Fj40 half tub replacement woes....

[raymond2335]

Is the size of the door opening correct?

Yep the dimensions are all correct as far as width goes. The weird thing is this box is stretched out that extra inch and the cross members under the rear tub are also stretched out, each one is a little bit off. none of them lined up with the body mounts. It would be a usable tub if a guy could cut 1 inch out of the middle of the rear tub and then adjust Body mounts. I will be sending it back to Frank as soon as I get it off, separated from the front half

 

[workingdog]

Just curious what the final resolution was to this. Did you get the new tub? Did it fit?

 

[raymond2335]

The resolution was that they were going to build me a new tub. I sent them all the measurements for my body mounts and dimensions of my old tub. I think they’re going to use those for older FJ tub specs. I’m not sure but things changed over the years as far as specs and body mounts and fitment. I’m still waiting for my tub. Frank told me that to cut down on shipping costs they want to get the shipping containers full as possible and there was an FJ 45 they were waiting on to be restored before they ship the container. He told me the end of September but that has come and gone. My shop is still full of pieces and parts from my half completed restoration. I was hoping to get this done before the snow flies, but it’s not looking that way. It’s unfortunate. I believe my tub is finished. They sent me pictures of it, but I have no clue when it will ship. VERY FRUSTRATING!!!

 

[greenbeast]

The resolution was that they were going to build me a new tub. I sent them all the measurements for my body mounts and dimensions of my old tub. I think they’re going to use those for older FJ tub specs. I’m not sure but things changed over the years as far as specs and body mounts and fitment. I’m still waiting for my tub. Frank told me that to cut down on shipping costs they want to get the shipping containers full as possible and there was an FJ 45 they were waiting on to be restored before they ship the container. He told me the end of September but that has come and gone. My shop is still full of pieces and parts from my half completed restoration. I was hoping to get this done before the snow flies, but it’s not looking that way. It’s unfortunate. I believe my tub is finished. They sent me pictures of it, but I have no clue when it will ship. VERY FRUSTRATING!!!

Heard anything yet?

I sold a 3/4 LCH tub earlier this year after buying it from another mudder. It was still crated so I never knew of any fit issues. It lacked quite a bit and having nowhere to work on it nor do I have skills. I was able to sell it to another mudder who had metal working skills and tools to make it happen. Unfortunately he contacted me a couple months ago. Said despite all he has done in past the tub would not work due to fit and quality of metal. This is a pattern with LCH tubs. Maybe it would be best to get a refund and move on?

 

[Varty Yo]

Wow good info to know...

 

[1MOA]

Wow, eye opening thread.

 

[raymond2335]

As of today, frank told me he is in Columbia organizing the loading of the shipping container. He has not run into any problems as far as export goes.... So I've got my fingers crossed.. In the mean time, I'm in the process of cutting the misfit rear tub from my front half. I really wish I had dry fitted the two before welding them.... Hard to do with the body mounts, and two seperate tub sections... I'm doing this alone most of the time. Luckily I happen to have a neurosurgeons dremel a friend scored for me to cut away the spotwelds that are , to say the least, unaccessable. Funny, as we were welding the front and rear tub halves together, my buddy mentioned how difficult it would be in the event some poor schmuck had to separate the two halves down the line.... We had a good laugh....
So far so good... I'm hoping to save the misfit rear tub for resale later on with minimal damage. I will be surprised if the tub shows up in mid December as he promised....

 

[John Smith]

If you want to to know where the container is, and when it will arrive, get the can number from Frank, and track it here. Container Shipping Lines Directory - International shipping companies

 

[Picz34]

I bought a rear tub for my 1980 FJ40 from L.C.H. as well. I believe that I was one of the early ones to get one. The shipping company was able to get me the rear tub, but they lost the pallet along the way. The tub did get damaged (not as bad as this one), but Frank did take care of me to make it right. Once I got to the fitment I found that my tub was 1" too long. I was able to cut the sides 1" shorter where it met the pillar to make it work. Frank was behind his sale all the way. The worst part about all of it is the time you lose. We all want to get these projects done, but its an unfortunate problem you run into from time to time. Here is a picture of it just after primer.

 

[Racer65]

As of today, frank told me he is in Columbia organizing the loading of the shipping container. He has not run into any problems as far as export goes.... So I've got my fingers crossed.. In the mean time, I'm in the process of cutting the misfit rear tub from my front half. I really wish I had dry fitted the two before welding them.... Hard to do with the body mounts, and two seperate tub sections... I'm doing this alone most of the time. Luckily I happen to have a neurosurgeons dremel a friend scored for me to cut away the spotwelds that are , to say the least, unaccessable. Funny, as we were welding the front and rear tub halves together, my buddy mentioned how difficult it would be in the event some poor schmuck had to separate the two halves down the line.... We had a good laugh....
So far so good... I'm hoping to save the misfit rear tub for resale later on with minimal damage. I will be surprised if the tub shows up in mid December as he promised....

