Buget build what to build frist??aand save my family

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High Desert

High Desert

Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Threads
100
Messages
1,225
Location
Central Oregon
Buget build what to build up first?

arb Bull bar wih winch=$1700ARB

longrange Tank $775

Tradesmen bull bar $750 WITH WINCh $1400

saafarigard $750+700 for winch

kaymar rear bunper $750

right tire carried $400

Jerry carrier $400

ARB roof rack $650, Oval tube like on the 80s)


Opinoins wanted on which two modifictaions would you put on your rig now.

The rig is lightly wheeled but far from home and help. (cause it needs this gear...)


The bull bar and winch, due to cost has to be concidered 2 chouices unless you drop the winch..

Spare can go up top, so get rack and Long range tank. (lready have good sized ski rack box for up top


jerrycans can be carried on bumper, cheap top box can carry soft cammping gear just fine, so get the front bumber with out winch,and the tire rack with jerry can holders.

get roof rack with tire hardware, get long ranage tank

get long range tank and cheep box for yakama racks. just get tire carrier on rear bumper


Pick a two piece combanatiom for this rig, The roof Box is alreadey paid for.

The delima is getting them all but in a order that will not leave you with out a key element for very long...

Too Much? I'll edit it out tomorrow.
jon


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It seems like all of your options involve extra weight. I'll go out on a limb and venture to guess that your stock springs are just a little bit sagged out by now. If it were me, I'd save a little bit longer and do an OME suspension and tires as the first round of modifications, assuming that all of the mechanicals are in good shape already.
 
I've driven hundreds and hundreds and hundreds (you get the idea) of dirt roads (if you could call them that) out in eastern Oregon in my FJ60. Been all around the Steens, Alvorde desert, Christmas Valley, Fort Rock, Glass Butte, Hart Mountains, etc.

You are correct. These places are desserted! Number one thing is make sure your rig is in good mechanical condition. But other than that, I agree with CSA and Tinker. My OME suspension has been a life (and kidney) saver. Makes driving for hours on poor condition roads at speed bearable. I'd spring for a good suspension system (like OME) and some 33" tires.

After that, if you have many passengers (friends, family, dogs, etc.) you might opt for a good roof rack. When heading out into the Oregon Outback, flat tires are always a concern. Between all the volcanics, which are tough on tires, and being so far from any town, it's my number one concern. I usually bring two full size spares (nice to have that roof rack), along with plugs, compressor, etc.

JMHO

________________________
Cruzerman
'85FJ60
'78 FJ40
 
Your right, and I should have mentioned, My OME med/heavy is laying down in the garage ready to go on. The wife has said "do what you want with-in-rason and stop your whining about that damn Cruiser for a while!"

It is in pristine condition mechanical, body, interior, Is not a daily driver,

Yeah roof rack might be better than a couple other options, I've got like $2K for this stage....So if I get the tank, I gotta get the rack or bumper, I'm about stove up so a tire on the roof could be a real problem. Or I can get a bull bar winch...

what a great problem to have to work through...
 
I dont like the idea of gas cans on the outside. I would consider a long range tank as a priority.

Then I would get the bullbar to lessen the chance of big animals coming through the windscreen or damaging your investment.

Explaining to wifey that these are safety features will smooth tne way;)
 
I never thought I'd actually rec' a winch but if you're out there with no other vehicles around, its a cool to have. Several years ago I was on vacation with the family in Oregon. After returning the rental ATVs at Oregon Dunes Nat Rec area, I had to take the Cruiser out in the sand. It worked quite well but I did manage to get it pretty stuck once. I did get it unstuck without the winch but I wouldn't have even ventured out into the dunes without the winch. One of these days I's like to get a Pullpal.

Another option is go with the roofrack and carry a highlift and a stout comealong - although I hate putting weight upthat high.
 
roscoFJ73 said:
I dont like the idea of gas cans on the outside. I would consider a long range tank as a priority.

Then I would get the bullbar to lessen the chance of big animals coming through the windscreen or damaging your investment.

Yeah that is the my brain strain, IF I get the Tank, then I got to get the rear tire carrier, cause I really don't want to go up top with the spare (unless it is the 2nd spare) So wham bam $2K gone and no bull bar for the big furrys in the road.

The "box" I use up top holds all my soft camping gear, tents, bags, mattress, extrta clothing fly fishing etc. A rack is not as big a priority now. I carry my High lift on the floor behind the front seats with the back seat down to hold it in. Would move to tire rack.


So I could address the above by...




ist idea
1. G0 Rear Bumper w/ Tire and Jerry can carriers, AND, get winch ready Bull Bar,,hmm?

Then I'd have some more fuel range, place for jack, heavier tow point rear and front, protection front. AND be able to carry two spares.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2nd approach could be...

