How far will you go with your wagon (1 Viewer)

[scrapdaddy]

Hey Guys,

I thought it might be fun to read how far you would drive / travel / camp out of your 55. Are you building it for long trips or just to the coffee house? Would you trust it to get you there and back? Total camping / roughing it with what you bring along or finding a motel? Maybe just a rock crawler or weekend trips. How much can you and the better half endure comfort wise, heat / ac? Let's hear your future plans. No pipe dreams, but more realistic goals.

I built mine for long trips around the country. I knew they were tin boxes, noisey, hot and cold with water dripping in everywhere. I tried to make it comfortable (to a point) and make it faster than 50 miles an hour, but more important, reliable. That last one has been a thorn in my side. My 55 has gotten us home every time, but I've had to fix something when we got home. With each passing year we add to it and rethink what will work, so when we do take off for an extended trip there will be no regrets. I would like to add heat to the RTT via a diesel heater and solar panels / lit. battery to the mix, but we're getting close to the end goal for us.

Let me add this, we don't use the 55 for daily driving or hauling kids and junk. We have other vehicles for that type of stuff, so the 55 is setup just for traveling. Having a multi use vehicle can change how you plan the build in a big way. Nothing wrong with that at all, just all part of the big picture.

What do you want out of your 55, investment or use it until she is no more. What do you REALLY want to do with your wagon?

 

[gonzopancho]

The 1978 Barn Door “daily driver” is just that. I hope to enjoy it for a long time. 20 years, maybe more.

the 1974: mostly trails. Maybe following Craig around some when I get it to CO.

the rest? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The 2UZ / 5-speed going in the 1978 is for both Saturday nite cruise fun and long drives. The coil front suspension and 70-series discs are more for the long drive aspect.

 

[fj55tlc]

All the above. Mine has been from California to Maine. Through some of the hardest trails with camping usually. Sometimes hotels on long highway days. It was my daily driver for many years, now it's driven at least once a week. Has never let me down. I would drive it to the moon if I could. Maybe some day I may think of air conditioning.

 

[greenbeast]

Traveling America with the wife and dogs is our primary mission. However once we move back to Oklahoma town is 30 minutes away and Tulsa close to an hour and my intent is to build it where it's comfortable on smaller highways and back roads.

 

[Megadoomer]

I currently drive it to work 1 or 2 times a week. I'll take it down to the donut shop on the weekends. My true goal is to drive it to 49 of the 50 states and ideally visit a state or national park in each.

It needs road manners, reliability, and range. I want to be capable off road but hard-core crawling is just not in the cards. I don't want body damage to tend with. That being said I usually make poor choices, so we will see how far I will take it some day.

I think I have gotten it to where I want it with a few things left to sort out. Can't wait to take it on a real trip to test it for real.

 

[bobm]

I think what we have here, is the most versatile and utilitarian of all Landcruisers, because every single Pig is totally individualized from dailys to weekenders to Overlanders! Personally comfort in a vehicle that's 40+ is not my intent, although it is enticing. Camping or traveling that's what brown paper bags are for, just throw it in and take off! Although plan your Fluids inand your food . Me getting tired . May add in morning if I remember WTF I just wrote . Oops got a er, got to go just kidding! Gnite

I currently drive it to work 1 or 2 times a week. I'll take it down to the donut shop on the weekends. My true goal is to drive it to 49 of the 50 states and ideally visit a state or national park in each.

It needs road manners, reliability, and range. I want to be capable off road but hard-core crawling is just not in the cards. I don't want body damage to tend with. That being said I usually make poor choices, so we will see how far I will take it some day.

I think I have gotten it to where I want it with a few things left to sort out. Can't wait to take it on a real trip to test it for real.

 

[scrapdaddy]

I believe I made a mistake putting in the 4:1 low transfer gear. I've used it a few times in Moab, but that's all and it howls pretty good going down the highway. I've tried to sound deaden the body as much as I could and cool it down inside a bit. Driving 8 to 10 hours in a wagon is hard on my back and with the 55 gal. tank you don't really need to stop often. I'm with Doomer on going to all the States and National parks, we've hit a lot of them, but need to up our game since the clock is ticking. I'm very fortunate to have a wife that likes the wagon and will go along anywhere we point it, as long as she gets a map to hold. Hot shower, cold drinks with no floating lunch meat, a dry bed off the ground, plenty of water, a/c and music, what else?

One thing I'm debating is some sort of awning/screen room. We've been camping where it rained for three days straight, luckily we had the ground tent to sit in. It's tough sitting in the roof top or 55 with two people for a few days. I like the idea of getting to a great spot and staying a few days before moving on, so setting it up wouldn't be a big problem.

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

My truck is pure garbage compared to yours. I know that and am silently suffering, but happy in my own right.

I did a lot of work to make mine as drivable as possible, 80 chassis, fuel injected V8, 5 speed, 55 gallon tank, with the intent to drive to Alaska.

This is a dumb idea.

