Introduce yourself here

[OlyWaFJ]

Lifetime resident of Olympia, WA who is wanting to take an organized stand to preserve what little trail access we have left and hopefully work to open areas that have been closed for "political" reasons.

I picked up my Black Cherry FJ Cruiser August 26. It came with Upgrade Pkg 1 which includes A-Trac and the Locking Reaf diff since then I have added BudBuilt skid plates and Stubbs sliders.

I grew up archery hunting St. Helens, Pe Ell, and Queets ridge in the Olympics and was wheeling my Dad's '85 Toyota Extra cab 4x4 pickup even before I was 16. I have had two other 4WD's over the years my first was a 84 Ford Ranger that I beat the hell out of (dropped drivelines, axles, u-joints, etc.) and in 97 I picked up a 95 4Runner 4x4 that didn't get very dirty...

I have been married to my beautiful wife for 10 years and have an 8 year old daughter and 5 year old son who idolizes dad and his new FJ. He loves to get it muddy and is asking "when we are going to pull a Jeep out of the mud?" I ask him why and he says "you know Dad because they always get stuck." I have no idea where he heard that but it's hilarious to hear him say it!!! I am a true family guy with not many hobbies besides photography and my 50 gallon freshwater planted aquarium. I am a Sales Engineer by trade who specializes in converging voice and data enterprise networks utilizing Cisco Systems solutions (yes I'm a nerd at heart). I took up photography after my daughter was born in 98 and turned semi-professional in 2001. I am a former member of Professional Photographers of Washington and am known for my photo-journalistic style of wedding photography (which I have done about 30). Light is light so I am excited to learn the 'money shot' angles of off-road photography to hopefully be able to contribute some of our future off-road adventures to magazines! I have been published in about a half-dozen technology magazines and even captured the cover image once!

I want to use my FJC for what it was designed for OFF-ROAD! I look forward to meeting you on the trails...

Pix are good -

 

[Zurn]

Gabe is my real name, I drive the FJ described below. Born and raised here in Western Washington. I’ve got lots of automotive experience; I sold parts for 7+ years before finishing school and getting a “real world” job. (They just don’t pay parts guys like they used too…) I do all my own work on my vehicles and have learned a bunch from my Dad over the years. Especially that you don’t need manuals to fix stuff, just put it back together until it looks right, you might not get it on the first try and extra parts left over isn’t a bad thing, it just means weight savings in the long run… I’m new to the 4x4 world, I did have a lifted ’93 Explorer, but never got it out on the trails and ended up selling it. My friends referred to it as a pavement pounder or concrete cowboy. I definitely don’t want that image for my FJ, it’ll go off road, just nothing too hard core yet, I’m still paying for it! This is the first new vehicle I have ever owned.

I’ve got a wonderful wife who doesn’t understand how a $32k truck isn’t good enough from the factory and why I have to modify it to make it better. Woman, what do they know… I have a 2 year old son who loves to ride in my truck and loves to make sure you “GO! GO! GO!” when the light is green.

I like to ask questions and give opinions when I can, most of what I know I’ve read on forums and the internet (I know, I know, you can’t always believe what you read on-line) and some comes from my own experience. I’m excited that OlyWaFJ has decided to set up SSC for us and I can’t wait to see some of you on the trails or at SSC meetings!

 

[stevefj]

Steve here...grew up in a small town in the desert east of San Diego riding dirt bikes and ATV's in nearby places like Glamis, Superstition, and the Yuma Dunes. Joined the Navy after highschool and was moved up to Washington State. Lived here for the past 10 years and fell in love with the place.

After spending the last decade serving in the military, I'm now in school studying to become, as my wife likes to call it, a mathamagician. I'm a professional sea kayak coach, and and involved in wilderness search and rescue.

I've owned two tacoma's prior to my new FJ. I haven't done much serious off roading here in WA, but have spent a lot of time on many of the forest service and DNR forest road systems throughout Western Washington. I'm excited to be part of the newly formed SSC, thanks to OlyWaFJ, and look forward to seeing everyone on the trails.

 

[Merkaba55]

Intro

Hello,

My name is Dan, I was reffered over here by Brian (Olywafj)...Years ago I was a semi-active member of Wildnerness Toys which is now defunct, and am currently a member of WaTTORA and wheel a daily driven 1997 Toyota Tacoma. I have owned 2 FJ55 land cruisers in the past and was a member of TLCA several years ago. Ive always enjoyed wrenching and anything truck/automotive and since pursued an ATA in automotive technology and have been slowly aquiring all of my ASE certificates. Currently I work in Puyallup and maintain a fleet of semi trucks and heavy equipment for an asphalt company. but my real passion is toyota trucks. (meaning cruiser/runner/pickup)...

