A Newbie's First Post

[MT Economist]

Well I have had my 1990 FJ 62 since March and have been browsing this site since before then. The truck is stock with 155,000 miles and I cannot wait to start building it up. I am trying to decide between an OME lift or a winch and front bumper first.

I figured I needed to register and join because this last weekend one Mudder got the truck stuck and another came and bailed my truck out. We were headed into the mountains and snow slowly got deeper till we got stuck in about 18 inches of concrete snow. Just back down, no problem. I wanted to walk the dogs so I let my brother (dans hj-45) drive down to a turnaround. He got too close to the water logged shoulder and it gave out. The left side was off the road in mud and the right side was on the muddy shoulder so the truck could not get any traction. We were stuck and trying to get out just made the roadway fall off even more. We called another mudder to see if he could come bail us out. (I am not naming names in case he does not want to run recovery missions for strangers when they drive off the road). His 62 pulled us back up onto the road and then I drove it down. So I learned never to let my brother drive my truck, that I need a winch, and that I need to support the Mud community because it saved me from having to call a tow truck and wait till the snow melts out some more.

I cannot wait to get started on the fun stuff but first I am checking everything so that it is a good reliable rig.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

I wanted to walk the dogs so I let my brother (dans hj-45) drive down to a turnaround. He got too close to the water logged shoulder and it gave out.

Guilty.

That's actually the first time I've ever gotten a truck stuck. Lame. The faux-lux wouldn't have done that.

Here's us tugging your truck out....

So I learned never to let my brother drive my truck, that I need a winch, and that I need to support the Mud community because it saved me from having to call a tow truck and wait till the snow melts out some more.

Quoted for truth. I won't name names either, but you're a lifesaver. If there's anything better to do on a Sunday afternoon than take a drive, pull out a cruiser, and shovel some dirt, I'm not sure I know what it is!

This is cool. I get to be the first to welcome you to mud, even though you're sitting across your living room from me.

Welcome!

Dan

 

[Bryan062087]

Nice pictures.

Welcome to mud!

Don't get too carried away in modifications, your truck looks good as is!

You could get the OME lift first, then get a winch. You can find a pretty good deal on a used winch if you look. I recently got a used Warn m8000 in good condition for 375$ and there are better deals out there.

 

[Butt Ugly Chuck]

Welcome to Mud

I haven't done it myself yet, but I'd go lift first (followed closely by gears).

Butt

 

[klinetime574]

I would say get a lift first! Especially if your tires are in need of replacing.

Welcome to MUD

 

[Michael Hanson]

welcome.Mike

 

[MT Economist]

I was thinking of the lift too

I was planning on the lift first, but a winch would have allowed us to get it back on the road. A lift would have just made the truck look better as it was sitting there stuck.

But I do need new tires before too long.

 

[Isaacjohnstar]

Where'd you get stuck at? I helped a fellow mudder on Sunday too! He got stuck in the mud next to the Flathead river up here in the Flathead valley.

I've heard Smitty built winches are good and cheap. They have a lifetime warranty as well.

 

[Dieseler]

Get the winch first it won't be the first time you get stuck,lift is nice for the cool factor but doesn't get you or others out of a bind.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Where'd you get stuck at?

We were about a mile from Park Lake, just southwest of Helena.

I helped a fellow mudder on Sunday too!

Good for you! Cruiser Karma. It's real.

Dan

 

[fowldarr]

In this particular situation, The winch would be the need, a lift might have actually caused you to roll (higher COG), that being said, I would still get the lift first. And those have got to be the best 1st pictures ever.

 

[slcfj62]

You may even want to start with a locker. For 3 or 4 hundred dollars, you could put a locker in the rear, and drastically reduce the likelihood of getting stuck in the first place.

 

[Max.Powerzz]

I second the locker idea. I recently lifted my 62 and put a locker in and WOW. I felt like I could not get stuck at Cruise Moab. I'm always concerned about recovery too, and the best answer to that is don't wheel alone. For a cheaper (although more difficult) alternative you can use your hi-lift jack as a hand-winch. While you can get some winches affordably, you still have to get the bumper to mount it on.

 

[Dunbar]

Get the lift and carry a chain hoist until you can spring for the bumper and winch.

 

[Dirtgypsy]

Welcome!

First off let me say this: cruisers do NOT get "stuck" they just get detained every once in a great while. j##ps get stuck.

Get a lift with some nice 33 10.50's.

Clint

 

[PPFJ60]

Put an Aussie locker in the rear and you wouldn't be stuck in the spot you were in. The next thing is you will go farther and end up smashing the rocker panels. You can make some sliders four a couple hundred bucks or less to fix that problem. Next you will want to lift it and put bigger tires on. The bigger tires need different gears so that's where it gets more expensive.


Aussie locker $270.00 per axle but just put one in the rear to start.
Sliders $100 - $200 if you make them yourself.
Lift $400 - $1000 depending on what you want to do.
Bigger tires $800 - $1400 depending on what you go with.
Gears with install kits for both front and rear $800. Labor not included.
and so on and so on..........

 

[Dieseler]

That is true Cruisers don't get stuck but detained.
In the 25+ years of owning Cruiser I have only got detained in the mud ,once right up to the under carriage called a tow truck he said 3 hours I got impatient waiting well to my suprise I got her out,the other time I threw on the chains one up front one on the rear and out I went.
Gotta love them Cruisers.

 

[stash12]

welcome fng!

 

[MT Economist]

All good ideas

And those have got to be the best 1st pictures ever.

It is like the cruiser was made for Yellowstone before the tourists show up. Plus, driving 35-50 around the park I was able to get 17.3 mpg. I guess there is nothing wrong with the engine.

First off let me say this: cruisers do NOT get "stuck" they just get detained every once in a great while. j##ps get stuck.

Maybe before I put any real money into the lift or winch I will get a Jeep magnet to throw on the back as a disguise in case my brother ever gets behind the wheel again. At least a cruiser pulled me out.

So new gears to go with some 33s is a good idea but is it really necessary? A stock 62 is no hot rod anyway, but where will I notice the lack of gearing? On the highway? At stop lights? On hills? On the trail? Avoiding regearing would make a lift and tires more affordable but it depends on what the impact would be.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

It is like the cruiser was made for Yellowstone before the tourists show up. Plus, driving 35-50 around the park I was able to get 17.3 mpg. I guess there is nothing wrong with the engine.

Actually, you got 18+ mpg. Your odometer is off.

Dan