There is no real RATIONAL reason to drive these old, loud, leaky, bricks….. except the pure ****ing badass feeling you get EVERY-TIME you drive. I drove my Tundra to the last Pig ride and was super bummed. Comfortable, but bummed.

Ive put about 5-6k miles on mine in the last 10 months. Prepping for a 3,500 mile trip right now which is a warm up for the trip to AK next summer.

LONG LIVE THE BACON

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I admire everyone that wants to drive these anywhere and everywhere. I am currently thinking more like a 2 to 3 hour max radius and if the is with me it’s probably more like 2 to 3 miles. She likes the pig and appreciates the enjoyment I get out of driving it but finds it too uncomfortable to ride in for an extended time.

My motivation is to bring it back as close as practical to original condition and most importantly to ensure that it won’t rust going forward. Sounds easy enough; right?

 

[scrapdaddy]

Alaska is a goal of ours as well, but I'd like to take my time doing it. 2 or 3 months would be a good trip up there and would require a bit of planning. A very doable trip, but for us 4 or 5 days camping then a motel to relax and restock the supplies works nice. We all try to make that purse out of the sow's ear and get close, but man we could of chose a easier vehicle to build. I'm with you about it's not the same without the pig to drive to a event. My wife said one time "why don't we fly out and rent a vehicle", can't do it.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Alaska is a goal of ours as well, but I'd like to take my time doing it. 2 or 3 months would be a good trip up there and would require a bit of planning. A very doable trip, but for us 4 or 5 days camping then a motel to relax and restock the supplies works nice. We all try to make that purse out of the sow's ear and get close, but man we could of chose a easier vehicle to build. I'm with you about it's not the same without the pig to drive to a event. My wife said one time "why don't we fly out and rent a vehicle", can't do it.

I have learned that it costs very little to have your vehicle moved in Saudi on a truck from place to place. The Troopy I recently bought was a 10+ hour drive away and it cost me $146 (550 SAR) to have it delivered. Apparently it's so cheap that Saudis will send a car ahead and then fly out 2 or 3 days later and then send their vehicle back. If only that were the case in the US.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Where there's a will, there's a way, I guess.

 

[Hank Tank]

I’m probably the weirdo in the group. My interest has always been in the experience of driving an original, for better or worse. My goal is to keep my pig original as possible. Okay, so I added power steering and a roof rack but that’s about it. I’ve been amazed at how versatile the truck is. I take the kids to school, I haul all sorts of big cargo (don’t have a pick up truck), grocery getter, cars n coffees, date nights and some pretty gnarly wheeling. This stock pig has taken me to some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It is slow, loud, mildly uncomfortable on long road trips and the AC is totally inadequate for Phoenix. I still wouldn’t change a thing. For me, it’s perfect as is. That being said, undoubtedly it will likely be pulled pork to the next Pig Party but whatever. I’m just excited to have my kiddos with me on the next one.

 

[Hank Tank]

Last one

 

[Gordobe]

Since I only invested $5,000 in piggy and all the rest of the work and accessories were free (?????) I have dubbed my 77 “Silver Spoon”. I built it to be able to wear numerous hats. Taking the refer, cook box and bed out takes about 5 mi. The gear boxes another 10. I can use it for daily use, day trips, weekend or long excursions.
I have been snow bound at the north rim comfortable but cold. Rained-in but comfortable. The awnings are key. At home it belongs to the dogs, it is their daily driver, it take them to the park or the mountains for a drive almost every day.

With the new lithium battery its looking like the bugs in the build are almost gone, other then wear and tear. The deep cycle battery just wasn’t deep enough. Not totally proven yet but the lithium battery may get me 5 to 10 days maybe more refer time before a charge is needed.

The 71 I dubbed “Lipstick”, it’s the color red woman wear when they want to seduce you. And also most humans of the female gender stare at it and jab there mail escorts in the ribs. It will remain all stock except for after market AC. It’s intent is similar to SilverSpoon, just simpler camping and more hotel time. My refer from the 80’’s is a Dometic that runs on propane. So no need for more battery power. The dogs don’t get to ride in it because it has cloth seats. Just slowly going through it to be mechanically sound

 

[Big Sexy]

Mine goes hunting and to the Lowe's just cruising the smaller roads in my mountain town in NC.

I do not feel comfortable driving mine on any highway as the typical speeds of modern cars on highways here is 70 to 100 mph.

Mine likes no faster than 55 mph. Any faster and I question the safest of it as despite various upgrades/mods, 4 wheel disk brakes, 33x12.5 mud tires, SBC 350 and TH400 transmission.

These trucks ride slightly better than a tractor IMHO and putting them on the highway is a dangerous proposition at least for me.

That said, my longest drive was 3 hours non-stop to a rabbit hunting spot (top speed of 50 on back roads), another 4 hours of scouting the miles of hunting property, then 3 hours back home.

The truck got hot only once, but never failed me nor did I ever question it's reliability.
Bucket seats made the trip bearable but just slightly....

