opinions on chop top

[lx450landcruiser]

send the pics to mike10gun@hotmail.com and ill post them for you

 

[lx450landcruiser]

Thanks to T*T*I*D

heres his pics

 

[lx450landcruiser]

more pics

 

[Atticus]

Honestly, I think it's ghetto to do that to the Cruiser. It's your truck, so whatever, but I don't understand why you would trade lots of enclosed usable space for something that looks goofy, has less enclosed usable space, and has a truck bed that you couldn't fit a spare tire in.

To each his own.

 

[PScottBx]

Honestly, I think it's ghetto to do that to the Cruiser. It's your truck, so whatever, but I don't understand why you would trade lots of enclosed usable space for something that looks goofy, has less enclosed usable space, and has a truck bed that you couldn't fit a spare tire in.

To each his own.

Agreed.

Vote
1. Do nothing
2. If it's gonna be cut... the last.


Good luck and post up the process.



Bx

 

[Riad]

I actually thought of doing this long time ago. So do you have any thing at the bottom of that hatch door? I see you decided to leave the other half of the hatch door in its original place.

 

[Land Speeder]

Wow! had no idea this thread existed... nice chopped wagons guys!

to all those that think cutting is stupid... you obviously love to not wheel your junk. I've laid the rear roof and sliding windows on so many trees that it was time to chop. In my opinion, that rear section is the weak link of wheeling an 80 while trying to get through tight sections. I chopped mine out of neccessity not looks. I like a full wagon, but i bought mine to wheel in the woods not at the mall.

I wanted to have my rear glass butted up against the rear seat head rests but there is a roof brace that needed to stay in the roof, so it ended up at the same place as the one a few posts up... almost exactly where his ended up, I bet because of the same reason...

Here are some videos of me NOT making through mud holes...

YouTube - Under The Bridge Tour 2008 UTBT - Eric Hagan 1991 FJ80

YouTube - Under The Bridge Tour 2008 UTBT - Eric Hagan 1991 FJ80 #2

 

[Atticus]

Of course the end of it is going to be a problem on tight trails. It is a wagon, after all.

Like I said, do what you want, but it still looks crappy.

 

[FJBen]

Of course the end of it is going to be a problem on tight trails. It is a wagon, after all.

Like I said, do what you want, but it still looks crappy.

we are all friends here...you don't have to sugar coat it

 

[Atticus]

In an attempt to avoid the inevitable shouting match over this, let me just say that I am perfectly happy for anybody to do anything they want with their truck.

 

[sandcruiser]

Here, fixed it for ya:

In an attempt to avoid the inevitable shouting match over this, let me just say that I am perfectly happy for anybody to do anything they want with their truck. But chopping it looks crappy.

I think that if you are going to chop the back off, then it would look worlds better to actually chop the frame and bring the whole rear-end towards the pass seats.

I know that there are several bobbed 60s out there, and like the way that looks.

The 80 w/ micro-bed doesn't appeal to me as much aesthetically, and I don't see much utility there either, might as well improve departure angle and reduce (slightly) the body weight if you are going to loose the storage space and good looks. Besides-- my experience has been that the damn quarter panels are the 1st thing to hit something, not the roof. (based on experience in a 60, my 80 hasn't been anywhere that challenging)

 

[Land Speeder]

Here, fixed it for ya:



I think that if you are going to chop the back off, then it would look worlds better to actually chop the frame and bring the whole rear-end towards the pass seats.

I know that there are several bobbed 60s out there, and like the way that looks.

The 80 w/ micro-bed doesn't appeal to me as much aesthetically, and I don't see much utility there either, might as well improve departure angle and reduce (slightly) the body weight if you are going to loose the storage space and good looks. Besides-- my experience has been that the damn quarter panels are the 1st thing to hit something, not the roof. (based on experience in a 60, my 80 hasn't been anywhere that challenging)

peep my lower quarter panels.... they gone. Also, last year I cut the frame. The rear most cross member (bumper) is a good 3 inches further in on mine. I rewelded it back on. Because of the chopped rear quarters and chopped frame, I've never had departure angle issues. I also chopped the front corners a year or so back, that way i can get my front tires up onto a rock...

