Mounting items on the hood of the FJ40

[lostmarbles]

The old British Land Rover hoods that were factory made to carry a second spare tire had an INSANE level of cool to them...... . .

Lots of things that look cool aren't really practical though Bigslug. And getting a big wheel on/off the hood easily is just one aspect of the problem.

Despite the factory making the tyre-mount on the hood, the hood was really too flimsy to carry the extra weight. (In fact, attempting to lift the hood with the tyre mounted on top would be asking for extra cracks to appear!) So I preferred to carry mine just behind the cab like so:



BTW - This is my old series 2A diesel that I owned 40 years ago. (The date on the image is simply when I converted it to digital.)

And having the tyre on the hood did indeed harm visibility and made it a PITA to "pick the best track" when driving offroad.



PS. My cruiser hood is also too flimsy to take extra weight IMO. (Don't know about the early-model hoods with the thicker sheetmetal though.)

 

[Mark W]

A bunch of mall cruising jeeps with unused tools and dime store lights (whose actual benefit for lighting is at best debatable) bolted to their hoods?

Enough said.

I actually hang a good bit of crap on the front bumper and on top of the winch on my '40 quite often (pull pal, chains, highlift jack, and even water cans). But then I don't have that stuff obstructing my view, complicating opening the hood, snagging on brush and stressing the sheet metal and hinges either.

And the concept of lights mounted on the hood screams nonfunctional mall cruising never hit the trails for real poseur.

If you want stuff on your hood 'cause you like the way it look, go for it. But if you really use the rig, I expect you will be back to a naked hood like the rest of the rigs that get used on the trails. And if you actually work on the rig and raise the hood with even a small tire on it a few times you will laugh at yourself for putting it there in the first.


Mark...

 

[hindsight]

A bunch of mall cruising jeeps with unused tools and dime store lights (whose actual benefit for lighting is at best debatable) bolted to their hoods?

Enough said.

I actually hang a good bit of crap on the front bumper and on top of the winch on my '40 quite often (pull pal, chains, highlift jack, and even water cans). But then I don't have that stuff obstructing my view, complicating opening the hood, snagging on brush and stressing the sheet metal and hinges either.

And the concept of lights mounted on the hood screams nonfunctional mall cruising never hit the trails for real poseur.

If you want stuff on your hood 'cause you like the way it look, go for it. But if you really use the rig, I expect you will be back to a naked hood like the rest of the rigs that get used on the trails. And if you actually work on the rig and raise the hood with even a small tire on it a few times you will laugh at yourself for putting it there in the first.


Mark...

So Mark...how do you really feel about the concept? I feel like you are holding back.

I agree with the lights....I don't really see a lot of functionality to it. As far as the concept of hood storage itself, I am still going to look into it. Not really for off roading but more for around the farm. I like the idea of a low profile basket that I can toss stuff in while planting or checking my bee hives. 90 percent of my "4 wheeling" is really doing chores. Even after spending money on the build...my FJ40 will still cost less than some UTVs

Doc

 

[bikersmurf]

For around the farm I think that a low profile (and light weight) basket could be useful for tossing some stuff into. It would help to keep the inside cleaner... and visibility isn't that big an issue.

For my roof rack I found a bungee cargo net to come in handy for keeping things in place.

 

[myquestoyota]

Several years ago I built a light rack for my bow for use when I was out hunting and got tired of putting it in and taking it out repeatedly. Worked like a charm. My pics are not digital or I'd post one up. I like the idea of a light basket though for the same reasons although a hitch basket would serve the same purpose.

 

[Combat Chuck]

so that's where Barbie keeps her axe...

 

[hindsight]

so that's where Barbie keeps her axe...

Do you really want to mess with Barbie?

She does have a dark side!

Doc

 

[Combat Chuck]

Do you really want to mess with Barbie?

She does have a dark side!

Doc

That's awesome!

BOT:
I'm really liking the idea of hood-mounting tools, but wonder if their location would cause trouble for lowering the windshield.

 

[hindsight]

That's awesome!

BOT:
I'm really liking the idea of hood-mounting tools, but wonder if their location would cause trouble for lowering the windshield.

I think that the function of lowering the windshield and storing stuff on the hood are mutually exclusive. In order to make a stable rack, I will need to use both the hinges and the windshield "clamp" holes as mounting points.

I would show you what I am thinking but right now my FJ looks like this....

Doc

 

[Alberta FJ]

I wheel a fair bit as well as hunting, fish and exploring we live in alberta canada I beat the crap out of my 40 with the hi lift on the hood 6 years now no problems. I have 2 kids 2 dogs & the wife you have to be creative when it comes to storage in the 40 if you plan on making miles & having the equipment to recover your self.

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

alberta, any photo's?