-Dan

 

[OlympiaFJ60]

My name is Brandon, I have lived in Olympia with my wife since 1999, our son was born in 2001. I grew up east of the mountains and moved to Seattle in 1990 to attend the University of Washington were I attended to College of Forestry. Worked for a timber company until 2002, stayed at home with our son for almost 2 years then went back to school for automotive. Worked at a dealer here in Olympia for a year and a half and now I am back at home, part time stay at home dad, part time mechanic out of my little shop.

I have been into Cruisers since college, used to play around the woods of Eatonville with my friend. I got my first Cruiser when our son was born, to replace my little pickup. We now have 3 cruisers.

Glad there is a new chapter starting up.

 

[tmbrtmr]

Howdy From a prospective member

Hi guys Robb From Puyallup Here I used to be the Prez o fthe Washinton timber toys and still have lots of friends in that club as well as lots of friends from the wilderness Toys , im 46 have been a TLCA member since 1993 when i bought my first cruiser , I married to my great wife Lauri and we have a 10 year old daughter Alison who loves to wheel, Im a commercial truck driver for a company based out of Kent Wa . and love wheeling when i have the time , My cruiser is a 1976 FJ40 , Built Chev 350 bored out 10 over, built when gas was cheap dual fuel tanks , stock 4 speed with a center force clutch , Lock right locker rear , Eaton LSD up front , 3 inch lift ,shackle reversal , full cage , onboard air , Toyota supra seats ,33x12.50x15 bfgs , Warn winch , and the list goes on and on , looking to help out on this new club sounds fun ,
Robb

 

[GScott]

Hi

Well, congrats and good luck with your new club.

My name's Scott Shannon. I was a member of the Wilderness Toys from the pretty early days, trying to take an active role and was the TLCA delegate for quite a while. Then things kind of petered out... We tried to get the bunch back together for a run last summer, a few made it. Maybe we can try it again this summer.

I used to wheel quite a bit, and now I lurk. I still have a couple cruisers, and once in a while I even might drive one of them! Last year the 40 performed admirably, despite the fact I hadn't driven/cared for her for two years. (knock wood)

I live near Maytown, WA., south of Tumwater. (exit 95 off I-5) I'll try to check back once in a while to see how you guys are doing...

Couldn't find a pic of my '78 FJ55, but here's one of my '74 FJ40. I also have a '87 4x4 Turbo Diesel pickup, if I can get it running again. (it 'ran-away', haven't figured out why)

And here's a shot of the Wilderness Toys airing down. Greenwater snow run, 1/1/04. That's Walter (G man), Dean (wildtoy), Bill (stubbie), (Rockin') Ron and me bringing up the rear. You guys out there? Sound off!

See ya 'round!

 

[back9]

Looking to join a cruiser group.

My name is Jim, I have a home in Puyallup and one in Marysville. I just picked up my 07 Toyota TRD FJ Cruiser. I am hoping get involved with a group of FJ owners. I really don't care if the group is on the southend or the north end. As long as I have a group of Cruiser heads that I can bs with and hopefully do some off roading with. I bring little to the table as far as off road experiance. Other then off road bikes and quad runners. The sport of treading lightly and pushing limits sounds good. Hopefully, I will meet some people that will enjoy teaching me the ropes.

 

[OlyWaFJ]

Let's see some pics of your rig(s)! If you need some help posting them let me know.

 

[vkfzj80]

I just joined this site recently and would like to introduce myself as well. My name is Victor and I got my 95 fzj80 last week. It is currently all stock and I plan on building it into a nice expedition/campling rig.

I live in Olympia and would like to get involved with some of the local activities. Also, my wife and are starting to plan a trip down south, to Utah, this summer.

 

[Zurn]

Now that I've got a few pictures, I figured I should add one. Here is my FJ.

 

[BladeRunner80]

Glad to see a club is forming in the South Sound!

Hey there everyone, my name is Bill. I've got a 67' FJ40 that I have been working on since last year when I bought it. I'm hoping to have everything ready to go on it here in a couple days so I can drive it down to the swap meet on Sunday.

