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

[Ol Yeller]

Great thread Ron!

My answer is much shorter than some, initial plan was just gravel travel day outings with the kids, but I’m going so slow I may be doing overnight trips with my buddies instead...still committed to suffering the Toy six until lack of power is my only problem. No plans for a restoration paint job or even full rust repair for anything but needed areas, trying to leave it looking it’s age and get the mechanicals up to snuff.




And the laughs in here!



W️

 

[scrapdaddy]

That's one of the neat things about the 55, it can be so many different vehicles and still keep it's cool factor. If it gets the job done for you then it doesn't matter what level it's at. From $500 to $5,000 they all look awesome and are a hoot to drive.

 

[frismanis]

My 45 is built for long drives (LS1 -> 4L60E, RPR Suspension seat, a/c, p/s), but in the 20 years I've owned it the longest I've driven it is 6 hours each way. Then the 55 came into the picture, and my original goal for it was to be an overland vehicle (Corbeau bucket seats with heat/lumbar, H55F/split case, p/s, a/c), but then my wife bought a new LR Discovery, so there is no way I could convince her to ride in the 55 across the country when we could take the Disco that is much more comfortable, can go 90mph all day long, and gets better gas mileage going 90 than the FJ55 gets at any speed.

So now the 55 has been relegated to my company car for my 3 mile commute. Wish I planned the build better, because I would have stayed with the stock 4sp/t-case, but being a rookie in the 55 game caused me to make decisions that were unnecessary. By the time I realized this it was too late in the build to change directions, and my schizophrenia drove @wngrog crazy. It also made me regret the decision to ever buy the 55, because even though it is a cool vehicle it doesn't really have a purpose in my garage. The monies would have been better spent picking up a tow rig for my 40.

In the 4.5 months that I've had the 55 at home it has slowly been gaining favor, so there is hope for it to become a loved addition to the family. That said, I'll never sell it.

Maybe when we are older we'll have the time to take the 55 on slow trips around the country pulling a small Airstream... if gas stations haven't been outlawed by then

***TL;DR: I don't know how I want to use the FJ55.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Having too many vehicles that do the thing is a problem, I guess. One for each activity, like having one good rabbit dog, one lap dog and one man eater instead of three German Shepherds or worse three lap dogs.

 

[residualboulders]

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.

After taking mine down to SAS I wondered about the lower gearing. In that circumstance I had vehicles in front and behind geared a bit lower so I was always clutching it trying to let the guy in front of me gain some ground. It would have been nice for those very steep inclines as well. But, 98% of the time I'm mostly on my own, so maybe gearing is not something I want to mess with. I live near Teton park and love driving mine around the mountains in this area. Recent addition of a fridge and slide in the back makes it a lot nicer for the longer drives. I have a lift, airbags, retro sound and some lighting mods, but stock other than that. It's great in stock form, though not fast on mountain passes.

You're a lucky man to have a wife that will ride shotgun with you on trips in the 55, mine totally was when we were married but has lost interest for whatever reason. I believe the last time I asked her she said, "that sounds like a great activity for you to do alone." ha ha.

 

[riderjgs]

