I looked around and didnt see a thread where members posted up their rides and gave a brief introduction. We've really grown the club since the reboot and monthly meetings and it would be great to see old friends and new ones post up their rides!
DLC Member Introduction Thread
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I'll start.
Brandon
Birmingham, AL
Accountant
I've been into 4x4ing since before I could legally drive. Growing up in Selma, we had a family farm and I drove ATVs for years. I've owned multiple jeeps, a '96 bronco, multiple trucks and SUVs. I still have my '89 wrangler I've owned since I was 15 and am in the process of slowly refurbishing and building it.
I built and crawled jeeps in my 20s, but grew tired of that scene and started looking for trucks to go on wheeling/ camping trips. I'm an old Eagle Scout and really wanted to get back into the activities I did as a youth, so I bought my first LC in 2010, a blue 2000 LC to setup for extended wheeling and camping trips. I sold it in 2014 to buy a truck for the farm, then immediately started looking for another one. I bought my current white 2004 LX in 2016 a week before I took it out to CO for HIH6. In 2017, I bought a partially built M416a1 military trailer to use on longer trips. I fixed some of the "mods", rebuilt the axle, rewired it, replaced tires, installed a CVT tent, awning, camp kitchen, bin system and am finishing a solar power box for the front tongue.
I've gone to HIH3, 6, 7, 8, & 9 in Ouray/Silverton, CO and driven most of the trails out there. I'm planing some East coast stuff next spring, another CO trip in July 2020, then hopefully the Dalton highway in Alaska in 2021.
I've really enjoyed the local trips, monthly meeting and brewery stops and cant wait to see how DLC continues to grow!
Brandon
Birmingham, AL
Accountant
I've been into 4x4ing since before I could legally drive. Growing up in Selma, we had a family farm and I drove ATVs for years. I've owned multiple jeeps, a '96 bronco, multiple trucks and SUVs. I still have my '89 wrangler I've owned since I was 15 and am in the process of slowly refurbishing and building it.
I built and crawled jeeps in my 20s, but grew tired of that scene and started looking for trucks to go on wheeling/ camping trips. I'm an old Eagle Scout and really wanted to get back into the activities I did as a youth, so I bought my first LC in 2010, a blue 2000 LC to setup for extended wheeling and camping trips. I sold it in 2014 to buy a truck for the farm, then immediately started looking for another one. I bought my current white 2004 LX in 2016 a week before I took it out to CO for HIH6. In 2017, I bought a partially built M416a1 military trailer to use on longer trips. I fixed some of the "mods", rebuilt the axle, rewired it, replaced tires, installed a CVT tent, awning, camp kitchen, bin system and am finishing a solar power box for the front tongue.
I've gone to HIH3, 6, 7, 8, & 9 in Ouray/Silverton, CO and driven most of the trails out there. I'm planing some East coast stuff next spring, another CO trip in July 2020, then hopefully the Dalton highway in Alaska in 2021.
I've really enjoyed the local trips, monthly meeting and brewery stops and cant wait to see how DLC continues to grow!
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I'll go next.
Michael
Tuscaloosa, AL
Tech Service/Quality Rep
I was born and raised in Tuscaloosa and have been here all my life. Much like Brandon, we had a family farm so we always had atv's, farm trucks, and tractors. Anything with 4 wheels and an engine always had my undivided attention. I've had a wide spectrum of vehicles over the years but just recently got in the Land Cruiser scene a couple years aga. Most of my mechanical experience has been with domestics, so this has been a refreshing new change of pace for me learning the ins and outs of these rigs. I've been on a couple rides to Stoney Lonesome, Southern Swine Soiree 2018, and Mardi Krawl 2019. My wife and I love getting out riding trails, and we've met some great folks so far. On a side note, the trail riding has been on the back burner due to us finding out my wife was pregnant with our first child the week before MK19 lol. Fast forward 9 months, our son is due in a week
. Definitely looking forward to getting back into some more rides with the group this spring once we get our little fella established. Here are a few pics of the fleet:
Michael
Tuscaloosa, AL
Tech Service/Quality Rep
I was born and raised in Tuscaloosa and have been here all my life. Much like Brandon, we had a family farm so we always had atv's, farm trucks, and tractors. Anything with 4 wheels and an engine always had my undivided attention. I've had a wide spectrum of vehicles over the years but just recently got in the Land Cruiser scene a couple years aga. Most of my mechanical experience has been with domestics, so this has been a refreshing new change of pace for me learning the ins and outs of these rigs. I've been on a couple rides to Stoney Lonesome, Southern Swine Soiree 2018, and Mardi Krawl 2019. My wife and I love getting out riding trails, and we've met some great folks so far. On a side note, the trail riding has been on the back burner due to us finding out my wife was pregnant with our first child the week before MK19 lol. Fast forward 9 months, our son is due in a week
. Definitely looking forward to getting back into some more rides with the group this spring once we get our little fella established. Here are a few pics of the fleet:
Zjohnsonua
SILVER Star
Zach
Huntsville, AL
Production Support Engineer
Grew up in McCalla, then spent some time in IN and NC for work before leaving for Australia for a while. I had the LC bug before I left, but that trip put the nail in the coffin. A few months after I got back I acquired the 60 and starting bringing it back to life. It's now been to Big Bend NP, various spots all over the Western NC mtns, and out to Ouray and the 4 parks around the 4 Corners area. I take to rigs that have already seen a rougher life so that I don't screw up a nice one.
