Whoa man! That was close. Glad you saved it Chris.
My '97 LX 450 Buildup...Comments/Suggestions Welcome!
- Thread starter ravencr
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- Thread starter
- #122
I'm glad too...not sure I had anything to do with it, though. 
Chris
Chris
- Thread starter
- #124
You and me both. That was my wife and good friend Jackie. Good times, although I could have done without that all together.
Chris
Chris
That's the reason to loosen up the front on an 80, let it articulate a little more before the front pulls the whole truck over. It's also where natural instict is the totally wrong thing to do. Brakes are not your friend in that situation. I've had the same thing happen, and it's best to just let it go forward, cause once you get that other front tire to drop, it'll let that rear down. Generally get a nice bump out of the deal, but it's only way to actively stop it, otherwise your just making it worse. If you'd dropped the brakes about the point the wife started screaming 'oh god oh god oh god', PS front would have dropped, you would have likely gotton a bang sound as the frame hit, but you wouldn't roll.
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- Thread starter
- #126
I totally agree. The problem was the driver's side was jambed in good and the winch line was going far over to the right, so it wasn't helping anything either. I agree though that letting off would have helped, but I was relying on the winch to hold me but we didn't realize it was hurting us until it happened. I'm going to 3 link the front for sure, but I think I'm going to keep the same length shocks at first. I'm going to use the stock mounting points for the lowers and have an adjustable axle mount to adjust the anti-dive.
Chris
Chris
- Thread starter
- #127
Hey guys,
Here are some videos from our recent trip out to Moab, UT for the UTV Rally. I was itching to go ride all week on Pritchett Canyon, so I figured why not go out with one of the UTV rides on Saturday. It was well worth it even though I broke a driver's side birf and bent my drag link. Here's the progression of videos from start to finish of the trail:
This is from the beginning through Rocker Knocker:
YouTube - Pritchett Canyon in Moab, UT in a '97 LX450 / Landcruiser
This is just past Rocker Knocker and up through the end of the trail at Yellow Hill:
YouTube - Just Past Rocker Knocker Thru Yellow Hill - Pritchett Canyon - '97 LX 450 / Land Cruiser
This is from the top down to the last obstacle where I ran out of memory card room for the best part:
YouTube - Yellow Hill Down - Pritchett Canyon - '97 LX450 / Land Cruiser
But, one of good friends Wayne and Jackie caught the near rollover on their camera:
YouTube - LX450 / Landcruiser on Pritchett Canyon - Near Rollover
I was amazed at how well the 80 did on this trail. I've ridden it a few times in my RZR, and it's a whole different ballgame in an 80. The main thing I realized is that I need much better brakes, bigger balls, some good spotters, and I'd say the only limitation to this thing is me at this point. I'm very impressed with the way it handled. I am going to still 3-link the front, but I'm thinking about keeping the shocks the same length.
After breaking the birfield and bending the drag link, I upgraded the front and rear axles with Longfields and Poly Performance axles. I also got very lucky and Ben from Slee Offroad delivered the heavy duty tie rod and drag link tubes with wheel bearings and tie rod ends to Moab 4x4 for me as they were heading up to Cruise Moab. I didn't have to use the bearings, so I delivered them back to Slee at Cruise Moab before we headed out of town. Awesome customer service and got me back on the road to Boone, NC on Thursday this past week. I used the Marlin Crawler seal/rebuild kit with their HD seal, and everything is back to normal...just a whole lot stronger. I'm thinking my next set of tires should be 40's. K, just kidding...I don't even have the balls to push it to it's limits now on 37's. I'll post pictures when I get a chance...
Chris
P.S. If you're not into UTVs, it doesn't matter. This is a hilarious video of a guy not with our group that was high on something, that's for sure:
YouTube - Polaris Ranger Rollover - Rocker Knocker on Pritchett Canyon
Here are some videos from our recent trip out to Moab, UT for the UTV Rally. I was itching to go ride all week on Pritchett Canyon, so I figured why not go out with one of the UTV rides on Saturday. It was well worth it even though I broke a driver's side birf and bent my drag link. Here's the progression of videos from start to finish of the trail:
This is from the beginning through Rocker Knocker:
YouTube - Pritchett Canyon in Moab, UT in a '97 LX450 / Landcruiser
This is just past Rocker Knocker and up through the end of the trail at Yellow Hill:
YouTube - Just Past Rocker Knocker Thru Yellow Hill - Pritchett Canyon - '97 LX 450 / Land Cruiser
This is from the top down to the last obstacle where I ran out of memory card room for the best part:
YouTube - Yellow Hill Down - Pritchett Canyon - '97 LX450 / Land Cruiser
But, one of good friends Wayne and Jackie caught the near rollover on their camera:
YouTube - LX450 / Landcruiser on Pritchett Canyon - Near Rollover
I was amazed at how well the 80 did on this trail. I've ridden it a few times in my RZR, and it's a whole different ballgame in an 80. The main thing I realized is that I need much better brakes, bigger balls, some good spotters, and I'd say the only limitation to this thing is me at this point. I'm very impressed with the way it handled. I am going to still 3-link the front, but I'm thinking about keeping the shocks the same length.
