First Landcruiser build. DIY bumper and more! (1 Viewer)

[wvrx]

Figured I’d start a thread for my build, I used to build Honda’s and Evos and felt build threads always helped to keep track of everything. You can also follow my build on my Instagram story @2shengz.

This is a budget-oriented build, here are the basics:
2001 Landcruiser, purchased at 220k miles bone stock.

At the time my garage was so small that it wouldn’t fit inside, I had to work on it in the alley behind my house. First thing to go was the factory sideskirts.

Next upgrade was tires, I decided on 285/75/16 Falken AT3W. Tested them out on a trip to Yosemite, they handle snow quite well!

Not long after tires I installed OME 860 rear springs and cranked my torsion bars up by ~2”. Stock shocks because budget build, I’ll run them until I need to upgrade.

 

[wvrx]

Next up were maintenance items. Some of these older photos are from instagram, I’m posting from mobile do not sure how vertical photos will look.

OEM filter ftw!

Steering rack bushings were shot...these made a huge difference in the sloppy steering.

Found a spot in Big Sur to camp...by far one of the top trips of my year!

 

[wvrx]

Hopped on a groupbuy for sliders so of course I had to test them out - this is the trail to Signal Peak for the Norcal peeps

Also took a trip to Pismo for some beach camping

At this point I really didn’t do much more to the rig and just enjoyed it on various trips around the area.

 

[wvrx]

The itch bit again and I started shopping for rear bumpers...much to my dismay they were all more than half of my landcruiser’s original purchase price once I optioned out swingsouts, etc so I decided to buy a welder and DIY it myself.

Started by building the frame mounts out of 1/4” steel. I also roughly cut out the recovery points so that they’re attached to the mount. Keep in mind I’m cutting everything with a portaband and angle grinder so it’s painstaking slow.

Tried to drill the holes by hand...nope ended up picking up a cheap drill press off Craigslist. Definitely needed for this project.

I basically used cardboard to mock up the shapes and traced onto my sheet of metal. Using 10gauge for the non-critical pieces to save weight.

 

[wvrx]

My mig skills are mostly self-taught from YouTube videos, certainly not great but they’ll work for this project!

Welding in small sections to keep the heat down.

Starting to take shape!

This week I found a nice deal for aftermarket wheels, scooped up some Icon Rebound 17x8.5 +25mm wheels. They have 35x12.5x17 MTs mounted...I hammered the pinch weld in and they more or less fit, although I’m sure they will require much more massaging to fit offroad. Not to worry though, I’m running these around town until I purchase a set of appropriately sized tires.

 

[1sar39]

Looking good, man! I like that you're going DIY on the bumper. I went the same route on my rig. Are you planning on doing the front, too?

I went up to check out Prewitt Ridge last weekend. Amazing camping spots up there. I want to spend a weekend up there and just explore some of the Coast Ridge Trail. BTW, Awesome pic of your cruiser with the Milky Way!

 

[wvrx]

Looking good, man! I like that you're going DIY on the bumper. I went the same route on my rig. Are you planning on doing the front, too?

I went up to check out Prewitt Ridge last weekend. Amazing camping spots up there. I want to spend a weekend up there and just explore some of the Coast Ridge Trail. BTW, Awesome pic of your cruiser with the Milky Way!

Yep prewitt ridge is pretty amazing, although it was packed and Bay Area effect our in full force last time I went. I’ll probably DIY the front bumper too, need to buy a winch first for mockup. The Badlands Apex 12k seems to have excellent reviews, might have to snag one on sale

 

[MountaineerLC]

Yep prewitt ridge is pretty amazing, although it was packed and Bay Area effect our in full force last time I went. I’ll probably DIY the front bumper too, need to buy a winch first for mockup. The Badlands Apex 12k seems to have excellent reviews, might have to snag one on sale

That Badlands is on sale right now for $399! I'm intrigued by the Apex as well. I'd like to have a winch, but can't justify the expense of a higher end one.

Keep up the good work. I love seeing home grown fab work!

 

[geanes]

Yep prewitt ridge is pretty amazing, although it was packed and Bay Area effect our in full force last time I went. I’ll probably DIY the front bumper too, need to buy a winch first for mockup. The Badlands Apex 12k seems to have excellent reviews, might have to snag one on sale

Those Badlands winches do seem to have great reviews. HF does tend to run sales quite frequently and almost every other month offer their 25% Super Coupon if you subscribe to their emails. The Smittybilt XRC3 is a really enticing winch with all the upgrades they recently did to it including a spool light and load status LEDs on the remote. Very curious about the Apex.

The Aussies LOVE the Maxxis tires. Don't see them much in these parts other than for mountain bikes.

 

[wvrx]

Made some progress today after work. Finished welding most of the seams and started grinding. Make sure you do plenty of test fitting as you go, the bumper definitely warped slightly and fitment was tight. My goal was lightweight and as much clearance as I can spare.

