100 series modification for Looks (2 Viewers)

[Dwon]

Don't ya just love dumb-ass Newbies?

Hey, watch it! I'm a Junior member now!

I'm hardly a Newbie. I've installed a bull bar, roof rack, 6 aux lights (4 that run off the same switch and two that run off the factory fog switch), front & rear shocks, Tbars, and springs. I did it all by myself over the course of a weekend. Can you say as much?

I'm not a dumb-ass either. I only paid $109. for shipping through Old Dominion Freight. I didn't have to pay anyone anything to install it because I did it all myself. All I had to pay for was $50 for an alignment after the lift and they double checked my work and said it was dead on accurate. Overall I spent less than $3,000. to get all this stuff and install it on my rig.

 

[CameraCruiser]

I love this forum, but this thread (which I don’t want to be closed) has really got to be one of the weirdest I have read . It starts off with a guy just maybe a little bit lost in the fact that he is posting here about making his rig look good, instead of running that way.

Well things are said back and forth and he listened to reasoned voices and has actually installed some pretty nice upgrades. He wrote about how he went about it, and offered a couple of hints to those doing the same.

So from my point of view the forum has worked rather well. A newbie came, got some insight and acted on it. His Cruiser rides, handles and looks better (excepting the wrap for some) than when he started. That is a good thing. Right?

With these mods he has traveled off road with his Cruiser mre safely and used it both to deliver his customers to their intended destinations and use it as a camera platform. So I say he is wheeling his rig, not just posing.

I think everything that can be said about the wrap has been said. So that topic should just die and we can focus on what he is doing to make his rig as nice as some of the others here.

I look forward to hearing more about the build and how it impacts his business. I don't need to hear anymore about how he gets paid to wheel the Cruiser. That is either a fringe benefit of being a photographer, or the photography is a benefit of his wheeling. Seems pretty nice to me.

I hope the thread can spin its way to something positive.

This is coming from a guy who has the "D" light mod and has only removed his side steps! I feel fortunate everytime some one answers my dumb questions about the anchor weight attached to the frame of the Cruiser.

 

[Dwon]

Well things are said back and forth and he listened to reasoned voices and has actually installed some pretty nice upgrades. He wrote about how he went about it, and offered a couple of hints to those doing the same.

So from my point of view the forum has worked rather well. A newbie came, got some insight and acted on it. His Cruiser rides, handles and looks better (excepting the wrap for some) than when he started. That is a good thing. Right?

With these mods he has traveled off road with his Cruiser mre safely and used it both to deliver his customers to their intended destinations and use it as a camera platform. So I say he is wheeling his rig, not just posing.

I think everything that can be said about the wrap has been said. So that topic should just die and we can focus on what he is doing to make his rig as nice as some of the others here.

I look forward to hearing more about the build and how it impacts his business. I don't need to hear anymore about how he gets paid to wheel the Cruiser. That is either a fringe benefit of being a photographer, or the photography is a benefit of his wheeling. Seems pretty nice to me.

I hope the thread can spin its way to something positive.

This is coming from a guy who has the "D" light mod and has only removed his side steps! I feel fortunate everytime some one answers my dumb questions about the anchor weight attached to the frame of the Cruiser.

Thanks brother!
All I was trying to do with this post is help guys like us who have a nice LC and want to add some upgrades, decide what is necessary and what isn't. I thought we got off track when some of the guys started asking about wether my tires were good enough for Africa. Then it went to the looks of my advertising and then to some jabs about me being a poser.

It's nice to hear someone's getting something out of it.
I'm going to stop posting to this thread and create a new one with all the technical data to make it more user friendly since people have crammed this post full of distracting boring chatter.

 

[Beowulf]

Toyo Open Country MT 285.75R16 (09-01-2007)

Nice choice in tyres.



-B-

 

[CameraCruiser]

Starting another thread is a good idea, but I think you should cross-post here too. Like I said, this is a pretty weird thread and it would be fun to see how it transforms.

Would really like to start hearing what your customers think of your rig and how many calls you are getting from the wrap.

I think the great thing about this community is that if you were in need on the side of a trail with a busted u-joint, flat, or other trail failure they would all still be there to help. Of course they would score bragging rights to helping the guy with the wrap. Hopefully your mods will prevent that from happening.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

I think the paint job is friggin' awesome.

 

[cary]

My G-D, why does everyone have their panties in a bunch over this guys mods? It's not like he asked how to slam the thing and put 26" chrome wheels on it. Looking at the pictures he posted, it has been a lot further off road than some members trucks.

 

[CameraCruiser]

See, positive spin.

Much more fun!

 

[dclee]

Call it what you want. I'm getting paid to drive my rig. Are you?

And that's relevant how...? I don't care about your wrap. I don't think I made any direct comments putting it down. I just wish you'd make up your mind what your truck is for. Looks, or function?

And yeah, just bolting on some s#!t does not make you a veteran Cruiserhead...

 

[Dwon]

And that's relevant how...? I don't care about your wrap. I don't think I made any direct comments putting it down. I just wish you'd make up your mind what your truck is for. Looks, or function?

And yeah, just bolting on some s#!t does not make you a veteran Cruiserhead...

You said I had "desecrated" my rig. Sorry if you didn't mean to be putting it down. Nothing I've done to my rig can't be undone. That's why I won't put in a Snorkel.

The rig is for function. I take people on safaris all over the NW. The rig without MOD can make it on almost all the logging roads etc. I added some of the gear to make it fit the look I wanted to advertise. Sure most people don't need a bull bar to drive around on the trails I take my customers on. In that respect it's for looks.

The roofrack is for function 100% and so are the lights!

That's just the progression of my build journey. I discovered several important things along the way which I've already mentioned.

