Snorkel (4)
10. 4x4 labs on the rear 5 11. Incab Rancho remote shock adjustment (-5)
We can elaborate what a POS
12. K&N air filter, Bosch plugs, (seems to have improved MPG) (3)
13. Long fields (as we‘re members of the broken birfield club) N/A
14. Cobra 29 CB with antenna on ARB bumper
14. Pioneer AVIC-D1 navigation system/ cd player Too soon to tell
15. Pioneer rear camera/back up camera (2)
16. Diff breathers extended (5)
Most Valuable Mods
Lift kit- even with 285s on it that thing had very poor ground clearance. To us the lift improved both the on and road feel greatly and it just looks right now.
Protection- can’t see why one would put so much money into a rig and then not protect it.
Mods to be completed when house is done
1. Outback safari Rack with accessories (when Christo’s boat arrives)
2. Factory aux fuel tank.
3. CO2 air tank
4. Warn Winch 9000xd or 12,000 lbs
5. Recovery accessories for winch
6. Rear lights for 4x4 labs bumper (Tractor lights)
7. Husky liners
8. AC skid plate and transfer case skid plate
9. Roof top tent
10. Dual Battery setup, already have tray
11. Replace all bushings with new OME and OEM
12 Slee heavy Duty rear control arms
13. CDL switch
14. Re-gearing to 4.56?
Possible Future Mods
1. Rear drawer system
2. Refrigerator
3. Linex interior
4. Better speakers and DVD set up for kids on long trips
5. 4 light force 170’s mounted on roof rack.
6. ARB water bladder
Teresa or “Tree” or little boss and I both grew up in the country side of Nevada County, in Northern California. I grew up in fact on a 300 acre ranch with my rifle and my dog. I am a Construction Superintendent (Carpenter by trade) and Teresa is a Registered Veterinary Technician and runs a clinic in Auburn. We love the outdoors (camping, fishing, shooting, backpacking, and skiing etc.) I am 31 and Teresa is 30. We have two children Autumn 7 and Sayer 3.
Don’t get bored, there’s a small story. We moved out and rented our first house in 1994. Down the road from our house were our dreams. We watched them drive by every day. His and Hers 94 FZJ80 cruisers. They were beautiful. I think Burgundy and Dark Green. We could only wish. With $6.50 and $8.00 per hour jobs, a cruiser wasn’t likely in our near future.
Well about two years ago I started looking for a SUV for the family after fixing one of my fairly new trucks one to many times. Realizing that finally with my new job and promotion etc. that we can actually afford to get and drive what we want (within reason). Always before we had bought only because it was what we could afford and/or it was a great deal. I started looking with this criteria in mind.
1. I wanted a real SUV/wagon / troop-carrier (something actually used by militaries )
2. Something mid-sized not to big not to small. I hate American (boat) SUVs that need bow thrusters to turn. They are not good on the trail or in the city, just to big.
3. Extremely high build quality- like my German and Japanese power tools
4. Reliability
5. Good Off- Road Performance. We live at 3,000’ elevation in the Sierra Nevada Foothills and we drive off road much more than most
6. Heavy and strong- the heavy, not so good for off-roading, but a plus as a DD to protect my family.
8. Availability of parts and mods like (lift kits, bumpers, and roof racks etc.)
9.Diesel if possible or convert to diesel
10. I wanted to be able to lift it about 3” run at least 33” tires for expedition use but with a good driver and a winch be able to make it through class 5 trails if I needed to or felt the need to prove that I can.
I first looked at used H1s. But prices were still very high for a rig that is too wide for most roads and or tails in my area. And not exactly what you would call reliable.
2. Mercedes G-wagon cost of new ones to high and no diesel option in the US? Could not find any reasonably price old ones in or around the US. And availability of parts and accessories. Yes I was dreaming.
3. Land Rover Defender 110s. We really like the look of these rigs but again the cost of these in the US for a old truck was too high parts are not readily available and the stories of there reliability were shocking.
4. Land Cruisers. I first looked at getting a FJ60 to restore and build-up drop in a diesel etc. But Little Boss shot that down. Then we really started to look at that truck we loved so much now 12 years ago. We found that they still hold their value very well especially in California. Looked at many including one with lockers, 184,000 for $10,000. Doing research at that time, that is pretty much what they were going for. We found our truck, Burgundy 1994 with lockers 146,000. They wanted $11,000 we paid $10,000 (we had to throw in the old horse trailer though).
