New guy here (1 Viewer)

[Ddude]

I have been poking around on here for a while now and finally joined. Recently I bought a 1994 FJZ80...no lockers .... with 315,000 miles on the original engine. Runs like a champ. Interior is in perfect condition. The only thing I have done so far is yank the factory running boards off as I begin plotting what to do next. The green paint had tons of oxidation so I did a wet sanding as temporary measure until a complete repaint gets done.

My next move is to replace the factory roof rack and get a roof top tent. My son and I are hitting the road for a few weeks across the west early summer. Any recommendations of roof racks/tents i s appreciated. Looks like the factory rack would not support anything with a static load weight of 95-100 lbs. Most tents are 130 lbs or more. On a bigot of a budget right now so upgrades will be slow at first and less expensive low-hanging fruit. Where is a good place to hunt for folks selling roof racks. I am in Auburn about an hour east of Lake Tahoe.

Next items on my radar are to replace the front and rear bumpers and then maybe a slight lift/upgrade on the suspension. Paint after that. Further down the road will be an engine swap.

Cheers!

Dave

 

[NLXTACY]

Toss the OEM roof rack. Use it for nothing but garbage filler. Don't second guess.

 

[Ddude]

Toss the OEM roof rack. Use it for nothing but garbage filler. Don't second guess.

Def was not planning on keep that sucker. Any recommendations?

 

[jpoole]

Welcome Dave,

Sounds like a great trip you've got coming up. You've probably seen plenty on here but many (including me) will recommend catching up on maintenance items and base-lining your rig before you do anything. With a trip coming up I'd be focused on reliability first, though you may already have that nailed down.

There are great roof-top options but I'll throw out there that a good ground-level tent has it's merits as well and some real benefits vs. a rooftop model. It comes down to how you'll use it, and what you are excited about, but being able to drive without breaking camp and being able to enter/exit the tent easily are real perks vs. a rooftop model in my opinion. The main thing is getting out there though, however you do it, and I'm sure y'all will have fun or at least an adventure!

 

[lcgeek]

Welcome! Let me be the first to give you a Like!

Front Runner makes a nice rack for the 80, I have one. Although if hosting a RTT is your primary purpose you might consider just using load bars. Check out sleeoffroad web site for both. Others will be along shortly to recommend others good MUD vendors as well.

 

[NLXTACY]

Def was not planning on keep that sucker. Any recommendations?

Of all I've seen and used:
• PrInSu seems to be best bang for the buck, slick design
• Gamiviti good price point and low
• ARB is heavy and expensive but stout
• INTI is lightweight and use to be unobtanium with a unique design but its looks have faded IMHO
• WildYoats is a DIY system that many here have done and the final unit looks good
• ConFer for the old school look

 

[Hornd]

Dave, Welcome to the Fetish.
Most toss the original roof rack....I did. It is notorious for rusting under the mounts.
Prinsu, Gamviti, or Trail Gear are common choices. Try search but make sure your sitting down.

Some Fab out of Aluminum ATV Rack:
What roof rack to get?

Regardless of the Route you go post up pics so others can learn.

 

[Ddude]

Welcome Dave,

Sounds like a great trip you've got coming up. You've probably seen plenty on here but many (including me) will recommend catching up on maintenance items and base-lining your rig before you do anything. With a trip coming up I'd be focused on reliability first, though you may already have that nailed down.

There are great roof-top options but I'll throw out there that a good ground-level tent has it's merits as well and some real benefits vs. a rooftop model. It comes down to how you'll use it, and what you are excited about, but being able to drive without breaking camp and being able to enter/exit the tent easily are real perks vs. a rooftop model in my opinion. The main thing is getting out there though, however you do it, and I'm sure y'all will have fun or at least an adventure!

Good points about the ability to drive out without having to break camp. Def plan on going a bit deeper to investigate potetial reliability risks. I've done a few weekend excursions driving up into the Sierra with some decent loads. So far the only isssue is using lots of gas! Ha!

 

[Ddude]

Of all I've seen and used:
• PrInSu seems to be best bang for the buck, slick design
• Gamiviti good price point and low
• ARB is heavy and expensive but stout
• INTI is lightweight and use to be unobtanium with a unique design but its looks have faded IMHO
• WildYoats is a DIY system that many here have done and the final unit looks good
• ConFer for the old school look

Thanks for the list. I checked out a few of these, but you gave me a few new rabbit trails to go down.