Next I measured and cut down the swingout posts and tacked them in place..going with a single shear as these were $50 apiece...figured if I could support it well they’ll work for now. I’m not going to haul anything heavy back there anyways since the whole goal was to keep it as light as I can.

Snagged a brand new Warn Jeep rear tire carrier for $10, sneak peak of mock up.

 

[changingground]

The itch bit again and I started shopping for rear bumpers...much to my dismay they were all more than half of my landcruiser’s original purchase price once I optioned out swingsouts, etc so I decided to buy a welder and DIY it myself.

Started by building the frame mounts out of 1/4” steel. I also roughly cut out the recovery points so that they’re attached to the mount. Keep in mind I’m cutting everything with a portaband and angle grinder so it’s painstaking slow.
View attachment 2248361

Tried to drill the holes by hand...nope ended up picking up a cheap drill press off Craigslist. Definitely needed for this project.
View attachment 2248362

I basically used cardboard to mock up the shapes and traced onto my sheet of metal. Using 10gauge for the non-critical pieces to save weight.
View attachment 2248363

Can you show how you dealt with the center member?

 

[wvrx]

Those Badlands winches do seem to have great reviews. HF does tend to run sales quite frequently and almost every other month offer their 25% Super Coupon if you subscribe to their emails. The Smittybilt XRC3 is a really enticing winch with all the upgrades they recently did to it including a spool light and load status LEDs on the remote. Very curious about the Apex.

The Aussies LOVE the Maxxis tires. Don't see them much in these parts other than for mountain bikes.

The Maxxis tires are way louder than my AT’s but drive surprisingly well. I’m debating an MT or AT in 285/75/17, love the look of Toyo MTs and have read great things about them.

That Badlands is on sale right now for $399! I'm intrigued by the Apex as well. I'd like to have a winch, but can't justify the expense of a higher end one.

Keep up the good work. I love seeing home grown fab work!

Thanks! I know some people are diehard Warn fans but it seems like they really stepped up the quality control on the Apex winches. Can’t be worse than a smittybilt at this point

Can you show how you dealt with the center member?

The bumper rests on it and fits over it like the factory piece. Here’s an old picture if that helps to visualize it

 

[katit]

Do you know how heavy this bumper actually is compared to stock?

 

[wvrx]

Do you know how heavy this bumper actually is compared to stock?

Stock is probably...10-15lbs with the metal trim piece? I just weighed mine and it’s 70.5lbs. Still have to add the swingouts and a couple more gussets

 

[DTCsk8er]

Bumper looks great! I feel like the shell alone for my 4x4labs bumper is probably close to 100lbs.. so if you come below that, good job haha!

 

[BuckarooBanzai]

Nice build up! Great job on the bumper!

 

[gregnash]

Dude this is looking awesome and love how you wrapped and integrated to the fender/wheelwell lines. Looks like you even added previsions to keep OE mudflaps?
Dumb question, but do you have stock LC tow hitch or are you adding your own? Nevermind, see in your last photo that you don't have. Wonder if it is high enough that stock tow hitch would still fit under? Based on my photos of my rear bumper with the "guard" around the exhaust tip and pics of your exhaust tip, I am assuming it probably would!

 

[wvrx]

Bumper looks great! I feel like the shell alone for my 4x4labs bumper is probably close to 100lbs.. so if you come below that, good job haha!

Thanks! Hoping it stays lightweight as I add more to it

Nice build up! Great job on the bumper!

Dude this is looking awesome and love how you wrapped and integrated to the fender/wheelwell lines. Looks like you even added previsions to keep OE mudflaps?
Dumb question, but do you have stock LC tow hitch or are you adding your own? Nevermind, see in your last photo that you don't have. Wonder if it is high enough that stock tow hitch would still fit under? Based on my photos of my rear bumper with the "guard" around the exhaust tip and pics of your exhaust tip, I am assuming it probably would!

The stock hitch should theoretically fit, I will have to try it next time. However imo it hangs too low and ruins our departure angle, so I’m going to have to fab a tow hitch at some point. Some LC’s have it built into the center crossmember, I may utilize something like that to maximize rear clearance.

Welded up the tire carrier today, for those using this as reference in the future make sure you put the bearing race into the spindle housing BEFORE welding it up! I accidentally took one out, had a hell of a time getting it back in and ended up sanding it down to fit.

I think my welds are improving, I also made it a point to prep the material and it made a world of difference in reducing splatter.

 

[wvrx]

Welded up the other arm and chopped off the extra tubing on the tire carrier to fit. Need to decide if I want to add gas struts to the swingouts and how Im going to do the latches

 

[wvrx]

My hatch struts just happen to be getting weak so I repurposed them and ordered a new set from Amazon. These OEM ones are plenty strong for the swingouts