Trust. I thought before i chopped. then thought some more. My feelings are: If I'm going to take this rig to it's extreme, I'd rather work with straight panels and chop the bad areas rather than try to puzzle piece bent panels after I've demolished the rear end. I now have no issues beating the piss out of the quarter panels since now I no longer have a window back there to break. I also made a bulk head for the bottom, My rear lift gate no longer comes up. I still have a 4 seater sealed cabin if needed.

 

[Land Speeder]

In an attempt to avoid the inevitable shouting match over this, let me just say that I am perfectly happy for anybody to do anything they want with their truck.

Thanks Atticus, taint nobody shouting 'round here.
I'm from a different school of thought than most around here. I grew up with nothing but dirt and tress. If i wanted something I gotta figure out how to make it, cause it wasn't going to be bought for me. I never thought outside the box because we were too poor to even own a box. I bought this wagon to wheel, not to have the most expensive rig. After all my research i found that the 80 series is out of the box best rig to wheel. Now that i have it, I am constantly figuring how to make this already great platform perform better on the trail and not necessarily in camp.

In two weeks at the crawl, you're welcome to ride with me in my junk on the trails that you may not want to take your 80 on. Heck, I might even give you some driving time. I love to spot my own junk, it's sexy the way it moves...

 

[concretejungle]

to all those that think cutting is stupid... you obviously love to not wheel your junk.

not true With the combination of skill, luck and good spotting i have not laid mine on it's side or over. I have a few dents, but nothing (unless a full roll over and a crushed roof) that would make me want to do that to the 80. And, if i chopped it, i would remove the entire top, put in a roll cage and have a bikini top made for it.

 

[Land Speeder]

not true With the combination of skill, luck and good spotting i have not laid mine on it's side or over. I have a few dents, but nothing (unless a full roll over and a crushed roof) that would make me want to do that to the 80. And, if i chopped it, i would remove the entire top, put in a roll cage and have a bikini top made for it.

I liken it to playing basketball, if you ain't fouling the opponent occasionally then you ain't pressing hard enough. Even Michael Jordan has fouled out. My hardcore wheeling is usually with 1st gen 4runner guys, dragr1 and zman2day. They ride smaller rigs. Yeah, I could go get a 1st gen, but that would cost more than editing what I already have. I break stuff. I break axle shafts, snap. I push to the limit, no "almost" to the limit. I like the removal of the top idea. Most likely will do that one day, just not yet.
I also forgot to mention that chopping the way I did was also because I'm doing an exo design as soon as I can muster up the funds, and exo'ing an entire 80 is just crazy big, seen it in person, crazy big.

 

[lx450landcruiser]

quick question to you guys that have done he chop any issues with the tail gate comming unlatched due to there being no roof? what i mean to say is are the sides of the truck still rigid after the roof is cut?

 

[Land Speeder]

no issues with tailgate or sides of quarters, still very stout. My plans will include a tubed tailgate/spare carrier, somewhat integrated into the exo/ino.

 

[colsoncj]

I like the third setup, which the thread seems to show is the most common. however I'd also take the time to bob the back a bit to snug up the departure angle.... my $0.02 anyway

 

[Atticus]

Thanks Atticus, taint nobody shouting 'round here.
I'm from a different school of thought than most around here. I grew up with nothing but dirt and tress. If i wanted something I gotta figure out how to make it, cause it wasn't going to be bought for me. I never thought outside the box because we were too poor to even own a box. I bought this wagon to wheel, not to have the most expensive rig. After all my research i found that the 80 series is out of the box best rig to wheel. Now that i have it, I am constantly figuring how to make this already great platform perform better on the trail and not necessarily in camp.

In two weeks at the crawl, you're welcome to ride with me in my junk on the trails that you may not want to take your 80 on. Heck, I might even give you some driving time. I love to spot my own junk, it's sexy the way it moves...

I appreciate the invitation, but I'll be watching the Tide.

 

[Land Speeder]

I appreciate the invitation, but I'll be watching the Tide.

for Four days?

here, let me edit this, 2 things:
1. Tide is gonna romp whoever they play this year, even Auburn most likely. Alls they gotta to to Auburn is score more than 7 points.
2. This has become the premier TLCA event in the SouthEast and it's in your backyard.