Prescott "metro" cruisers.

[Brian Macgyver]

You are right, John.
I bought a cheap hut, quit working, and simplified my life, only to be harrassed by machines?
What the hell am I doing?
In reality, when we moved here from the city, Jill got her dream job, and I retired from a 25-year career. Retirement didn't work out very well for me. It was boring!
So I run my remodeling business. It is one of the most successful such businesses in the area. I am well established. Most of the people in town who matter know me. I'm not bored anymore! Business is good.
When Jill asks me to give her $10 in cash to spend, I go through my pockets. Other than pocket change, the smallest thing that I usually have is a $100 bill. She has to make do with that. She gets over it OK! 100 bucks is better than no bucks. The $100 bill has become the "I Love You" card in our home. I pass them around like Valentines candy all year. I have mostly found that $100 bills are very popular with wives. They tend to like them a lot! I try to always have one handy in case my wife has a rough day. They make her happy! When she has a difficult day, $100 can help her to feel better. It's amazing!
Just give her money. Easy come, easy go! It's only money! They'll make more.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

Our computer systems are all up again. I used my laptop last night, and my mainframe tonight. All are OK. The only problem was the Norton Anti-virus. Someone has hacked the name to create a real virus. It prevented our internet access, while having no other effect on any other part of our network. It is corrected now.
I just don't get the reason why people do this stuff. There is no profit in it. Do they just need to have their pud sucked? Maybe they need to be important! There are ways to be important without having otherwise decent people wanting to kill you! They cost me a lot of money.
I just don't understand this at all!
Anyway, we now have four machines instead of the former three. All are up and running without viruses (for now).
The next LC meet in Prescott Valley is on May 16. In April, we had a large turn-out for us. There were a number of LC's from CSC as well as some FJC's from the FJAZ club. ( we are not a club, and you are not a member) We hope for some more for May.
Sorry, I have a kitten on my lap harrassing me! I'll be back!.....
................
I'm back. Cats do not understand keyboards. They think they are toys! They push buttons at random. Their spelling skills suck! I had to remove the cat from the keyboard! But he was cute! He is gone!
I found topo maps of the Stoddard area and Crown King. Steve was looking at more maps when I left the store, and I don't know what he found. I have topos of those areas, and one of them may be on the agenda for May. The Stoddard area could be fun. It is easy for stock trucks to reach. But there are lots of fun trails all around for better trucks to explore. There are mine trails and other rough areas to go to. I will even look into the idea of following the Agua Fria River upstream to Poland Junction. That could be interesting! Some older maps show a trail leading up that way. We might find it if it doesn't lead over forbidden ground.
We will just see about that!
The Agua Fria in this area is rather clean. It is just a small stream. On one side is a lot of old mining debris. The other side is pristine high desert riparian area. There is surprisingly little litter. Let's try to keep it that way.
Compared to similar areas near the Valley cities, this area is rather free of trash. But it could use some clean-up. There is some mining wreckage and other junk. Just a real lack of beer cans and other such detrius.
To find it, you will have to be at the Prescott Valley meet of CSC and FJAZ. That will be on May 16 at 10 AM.
Be there or be square!

 

[Brian Macgyver]

May 16
Bill, Tom, and I stayed at the IHOP meet for a while, chatting.
Tom has a rather cool HJ60 diesel that he got from Canada. He has used it on some club runs and clean-ups. It is a strong truck. The question is in the level of rust inside the mud-filled frame members. After all, It hails from the northern land of Canadian rust.
Tom would like to find a 60 or 62 series body and chassis to put his diesel drivetrain into. One that has little or no rust or other signs of being subject to the wims of the northern Queen.

If you know anyone who has such a thing. Post-up!

 

[igotyoubabe325]

Prescott area dudes. I am looking for an 8274 Warn winch for the Troopie since the big bumper is already set up for it. Money is slim, but I have a nice Remington 7mm mag. ADL with a Leupold scope that I would part with to get one. I would even throw in a couple boxes of 175 grain elk stoppers if the winch was decent.

I remember Tom's rig from a meet and have had my eyes peeled for a lonely 60 or 62 for the diesel implant. I am sure there is one close by we just haven't seen it yet.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

I know where to get a 8-10K winch for $299-$399. Maybe $499 tops. My 7500 has worked hard for half the price, at $150 on a clearance sale. If it hadn't been on sale, I wouldn't have it.. Last week, I pulled out a full-size Dodge truck from a deep ditch.
I was on the way to breakfast when I saw a truck in trouble. I stopped. I gave him a hand. I got my hands dirty. The truck escaped the hole. Mine got dirty!