Late to this thread, but for a good reason. We were out using the Frankencruiser for exactly the purpose for which it was built...four days of roads and trails near our western Colorado home. That included Engineer and Stoney between Lake City and Silverton and three nights of "penthouse camping" in the rooftop tent, including a last night scouting our elk hunting area south of Gunnison.
Caught "swine flu" back in 2007 after seeing my first Pig, a rustbucket with a For Sale sign on it up in Crested Butte. About a year or intrigue and research found me buying the one I should have kept off EBay in Prescott AZ during a side trip while taking my son to check out Arizona State University. AZ and CA its entire life, SBC conversion with a four speed, mostly original paint with nice patina, zero rust except for a spot the size of a quarter in the tailgate. Filled it up, checked the oil and drove it 600 miles home.
Sold it a year later but only after acquiring a '73 roller parts rig from lcwizard. That hulk sat beside the house until 2010, when Bonnie suggested selling her '69 Karmann Ghia and building it up. In the meantime came a third Pig from Scorcher, rusty remains of a chopped up '74 hulk that donated roof and rear quarters to the Moviestar restoration but still had a running and driving 350, 4spd with a disc brake front axle. Two long weekends that summer moved the body from the second Pig onto the chassis from the third and the Frankencruiser was on the road. Two additional Pigs followed, each contributing their better parts before being sold, the '69 to landcruisnman and the other '76 to someone in Denver. Since I paid less than $2,000 for all four, the sale of parts and vehicles paid for a bunch of parts and work.
Since then, over 50,000 miles, the Frankencruiser has been to every western state except OR and WA, something we'll rectify. We've attended every western Pig Party and two or three Cruise Moabs. It's my daily driver. In addition to scheduled gatherings we're frequently out camping, hunting, fishing etc. out of it. It serves all those purposes well, despite being built on the cheap via Mud, Craigslist, etc. Total net cost for all Landcruiser-related purchases and sales is about 1/4 of what I've heard others say they have in theirs. It's old school but gets done what we want, whether that be crawling over Stoney Pass or Elephant Hill in low range 1st gear or chasing Ron and Jeri on the way to PP2020 at 90 mph. (If they go down the Baja or up to AK without us, I'll be p.o.ed )
Like Ron, I've tried to keep it stock looking on the outside save for 40/60 chrome or spoke wheels, a slight lift via shackles and unused Manafre add-a-leafs purchased off this forum in a killer deal that also netted a bunch of OEM rubber and other pieces. Front bumper came in a simliar MUD deal and the rear was fabbed locally this summer. I have more $$ in my winch plate than I do in the off-brand winch, another MUD find, which got its first workout last weekend moving a downed pine tree off the trail while scouting. Other mods, old school and anathema to some, include mini-truck power steering, a noisy Ranger overdrive, an '80s mini truck steering wheel, a FJ60 console between late model F150 captains chairs (the best mod ever) and a replacement TBI 350 (fuel injection is a game-changer.) Next is a/c and we're done.
I fully realize this is a relatively antiquated, old school-type build ("I wouldn't mess with TBI or anything less than a Vortec" I heard when replacing the old 350) but it suits our purposes. I admire the skill, planning and effort that goes into the over-the-top builds by others as seen in this forum. Especially the ones we see at Pig Parties, but we're still right with 'em on the trails and on the roads getting there. Looking forward to the next 50,000 miles as well as completing the other western states and AK and Mexico.
Thankfully it's not sitting in the garage with me scratching my head wondering if it'll ever be finished. It ain't a crawler (I've spend 60 years in 4WD learning to avoid or go around the things those guys do for sport) or a trailer queen. But it does exactly what we built it to do, frequently.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Next is a/c and we're done.

I need to talk you into a long range fuel tank, too.

 

[riderjgs]

I need to talk you into a long range fuel tank, too.

I don't think my aging butt can take the extra miles between pit stops. Even with the F150 seats.

 

[Megadoomer]

I believe the last time I asked her she said, "that sounds like a great activity for you to do alone." ha ha.

I have had other requests with the same answer. Maybe with more colorful language.

 

[scrapdaddy]

I have had other requests with the same answer. Maybe with more colorful language.

I don't think you're the Lone Ranger in that arena.

 

[scrapdaddy]

I don't think my aging butt can take the extra miles between pit stops. Even with the F150 seats.

Mine isn't any better, but I'd rather stop and eat or take a nap than worry about the next gas station. Gas stations are long way in between up in Ak. or the Baja.

 

[residualboulders]

Mine isn't any better, but I'd rather stop and eat or take a nap than worry about the next gas station. Gas stations are long way in between up in Ak. or the Baja.

Ive considered doing the long range thank, but then id have to move my spare right? not sure I want to get rid of my stock bumper for a swing out spare mount.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Ive considered doing the long range thank, but then id have to move my spare right? not sure I want to get rid of my stock bumper for a swing out spare mount.

Yeah, it's a big trade off. I don't really care for bumper mounted spares, at least on 55s. I put mine inside (not good either). A bigger fuel tank is a great upgrade when traveling and back road camping. There really is no good spot for a full size spare, everybody deals with it in their own way.

 

[residualboulders]

Yeah, it's a big trade off. I don't really care for bumper mounted spares, at least on 55s. I put mine inside (not good either). A bigger fuel tank is a great upgrade when traveling and back road camping. There really is no good spot for a full size spare, everybody deals with it in their own way.