Huntsville, AL
Production Support Engineer
Grew up in McCalla, then spent some time in IN and NC for work before leaving for Australia for a while. I had the LC bug before I left, but that trip put the nail in the coffin. A few months after I got back I acquired the 60 and starting bringing it back to life. It's now been to Big Bend NP, various spots all over the Western NC mtns, and out to Ouray and the 4 parks around the 4 Corners area. I take to rigs that have already seen a rougher life so that I don't screw up a nice one.
g rant
SILVER Star
Grant
Birmingham
IT Guy
Only been a part of the LC family for about 6 months now. My Dad gifted me his 200 and the rest is history. Joined Mud to learn more about my rig and inspire my build. Not much of a trail rider, my mods were more for appearance than anything else (my rig is just a mall crawler on 34’s
). It has been a fun 6 months, and looking forward to the next couple hundred thousand miles with my baby!
Birmingham
IT Guy
Only been a part of the LC family for about 6 months now. My Dad gifted me his 200 and the rest is history. Joined Mud to learn more about my rig and inspire my build. Not much of a trail rider, my mods were more for appearance than anything else (my rig is just a mall crawler on 34’s
). It has been a fun 6 months, and looking forward to the next couple hundred thousand miles with my baby! 
Bama4door
Supporting Vendor
Grant, what part of AL are you in? Good looking 200!Grant
Birmingham
IT Guy
Only been a part of the LC family for about 6 months now. My Dad gifted me his 200 and the rest is history. Joined Mud to learn more about my rig and inspire my build. Not much of a trail rider, my mods were more for appearance than anything else (my rig is just a mall crawler on 34’s
View attachment 2142986
View attachment 2142985
g rant
SILVER Star
Birmingham
Zjohnsonua
SILVER Star
Come on out, and hang out for a while. It's a crazy capable truck. There are heaps of places it and you needs to see yet!
BamaHeel
Intergalactic Champion
Grant
Birmingham
IT Guy
Only been a part of the LC family for about 6 months now. My Dad gifted me his 200 and the rest is history. Joined Mud to learn more about my rig and inspire my build. Not much of a trail rider, my mods were more for appearance than anything else (my rig is just a mall crawler on 34’s
View attachment 2142986
View attachment 2142985
Good looking 200
Your dad looking to adopt you a brother - I'm free and I like 200's
Casey
Huntsville
Engineer
Just moved here from Texas. I have enjoyed off-roading and wrenching for most of my life. Also climbing, caving, canoeing, pretty much anything outdoors. My love for Toyotas started with an FJ. Looking for more of a project I then moved on to an 83’ Hilux. And finally settled on the 80 series once I realized how amazing they were. My job has taken up a great deal of my life over the last few years but things should be moving a little slower for me now. Looking forward to exploring Alabama. I plan to make the December meeting and look forward to meeting some of you then.
Huntsville
Engineer
Just moved here from Texas. I have enjoyed off-roading and wrenching for most of my life. Also climbing, caving, canoeing, pretty much anything outdoors. My love for Toyotas started with an FJ. Looking for more of a project I then moved on to an 83’ Hilux. And finally settled on the 80 series once I realized how amazing they were. My job has taken up a great deal of my life over the last few years but things should be moving a little slower for me now. Looking forward to exploring Alabama. I plan to make the December meeting and look forward to meeting some of you then.
Clay
Tuscaloosa
I’ve had 40ish 4wd trucks in the last 20 years, 95% of them Toyotas. Started with a 1986 4Runner, went through rock crawlers, then back into cruisers, currently a ‘69 FJ55 with a 3FE and a 2011 Tundra.