2..LONG RANGE TANK and REAR BUMPER W/TIRE RACK

3. then after more grovelling and whining (I have no pride) BULL BAR
4. then, WINCH and DUAL BATT. set up (gotta be $1500. there)
5. then rack.

Input?
Click to expand...
 
Watch out for that tree!!

cody c said:
if you put big enough tires it wont get go fast enough to hit an animal at high speeds. two birds one stone.
Click to expand...

Good point, with it sitting in the garage so much I really cut down on hitting stuff, the dogs do sleep under it every now and then, hmm maybe a bigger lift,so they don't hit their heads..
 
I would get new gears and a tire carrier and call it a day. It will drive way better than with your stock gears, youll have a useable power band again, and you can toss some jerry cans on the bumper when you need them. The long range tank is a little rediculous to me, thats big money when you could just carry extra gas cans. The winch is a good idea, but i would do the other stuff first because if youre not getting stuck already, you definitly wont get stuck with a lift and 33s. Id look into iron pig offroad for the bumper, they look slick and are cheap cheap cheap.
 
I say turbo, which is probably $500 for the set up, then long range tank and finally bullbar.

That would create a useable powerband, no?

:beer:
 
I've thought about all of this stuff a LOT, because my taste in mods is fancier than my wallet will allow. I know exaclty what will make my truck perfect for my needs (or some hardcore expedition driver's needs), but the day I accumulate all that is a long way aways, if ever.

And, after debating back and forth on the winch (and what kind of winch), the rear carrier, the lockers, the big gas tank, rooftop tent, etc. I concluded that the best thing I could do for myself and the kind of driving I do is first is make sure I have all the little things in order so that I don't get stuck in the middle of nowheresville. And the little things add up, so it's not as cheap as you think. My new to do list is like this (I'm on a tight budget but the truck is already tuned up):

1) OME lift and good AT tires (done)
2) Portable air compressor, tire patch kit, deflaters (done)
3) Upgrade battery cables
4) Upgrade lighting and light harness, add fog lights
5) Upgrade brakes to 4-runner conversion
6) Accumulate lots of spare parts -- radiator hoses, spark plugs, filters, etc -- and oil
7) Snow chains (can be used in mud too)
8) Hi-lift
9) Good trailside tool kit
10) GPS, first aid kit...
and so forth....

All of the above won't win any coolness points but I think it will keep me out of trouble. And little things like the above do add up quite a bit to the tune of several hundred or a thousand + dollars. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how a first aid kit or a spare radiator hose or good trail tools might be come in a lot handier than a beefy bumper. But everyone's style of driving is different, as is everyone's budget. I'm pretty conservative and not up for rock crawling. I just want to be able to see good scenery and come home in one piece.
 
Good idea, You gotta have all that stuff, a winch won't fix a radiator.

I'm kinda on that eightball, I been at this a while. This is my fourth cruiser and I'm a pack rat. I am missing tire repair, but hey, i'll avoid those sharp rocks you guys run over....yeah..

I got the itching to build, don't need anything else..But I got the fever!
 
Yeah, I figure'd you had the fundamentals and were ahead of me.

If you really want to spend some dough for something smart, get one of those Inti roof racks while they're available (if they still are). You can store plenty of gas up there, junk whatever.. You can always get an ARB or an Iron Pig bumper, but those Inti's are a rarity..

Have fun and post some pics of travels sometime...

Jason
 
ballardcruiser said:
Yeah, I figure'd you had the fundamentals and were ahead of me.

If you really want to spend some dough for something smart, get one of those Inti roof racks while they're available (if they still are). You can store plenty of gas up there, junk whatever.. You can always get an ARB or an Iron Pig bumper, but those Inti's are a rarity..

Have fun and post some pics of travels sometime...

Jason
Click to expand...

And where would one find a Inti? I saw one on a rig on this board, they do look good.
 
Love your photo albums. I've been to all those places too. Eastern Oregon is awesome.

While a long range tank is nice, I personnally put it down the list. It starts a big chain of events that are costly. The tanks themselves aren't cheap. Then you have to move the spare, which usually means some kind of rear bumper setup. Again, costly. I've never had any trouble with using gas cans. I will bring up to three NATO style cans. Those things are great. Don't leak, rock solid, easy to empty into vehicle.

I like ballardcruiser's list of stuff. Much of it is not expensive, but important to have. Some other items that aren't too expensive but may save you out in the outback:

Dual batteries
Radio - at least a CB, or get a license and get something better
Good H4 headlights w/ bright bulbs and wiring harness


I don't think a winch will be that useful on the type of roads / trails your taking. You never know, but I would get lots of other items first. Gears, H55f, all good things.

One thang that I have added to my cruiser that I just love in the outback is my on board hot water shower. I know that there are lots of nice hot springs out there, but you can't always count of that. Taking a shower after a long dusty day is priceless.....

____________________
Cruzerman
'85 FJ60
'78 FJ40
 
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