Yep, i'm really wanting one on my 200 as I use it all the time for long drives. Same issue there, will probably end up with a bumper mount. To be fair, the 55 has a better looking tail end, so...

 

[frismanis]

Having too many vehicles that do the thing is a problem, I guess. One for each activity, like having one good rabbit dog, one lap dog and one man eater instead of three German Shepherds or worse three lap dogs.

Well, by that count I have 3 vehicles that keep my garage from floating away!

 

[island45]

In '83 I bought a smurf blue/white 1970 FJ 55 at a used car lot on old hwy 99 in Marysville Wa. when we pulled off Interstate 5 in our '71 Corona wagon for a fuel stop. Used car guy took the corona in trade. I have owned one ever since. I was sold on Toyotas as I had bought a '71 hilux pickup in '72 (wasn't what we think of a hilux today) and put 200,000 + miles on an economy pickup I thought was a 'throwaway' during the 'Gas Crisis'. Little did I know..... Actually my boss back then bought a new '67 FJ 45 LPB for work and I had lusted for the Landcruiser ever since. With a growing family, the 55 was a better sell to the wife. We drove that 55 to Boston and back and later the '79 FJ 55 did the same trip when we had 3 kids in the back seat. Back then we just checked the oil and pointed it East. I still have total confidence in the '79 platform that I defiled with ford sheet metal. After I get a windshield built for it I'm thinking of driving it to Montana to visit an old friend in Polson. The '79 has 195,000 and has Never let me down. Head never off....With compression of 159 lowest (#2 ) and highest 170 (#1) and oil pressure on a manual SW gauge of 60 lbs+at idle, and down the road at 70lbs, why would I worry. Sure, at 68 years old it's no lexus, but my newest rig is an auction find 97 gov't suburban dept of natural recources edition with no ac, roll up windows, vinyl seats and floors and an am radio, the cruiser ain't so bad. So that's 38 years of 55s and I CANNOT wipe the smile off my face rolling along. As for how far I'd go???? I will report in at a later date.

 

[riderjgs]

Yeah, it's a big trade off. I don't really care for bumper mounted spares, at least on 55s. I put mine inside (not good either). A bigger fuel tank is a great upgrade when traveling and back road camping. There really is no good spot for a full size spare, everybody deals with it in their own way.

I do have an OEM inside spare tire mount in original Toyota plastic obtained in one of my MUD parts deals. I'm saving it for J Mack.

 

[RUSH55]

Just a thought on the tire carrier bumpers -

Have heard several guys say lately that they don’t like the looks of a tire on the rear, aesthetics, additional bulk on the already long overhanging 55 rear end, etc…
Mostly it distracts or covers the coveted T-O-Y-O-T-A lettering on the tailgate.
So, if this is an issue, but you’re on the fence about what to do with the spare, the best argument for a swing out carrier is the absolute utilitarian function. The tire is right there. There’s no fumbling around with crank-handle extensions. No crawling around in the cargo area, moving gear out of the way, and dropping the tailgate to get the spare out, or worse, trying to get a spare and bad tire on and off your roof! It’s right there, handy AF.

I love the heck out of them! Can’t wait to get building another one for my rig.

The biggest drawback I’ve found about them is the torsional movement. Most of it can be engineered out, but they almost need a third contact point to be completely movement free.
Several fabrication suppliers sell any component or accessory you’d ever want or need to build a badass tire carrier.

 

[wngrog]

I hate a swingout just because it makes me not want to deal with it to open up the back of my vehicle. This is 99% not a problem for an off road trip because I run my fridge behind the drivers seat and I don’t crack open the rear much. Mainly it’s during DD use do I hate em.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Yeah, I'm not a fan either. The back end was made to be seen in whole, not to be covered. You'll have to move the license plate and the light system is now useless. How often do you really have flats? It's been over ten years for me, so having the spare in an out of the way spot works for me. Some don't even carry a spare and rely on patching abilities, but I worry about the dreaded sidewall slice. I hate the whole idea of carrying a spare, it's like hauling around that obnoxious Aunt nobody likes with you.