After breaking the birfield and bending the drag link, I upgraded the front and rear axles with Longfields and Poly Performance axles. I also got very lucky and Ben from Slee Offroad delivered the heavy duty tie rod and drag link tubes with wheel bearings and tie rod ends to Moab 4x4 for me as they were heading up to Cruise Moab. I didn't have to use the bearings, so I delivered them back to Slee at Cruise Moab before we headed out of town. Awesome customer service and got me back on the road to Boone, NC on Thursday this past week. I used the Marlin Crawler seal/rebuild kit with their HD seal, and everything is back to normal...just a whole lot stronger. I'm thinking my next set of tires should be 40's.
K, just kidding...I don't even have the balls to push it to it's limits now on 37's. I'll post pictures when I get a chance...Chris
P.S. If you're not into UTVs, it doesn't matter. This is a hilarious video of a guy not with our group that was high on something, that's for sure:
YouTube - Polaris Ranger Rollover - Rocker Knocker on Pritchett Canyon
Man I would think that utv owners should upgrade their roll bars. That thing looks like it would not have taken much more of a hit.
And damn I would have s*** my pants if I was about to roll my 80.
And damn I would have s*** my pants if I was about to roll my 80.
- Thread starter
- #129
Most do, but that guy definitely hadn't. Trust me...I almost did crap my pants.
Chris
Chris
Didn't see where the winch was hooked up. It's always easier to see what needs to be done from the outside - some times when spotting for people I wish I had an RC controler (as I'm sure they wish they had when spotting for me). Also easier when looking at a video and not with the seat crawling up your but as you sphinter puckers
- Thread starter
- #131
Yeah, I think great spotters is more important than the driver most of the time.
Chris
Chris
- Thread starter
- #133
LOL...yeah, the comments from Jackie and my wife were hilarious. I'm not a fan of off-cambers at all, but at least I know close to where the limit is.
Chris
Chris
- Thread starter
- #135
No doubt...glad he had at least that many brain cells left to take the kid out.
Chris
Chris
- Thread starter
- #136
I'm headed out to begin fender trimming the 80 today. I'm not running any bumpstops, and the rear stuffs up nicely in the fender, but it does rub. My question is if I do go to 40's when I make it a trailer queen, I'm thinking I'm going to have to trim into the door some too...just not sure yet. Anybody running 39-40's that could share some fender trimming pics?
Chris
Chris
sleeoffroad
Supporting Vendor
- Thread starter
- #138
LOL...that's what Brett wants me to do. My wife would kill me right now if I did that. I almost have her convinced I we need a third vehicle now, so maybe sooner than later.
Here's the before pic of the driver's side rear:
Here's the after trimmed pic of the driver's side rear before needing to be welded up:
On to the next side...wish I had a place I could flex it out close by...and a set of 40's to double check. I do think I will get some 1.25" spacers in the meantime though, and I think I'll still clear these 37's.
Chris
I almost have her convinced I we need a third vehicle now, so maybe sooner than later. Here's the before pic of the driver's side rear:
Here's the after trimmed pic of the driver's side rear before needing to be welded up:
On to the next side...wish I had a place I could flex it out close by...and a set of 40's to double check.
I do think I will get some 1.25" spacers in the meantime though, and I think I'll still clear these 37's. Chris
- Thread starter
- #139
The trimming is done...now have to weld in the new sheet metal to plug up all the gaping holes.
Here's the passenger rear trimmed:
Here's the driver side front before trimming:
Here's the passenger front before trimming:
Here's the passenger front trimmed:
Here's where I cut the frame some more to make sure bigger tires won't hit...hopefully:
Here's the driver's side front trimmed:
Because of access to the fender wells still being needed, I'm going to weld the other lip of the body and then make the inner lip removable, so I can still access things like the intake and antennae motor.
I'm hoping to have this wrapped up on Monday...
Chris
Here's the passenger rear trimmed:
Here's the driver side front before trimming:
Here's the passenger front before trimming:
Here's the passenger front trimmed:
Here's where I cut the frame some more to make sure bigger tires won't hit...hopefully:
Here's the driver's side front trimmed:
Because of access to the fender wells still being needed, I'm going to weld the other lip of the body and then make the inner lip removable, so I can still access things like the intake and antennae motor.
I'm hoping to have this wrapped up on Monday...
Chris
- Thread starter
- #140
Hey guys,
I lost my job last week, so the Lexus toy has to go, unfortunately. I haven't added up anything, nor taken any pics, nor done anything but decide that I need to sell it...it's been a rough week here at the homefront. I'll add a complete list of mods, etc here shortly, but if anyone has any questions or might be interested in buying it, please let me know: chrisrademacher@fastmail.fm or pm me.
Chris
I lost my job last week, so the Lexus toy has to go, unfortunately. I haven't added up anything, nor taken any pics, nor done anything but decide that I need to sell it...it's been a rough week here at the homefront.
I'll add a complete list of mods, etc here shortly, but if anyone has any questions or might be interested in buying it, please let me know: chrisrademacher@fastmail.fm or pm me. Chris
