FNG Choking On Info Overload

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

N

NothingClever

Joined
Aug 19, 2004
Threads
1
Messages
7
Location
In my house
Website
www.f650.com
OK, allow me to introduce myself....

I'm here to get smart on a Toy.

There, introduction complete -- on to business now, eh?

I'm an old hand over on my Forum playground for BMW motorcycles. I can find an answer for this, that and the other when it comes to the F650 dual purpose motorcycle.

But, lemme get interested in a FJ series wheeler and I'm freakin' maxed out on where to start nailing down my needs and which truck will suit me best.

I searched the Forums for a 'buyer's guide' and 'new buyer' and got some free radical threads but no pay dirt.

So, please accept my apology up front if I've stepped on toes by not finding the right thread or location for me to do some homework to ask more insightful questions but....

I NEED SOME FREAKIN' HELP, Y'ALL!!!

I'd like to get a 40 but I need some more room.

I wanna wheel on occasion but I'm no longer interested in block and tackle rigging for lateral self-recovery with a nose winch in the event I put her on her side.

I'm set to blow about $18,000. Looking for a mechaincally healthy rig with some moderate mods and a nice (did not say showroomn quality, did not say excellent, did not say exquisite) paint job.

This truck will be a semi-daily driver. The bike will still get the majority of my love.

However, when I do take the truck out, it will be long distance, like 2K RT.

So, I've thought the slightly more modern 60 would fit the bill due to more room and (I'm hoping) better gas mileage. My daily commute is 40+ miles and I don't want to get killed on gas mileage every week.

I'd jump at an HJ60 or a BJ if I knew where to find one. All the Cruiser classifieds I run across seem to be advertising a rig in Canada. I don't have time to make the purchase a big adventure with importation, etc. I just want to get a truck and go see family in Colorado or go south to Mexico and chase little innocent Catholic business women.

I had a buddy point me to Mudrak's......good stuff.

I've slobbered over the 55 on VintageOffroad but I've read the posts here about Mushroom Greg the Slippery Snake from the local Lockout Hubs Carnival Productions.

THe same buddy who pointed me to Mudrak's 'bout pooped his cucos when I mentioned CCOT which is pretty close to me. He lives in Australia but travels here a lot and has had a chance to see custom shops from all over as he's a pretty enthusiastic Cruiserhead. His name is Jack Chomley. Ring a bell for anyone?

So, anybody want to help out a guy who's brand spankin' new to the FJ series.

Here's a couple of links for you dudes and dudettes that dig dirt on dual purpose bikes.

www.f650.com
http://www.seacuke.com/bmw/rides/ncsadv/index.html

I'd post my solo/self-supported trip last summer waaaaay down into Mexico but I'm headed back in October so it'll be outdated soon......plus this is a truck site not a MC site.

So, if y'all could, learn me good about a buyer's guide an' all.

OK, pass the bowl of Cheesey Puffs so I can dig into some wisdom here on Planet Crawler

:popcorn:
 
Clarifying

When I mentioned CCOT to my Oz pal, he steered me clear of them as well. He said something about large vats of bondo and missing engines in some of their trucks with a small tape player in the engine compartment and some recorded motor sounds like 'vroom, vroom".

That's what "pooped his cucos" meant for all y'all unfamiliar with Colombian slang from Bogota.
 
60 series are great rigs, and will have more room than an FJ40, but don't expect better gas milage: it will be about the same. And you won't have to pay any $18K for what you want. Get a good stocker for about $4-$6K, and make it what you want. Then buy a FJ40 for wheeling with what is left over....
 
18k can get you quite a bit of rig. There is a fairly low mile '80 or '81 FJ40 for sale localy... asking about 11k. Landpimp has commented on how well his late model FJ40 does on the hiway. Somewhere in the '80's you the FJ40 got the same drivetrain as the 60's I believe so that may help. How many miles a year are you planning on? I like the 55's too but I think it's getting difficult to find one without too much rot. Where abouts are you located?
 
From your description of what you want to do with it, I'll second the suggestion of an FZJ80. For $18K you can find a nice one, that's probably never been off the pavement more than a few times, and have plenty of cash to do some simple mods that will make it a very capable rig.

I'll add that you can build one (actually a couple) helluva nice FJ60 for $18K.
 
Last edited:
I'm in Etouffe Parish, mon frere.

Dudes,

Thanks for the warm reception and replies. All the help is appreciated.

I'm in Louisiana. I'd hoped to find a good LC-specific custom shop in Arkansas or Texas.

I've heard bad things aboiut CCOT. Don't know anything about the Little Rock shop and don't know about others there in Ark.

