Cruiser or Bruiser?

[5ForFighting]

OME sounds good for now. I think bumpers will have to wait till she's paid off.

A few questions:

1. Does anyone make a hidden winch mount for the 200? I know BudBuilt has one for the 4Runner.

2. I heard from another member when looking at his Cruiser that it costs $200 per wheel to retain the TPMS when getting aftermarket wheels. Any experiences with that? If true, I might just keep the stock wheels.

3. I know some think they're fugly, and I've never had one, but anyone know of a bug deflector make that looks good and protects from rock chips? Any experiences/words of advice on these? I figure it might not look too bad on a white Cruiser and I got so pissed after our most recent road trip in the 4Runner when There were new chips on the hood. Mind you, it was black so everything showed!

As always, thanks for any experiences/words of advice you care to impart!!

 

[elkaholic]

OME sounds good for now. I think bumpers will have to wait till she's paid off.

A few questions:

1. Does anyone make a hidden winch mount for the 200? I know BudBuilt has one for the 4Runner.

2. I heard from another member when looking at his Cruiser that it costs $200 per wheel to retain the TPMS when getting aftermarket wheels. Any experiences with that? If true, I might just keep the stock wheels.

3. I know some think they're fugly, and I've never had one, but anyone know of a bug deflector make that looks good and protects from rock chips? Any experiences/words of advice on these? I figure it might not look too bad on a white Cruiser and I got so pissed after our most recent road trip in the 4Runner when There were new chips on the hood. Mind you, it was black so everything showed!

As always, thanks for any experiences/words of advice you care to impart!!

1. There is a factory option for non-US markets that might be adaptable. Search here as I know that I have seen a writeup on this forum.

2. I have trouble believing that ... the TPMS sensors can be removed from your stock wheels and installed in the new wheels unless the wheel shape is incompatible. The only reason it would cost that much would be if you were buying new TPMS sensors and even then, I think that is more than retail.

3. I think Toyota actually makes one for the 200 that is effective and isn't too fugly. Too late for my rig .. at 2400 miles, I caught two rocks that chipped the paint on the leading edge of the hood and shipped the windshield. BTW, the pearl white requires two different touch up paint bottles.

Finally, when you lift, take a look at the new OEM style upper control arms from Slee. I think they are actually Light Racing arms and it is nice to see that there is an oem style option for us.

 

[chimyz]

OME sounds good for now. I think bumpers will have to wait till she's paid off.

A few questions:

1. Does anyone make a hidden winch mount for the 200? I know BudBuilt has one for the 4Runner.

2. I heard from another member when looking at his Cruiser that it costs $200 per wheel to retain the TPMS when getting aftermarket wheels. Any experiences with that? If true, I might just keep the stock wheels.

3. I know some think they're fugly, and I've never had one, but anyone know of a bug deflector make that looks good and protects from rock chips? Any experiences/words of advice on these? I figure it might not look too bad on a white Cruiser and I got so pissed after our most recent road trip in the 4Runner when There were new chips on the hood. Mind you, it was black so everything showed!

As always, thanks for any experiences/words of advice you care to impart!!

1. Rasta 4x4 (google it) makes a hidden winch mount, so does Toyota (it's on some non NA models)

2. You can take them out of your stock wheels and they will fit in most aftermarket. Done it lots.
(Side note: I had 2 sets of wheels for a while and changed them every 2 seasons. It cost everytime to have the stealership configure the computer to the new set...PITA. I went with one set this time and just popped the stock ones into the new wheels. No issues)

3. Don't know but you could just get a 3M plastic wrap piece for the front of the hood or whole front if the rig. It should cost no more than a few hundred depending upon how much you cover.

Adding to the note on the lift...if you do it, budget for UCAs...just my $0.02.

 

[5ForFighting]

I've got 275-70 R18's on stock, and I can tell you that if you go even a quarter inch more in width or height ya better get a lift or your sawsall out, or maybe even both

I went to the local off road shop, Outlaw Offroad for those in SoCal, and put a deposit on some work to be done soon. I'm getting front Icon coil over kit, rear OME heavy coil/shock, 18x9 +18mm offset Method wheels, and LT275/70R18 Toyo Open Country A/T II tires.

The Toyos are 33.2"- Toyo also has LT295/70R18s which are 34.1" - too big? I'm thinking of calling in tomorrow to switch.

 

[soslo]

Probably too tall with 295 width. Drop the width down and it would probably fit without rubbing - might need to remove the mudflaps. Go too wide with extra offset and they won't fit up into the wheel wheels

 

[kreiten]

I went to the local off road shop, Outlaw Offroad for those in SoCal, and put a deposit on some work to be done soon. I'm getting front Icon coil over kit, rear OME heavy coil/shock, 18x9 +18mm offset Method wheels, and LT275/70R18 Toyo Open Country A/T II tires.

The Toyos are 33.2"- Toyo also has LT295/70R18s which are 34.1" - too big? I'm thinking of calling in tomorrow to switch.

my guess is with those wheels and the 295/70R18's even with a lift you would be taking the mudflaps off the front and possibly cutting the inner/rear front fender a bit...

 

[5ForFighting]

Bruiser it is

Picked it up today

 

[5ForFighting]

More Bruiser

 

[5ForFighting]

Last one

 

[kreiten]

^^^, oh s***, that is one of the best looking 200's I"ve seen, damn, it's a beast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kreiten]

does it rub at all? what size tires did ya get?

 

[brussum]

I have an OEM bug/rock guard on my hood. It seems to do the trick and isn't too bad looking (beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course). They sell clear ones Down Under and I wanted to pick one up while I was down there on business, but it's a bit long to ship or carry on an airplane. Settled for a tinted one from the local dealership. It's very easy to install and I think it'd look good on your Bruiser.

 

[brussum]

Found a decent picture of my silver, albeit dirty, '08 200. It's hard to keep a vehicle clean during the Alaska winter.

 

[5ForFighting]

brussum: I'm probably going to order one tomorrow - thanks for the pic!

kreiten: it came out better than I hoped for. Zero rubbing after trim and drives like stock except for minimal hum at highway speeds, which I'm confident will disappear after they're broken-in. I'd have to double check, but I'm fairly certain the 325s measure out to 33.6". We considered lots of options so I don't remember exactly without the chart in front of me.

If you go to the Outlaw Offroad website and check their "Gallery", there's more pics and info under the first Land Cruiser tab.

Off to Get Bruiser dirty.

Edit: They're 33.2"

 

[chimyz]

Great looking truck. Just to confirm, you got the Toyos at 275/70/18? They look wider than that for some reason...may be the mud tread.

 

[5ForFighting]

No, they are 325s.

 

[5ForFighting]

Trying to get dirty at Joshua Tree

 

[5ForFighting]

One more,

 

[5ForFighting]

What the...apparently we ended up in China

 

[chimyz]

I'd love a picture of what's been trimmed to get those wheel/tire combo to fit.