 

[PabloCruise]

Hey Guys,

I thought it might be fun to read how far you would drive / travel / camp out of your 55. Are you building it for long trips or just to the coffee house? Would you trust it to get you there and back? Total camping / roughing it with what you bring along or finding a motel? Maybe just a rock crawler or weekend trips. How much can you and the better half endure comfort wise, heat / ac? Let's hear your future plans. No pipe dreams, but more realistic goals.

I built mine for long trips around the country. I knew they were tin boxes, noisey, hot and cold with water dripping in everywhere. I tried to make it comfortable (to a point) and make it faster than 50 miles an hour, but more important, reliable. That last one has been a thorn in my side. My 55 has gotten us home every time, but I've had to fix something when we got home. With each passing year we add to it and rethink what will work, so when we do take off for an extended trip there will be no regrets. I would like to add heat to the RTT via a diesel heater and solar panels / lit. battery to the mix, but we're getting close to the end goal for us.

Let me add this, we don't use the 55 for daily driving or hauling kids and junk. We have other vehicles for that type of stuff, so the 55 is setup just for traveling. Having a multi use vehicle can change how you plan the build in a big way. Nothing wrong with that at all, just all part of the big picture.

What do you want out of your 55, investment or use it until she is no more. What do you REALLY want to do with your wagon?

Pretty cool thread!

It reads to me like you are asking 2 questions, 1) How far will we road trip our Pigs for fun adventures, but also 2) What is our intent in our Pig build projects, eh? Am I reading you correctly Scrappy?

Good questions, both.

As for question 1, you guys have seen me in Rico, Utah and in the Black Hills. I think Rico was ~8 hours to get to, SLC is a solid 7 hours, and the Black Hills are ~6 hours from home. So I don't have concerns driving Miss Javelina. Every year for the Pig Party my wife starts getting worried when we talk about where the current venue is. But Miss Javelina has delivered. I know our first outing to Cruise Moab (I think '08?) was not confidence inspiring as the 3FE swap was not sorted out, and I had debris from the fuel tank blocking the inlet to the pump. So the Pig let us down on that trip, and that was the last major trip my wife made in the Pig. A lot of that was preventable, and a simple pre-filter on the fuel pump would have helped out. There were other issues in play as well, but the shop that did the swap missed a few key steps.

As for question 2, let me warm up my coffee...

I am a product guy at heart. I have been able to spend a few years in product management. That title can mean different things to different people, but I like the kind of product management that straddled the line between R&D/Engineering and Marketing. Being able to study what is known about the marketplace, and then come up with something that will provide actual value is pretty fun. Then you have to tell the world about it in a relevant way as well. So I like to think about the big-brain guys at Toyota that thought, "Hmm, we have this successful Land Cruiser platform, could we somehow diversify this to offer a Land Cruiser product that will be relevant to even more people, without reinventing the wheel?" Obviously they had a solid drivetrain in place from the 40, and then they came up with the body design (love it or hate it, right or wrong) that is our Pigs.

For me, all the little details that they designed into our Pigs are beautiful and (mostly) perfect. We know our Pigs are flawed, so I never want to get too far away from the original design. Do I wish it were easier to open and close the doors? Yes. Do I want a 5 speed transmission? Yes. But for me, the upgrades had to have the right "feel" before I would make them a part of my Pig.

I remember when I saw Mark Whatley's article about adding 60 series PS to a 40. This resonated with me. I knew there were lots of Saginaw PS conversions out there, but to me the 60 series PS felt mo' betta. So when I saw my Pig body that already had 60 series PS, it looked ready to add a 3FE.

All I wanted to do with my Pig is keep her looking like a Pig, but add a few tasteful mods that come from straight from Toyota. Like the Pig that Toyota could have built had a different set of conditions been present during the design phase. Not sure if that makes sense?

 

[PabloCruise]

The 1978 Barn Door “daily driver” is just that. I hope to enjoy it for a long time. 20 years, maybe more.

the 1974: mostly trails. Maybe following Craig around some when I get it to CO.

the rest? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The 2UZ / 5-speed going in the 1978 is for both Saturday nite cruise fun and long drives. The coil front suspension and 70-series discs are more for the long drive aspect.

View attachment 2759058

View attachment 2759059

2UZ + 5 speed + 70 series suspension is the embodiment of the Pig that Toyota could have built!

I cannot wait to see this, and maybe one day even ride in it!

 

[PabloCruise]

All the above. Mine has been from California to Maine. Through some of the hardest trails with camping usually. Sometimes hotels on long highway days. It was my daily driver for many years, now it's driven at least once a week. Has never let me down. I would drive it to the moon if I could. Maybe some day I may think of air conditioning.

Wow, that would be so cool your has been from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Time feels like a scarce commodity right now. When I have it (time) I am usually fixing or upgrading things vs. road tripping. I look forward to changing that equation...

 

[PabloCruise]

Traveling America with the wife and dogs is our primary mission. However once we move back to Oklahoma town is 30 minutes away and Tulsa close to an hour and my intent is to build it where it's comfortable on smaller highways and back roads.

When is the move to OK? We have to get together before you do!