hicruise55- FJ55 & FJ55 offroad trailer build

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hicruise55

hicruise55

IH8MUD VOYEUR
10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Sep 10, 2006
Threads
55
Messages
1,062
Location
Ea.Wa.
Well, this build started about five years ago when I moved back to Wa. and regretted selling my old '72 FJ55. I had moved to Las Vegas and sold off pretty much all my Cruiser stuff and even my tools. After a few years in Las Vegas driving my Denali I got the Cruiser itch again and bought a '89 FJ62. Before I had moved I owned 6-7 Cruisers a 40 being my first, I wanted an FZJ80 but for some reason went with the 62? Built it up some but missed my old 55. Before I even moved to Wa. I had bought one, sight unseen. When I got here I realized it had a decent amount of rust and started looking for another with a solid roof. Found one with a solid roof but not as good of runner. I now had a '76 and '78 both ran and drove home but the '76 was well maintained. Time to chop the roofs off and graft them together!

Sadly most of the pictures are gone thanks to a stolen laptop, but still lots to share. A
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Plan was SOA, PS, 60 axles. I wanted to be able to drive it effortlessly and on long trips and without worry, wheel it hard, and drive it back.

I really wish I had all my pictures- there were some great ones, such as the pulley system I rigged up in the shop to be able to cut and lift the roof(s) off the Cruisers by myself! And the whole destruction. I felt a little bad chopping them up but firgured it was for the greater good. I am obviously not a "purist" but love keeping it Toyota, especially having owned/swapped in different drivetrains.
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I ended up picking up a wrecked FJ60 and robbing the parts for power steering and axles. I bought a "kit" to outboard the spring hangers and wish I would have just done it myself as I did on my 40... I went with the 4x4Labs highsteer that puts the tie-rod above/behind the axle (which *kisses* the oilpan on a 55 unless knotched). Loaded up the 60 axles with ARB's, 4:56's (wish I went 4:88), LongField 30spl kit, Cut & Turn, and fully trussed them including knuckle truss'. Then re-inforced the frame for the powersteering, both sleeving with tubing and then scab-plating the frame.

I put some 35" Toyo M/T's on it- first time it left the shop was a 300mi+ RT with wheeling @ Naches being the destination. The only thing that didn't perform like I wanted was the tires! Came off asap and on went 36" Swamper TSL-R, shoulda known, I love Toyo's but for offroad not agressive enough for me.

2nd pic is the 60 style square ubolts for the SOA, I didn't want to bend the ubolt
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Engine got some upgrades- MSD 6A, Downey 6-2-1 to 2.5" and Flowmaster 50 series, Weber 38, RV cam

Swapped in a re-built h55 and splitcase after a couple years, what an upgrade!

So, while I was cutting up the roof donor 55 I had this idea to make a trailer out of the remaining frame and body, kind of like people do with old pickup beds and frames. I definetly was on the back burner (still is somewhat?) but finally got tired of loading and unloading the back of the truck to sleep in it. Then came the ARB Simpson III... and awesome addition, but shortly realized the suck offroading with it up here (Washington=tight trees) not to mention packing it up just to go wheeling.

Needless to say, the trailer started evolving again.
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I ended up picking up a 3500lb axle 6x5.5 for the trailer along with some matching tires/wheels. I had to play around with the springs/leaves to get the load capacity right and just went with a regular ball and coupler instead of a pintle hitch as the noise of pintles drive me crazy! I figured at some point I'd spring for a "maxcoupler" but never encountered enough angle to pop the regular ball/coupler off.

I ended up cutting the box tubing off and just skining the top of the body line where it was cut, then bending up the 2" DOM for the roll cage and welding it. The rollcage is the perfect hight for my two mini bikes to fit right in the back as well as TONS of stuff- I'm pretty sure I'm the guy that takes WAY too much camping. Mounted the RTT up top and now a perfect basecamp!
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No, just some DOM 1 1/4" .120 with tabs on em



Not gonna lie a little surprised with 228 views and only two comments. Is it a piece of junk? Was hoping I'd get re-motivated with this thread, thinking about parting it out... I have a FJ40 with 40's on it and my FZJ80 thats getting fairly built up now... I love this old rig but
 
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None, but keep in mind I have 60 axles (3" wider than 40/55). I did the same setup on a buddy's 55 (steering and hoops) his rubs tire to shock with factory '78 axles 33/12.50/15's
 
Extremely nice work Aaron. Your ride really looks good on the 36". I still want to show you my 79 sometime as I hope to go with 35" but not too sure my current set-up will support it without a lot of major work - currently running 33" with a shackle lift that PO installed.
 
Nice pictures, that's alot of projects, to keep going. Hard decision to make. I sold all my junk, years ago, then the itch came back :bang:. The trailer will look good, painted to match the pig.

I vote to keep it!
 
Thanks for the compliments guys!

I drove it over 20,000mi the way you see it here, I blew a headgasket and started re-building the engine and lost steam, bought a runner engine but havent spent the time or money installing it. Plus thinking about the money made could be put to good use on the 80 and the 40...

On the positve side it's just belts, hoses, clutch and we do have quite the pigstye (6 FJ55's in my small group of friends) I guess I do just need to do it and I'll be back in love? Just need to get these other rigs done, seems like I always have another Cruiser around that needs work... SOA, C&T, PS, ect. on a 40 right now then helping a buddy to a clutch and exhaust. Need time to work on my own junk.
 
I dig sir. I dig. The 55 tub trailer is pretty Damn cool as well. I need this kind of inspiration to put my junk back together. I understand and feel your pain with working on cruisers but not your cruiser.
 
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