Now I've got a ride that's built to go almost anywhere (ALMOST I said, I don't want to get into a debate over driving in Botswana). And I think it looks good.

 

[Dwon]

I think the paint job is friggin' awesome.

Thanks man!

 

[CDN80eh?]

You said I had "desecrated" my rig. Sorry if you didn't mean to be putting it down. Nothing I've done to my rig can't be undone. That's why I won't put in a Snorkel.

The rig is for function. I take people on safaris all over the NW. The rig without MOD can make it on almost all the logging roads etc. I added some of the gear to make it fit the look I wanted to advertise. Sure most people don't need a bull bar to drive around on the trails I take my customers on. In that respect it's for looks.

The roofrack is for function 100% and so are the lights!

That's just the progression of my build journey. I discovered several important things along the way which I've already mentioned.

Now I've got a ride that's built to go almost anywhere (ALMOST I said, I don't want to get into a debate over driving in Botswana). And I think it looks good.

GROUNDHOG DAY !
GROUNDHOG DAY !
I challange you to keep your word and end this post.

 

[ycookmd]

I just wish you'd make up your mind what your truck is for. Looks, or function?

Consider these two scenarios:

(1.) A person who makes cosmetic modifications to his vehicle to attract attention, promote his business, and earn a living -- so he can put a roof over his family's heads and food in their mouths.

(2.) The sport off-roader who spends most of his hard-earned money on functional modifications to his truck so he can drive around in the rocks for fun on weekends.

Of these two, who really has the more "functional" vehicle?

Personally, I admire all the hard work you off-roaders put into your vehicles. It's great reading about your buildups and your adventures off-road. Some of your rigs are really, really cool -- and I am frankly amazed at some of the inspiration and ingenuity I have seen posted on this forum.

But, seriously, get over yourselves and give the guy a break. Dwon is using his vehicle to earn a living. Except for the blokes in OZ who actually have to 4-wheel to the nearest grocery store, you guys roll your trucks up and down hills basically just to amuse yourselves. When it comes down to "function," there's a whole lot more real-life utility in driving your kids to soccer and the mall, than in driving around aimlessly in the dirt in your free time.

Think about it.

 

[Dwon]

GROUNDHOG DAY !
GROUNDHOG DAY !
I challange you to keep your word and end this post.

I bet you don't even own a car. You're not really old enough to drive yet are you?That pic under your name IS you isn't it?

If you want this post to end, stop reading it.

 

[CameraCruiser]

Consider these two scenarios:

(1.) A person who makes cosmetic modifications to his vehicle to attract attention, promote his business, and earn a living -- so he can put a roof over his family's heads and food in their mouths.

(2.) The sport off-roader who spends most of his hard-earned money on functional modifications to his truck so he can drive around in the rocks for fun on weekends.

Of these two, who really has the more "functional" vehicle?

Personally, I admire all the hard work you off-roaders put into your vehicles. It's great reading about your buildups and your adventures off-road. Some of your rigs are really, really cool -- and I am frankly amazed at some of the inspiration and ingenuity I have seen posted on this forum.

But, seriously, get over yourselves and give the guy a break. Dwon is using his vehicle to earn a living. Except for the blokes in OZ who actually have to 4-wheel to the nearest grocery store, you guys roll your trucks up and down hills basically just to amuse yourselves. When it comes down to "function," there's a whole lot more real-life utility in driving your kids to soccer and the mall, than in driving around aimlessly in the dirt in your free time.

Think about it.

I wish I had written that, because number one is where it's at!

 

[dclee]

When it comes down to "function," there's a whole lot more real-life utility in driving your kids to soccer and the mall, than in driving around aimlessly in the dirt in your free time.

Think about it.

This is funny. I guess it depends on one's definition of functional. I want a durable, bulletproof vehicle that is capable of taking myself, my family, and all of our gear wherever we feel like going, whether there is a road or not, in supreme comfort and with effortless reliability. If I was just going to take the kids to school, which apparently is your idea of "functional," then I would have bought a mini-van. Much smarter choice.

And don't slam those of us who like to "drive around in rocks," since that's quite a lot of the people on this forum. It's really quite simple, and I guess I have to repeat myself YET AGAIN... this is an ENTHUSIAST's forum. Hence, in the context of 4x4 vehicles, that means there are lots of guys on here who like to drive their trucks as Mr. Toyoda intended. Off the pavement. If I wanted to discuss the merits of hauling kids to soccer practice in my four-wheel drive TRUCK, I would frequent the forums at Edmunds.com or Consumer Reports.

Smiley to show that it's all in good spirits:

 

[dclee]

I wish I had written that, because number one is where it's at!

Hey macneill, I see the newbies are gathering together in numbers!

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Now I've got a ride that's built to go almost anywhere (ALMOST I said, I don't want to get into a debate over driving in Botswana). And I think it looks good.

Thank God you didn't say the Rubicon or the HATE posts would really start!

 

[twstrchasr]

This needs to end. It has been futile since post #2. Some people just don't get it. It's not worth the frustrstion !! But I do love listening to the justification for some of this crap. Oh, wait..... I'm so happy you are pleased with your rig. It looks and performs wonderfully. I'm doing the same to mine this weekend....Is that what you want to hear ??

 

[Dwon]

This needs to end. It has been futile since post #2. Some people just don't get it. It's not worth the frustrstion !! But I do love listening to the justification for some of this crap. Oh, wait..... I'm so happy you are pleased with your rig. It looks and performs wonderfully. I'm doing the same to mine this weekend....Is that what you want to hear ??

I don't want to hear anything except advice on installing, or modifying the parts I'm working on. Other than that you're doing it for your own benefit.

If you're tired of this post, quit reading it.