Furture Of cruiser rock rigs

[KOWBOY]

There will always be places for big dumb rigs....just not sure why.

'Cause they look damn-fine sittin' in camp sir ...


feel free to join me sometime.

 

[peesalot]

Well at least on the west coast the area's where you can trailer to and camp and run any non street legal rig are fewer and fewer. I think people are gettin away from wild buggy's and tube and movin into more purposeful rigs that can run on road , haul camp gear , family , and still be driven somewhat as hard as a buggy. This naturally calls for smaller tires ( like 40 and down) , cargo area , full or partial bodies , windshields , and so on. So yes , more scrambler style rigs instead of big bruisers.

 

[Fullsizeyota]

Well at least on the west coast the area's where you can trailer to and camp and run any non street legal rig are fewer and fewer. I think people are gettin away from wild buggy's and tube and movin into more purposeful rigs that can run on road , haul camp gear , family , and still be driven somewhat as hard as a buggy. This naturally calls for smaller tires ( like 40 and down) , cargo area , full or partial bodies , windshields , and so on. So yes , more scrambler style rigs instead of big bruisers.

i think thats a good point... everyone has a buggy why not have a usefull truck??

i must be a poser, becuase i am totally looking forward to drivin' the '40 down to get a pizza and cruise around town a little bit..

i also want to go exploring down around the grand canyon... might not be the hardest trails, but it's 100++ miles from home and about 500+++ miles from my shop... i cant imagine being wedged into a buggy for that long

 

[FJ40fiji]

Big tires and buggies aren't going anywhere, but I think a lot of people just realized that wheelin was more fun for them in budget rigs that they could drive to the trail and wheel. I don't think turbos will ever be that popular on 4x4 trail rigs though. Certainly a lot of people have explored light wieght drive trains though. Jon bundrant ran a little VW in a buggy, and somebody was selling a single seat set up that used a Saturn engine and trans axle, with the transaxle turned sideways to eliminate the need for a transfercase.
I like the old adage "light makes mite". So I don't hook up with heavy girls anymore.

 

[toycrawler1]

I don't post much on these boards, but can't resist giving my opinion on this topic. I have owned many rigs with every tire size from 31's to 40's. I enjoyed all of them. I believe that a small rig and a large rig can both be unstoppable on the trail as long as they are well designed. I think were people get in trouble is some where in the middle. If you want a lightweight smaller rig, make it just that. Don't try and run a 14 bolt and then 37 inch tires to save a little weight. If you want a big rig, slap some 44's or larger and build the rig around the tires. Don't try and save a few hundred pounds by not beefing up the parts that take the abuse. My new rig is probably on the large side. It will have 46's, rockwells, front and rear steer, and a 118 inch wheel base. My wife's future rig will be a toyota mini truck on 38's , toyota axles, 4.3 vortec, and an atlas. It's wheel base will be around 116 and will be very lightweight. I fully expect at the end of the day, both of us will be at the end of the trail enjoying a beer. However, we may have to take different lines to get there.

 

[wngrog]

I don't post much on these boards, but can't resist giving my opinion on this topic. I have owned many rigs with every tire size from 31's to 40's. I enjoyed all of them. I believe that a small rig and a large rig can both be unstoppable on the trail as long as they are well designed. I think were people get in trouble is some where in the middle. If you want a lightweight smaller rig, make it just that. Don't try and run a 14 bolt and then 37 inch tires to save a little weight. If you want a big rig, slap some 44's or larger and build the rig around the tires. Don't try and save a few hundred pounds by not beefing up the parts that take the abuse. My new rig is probably on the large side. It will have 46's, rockwells, front and rear steer, and a 118 inch wheel base. My wife's future rig will be a toyota mini truck on 38's , toyota axles, 4.3 vortec, and an atlas. It's wheel base will be around 116 and will be very lightweight. I fully expect at the end of the day, both of us will be at the end of the trail enjoying a beer. However, we may have to take different lines to get there.

If she can drive the Toy is gonna kick your ass

Post pics when you get that beast done....

 

[Dan Fredrickson]

Another point not mentioned......

Leaf or Link, I think for many that is the turning point. But should it be? Mostly, the linked 40's have gone big with a few exceptions. I see the links being a real requirement for getting the tire size down and retaining trail capability. When you get that extra travel you can do more with less.

BTW, I almost bought a chassis completely set up for light weight Toy stuff last summer and if I had I am not sure what I would have said here. I have never had a really light rig. Soon I will.