Figured I’d start a build thread for this rig as I plan to make many of the parts and also It will be a long term vehicle for the family. I know I always enjoy reading people’s thought processes and how they came to certain decisions, so I figured I’d share mine.
(que ripple effect)
Always been a Toyota/Lexus guy even as a kid. My dad had a MK2 supra, then SC300, several RXs for my mom… cant beat the reliability. I picked up an IS300 in college and did a bunch of work to it, really cut my teeth on it in the respect of how to modify cars. Learned that planning, saving for quality parts, studying up on installs rather than diving in was the way to go. Accumulated tools along the way and made many new friends. Best hobby I ever ventured into. In 2011 picked up a new FJ for the wife, also picked up camping and a bunch of new friends in my local TLCA chapter that have become some of my closest friends and even business partners. Amazing the bond you can build with folks when you are relying on them to spot you through a difficult trail, or just relaxing on a hill around a fire.
So when our 4th came along the search for a yota with enough seating started. I knew I didn’t want a tahoe/suburban, which would have been the simple route, plenty available. Plus my wife is just generally awesome and enjoys working on vehicles, offroading/camping, and shares my same love of reliable tough Toyotas.
So we compiled a spreadsheet with about 20 categories for 100/200 series, GX460/470, 4runners, tacos, tundras. Assigned values to them all and totaled it up. Weighted offroad capability, comfort, storage space, towing capability, expo rig or tow rig for FJ... Narrowed it down to 08/09 Land cruiser and a new tundra.
The tundra was actually going to be the route taken. An SR5, as plain jane as my dealer could get me, then I’d put a camper top on, build a roll cage in bed, utilize a bedryder type setup for my two bigger kids back there, then “finish” it out to make it comfy for them. Wife was happy with space it would provide, fact it would be a little different, and relatively cheaper parts to lift it and get it looking good for her. Got lots of “will that be safe” from folks, but I had no doubt that I could actually make their seating situation safer than the rest of the vehicle. Then started digging into legal aspects and johnny law shot me down… so after getting all excited about that fired off some letters to state reps in hopes of getting that setup later down the road.
So my wife had to settle for a 2008 land cruiser. She still laments not getting the tundra or the fact that I now DD the FJ. I tease her that she might be one of the few people to (jokingly) settle for a land cruiser.
Found an 08 in Shreveport, LA that was 1 owner, TX truck with 107k miles. Silver that was serviced at Toyota dealerships it entire life and was immaculate inside and out. With some help from Jonathan Nauck (awesome guy if you are looking for a used LC, jnauck) picked it up for what I though was a fair 31k.
Had it transported to me and the planning began along with some point (not a fan of chrome)
Also named it Bucky, we are Marvel fans, and since its silver, went with the winter soldier idea due to metal arm.
our little fleet
blacked out chrome on grill and rear badging/bar
also took our the passenger side second seat so that big kids can get into their seats easily at school carline. No time to mess with pulling up seat...
replaced interior lights with LEDs
next thing was CB install, we have a 15-20 minute commute and we have both rigs at least 3 days a week so we enjoy chatting on way home. Put in one of the all in one cobra CBs, model 75 or something. Made a simple antenna mount from couple pieces of scrap flatbar and in business.
picked up the OEM front spacers to install this weekend and will be putting on a set of KO2s in 275/70/18 within next couple of weeks. This and some sliders and a roof rack will be the extent of mods for a bit. finally got around to assembling my bender so will be starting on those within next week or two as well.
Truck will be capable enough for weekend camping trips in national park, or any dirt/gravel road around. Eventually it will get a lift, armor, bumpers, lights... all the goodies.
Next mod will be lift including tundra front swap. I've started gathering parts, picked up a new driver side LCA, tie rod ends, and one CV. trying to space it out so dont hit the pocket book too heavy, as well as watching for used tundra coilovers that can just be rebuilt.
nothing earth shattering yet, but much more to come
(que ripple effect)
Always been a Toyota/Lexus guy even as a kid. My dad had a MK2 supra, then SC300, several RXs for my mom… cant beat the reliability. I picked up an IS300 in college and did a bunch of work to it, really cut my teeth on it in the respect of how to modify cars. Learned that planning, saving for quality parts, studying up on installs rather than diving in was the way to go. Accumulated tools along the way and made many new friends. Best hobby I ever ventured into. In 2011 picked up a new FJ for the wife, also picked up camping and a bunch of new friends in my local TLCA chapter that have become some of my closest friends and even business partners. Amazing the bond you can build with folks when you are relying on them to spot you through a difficult trail, or just relaxing on a hill around a fire.
So when our 4th came along the search for a yota with enough seating started. I knew I didn’t want a tahoe/suburban, which would have been the simple route, plenty available. Plus my wife is just generally awesome and enjoys working on vehicles, offroading/camping, and shares my same love of reliable tough Toyotas.
So we compiled a spreadsheet with about 20 categories for 100/200 series, GX460/470, 4runners, tacos, tundras. Assigned values to them all and totaled it up. Weighted offroad capability, comfort, storage space, towing capability, expo rig or tow rig for FJ... Narrowed it down to 08/09 Land cruiser and a new tundra.
The tundra was actually going to be the route taken. An SR5, as plain jane as my dealer could get me, then I’d put a camper top on, build a roll cage in bed, utilize a bedryder type setup for my two bigger kids back there, then “finish” it out to make it comfy for them. Wife was happy with space it would provide, fact it would be a little different, and relatively cheaper parts to lift it and get it looking good for her. Got lots of “will that be safe” from folks, but I had no doubt that I could actually make their seating situation safer than the rest of the vehicle. Then started digging into legal aspects and johnny law shot me down… so after getting all excited about that fired off some letters to state reps in hopes of getting that setup later down the road.
So my wife had to settle for a 2008 land cruiser. She still laments not getting the tundra or the fact that I now DD the FJ. I tease her that she might be one of the few people to (jokingly) settle for a land cruiser.
Found an 08 in Shreveport, LA that was 1 owner, TX truck with 107k miles. Silver that was serviced at Toyota dealerships it entire life and was immaculate inside and out. With some help from Jonathan Nauck (awesome guy if you are looking for a used LC, jnauck) picked it up for what I though was a fair 31k.
Had it transported to me and the planning began along with some point (not a fan of chrome)
Also named it Bucky, we are Marvel fans, and since its silver, went with the winter soldier idea due to metal arm.
our little fleet
blacked out chrome on grill and rear badging/bar
also took our the passenger side second seat so that big kids can get into their seats easily at school carline. No time to mess with pulling up seat...
replaced interior lights with LEDs
next thing was CB install, we have a 15-20 minute commute and we have both rigs at least 3 days a week so we enjoy chatting on way home. Put in one of the all in one cobra CBs, model 75 or something. Made a simple antenna mount from couple pieces of scrap flatbar and in business.
picked up the OEM front spacers to install this weekend and will be putting on a set of KO2s in 275/70/18 within next couple of weeks. This and some sliders and a roof rack will be the extent of mods for a bit. finally got around to assembling my bender so will be starting on those within next week or two as well.
Truck will be capable enough for weekend camping trips in national park, or any dirt/gravel road around. Eventually it will get a lift, armor, bumpers, lights... all the goodies.
Next mod will be lift including tundra front swap. I've started gathering parts, picked up a new driver side LCA, tie rod ends, and one CV. trying to space it out so dont hit the pocket book too heavy, as well as watching for used tundra coilovers that can just be rebuilt.
nothing earth shattering yet, but much more to come
