Luke’s therapeutic davenport; seek counseling here. "Thought I wanted a buggy"

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LukeZero

LukeZero

Deeply Confused
Joined
Aug 11, 2002
Threads
156
Messages
1,760
Location
Elkhart, Indiana
Wanted to bounce a couple of ideas off you guys. I have a 76 Cruiser based buggy that I'm losing my interest in. Partially I want to start over and do something more modest, more daily driverish. Partially this thread is to try to get a feel for what a fair price would be if I do decide to sell it. If you are offended by chat in Tech- look away now.


Buggy is 76 FJ40, 2F with Howell fuel injection (TBI). Transmission is SM420, ToyBox with 4.6 gears, minitruck T-case with Longfield Cro-Mo output shaft. Front axle is high pinion RockCrusher 60, 5.13 gears, ARB, Cro-Mo inners and outers, Longfield U joints. Poison Spider high steer arms, 6061 alum drag link and tie rod with 3/4" heims. West Texas Off Road hydro assist. Rear axle is 14 bolt, 5.13:1, ARB, disc brakes.
Suspension is modified 3 link with panhard bar in front, rear is 4 link. Long travel shocks and the coil springs are from a Jeep TJ. 6" lift springs in front, 4" lift springs in back. Lot's of articulation!

42 IROKs on new Raceline Monster beadlocks. 8 lug, 17".

Kirkey aluminum seats. Warn 8274 winch, full cage. Frame cut off behind seats, tube work starts there. Roll cage goes through firewall and picks up the front upper shock mounts.

Lowest crawl ratio is 418:1. Drives down the road really smoothly. Vaguely street legal. Has a windshield and brake lights. Licensed and plated in IN.

I have some other plans in mind, that don't include this truck. If I could cash out of this and head a different direction, it might be time to do that.

Between what the previous owner spent, and what I've done it probably has $30K in it. Would I be smoking crack to try to get $12,500? Hold out for more?

Part of my current frustration with it is that it needs some new gauges installed in the dash (which I have) but haven't installed. There is some wiring I'd like to clean up. But mostly, it is too capable for the obstacles we have in the Midwest. If I can't make an obstacle where I wheel, it is obviously driver incompetence. I can't blame it on the truck anymore!

Thoughts?
__________________
 
Move out West! that sounds like the only resonable solution to your problemb!

sounds like a sweet rig, worth more than 12k IMO!

Fix up the guages, and any other small issues that bug you, (Or pay a shop to do it), and plan more trips a year to places that can challenge the rig to its potential. If its not worth it to you after that, than sell it!
 
Can't move West.

Maybe I'll let it sit for a while. I'm in a bad mood right now. Don't want to do anything irrational. [again].
 
let it sit.

Getting 12K for your rig in this economy is not easy..
 
Luke you will kick yourself in the ass if you sell it.

Hell if you really feel the need for a modest /mild built rig use some of the parts off the buggy.
 
Hey Luke,

I thought part of the reason for Bugly was to wheel while you finish the 45 project? Fix the minor crap on Bugly and get back at the 45. Use Bugly to kill the wheelin' jones once in a while then sell it off once the 45 is workin'. The 45 looked better suited to the type of wheeling available local to you.

Otherwise I recommend traveling a little farther afield - like Harlin, Windrock, some of the places from the PYS tour, even down to southern IN to the state run parks or east like Raush Creek in PA. Maybe you just need to find some other folks to ride with that hit the hard trails at Badlands instead of the stocker crowd from HC (good folks but I feel your pain riding with the stockers all the time).

If those options fail I got a CNC mill I'll trade'ya fer the truck! ;) Might even toss in the new vise I bought for it...

:cheers:

Nick
 
where do you wheel? seriously there are tons of places to wheel on the east coast where you can challange your rig.
 
zebrabeefj40 said:
Hey Luke,

I thought part of the reason for Bugly was to wheel while you finish the 45 project? Fix the minor crap on Bugly and get back at the 45. Use Bugly to kill the wheelin' jones once in a while then sell it off once the 45 is workin'. The 45 looked better suited to the type of wheeling available local to you.

Otherwise I recommend traveling a little farther afield - like Harlin, Windrock, some of the places from the PYS tour, even down to southern IN to the state run parks or east like Raush Creek in PA. Maybe you just need to find some other folks to ride with that hit the hard trails at Badlands instead of the stocker crowd from HC (good folks but I feel your pain riding with the stockers all the time).

If those options fail I got a CNC mill I'll trade'ya fer the truck! ;) Might even toss in the new vise I bought for it...