So it took 10 years until we could afford the vehicle we had wanted, though the spending didn’t stop there. Luckily Tree really likes mods(she likes chainsaws and weedeaters for mothers day etc). Two months after purchase, she went into CD Performance, ( local Grass Valley 4x4 shop) for a OME 2.5 inch HD lift on the truck. Instead of the OME shocks, we had Rancho RS 9000’s put on. The reason was we wanted a higher performance shock with adjustability and preferably with remote reservoirs for different road conditions and payload conditions. This adjustable shock system was in-cab capable if we every wanted to add the remote kit. When Tree picked the truck up from the shop, she was surprised with an ARB front bumper. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! She was very happy to have a serious deer popper.
Our next main mod was the custom rear bumper from our neighbor Luke Porter owner of 4X4 labs. We wanted a rear ladder for loading the top rack. Tree’s special request was that he modify his original template and add extra side protection in the rear. This was the first bumper of this kind. She also wanted to bumper to be made to accommodate the original mud flaps. Basically, with the rear bumper came the sliders. We selected Hannah Quality Sliders, primarily because of the cat skid plates. Secondly, Luke highly recommended Kens sliders. Upon Tree’s (Little Boss, or the Cruiser esthetics Nazi) approval, we ordered a set.
Unfortunately we do not have pictures of the first mods that we did. We only recently (about 6-8 months ago) were introduced to IH8MUD. Kudos to people like manrigdude and others that have an extensive photo library of mods. I saw a great truck in Roseville and left my phone number on it. Fortunately Doug Johnston of the NorCalLandcruiserWagons, gave me a call. We are so happy to be a part of a great group of people (like mined cruiser heads) that like to do the same type of wheeling we like to do. Until that day all of our friends or people we knew that had rigs ran class 6 trails (not really a trail at all heavily modified rigs with winch broken parts likely do not attempt alone.) We have to say that this group is the nicest group of people we have ever met. And IH8mud is a invaluable resource and a great service to all cruiser owners. We were hoping to have our vehicle completed for ROTW, however our house that we’ve been building for over 2 years is first in line. Secondly, a couple of the mods we want haven’t been available (outback rack, Toyota Aux fuel tank).
Current Mods Rating(1-5)
1. 2.5 inch Heavy Duty OME with Rancho RS9000 shocks. (4)
We wish that it set about ½” to 1” higher and had just a little more travel
2. Toyo Mt 285 75r 16 tires on steel rims (5)
3. Factory rims with summer/AT set N/A
4. 1 ½ inch wheel spacers (4)
Got these before we know about or should say used IH8MUD wish I had 1.25”
CD performance only had 1.5 or 2.5”
5. ARB front bumper, winch compatible (5)
6. PIAA 520 foul weather/fog light (3.5)
(the lights were bought to increase the weakness of the low beams, we thought that a foul weather/fog light would be more usefull than an offroad light, they work good on rainy nights, but don’t help much in fog due to the height of the light, and we will still need off road lights on the safari rack when we get it.
7. Hannah sliders (5)
8. PIAA HID low beam bulbs (0)
(Too much money for how long they lasted, 6 months)
9. Safari Snorkel (4)
10. 4x4 labs on the rear 5 11. Incab Rancho remote shock adjustment (-5)
We can elaborate what a POS
12. K&N air filter, Bosch plugs, (seems to have improved MPG) (3)
13. Long fields (as we‘re members of the broken birfield club) N/A
14. Cobra 29 CB with antenna on ARB bumper
14. Pioneer AVIC-D1 navigation system/ cd player Too soon to tell
15. Pioneer rear camera/back up camera (2)
16. Diff breathers extended (5)
Most Valuable Mods
Lift kit- even with 285s on it that thing had very poor ground clearance. To us the lift improved both the on and road feel greatly and it just looks right now.
Protection- can’t see why one would put so much money into a rig and then not protect it.
Mods to be completed when house is done
1. Outback safari Rack with accessories (when Christo’s boat arrives)
2. Factory aux fuel tank.
3. CO2 air tank
4. Warn Winch 9000xd or 12,000 lbs
5. Recovery accessories for winch
6. Rear lights for 4x4 labs bumper (Tractor lights)
7. Husky liners
8. AC skid plate and transfer case skid plate
9. Roof top tent
10. Dual Battery setup, already have tray
11. Replace all bushings with new OME and OEM
12 Slee heavy Duty rear control arms
13. CDL switch
14. Re-gearing to 4.56?
Possible Future Mods
1. Rear drawer system
2. Refrigerator
3. Linex interior
4. Better speakers and DVD set up for kids on long trips
5. 4 light force 170’s mounted on roof rack.
6. ARB water bladder
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$$$
Mine has the same colour scheme but with black flares. Also love the rear bar, just fitted the new ARB rear bar but this looks to have better clearance, more strength and maybe a bit lighter than the ARB bar. That ladder looks great and would be the ticket for accessing the roof rack.