I just quit my full time helicopter Maintenance Test Pilot job to fly part time and open up a little cruiser shop, Black Hawk Off Road. I currently have four FJ80s that I’m servicing/ building to list for sell soon. I hope to retire from the Army in 15 months and continue to fly EMS 7on/7off and run the shop on my off weeks.
been all over from TX, TN, NC, AR, the whole southeast with rock crawlers, hoping to take more “overland” trips in the 55. Drove it from Boise to Tuscaloosa this summer, going to Key West over Christmas, back out west next summer, hopefully Alaska summer 2021.
I normally fly Thursday nights and have been missing meetings, but have more flexibility now.
Tuscaloosa
I’ve had 40ish 4wd trucks in the last 20 years, 95% of them Toyotas. Started with a 1986 4Runner, went through rock crawlers, then back into cruisers, currently a ‘69 FJ55 with a 3FE and a 2011 Tundra.
I just quit my full time helicopter Maintenance Test Pilot job to fly part time and open up a little cruiser shop, Black Hawk Off Road. I currently have four FJ80s that I’m servicing/ building to list for sell soon. I hope to retire from the Army in 15 months and continue to fly EMS 7on/7off and run the shop on my off weeks.
been all over from TX, TN, NC, AR, the whole southeast with rock crawlers, hoping to take more “overland” trips in the 55. Drove it from Boise to Tuscaloosa this summer, going to Key West over Christmas, back out west next summer, hopefully Alaska summer 2021.
I normally fly Thursday nights and have been missing meetings, but have more flexibility now.
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Bama4door
Supporting Vendor
Cole
Birmingham, AL
IT Sales
I grew up riding 4wheelers and got into nitro RC cars when I was young. So I've always fixed and tinkered with things. My first car was a Tahoe and I did all sorts of stupid things to that in High School. My dad and I actually found a 60 series in Colorado that we were interested in for my first car (I had an uncle living out there at the time), but once my mom found out it had no airbags, that went down the drain.
Fast forward to when I graduated college, I moved up to Arkansas for my first job. I went up a couple weeks early to look for a place to live and noticed a really cool 62 series for sale in parking lot. I went back a few weeks later after I moved and bought it after haggling with the guy for a few days. It was in terrible condition (brakes, steering, etc) and was sitting on 38.5" super swampers on a 3" lift (still not sure how that was possible). Over the next 2.5 years I did a lot of preventative maintenance and swapped out the auto A440 for a manual H42 and put it back on 33" tires. Sold it to a guy in Cullman a few years ago and it's still around that area.
Since then I've had 7 Land Cruisers (40, 60, 62, 80s, 100). I get bored with them and sell or trade them for another one and the cycle continues.
I've currently got a 1971 FJ40, 1996 FZJ80 and a 2001 LX470:
Birmingham, AL
IT Sales
I grew up riding 4wheelers and got into nitro RC cars when I was young. So I've always fixed and tinkered with things. My first car was a Tahoe and I did all sorts of stupid things to that in High School. My dad and I actually found a 60 series in Colorado that we were interested in for my first car (I had an uncle living out there at the time), but once my mom found out it had no airbags, that went down the drain.
Fast forward to when I graduated college, I moved up to Arkansas for my first job. I went up a couple weeks early to look for a place to live and noticed a really cool 62 series for sale in parking lot. I went back a few weeks later after I moved and bought it after haggling with the guy for a few days. It was in terrible condition (brakes, steering, etc) and was sitting on 38.5" super swampers on a 3" lift (still not sure how that was possible). Over the next 2.5 years I did a lot of preventative maintenance and swapped out the auto A440 for a manual H42 and put it back on 33" tires. Sold it to a guy in Cullman a few years ago and it's still around that area.
Since then I've had 7 Land Cruisers (40, 60, 62, 80s, 100). I get bored with them and sell or trade them for another one and the cycle continues.
I've currently got a 1971 FJ40, 1996 FZJ80 and a 2001 LX470:
Brandon
Tuscaloosa, AL
Sales at Tuscaloosa Toyota.
I am born and raised here in Tuscaloosa. I have always enjoyed cars but never considered myself a car guy. After getting into automotive sales in 2013 I was immediately drawn to the Land Cruiser as an awesome vehicle to sell. Then the old ones came up. After dreaming of getting into trail riding and watching them come in and out of the service drive for years my buddy and fellow DLC member Michael got his 80 series. That lit the spark and I knew I had to get one. I decided I wanted an off roader and daily driver to the 100 was perfect. I got lucky and a local doctor just happened to trade one in. After about an hour of convincing the wife Betty came home in June of 2018. I have enjoyed tinkering and learning how to work on a few things.