To cut down on surprises, I suggest you ask for photos before they load it onto the ship.

 

[White Stripe]

Is it worth all the effort for a lch tub? You can get a tseven tub for probably about the same price...

 

[Picz34]

Is it worth all the effort for a lch tub? You can get a tseven tub for probably about the same price...

Personally I enjoyed working with Frank. It's hard to get anything for these vehicles and not have some sort of problem along the way.

 

[Picz34]

My luck may have ran out with my half tub. Spent all morning trying to get the ambulance doors to hang right. I don't think the tub is manufactured correctly to even hang doors on it. Another mud member and I talked about the lack of a weatherstrip ledge on the Landcruiser heaven tubs. At first I didn't think this would be a big deal, but without this ledge my doors won't physically fit in the opening. I emailed LCH about this problem and never got a response. Hopefully Frank will see this and be able to point out a fix. In the mean time I was wondering if anyone could measure their tub rear door opening at the middle and top and let me know what theirs measure? Mine is a 1980.

 

[Curt]

That looks like an early model rear opening, ambulance doors need a recess for the weather strip to set in all around just like the top.

 

[Picz34]

That looks like an early model rear opening, ambulance doors need a recess for the weather strip to set in all around just like the top.

That's the problem. LCH doesn't offer this recess on the later models.

 

[Bripars40]

That's the problem. LCH doesn't offer this recess on the later models.

Then they shouldn't offer '79+ tubs. That's 100% required to run doors.

 

[Demon061]

Who shipped it? Always deny a freight shipment if it's messed up. Too late now, but in the future..

 

[Picz34]

Who shipped it? Always deny a freight shipment if it's messed up. Too late now, but in the future..

That's rough to do when you pay upfront. Guess it was too much to expect to get a product to fit my model as advertised.

 

[Bripars40]

That's rough to do when you pay upfront. Guess it was too much to expect to get a product to fit my model as advertised.

Sucks too that you already painted the tub. If you decide to get rid of that tub let me know. I'm buying time until I can either remake or buy a tub.

 

[Demon061]

Raymond, It was good hearing from you yesterday. When you called me regarding the damages from freight, I responded per our policies on the website. Once the item is picked up by the carrier then it is the customer's responsibility to file any claims with the carrier. I never heard from you again until last night and assumed that it was made right by them. I was completely unaware that you never got anywhere with them. I could have spoken with my shipping broker and made a claim that way had I known. Was the delivery ticket notated of this damage? Anyways, I am sorry you had this issue with the product.

Before now, I had not seen the pictures of the damage from the shipping company. I contracted a US based company to handle all packaging and shipping logistics and was unaware of how they shipped these items. They are supposed to be the experts in that realm so I let them run with it. I will be making a claim with them as well regarding this. For those that know me, stateside, I am a one man show with a day job. And in efforts to speed up shipping times I have out source the shipping and logistics aspect of the business. My containers arrive at a warehouse in Virginia and they pack and ship everything out.

To address the issue with the tub. Like I mentioned yesterday, this was the first time I had heard about the length issue on the Pre 78 tubs. I have imported over 30 rear tubs since 2015 and have had (1) feedback on the Post 79 rear tubs from a mud member on it being an 1" too long. For which, I talked to the manufacturer and they made the necessary changes. You also asked me what others had done, and I said that they cut the sides 1" from where it mates with B pillar. Since you have already welded the tub to rest of the body its a lot more work. You were going to look it over and let me know what the outcome was. I have already contacted my people in Colombia and have made the claim with them. I will need your help in sending me the pictures I need for that, but regardless of that outcome I will be replacing your tub for you. Lets work together to make sure you get what you purchased. I have a container scheduled for late Sept 2017 and will have a new rear tub for you on that container. I sincerely apologize for this issue and I hope that you accept my offer into making this right.

Forwarders and warehousing/shipping companies are a nightmare (I was a dock supervisor at a very large LTL shipping company, I've seen all kinds of screwed up shipping). Good on you for making this right. In regard to shipping, even if it's a bit overwhelming I recommend having every shipment photographed and tagged with the bill of lading or manifest so that the shipper can note exceptions. It's miserable but it keeps dock workers in line. I've seen people stack six hundred pound pallets on top of crated engines (usually surrounded by caged 1x4, so not exactly load bearing). Even though you want to think everyone wants to take care of your shipment, when these guys have to move a few hundred bills a night they get careless. Human nature. But as I said, good on you for making it right.