4WD Toyota Owner magazine Project FZJ80 pics

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

e9999 said:
it's great that we have vendors who design and sell new toys for us!
it's great to see folks trying these new things and reporting on them!
it's great that we can have different opinions!
it's great that we are a community where everybody stays civil and nice and discuss things reasonably!

Just waiting to see if we actually have a magazine that will tell it like it is on the products they are "testing", we already have a consensus that they are butt ugly
:D :D :D :D
 
Texican said:
Just waiting to see if we actually have a magazine that will tell it like it is on the products they are "testing", we already have a consensus that they are butt ugly
:D :D :D :D

Doubt it! I predict a comment like this:

"Despite common belief that the lowering arm brackets were way too low and would catch rocks, the rig handles quite well and we were happy with the performance fo the MAF kit"

:flipoff2:
 
clarkrw3 said:
47b5ce29b3127cce94288795b22100000016108BZsmrlm4bq


Here is my 6" with 315's :cheers:
Are you using front spacers?
 
Wow this thread went to crap pretty quickly. I stayed away because I want to hear honest feedback, but man, what a bunch of crap.

Apperance and ground clearance arent everything, our main goal was a versital kit that can handle great on and off road. And I'm not saying this because I think one is better than the other, it is just one vendors different approach.

I am pretty sure no one here or anywhere has driven both set-ups, so why dont we just let people who dont have a big lift yet decide with what they want to go with, then give their feedback on it.

echo
echo
echo
:shotts: :shotts: :shotts:
 
z80 said:
bullhawkey, anything will slide with enough leverage or force. you may not like the results though.

Anything can be stopped with enough friction. My rig has been stuck several times on hard points like the diff, control arms, control arm mounts, rear sway bar, etc. Our engines don't produce enough force to overcome the friction encountered, and on the occasions they do, there's not enough traction.

It's been mentioned several times, different setups for different results. IIRC the MAF setup is considerably cheaper than Slee's. The vast majority of people who lift their trucks won't utilize the rig's full capability. Many people don't live in areas replete with 'rock gardens', they just want to fit larger tires for the mud/water/snow/sand/looks. Hell, let's be honest, most 80 LC owners are afraid to scratch their trucks on brush, let alone a good 4.5 rated trail. Hopefully, a review of any lift kit will address cost vs. capability, and evaluate the capabilities in different environments.

-Spike
 
I agree with Steve, guys. I have my ideas as to which setup is better where, but even I want to wheel with Dave to see if I'm right. I would also like the chance to swap rigs on the highway out there, just to see how bad mine is on the street. I'm sure that MAF's kit is best at some things and that Slee's kit is best at some things... that's been established. Let's go wheeling and listent to the feedback, not the theories. :cheers:
 
:cheers: I Look forword to playing on the rocks ... the shot of the rig was the only one I could find this morning.... In this big old world we need to find what works for each of us ... and do just that! I have been wheeleing for 15years and have had A lot of RIGS and diferant set ups some work well some KNOT SO WELL! The bottom Line is what works for my self May knot work for others.... When I hit the ROCKS, I well either BE DISSAPPOINTED OR some one well BE EATTING CROW PIE....
 
Steve-O said:
...what a bunch of crap.

I applaud the efforts of vendors who introduce new products. I realize it's not easy to design and manufacture new stuff, and that it takes a lot of faith to try to make money at it. That said, your potential buyers are your best source of feedback. In this case, the 80 community at large.

I doubt you intended your drop-bracket lift kit to be the end-all kit for rock-crawling enthusiasts. I'm sure you had a different market in mind. Sell to that market. Push the affordability, the safety, the ride characteristics, or whatever you were trying to achieve with the kit. Don't get all bent when your potential customers debate the pros and cons of your product for their particular use. Nobody's bashing Man-a-fre, or disputing the quality of your product. We're just discussing its merits relating to a specific type of offroading.

-Spike
 
I am just about done with my 4" setup. I personally didn't think that either kit was the end all solution. I've items that only Slee offers, Items only MAF offers, Items that both offer and some home brew to fill in the blanks.


I can't remember the truck driving this well on road, I'll have to see how it does off road this summer.
 
I don't see that the replies here are crap........granted most 80 owners won't use the rock crawling ability, however those owners for the most part don't want an erector set dangling under their truck looking like every other poser rig at the local Sonic.....
I don't care if that kit makes an 80 handle like a Ferrari and leap tall buildings in a single bound, it will never reside under my 80
Butch
 
I'm going to shoot some video of this weekend, too. Everyone but Bigelow and Wrench are invited to see it :flipoff2:

By the way, let's post up some shots of your 80's in the rocks. I don't mean slickrock of Moab. I mean nasty rock gardens, maybe not Hammers but some real rocks runs. Not just a single wheel up on a rock somewhere--I want to see pics of 80s IN a rock FIELD. Check attached photo. Anyone?

Dave (rag publisher)
IMG_0237.webp
 
Granite, west of Santa Fe.
DSC04575.webp
 
Heya Clark!

D'oh! An LX450, of course. LOVE the black!

Dave
 
Cool shot, CDan. I'd put that on a cover.

Dave
 
This is a buddy and I on the rocks in my 80 in Dawsonville GA private offroad park. The rock garden was awsome and I didn't think I could hang with the big boys at first but the 80 proved me wrong.
the real 3 002.webp
the real 3yeah boy.webp
 
my daughter's wheelin' her 80 which I had a heavy hand in building, front axle is cut and rotated instead of all the drop brackets, she just completed a road trip from Durango to CIncinati to Richmond........
K rocks.webp
DSCF0745mud.webp
 
Steve, since you represent a vendor maybe you need to clarify what is specifically your comments and what is represented as those of MAF's.

As far I can tell, you don't have either lift on your truck. I know you are "in the process" of building up an 80 but again, to my knowledge you have zero experience wheeling a lifted 80. If you do, please set the record straight and expound on how one (or both) does, and please add some pics.

Further, I live and wheel in the exact same neighborhood that MAF has its shop and its owner and employee's can wheel. Haven't seen any MAF 80's out on the trails. Haven't seen any MAF-equipped drop bracket lifts on their vehicles. In fact, it seems this lift is only for sale and only seen on customer's rigs. If there was R & D on this lift that addresses any of the valid questions and concerns the potential customers on this list have offered please quit balking and post up.

But you're right, this is "a bunch of crap". But mainly because ever since this lift was offered and most folks immediately started asking questions about the low-hanging stuff negatively affecting clearance and breakover NO ONE - especially from MAF - comes correct with any answers. Lots of defensive talk about how well designed the kit is with respect to the corrected angles, etc. but that's been about it. What is this, the fourth or fifth thread someone has on this?

I know at the time I first started thinking about getting a lift on my 80 there was a shop that had trucks just like mine and they were actively testing their products and if I had a concern or question there was immediate real-world experience to back up their answer. This crap is all web wheeling a design.

Steve-O said:
Wow this thread went to crap pretty quickly. I stayed away because I want to hear honest feedback, but man, what a bunch of crap.

Apperance and ground clearance arent everything, our main goal was a versital kit that can handle great on and off road. And I'm not saying this because I think one is better than the other, it is just one vendors different approach.

I am pretty sure no one here or anywhere has driven both set-ups, so why dont we just let people who dont have a big lift yet decide with what they want to go with, then give their feedback on it.

echo
echo
echo
:shotts: :shotts: :shotts:
 
Back
Top Bottom