We have only had time for a few trips. Southern Swine Soiree 2018 and a group ride a couple weekends ago. We will be at Mardi Krawl 2020 though.
My wife, Allison, and I are looking forward to getting to know everyone in the group.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Sales at Tuscaloosa Toyota.
I am born and raised here in Tuscaloosa. I have always enjoyed cars but never considered myself a car guy. After getting into automotive sales in 2013 I was immediately drawn to the Land Cruiser as an awesome vehicle to sell. Then the old ones came up. After dreaming of getting into trail riding and watching them come in and out of the service drive for years my buddy and fellow DLC member Michael got his 80 series. That lit the spark and I knew I had to get one. I decided I wanted an off roader and daily driver to the 100 was perfect. I got lucky and a local doctor just happened to trade one in. After about an hour of convincing the wife Betty came home in June of 2018. I have enjoyed tinkering and learning how to work on a few things.
We have only had time for a few trips. Southern Swine Soiree 2018 and a group ride a couple weekends ago. We will be at Mardi Krawl 2020 though.
My wife, Allison, and I are looking forward to getting to know everyone in the group.
Bama4door
Supporting Vendor
@Betty100LC Very cool Brandon, had no idea you were at Tuscaloosa Toyota! We will see you at Mardi Krawl in a few weeks 
I sure will!
Steven Hulsey
Birmingham, AL- Grew up in Tuscaloosa
Industrial Sales Engineer/Account Manager
Hey Guys, saw this and thought I would contribute. I grew up in Tuscaloosa and have been in Birmingham for the last three years since I graduate from AL. My brother got me into off roading. I bought my LC after my brother and a group of us entered the Southern Expeditions off road challenge in Uwarie National forest. We had a team of four vehicles and each vehicle had to have a co-pilot. I was a co-pilot since I didn't have a vehicle. We had a great time and actually ended up winning the competition. It was this trip that made me buy my LC as an off road toy as soon as I got home. So, needless to say I am new to off roading and since buying my LC I have been doing a lot of PM and upgrades. My friends and I have a shop in Tuscaloosa where we do a lot of fab work and anything else we need done. I have a number of upgrades that I want to do before I think it will be trail ready but I am getting closer. I am about to add a new front bumper, slider we have already built, and lockers to my LC. I'm excited to meet you guys at future meetings and rides.
I have removed my fender flares, about to raptor line the whole LC in a grey color, and add a front bumper so hopefully it will look much different in the near future.
My LC the day I bought it.
First mod I made to the LC. Had to build a custom swing out while I wait to buy a real real bumper.
Birmingham, AL- Grew up in Tuscaloosa
Industrial Sales Engineer/Account Manager
Hey Guys, saw this and thought I would contribute. I grew up in Tuscaloosa and have been in Birmingham for the last three years since I graduate from AL. My brother got me into off roading. I bought my LC after my brother and a group of us entered the Southern Expeditions off road challenge in Uwarie National forest. We had a team of four vehicles and each vehicle had to have a co-pilot. I was a co-pilot since I didn't have a vehicle. We had a great time and actually ended up winning the competition. It was this trip that made me buy my LC as an off road toy as soon as I got home. So, needless to say I am new to off roading and since buying my LC I have been doing a lot of PM and upgrades. My friends and I have a shop in Tuscaloosa where we do a lot of fab work and anything else we need done. I have a number of upgrades that I want to do before I think it will be trail ready but I am getting closer. I am about to add a new front bumper, slider we have already built, and lockers to my LC. I'm excited to meet you guys at future meetings and rides.
I have removed my fender flares, about to raptor line the whole LC in a grey color, and add a front bumper so hopefully it will look much different in the near future.
My LC the day I bought it.
First mod I made to the LC. Had to build a custom swing out while I wait to buy a real real bumper.
Wah00
SILVER Star
Andy
Birmingham
Attorney
Recently took the plunge and became a cruiserhead after admiring them for years. I now have a 40th Ann 1997 80 series as my daily driver. It has lockers, but I plan to keep it on the highway for the most part for now. Look forward to meeting you all once we are allowed to have meetings again.
Birmingham
Attorney
Recently took the plunge and became a cruiserhead after admiring them for years. I now have a 40th Ann 1997 80 series as my daily driver. It has lockers, but I plan to keep it on the highway for the most part for now. Look forward to meeting you all once we are allowed to have meetings again.
