$14,000

[wardharris]

There are days when these old plantation roads would require 4 wheel drive and perhaps lockers however this is not one of those days. View attachment 933098

Thanks for photo #2. My 3B is awaiting reinforcements so the Burrito is off the duty roster for a while. I can imagine a gentle run through the woods, propelled by a well cared for 2H...sweet

To unhijack the thread, the OP's stated need ("The goal is to bounce around off road, scrape against tree branches and maneuver up places where most people don't get to go. But not rock crawling.") might suggest that rust take a less important spot in the priority list. This is especially true if the rig is likely to take some hits on the trail while bouncing and scratching. An optimist might view this potential for minor damage as a great excuse to buy a slightly rusty rig - since it will be banged up anyway.

Here is a question for jblueridge - for these Western trail runs, will you be with friends? Not sure of experience, training or equipment, but there are some pretty active clubs out West you might hook up with for fellowship, training and support when far from home.

Good luck with the project.

 

[jblueridge]

Wardharris - Great idea about forming support group with rocky mountain folks. I have family in Wyoming but they are not into this stuff.

Cable lockers can be added to any type of axle?

 

[wardharris]

JB -

Some resources: Clubhouses here on MUD https://forum.ih8mud.com/categories/clubhouses.144/, Northwest Overland here northwestoverland.com - also Expedition Portal at http://expeditionportal.com/forum/

You might identify and become acquainted with some of the leading vendors/shops in the areas you will be traveling to/through.

One bit of kit not discussed in this thread is non-cellular communications (CB, HAM or sat phone). In the even you fly solo, a way to reach out and touch could be more valuable than a cable locker. Each have plusses/minuses. CB limited range, HAM licensing (and expertise), Sat phones cost.

Sat phones are amazing and quite handy. They can be rented by the week for a reasonable fee or you can buy your own and pre-purchase minutes.

Finally, AAA members can upgrade to "Premier" service and get 200 miles of towing as part of the membership package.

Just sayin'

W

 

[jblueridge]

I just read a short ad for Sat phones.
That might be a good route for me.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[wardharris]

JB -

Not an endorsement or commercial, but a formal training class might be a way to make your Western sojourn even more fun and productive.....

Bill Burke is one example http://bb4wa.com/

 

[wardharris]

JB -

Another unaffiliated FYI regarding training, community, excuse for a road trip, etc.......

http://www.overlandexpo.com/east/#register

 

[jblueridge]

I've been off road and 4 wheelin' before, in my F150's and friends' Wranglers.
The idea of having a line to help if an older vehicle that I haven't fully tested out yet breaks down sounds really good to me.
You'd think after years of driving an old MGB I'd be used to it.

 

[Oldtoy74]

With a bi74 you'll be the one assisting others, no doubt about that!!!

 

[Delancy]

The OEM factory cable lockers is a very sought after option if you want to use it for some serious offroad....

Better hide them well, 'cause I know where you live!

 

[Gun Runner 5]

I will be the first to admit that math and high finance has never been my strongpoint however from a personal standpoint if I was going to spend 14K for a Cruiser that needed 3K worth of rust removal, I think I would look for a 17K Cruiser that didn't have these issues. From my experience, fighting rust is a long drawn out experience that never seems to end.
My .02 worth.

 

[jblueridge]

I agree about the never-ending rust battle. I have won that fight on my 68 MGB GT but the car is just a shell now so who really won the war?

 

[Gun Runner 5]

I agree about the never-ending rust battle. I have won that fight on my 68 MGB GT but the car is just a shell now so who really won the war?

Its not fun wondering if a paint blemish is indeed a blemish or the much dreaded rust bubble.

 

[wardharris]

....if I was going to spend 14K for a Cruiser that needed 3K worth of rust removal, I think I would look for a 17K Cruiser that didn't have these issues. From my experience, fighting rust is a long drawn out experience that never seems to end.
My .02 worth.

FWIW, I agree with Yoda. In rank order, I would put clean/no rust body and training/planning/safety gear above lockers, winch, etc. You can add that stuff later.

ARB air lockers can be added to a no-rust truck.

High lift jack, Power Puller and recovery gear go a long way toward satisfying the winch need.

 

[B Point]

My next band's name is going to be "Rocker Rust". We are old, tough but still pretty on the outside.

Same as the 70 ...pretty but I reach down and feel the bubbles on EVERY single 70 series truck I cross paths with.....and there have been quite a few. There is always rust under the rear carpet around the seams of the cubby hole, too.

 

[jblueridge]

Ummmmm, where's the cubby hole?

 

[wardharris]

...bubbles on EVERY single 70 series truck I cross paths with..... There is always rust under the rear carpet around the seams of the cubby hole, too.

Respectfully, my limited experience is a little different. My 73 from Spain had a lot of "character defects" but the only rust on the body was the w/s frame and quarter panel repaired as described above, plus a couple of acid zits beneath the battery boxes.

Zero, nada, zip beneath the carpet, doors, interiors of panels, etc.

Spain/Portugal/Canary Islands have two things going for them --- generally arid / minimal rust and left hand drive.

 

[B Point]

Respectfully, my limited experience is a little different. My 73 from Spain had a lot of "character defects" but the only rust on the body was the w/s frame and quarter panel repaired as described above, plus a couple of acid zits beneath the battery boxes.

Zero, nada, zip beneath the carpet, doors, interiors of panels, etc.

Spain/Portugal/Canary Islands have two things going for them --- generally arid / minimal rust and left hand drive.

Well sure..... I'm talking Japan. The Aussie 70 series probably don't have much rust either. If you live in snow or wet country the rockers rust out.

 

[B Point]

Ummmmm, where's the cubby hole?

Right in the back.

 

[Canarias]

You´re right, there are some fine examples of 25+ yr old landcruisers in Spain. But just because a vehicle comes from here doesn´t mean it will be in good condition, there are lots of dogs too. Mainland Spain suffers snow and ice in the winter and the cars in coastal regions suffer from sand and salt.

Here in the Canary Islands (belongs to Spain but geographically subtropical right next to the Sahara) we have dry zones with very little rain but also forests and mountains. Spain´s highest point is on Tenerife, Canary Islands and the mountain has snow for many months. There is a lot of rain in certain parts of certain islands, and some places have persistent high humidity. So we get the best and the worst of rust dependent on how the individual vehicle has spent its life. 50km distance can make a huge difference.

The canary islands doesn´t have what you would call a winter, so many people think that they do not need "antifreeze" in their coolant. Some owners will fill their radiators with nothing more than tapwater and good mechanics are hard to find, so maintenance is hit and miss.

 

[onemanarmy]

My 0.02$.....take a step back and do some more research on the vehicle and all its mechanical components and how it stacks up to other cruiser models out there around the world.

If you don't know the difference between manual hubs and differential lockers, you are in for a world of pain when a seller starts talking fast and listing the specs of the cruiser you think you want. These cruisers could be bought with many different options and configurations that varied wildly from year to year....some desireable and some not. You need to have a specific list of what you want, why you want it, know each and every trouble spot of that paticular year and model, know which countries are better to source from and why, know your budget and plan on $thousands more for the little things, and spend time talking to current 70 series owners. People get burned all the time due to the fact they see something that looks cool and different and want it.

See: Defender 90 owners.