 

[BMAN]

Tell Tom to get in touch with Kavik. I think he still has that 60 he was parting. The frame was solid.

 

[igotyoubabe325]

I know where to get a 8-10K winch for $299-$399. Maybe $499 tops. My 7500 has worked hard for half the price, at $150 on a clearance sale. If it hadn't been on sale, I wouldn't have it.. Last week, I pulled out a full-size Dodge truck from a deep ditch.
I was on the way to breakfast when I saw a truck in trouble. I stopped. I gave him a hand. I got my hands dirty. The truck escaped the hole. Mine got dirty!

I could get a different winch, but then I would have to modify the roo guard. It is set up specifically for the 8274 and I don't want to be welding extra plates and what have you on to it.

 

[BioD 60]

Thanks for your support... literally

Hi everyone - Thanks Brian, BMan, and igotyoubabe for keeping your eyes open for a "donor" for my poor beast's heart.

I also have looked at a local salvage yard, where there is a 62 that is pretty much parted out. I haven't yet gotten in touch with the person there who could tell me what they would sell the carcass for, but plan to soon. It still has the motor (anyone want a gasser motor (unknown condition) from a 62 for any reason??) but most everything else is gone. Frame is very clean (though I don't know how to check how "straight" it is...) and the body is rust-free except for a few minor spots and dings. Only really downside, so far, is that it is the brown on beige color scheme that "isn't my favorite" (as our daughter says).

Anyway, both my wife and I are getting more comfortable with the idea of the cost and time to make the switchover... But want to make sure we get the right body/frame and really know what we're getting in to before we start.

So, I'm going to try and take my time to find the right one and learn more about the process. But, hopefully, all going well, it'll end up being a lifetime Cruiser, instead of one waiting for possible structural failure at the worst possible time and place, stranded forever on some trail (I hate to think of my precious diesel ending up like that shot-up, burned-out FJCruiser that we helped get extracted from 4 Peaks a year ago.)

Anyway, I'll see about contacting Kavik (PM contact info, anyone?), but keep sending me leads and any thoughts you might have about what I'm getting myself into.

Also, I have possible new recruits for the club and the Prescott meet. She and her husband have what my wife thinks (I haven't see it, yet) is a nicely done 40 (exterior at least). I'm inviting him for the 20th (Is that the correct date, Brian?) here in Prescott Valley.

See you all soon,
Tom

 

[Brian Macgyver]

Yes, sir. June 20 is right. B there!
We would all be glad to see new blood at IHOP. I just had a client who has a really clean black TACO long-cab. Clean except for the pinstripes on the sides that nearly match mine! He is retired, and lives in Spring Valley right next to the rabbits. He needs to lift the rear an inch.
I worked on his hut for four days. On two of them he was gone all day, just wheeling his truck in the hills behind his house. What a life! He may come to our little meet sometime.
On the chassis that you found, I would be glad to look at it with you if I can find time. I have some little experience with fitting an engine to a chassis. Call me. On color, body color is realitively easy to change. Interior is harder. I have found that I have a list of favored models from past years to choose from. One of my least items to be particular about is color. When I find a good one, I buy it!
For example, maroon is really not a color that I would choose. It fades a lot, and is hard to polish. Yet I have owned four maroon Honda Accords in the past 12 years. They were and still are on my favored list of cars to buy when the price is right. I would buy another one in a heartbeat, even if it was maroon.
Green is not one of my favorite colors. Yet my truck is.......Green! It is most very green!
I can forgive the rig that one little shortcoming. It is one of the best trucks that I have ever owned. If I myself do not exactly love the color, at least I have seen tourists taking pictures of it! It has a bit of a reputation around town. Everybody knows my truck, mostly because of the color!
When I painted mine, I lived in the desert. The truck stood out there. It also stands out in the parking lot of Walmart in a field of grey and white Explorers.
But to my surprise, it tends to disappear in a pine forest! It really does at times. It just blends in and is gone! "Where's my truck? It was right there, 200 feet away a minute ago! Oh, there it is." A brown truck would not have that problem.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

Jill suggested Crown King for lunch on Fathers' day. That's the day after the IHOP meet. Anybody?
Saturday after IHOP might work even better. Some guys like to see a church, especially on Fathers' day, so Sunday send-off time might be 1:00-1:30. But Saturday, we could get rolling by 11:00.
Either way, we could take cameras and report on the fire damage recovery. I have a topo of the area. I would suggest a dash up the easy road, then some exploring after food. We could run Senator Hwy into Prescott, or look for a mine to explore. Or both?