 

[Kaninja]

These things are nothing but rabbit holes.

Congrats on the new 80! As of yesterday I've had mine for 1 year.....it is an addiction.

 

[DirtScaresMe]

On the rooftop tent, double check with yourself that it's what you really want beyond just being expedition-y. I have my backpacking gear, but I also have an 8 person REI Kingdom tent that I scored for like $300. It's way cheaper and bigger than a rooftop, plus it has two rooms one of which has screens and you can chill in during crap weather.

There are solid advantages to the rooftop tent, like not needing much room at all beyond what your truck fits into, but it also sucks for kids taking a leak in the middle of the night, fitting more people, and using the roof for anything else. They're also serious bucks for anything worthwhile.

With the factory rack you can strap a $150 amazon.com basket to the top and carry a lot of light stuff fairly well (folding chairs, etc).

I have a green 94 as well, and with the paint maybe consider how you'll feel with your new paint job when/if it gets a big scrape down the side from the hazards of off road travel. I'm probably switching out to tractor paint at some point. It's cheap, designed for touchups, and pretty tough. Amazon.com: Valspar 4432-22 Massey Ferguson Gray Tractor and Implement Paint - 1 Quart: Automotive

My $0.02. I'm not a super land cruiser mechanic like some of the people on here so take my opinions for what they're worth.

 

[Ddude]

On the rooftop tent, double check with yourself that it's what you really want beyond just being expedition-y. I have my backpacking gear, but I also have an 8 person REI Kingdom tent that I scored for like $300. It's way cheaper and bigger than a rooftop, plus it has two rooms one of which has screens and you can chill in during crap weather.

There are solid advantages to the rooftop tent, like not needing much room at all beyond what your truck fits into, but it also sucks for kids taking a leak in the middle of the night, fitting more people, and using the roof for anything else. They're also serious bucks for anything worthwhile.

With the factory rack you can strap a $150 amazon.com basket to the top and carry a lot of light stuff fairly well (folding chairs, etc).

I have a green 94 as well, and with the paint maybe consider how you'll feel with your new paint job when/if it gets a big scrape down the side from the hazards of off road travel. I'm probably switching out to tractor paint at some point. It's cheap, designed for touchups, and pretty tough. Amazon.com: Valspar 4432-22 Massey Ferguson Gray Tractor and Implement Paint - 1 Quart: Automotive

My $0.02. I'm not a super land cruiser mechanic like some of the people on here so take my opinions for what they're worth.

Great perspective. Maybe starting with a basket is a good way to go. For my travels this summer I could def get away with a lighter duty cargo solution for the roof and use a regular tent.

Id really like to replace the rear bumper and get the spare out from under the rig. I know that is not cheap.

 

[surfpig]

Thanks for the list. I checked out a few of these, but you gave me a few new rabbit trails to go down.

I have a "Baja Rack". I like it, my priority was low profile. People have had quality issues with them although I have not. I'm also not in the RTT camp, I like a tent. For bumpers, 4X4 Labs is just a few miles away from you and it's one of the best.

You can also just get a set of Yakima bars and a basket/rack and you're good to go, and it's pretty cheap.

 

[izzyandsue]

I second the BajaRack. I have the full size basket, and paid for itself a few times in emergencies.

 

[TossYoda]

I bought a rig with a Baja Rack and a RTT. Seems decent enough, nothing special but certainly strong enough, uninstalls and installs fairly easy. I store it off the metal rafters in my one garage and use small ratchet straps to pick it from the roof and set it back down. The RTT is a Adventure Sole and I think the prices are not high on them and the quality is decent, not exceptional but with care adequate. Home - Adventure Sole Rooftop Tents

 

[DirtScaresMe]

Great perspective. Maybe starting with a basket is a good way to go. For my travels this summer I could def get away with a lighter duty cargo solution for the roof and use a regular tent.

Id really like to replace the rear bumper and get the spare out from under the rig. I know that is not cheap.

Yeah don't get me wrong I like to spend money on my truck and tools but there's only so much to go around. Some folks have a full boner for the rooftop tent thing and if it works for them, awesome. But for me and I think a lot of people when you run the math it doesn't make a ton of sense especially if you have other more practical stuff to deal with. If you were in swamp/mud a lot or actually had real land-based predators running around that's another story.