:cheers:

Nick
Click to expand...


wizzo said:
where do you wheel? seriously there are tons of places to wheel on the east coast where you can challange your rig.
Click to expand...

It's more than that. I just don't find it as interesting as I imagined I would. All these years I have thought to myself "Man, if I just had a buggy it would be SO much fun. I would have a blast." Now, I'm there and it's just not that much fun. The truck is awesome, I have no regrets about building it- I just think it needs to be in the hands of someone who REALLY enjoys it.

I talked to a buddy of mine last night that goes to Moab on a routine basis and he's ready to get rid of his present rig (Jeep TJ). He's maybe going to come and take a look at it and see if it's something he'd want.
 
As you put it to me this weekend. the rig is more capable than you are...

for now...

I'm jealous...I can outdrive my rig at this point, and 'believe' I want one more capable...but do what, 1%, maybe 2% more? Hardly worth the $30k+ I'd need to spend...the tube chassis sits in the garage for a reason...

IMO, keep it...wheel it...run with me a few times in Attica and LEARN what the rig can really do...and what you can :)
 
Wheeling is a social event. If the places you go and the people you wheel with have similar rigs then I think you will have more fun.

So you need different friends or get a different rig. There are folks in the midwest that wheel buggies, just not a lot in WCLC or HC. You could do comps if you wanted to invest a whole lot more time and money. That would certainly be challenging in Bugly

Otherwise you'll be at the top of every hill by yourself, bored doing trails that you can do in 2wd, or you'll make everybody stop and wait while you do stupid lines like some other Hoosier buggy I know of.
 
I think you've summarized it nicely, Todd. I enjoy hanging out with the combined group of Hoosier Cruisers and Windy City. Then, out on the trail, Bugly is much more capable than most of the other trucks (my lack of driving skill notwithstanding.)

I think I need to sell the buggy to someone who will put it to better use than I will, and buy something more mild, that would end up being less "capable" but more fun with the group.

I'm kind of coming to the realization (albeit late) that it requires more talent and creativity to make it over an obstacle with 35" MTs than with 42" IROKS and crazy low gearing. It kind of sucks the fun out of it to drive over whatever it is, then look back over it and ask "OK, that was fun, what's next?"

The last several outings have left me feeling a little bit unfulfilled. I think I had it built up in my mind that if I just had _____________- then I would have it made. Well, once you have ___________- that is not the be-all and end-all.

Maybe woody should make a "Counseling Couch" forum for those of us with psychological issues.
 
LukeZero said:
I'm kind of coming to the realization (albeit late) that it requires more talent and creativity to make it over an obstacle with 35" MTs than with 42" IROKS and crazy low gearing. It kind of sucks the fun out of it to drive over whatever it is, then look back over it and ask "OK, that was fun, what's next?"

The last several outings have left me feeling a little bit unfulfilled. I think I had it built up in my mind that if I just had _____________- then I would have it made. Well, once you have ___________- that is not the be-all and end-all.

Maybe woody should make a "Counseling Couch" forum for those of us with psychological issues.
Click to expand...

I came to this conclusion b4 I spent tons of $$ on my cruzer. I was frustrated that I coudn't do some of the stuff as easily as the more mod'd vehicles my friends were building. Then I figured I'd have to make the 40 a little more capable to a point & very dependable & find more creative lines to get it done, & not be so proud that I couldn't pull a line. I find working at an obstacle is much more rewarding. For the last couple of yrs I fell out of the need to wheel, except @ home, but now I'm good to go w/my somewhat stk appearing, old tech & capable FJ40. I get a rise out folks when the tires come off the ground. It gets them talking. Good luck.
 
Can I get in line for the "couch"?
 
Its like alot of things in that the challange is what keeps us goin, getting excited about upgrades etc... same applies to alot of sports etc. once ya reach that peak the thrill just isnt there any longer.. i know i have been there, Setting a distant goal, spend $$ countless hours etc. once ya reach that the fun is gone. kinda like a dog chasin a car. once he catches it.. then what???
I love my built mini, and my 60 which is pretty stock, each has its purpose as I have found no one rig can do it all. but I also get a rush wheelin moderate trails in our Heep, its on 33's with a very moderate build. but does put the fun back in wheelin instead of running the most extreame stuff all the time in ole "kracker" i hook with some buds in thier unlocked rigs on small tires and have a blast.. kinda back to basics wheelin.... but keepin it in perspective so i am not bashing my junk.. i will save that for Kracker
maybe keep your rig ( YOU WILL REGRET SELLING IT !) and get something alot less built to wheel some...might bring back the fun...or heck just leave the ARB's unlocked... just a thought, Dave
 
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