I use to live up in Greenlake in the Seattle area, but bought a home down in Fife last summer. I found out its not too fun working on a truck when you live on a busy street in Seattle. I'll see if I can meet up with you all at the meeting before the swap meet, it's always great meeting new cruiser fans!

I repainted it the original horizon blue. It hasn't left my garage for a few months while I finished all the paint and body work. Sorry for the "close up" pic.

Here is what it looked like when I bought it last year

 

[BladeRunner80]

I seriously need to purchase a silver star, my google photos account doesn't work for crap with the mud website........


After:

Before:

 

[Ripsnort]

I missed this thread the first time through on this website! Hi all! Great bios!

Brian, congrats on your photography publishings! That is a very exciting part of being a photographer!

About me:

Born and raised on a farm in Minnesota. Moved to Seattle when I graduated HS to specifically build airplanes (airplane nut since I could walk) Arrived in 1979 with a suitcase full of clothes and $100 in my pocket. I was homelss for about 2 weeks but managed to land a job at Boeing and its been up ever since. Laid off in 1981, went to college, returned to Boeing in 1985 and have been there since.

Met my wife while bartending and going to college in 1984. We were friends and did not date until 1989! Married in 1990 and am have been married for 16 years, with 2 boys (ages 8 and 11) and hobbies include photography, fishing, hunting, waterskiing, camping, weightlifting and computers. Pretty much a rookie in offroad 4x4ing in the PNW, but I've driven a 1976 Scout into the ground offroad in Gravely Mountain range in Montana (my playground where my stepbrother lives)

I've been shooting amateur photography for 30 years (35mm equipment) until 2001 when I bought my first digital camera, then took up the hobby serously again with shooting kids sporting events. I recently registered my sports photography business last year with another business partner and we shoot primarily sports action photography (portrait photography bores me to no end!). We had a very successful first year in business together last year (shooting for two junior football teams , 8 games, 10 teams) shooting for the Washington State Presidents Cup semi-finals held in Tukwila, and numerous other sporting events such as wrestling, volley ball. We also landed a gig with the Competitve Edge in Puyallup this spring to shoot the Collegiate Football combine try outs (where the college scouts come up to the PNW and look at the local talent for potential college players). We've been published in the WSSA journals. My speciality is digital montage prints.
http://www.printroom.com/pro/memories

Looking forward to meeting you all!

Pic of my rig:

 

[HZJ60 Guy]

Hello. Tom Bentzen here. I live in Issaquah, so Im not a south sounder, but I thought Id chime in. Here are some pics of my HJ60. Im just about to get her back from a frame off restoration. Some spects too.

1987 Toyota HJ-60 Landcruiser 4.2 liter 1HZ diesel with a Safari Systems turbo Dual optimas, 24volt ARB compressor, H-55 five speed tranny Standard t-case Old man emu full suspension with spring over conversion

Front end: 5.29 gears w/ARB four runner vented disks w/ four piston calipers trussed w/high steer and hydrolic assist, Longfields with inner axles.
Rear end: 5.29 gears w/ARB four runner vented disks w/ four piston calipers, trussed, full floater traction bar.
ARB front bumper with 24 volt M12000 pound winch with synthetic rope and IPF lights
Kaymar rear bumper tire carrier gas carrier ARB side bars Hannibal roof rack, and awning, ARB snorkle Opposite Locke 50 gallon fuel tank, Alpine stereo with XM satalite radio 17x9 trail ready bead locked rims with 37" goodyear MTR's

 

[Ripsnort]

Beautiful rig, Tom! I work in Issaquah (2 days a week) and I believe I've seen your rig before! Impressive! Bet you love that gearing for rock crawling!

 

[fzj]

My name is Ken Reiten and I live in University Place with my Wife Erica and 7 year olld daughter Emily! I Have a 1994 fzj80 with a 4 inch lift and 35's!

 

[IB14A69]

FZJ, I found the second pic on a differnt post last week and it is my back ground on my pc at work as that is what I want to do to my 80. Who's lift do you have? I was thinking about the slee 6''

 

[fzj]

I have the Old Man Emu J springs front and rear with a Mr Gasket one inch spacer up front! total lift is around four inches!

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Dave Zartman here, we publish and live in Gig Harbor so we hit Tahuya, Evans Creek, and Reiter when we feel like driving out that way. Cheers!
This is the company FZJ80:

http://www.4wdtoyotaowner.com/FZJ80.html

Dave