Jason Wells in I think Colorado said he just ordered portals and 40's ! Hopes to have everything in March.
200 Series Portal Axles (7 Viewers)
- Thread starter ATwoZ
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Awesome. Werewolf or 74Weld?
Werewolf
Werewolf !
Man that looks great but can't wait to see it on 40's !
Heritage 2020
SILVER Star
Just a thought:
Rather than spend $20k on portals for a Land Cruiser, have you considered an older HMMWV for off-road use/weekend fun?
For some parking may be an issue, but it seems you’d retain what makes the LC great—plus have a vehicle designed around portals.
Rather than spend $20k on portals for a Land Cruiser, have you considered an older HMMWV for off-road use/weekend fun?
For some parking may be an issue, but it seems you’d retain what makes the LC great—plus have a vehicle designed around portals.
Me too!!
I’ve already ordered the portals, but the HMMWV is just not the right for myself and my family - we enjoy the comfort and reliability of the LX. Also it would be too wide for most of the trails here in Colorado. My goal and vision is to have one of the most capable 200 series Rocklanders there is.
I was also curious about how much wider it will be with portals and what wheel off set will be ?
4.25” wide on each side. +25 offset. It will do well counteracting the increased lift/COG. Also an extra 80lbs at the hub for added weight down low will help.
What’s with all this logic, reason, and common sense… I must be on the wrong forum.
Real talk tho, I’d jump at a decent HMMWV if I had parking.
Another thought: One of the reasons I’m going with portals is because it will retain all the things that make the LC great. I even get to keep my AHC suspension while simultaneously adding 5” of true clearance!
There are a lot of YouTube videos of guys trying to drive an H1 on Colorado trails or in other more technical areas and they seem to really struggle in things our rigs can do surprisingly well. If I could purchase a cool little portal axle’d rig, it would be a Pinz, Volvo C303 or classic old Mog, in that order. Or ultimately, do the Volvo C303 axle swap under an old 80 series LC like TiredIron did many years ago. All way more capable than an H1, but none of the above get you to the trailhead in very much comfort compared to our newer platforms.
Heritage 2020
SILVER Star
@Artie
To be fair, I’m biased as some on ih8mud know my family truly loves off-roading in our open bed 6.5L diesel HMMWV at deer camp and on the weekends (we have an oversized RV workshop/garage for parking).
Truth told, HMMWVs are easy to maintain and cheap to come by—and I’d put it against any 200 Series Land Cruiser off-road as scrapes add to character.
Ours cost less than $20k over a decade ago and is still plugging along—dead reliable if you perform DIY maintenance or have a local mechanic nearby.
Obviously not a daily driver, but my family loves it when the goal is to have open roof fun and not worry about trail damage, pinstriping, etc.
Look, I’m not bashing the OPs decision to go $20k on portals and $$$ on labor to compromise a LC platform.
I am only saying I wouldn’t tinker with a well engineered Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series/LX 570–when I can have a purpose built truck for far, far less $$
NOTE: I don’t believe in one Swiss Army knife, but prefer to have different tools—at the same/better price point. That said, to each their own!
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I get your point. The Swiss Army knife has value too though.
For overland and destination off-roading, that's where the Swiss Knife comes into its own. Even in mixed off-roading, the 200-series can be competent in a wider breadth where things like Jeeps and HMMWVs do poorly, like sand and Baja type funning.
To your point, I can see where there's mixes that would be great for a dedicated off-road tool too. RV towing rock crawler. Cruiser towing rock crawler. Etc.
Heritage 2020
SILVER Star
@TeCKis300
Please understand, when I only had one/two vehicles—I tried to expand the envelope of what would work for my family.
If that is the case here, a Swiss Army approach may be a good idea.
That said: As some who’ve met up know, I have quite a few family vehicles that are really good at doing exactly what they were designed to do—with minor tweaks to make them a bit better. I also have garage space—which @Artie referenced.
Portal axle conversions aren’t a small tweak, but are an undertaking that cost enough to purchase another vehicle (or a second garage/workshop).
The issue I see is when one is talking about $20k in parts—not to mention a $$$ of labor to modify what is an outstanding platform. My guess is all in—easily $40k+.
If it were my money, I’d buy another vehicle vs. putting that much into compromising my 200 Series.
I’d bet a gallon of gas that portals on a 200 Series/LX570 will make the vehicle worse overall—at great cost.
NOTE1: I do love seeing others spend money though—and I look forward to seeing how the Franken Cruiser turns out. Good luck!
NOTE2: Sorry for mentioning a non-Land Cruiser 200 Series, although I could put a TRD Pro logo on my HMMWV—to make amends
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hoser
SILVER Star
Nah.... you can't suggest an H1 on a Cruiser board. But this, yes! LHD too!
1996 Toyota Mega Cruiser - ~49,900 Miles, Rare Left-Hand Drive Civilian Model, Portal Axles, U.S. Title
This 1996 Toyota Mega Cruiser is for sale on Cars & Bids! Auction ends December 9 2024.
@TeCKis300
Please understand, when I only had one/two vehicles—I tried to expand the envelope of what would work for my family.
If that is the case here, a Swiss Army approach may be a good idea.
That said: As some who’ve met up know, I have quite a few family vehicles that are really good at doing exactly what they were designed to do—with minor tweaks to make them a bit better. I also have garage space—which @Artie referenced.
Portal axle conversions aren’t a small tweak, but are an undertaking that cost enough to purchase another vehicle (or a second garage/workshop).
The issue I see is when one is talking about $20k in parts—not to mention a $$$ of labor to modify what is an outstanding platform. My guess is all in—easily $40k+.
If it were my money, I’d buy another vehicle vs. putting that much into compromising my 200 Series.
I’d bet a gallon of gas that portals on a 200 Series/LX570 will make the vehicle worse overall—at great cost.
NOTE1: I do love seeing others spend money though—and I look forward to seeing how the Franken Cruiser turns out. Good luck!
NOTE2: Sorry for mentioning a non-Land Cruiser 200 Series, although I could put a TRD Pro logo on my HMMWV—to make amends
I agree so don't get me wrong. I'm curious about portals and like you, I suspect there are going to be some real trades. I'm friends with the owner of 74weld and even as he sings all the great things about them, there's certainly things like maintenance, additional wear/tear, MPG loss (less gearing but aero impacts with the tires beyond the body envelop, etc. that I think would take it too far for my use. Lots of the same drawbacks you could say about most mods and I use to think the same about 37s. Portals are going to be a solution to those with specific goals I can't fault that we have another option in the tool chest.