I talked to Gary Kardum at Mudrak's for about 30 minutes.

That's one fella who knows what great American customer service is all about. He was all about helping bring matters more into focus.

Also, I've gathered more about this Vintage Offroad fella, Hustler Greg from Lockout Hubs Carnival Productions, who seems to inspire the exact opposite impression from LC noobs and enthusiasts alike.

To neck things down some more, I'd like to pick up a vehicle that's already in resto'd shape and then deal with maintenance as it happens. I prefer this than picking up something that's going to need a lot of work. I wanna roll the suckah, not build it.

However, I would like an older model that doesn't have a mess of complicated emissions crap under the hood. I'd like to be able to pop the hood and identify components at a glance with the help of a Chilton's rather than having to go to the local Vo-tech school or dealer to get help. I'd prefer to not fool with a spaghetti maze of lines and tubes that don't give me more power :D

I'm in a remote area of Louisiana that ain't got sh*t for infrastructure. No Toyota dealer, no real 4x4 shops, no top shelf parts stores, no........no nothing.

So, I'd like to be as self-sufficient as possible once the jewel presents itself and I plunk down the cash. I have access to top quality maintenance facilities to do everything from pluck an engine out to turn some rotors to upholstery work. However, again, I'd like to get a vehicle that's already there and then anticipatively deal with matters as they come up.

FZJ80 sounds too late of a model for me. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm still at the "I think" rather than the "I know" stage.

Gary suggested an 85-87 FJ60 after chewin' the fat and exploring the models.

But I haven't made my mind up about anything yet. I'm also interested in a VW Camper Van, later model, for family adventures.

Choices.....
 
There's a very nice FJ62 already decked out in the For Sale section. I love my '85, but you will have to look around to find one equipped the way you like. I totally understand wanting to buy one thats ready to go, but there are some advantages to modifying it yourself. You get exactly what you want and you know exactly how it was installed. The latter can create headaches if the previous owner was as bad a mechanic as I am.
 
Here you go. By the sounds of your posts, you're looking for an old school Cruiser....well...this just about as old school as you can get if you ask me. If I had $18000 this truck wouldn't be for sale. I had a bunch of other pics of it, it really is a pretty solid truck. Bed is a little used from hauling s***, but go figure. $18000 isn't too bad if you ask me...it's got CRAZY low miles...like under 30K IIRC.

If you're interested in the truck, PM Landpimp on the board, he's got two 45LV and has heard of this truck that made it's way to ATL via California I guess. I'd love to see another 45LV come to the board.

And not only that, but you could stop by Pensacola on your way home with it so I could check it out. :D

Hope that helps....good luck.
 
I have some limited experience with the Cruiser Company in Little Rock. PM if you want more details. If I were you I think a 60/62 might do the trick. Lots of options out there though. Let me know if you're up in the Little Rock area or if you need someone to check a local vehichle out.
 
Anybody do business with this gentleman?

http://www.cruizers.com/cgi-bin/isc...709cc&FirstPage=&LastPage=&prevaction=userads

I've seen this gentleman's name (James Billingsley) pop up before several times on the www.cruizers.com website. He has sold quite a few LCs it seems. Anybody do business with him?

He called today. The FJ60 he has advertised here sounds pretty promising. He did say that it came from Virginia originally. I'm sure there is a process in the Forums somewhere on how to spot painted over rust. He said the frame had been powdercoated. Hmmmmm.....

Sorry I haven't written you guys that offered. I went riding off road late last night on the two-wheeled thumper and norked my brake pedal on a coupla get-offs in the slick-as-pig- snot clay. So, I've been tinkering with it today trying to hammer it back into an operable pedal and get it enameled (Rattle Can Paint Industries, LLC, of course). It's still looking like a rotini noodle. All you teeny-pecker dudes out there that ain't in touch with your feminine side go ask Momma what a rotini noodle is. :D
 
You want to look in the for sale section of "Toyota Trails" (magazine of the year according to me). Mostly good honest folk selling qaulity rigs for an honest price(most of the time).
Also most of the TLCA associate member clubs have for sale sections on the websites.
 
I simply advise caution when dealing with guys who "sell" land cruisers.

If he's a good guy, go for it.

If he's a capitalist prick, you're gonna get reemed.

Check it out very well, take it to a body shop/mechanic that specializes in the inline 6 or at least knows it well.

That will help you figure out if it's worth it or not. We really can't tell you s*** through the WWW.

Good Luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

IH8MUD Forum | Toyota, Lexus & Off-Road Community
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2026 XenForo Ltd.

© 2000-2026 Tie Rod Media LLC

Back
Top Bottom