Just for what it's worth, here's the major body modifications / doo-dads I've added on. Slee front, Slee rear, cheapo amazon roof basket ($150 when I bought it: Amazon.com: Apex RBC-6245HD Black X-Large Steel Roof Cargo Basket: Automotive).

If you get a slee / arb / whatever rear bumper, it's a good time to mount a cb/2m/whatever antenna on the back which is also a good time to put a subwoofer in instead of that pos that comes with the truck (I went with one of these, good time to get a new stereo head to go with that new cb/2m radio you put in : Amazon.com: Kenwood KSC-SW11 Compact Powered Enclosed Subwoofer for CAR: Cell Phones & Accessories ). You can also fit a hi-lift extreme on the back fairly easily.

 

[Ddude]

Yeah don't get me wrong I like to spend money on my truck and tools but there's only so much to go around. Some folks have a full boner for the rooftop tent thing and if it works for them, awesome. But for me and I think a lot of people when you run the math it doesn't make a ton of sense especially if you have other more practical stuff to deal with. If you were in swamp/mud a lot or actually had real land-based predators running around that's another story.

Just for what it's worth, here's the major body modifications / doo-dads I've added on. Slee front, Slee rear, cheapo amazon roof basket ($150 when I bought it: Amazon.com: Apex RBC-6245HD Black X-Large Steel Roof Cargo Basket: Automotive).

If you get a slee / arb / whatever rear bumper, it's a good time to mount a cb/2m/whatever antenna on the back which is also a good time to put a subwoofer in instead of that pos that comes with the truck (I went with one of these, good time to get a new stereo head to go with that new cb/2m radio you put in : Amazon.com: Kenwood KSC-SW11 Compact Powered Enclosed Subwoofer for CAR: Cell Phones & Accessories ). You can also fit a hi-lift extreme on the back fairly easily.

Nice. I think I decided to go cheap on the rack for the time being.

Amazon.com: ROLA 59504 V-Tex Rooftop Cargo Basket: Automotive

This one with an extension is around $200. Should get me down the road while I sock away the cash for the rear and front bumpers. Plus I like the way this one looks.

 

[LS1FJ40]

I have an INTI clone roof rack. I had @reevesci aka Jason aka Trail Tailor make it. It is exactly what I wanted. He is a great dude and vendor on here. Jason can make anything you want.

I will be buying a RTT this summer from @Box Rocket. He is a Tepui Tent distributor. And good dude.

I don't base my purchases on initial price. I base my purchases on life cycle cost and supporting the people that support our addiction.

I've never had a RTT but after traveling for 19 days and trying to squeeze in on a sleep platform with my son every night and move stuff around, I won't do it again.

A couple of shots of my rack. I like the old school safari type look. The Prinsu rack is too space agey for my tastes.

And sorry to hear you ended up with a green 80. Green sucks. And yes, one of my 80s is green.

Welcome!

 

[Ddude]

I have an INTI clone roof rack. I had @reevesci aka Jason aka Trail Tailor make it. It is exactly what I wanted. He is a great dude and vendor on here. Jason can make anything you want.

I will be buying a RTT this summer from @Box Rocket. He is a Tepui Tent distributor. And good dude.

I don't base my purchases on initial price. I base my purchases on life cycle cost and supporting the people that support our addiction.

I've never had a RTT but after traveling for 19 days and trying to squeeze in on a sleep platform with my son every night and move stuff around, I won't do it again.

View attachment 1452263

A couple of shots of my rack. I like the old school safari type look. The Prinsu rack is too space agey for my tastes.

View attachment 1452264 View attachment 1452265

And sorry to hear you ended up with a green 80. Green sucks. And yes, one of my 80s is green.

Welcome!

Your rig looks great. Mine won't be green anymore this time next year. . I like to support the right companies as well. Looks like I will be spending some good money with 4x4 Labs as they are only 30 miles from me. Keep it local too.

 

[LS1FJ40]

Your rig looks great. Mine won't be green anymore this time next year. . I like to support the right companies as well. Looks like I will be spending some good money with 4x4 Labs as they are only 30 miles from me. Keep it local too.

You know the saying "Distance is a girl's best friend!"

Mine won't be green for long. Hopefully.