 

[igotyoubabe325]

I would be up for a Sat. Crown King run. I have to help a friend move some furniture, but I will try and schedule that for friday night. The
had to work and will be bummed since I have never taken her up there. Oops.

I haven't been there since I was manning the road block in Crown King during the tail end of the fire. A couple of weeks ago I took the Troopie to Woods Canyon lake and stayed for a few days. It was a good trip. I don't know how to post pics or I would put a few up. Still not computer savvy. The Troopie got 22mpg between home and Payson which was pretty good. I will still rip this diesel out and put a small block and auto in it as soon as I can afford it. It is kind of a under powered novelty for now, not to mention the clouds of smoke it causes when I start it. Which is actually kind of funny cuz I think my neighbors might be of the.. (let's say Prius driving bunch). I think that was a pretty diplomatic way to put it.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

John,
Since your best girl has to work, there has been a virus going around lately. I could arrange for someone to breath on her! (As a businessman, I cannot condone such things, except in extreme necessity). A family day almost qualifies.
22MPG is enviable! I feel really good when I get 14. Sounds like a fun trip.
If I had some of "those Prius people" next door, I would keep a deisel just to piss them off! Now the scientists are predicting global cooling! But never fear! They will find a way to blame that on my truck too! Don't even start me on that rant! I am not known for putting it "diplomatically". I make it plain that I consider them all to be idiots!
I am a big fan of hybrids. An electric motor produces full torque at just over zero RPM, and continues the accelleration thru the RPM band all the way to redline. It is the ultimate rock climbing drive system. When it is set up at the right voltage, it has the ability to supply household current in a truck to run stereos, TV's, appliances and such in a truck almost anywhere.
Imagine bagging Bambi, dressing the meat on-site, and freezing it before breaking camp! Just put the meat in the freezer in the back of the truck. When you get home, move the whole freezer to the house and plug it in! A hybrid 4x4 can do that. No more bloody mess on the patio!
If I could, I would put a 4-cyl hybrid in my 80, as long as it could be 110 volt. I'd put a fridge in the back!
Honda has been marketing a Hybrid Accord on performance, not efficiency. That's my language! Does it go fast or use less gas? I vote for go fast! A hybrid goes faster.
I also like CFL light bulbs. The energy that they save is mine. I don't have to spend energy to climb a stool to change a bulb. They don't burn out or need replacing. I don't care if they use less electricity. That's not my problem......I'm not in the business of making electricity.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

Crown King looks like a go! A fathers' Day outing.
Some of the south folks from the chitty are going via Lake Pleasant from what I hear. Maybe we can connect with them there. I invited the AZFJ folks as well. That would be cool, LC's and FJ's all over the place! We could have another Cruiser meet up there.
Crown King has a small economy that has been hurt by the recent fire. A bunch of us showing up hungry could be a real boost that they really need. It is a case of your bit doing a lot. Just have lunch.
If enough of us go, we could inject several hundred dollars into that town in one sitting.
Bring your arsenal if you have one. Along the way, we may find a safe place to waste a few rounds. A bit of target practice is not a bad idea, if we get a chance.
Be prepared at IHOP to load up and go. Bring coolers for snacks and drinks. We can stock up on food, ice and gas at Fry's. Let's roll!

 

[igotyoubabe325]

If we are going up the east side I like that Maverick station at 69 and Fain. Fry's is a cluster with all the construction going on.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

John,
Since your best girl has to work, there has been a virus going around lately. I could arrange for someone to breath on her! (As a businessman, I cannot condone such things, except in extreme necessity). A family day almost qualifies.
22MPG is enviable! I feel really good when I get 14. Sounds like a fun trip.
If I had some of "those Prius people" next door, I would keep a deisel just to piss them off! Now the scientists are predicting global cooling! But never fear! They will find a way to blame that on my truck too! Don't even start me on that rant! I am not known for putting it "diplomatically". I make it plain that I consider them all to be idiots!
I am a big fan of hybrids. An electric motor produces full torque at just over zero RPM, and continues the accelleration thru the RPM band all the way to redline. It is the ultimate rock climbing drive system. When it is set up at the right voltage, it has the ability to supply household current in a truck to run stereos, TV's, appliances and such in a truck almost anywhere.
Imagine bagging Bambi, dressing the meat on-site, and freezing it before breaking camp! Just put the meat in the freezer in the back of the truck. When you get home, move the whole freezer to the house and plug it in! A hybrid 4x4 can do that. No more bloody mess on the patio!
If I could, I would put a 4-cyl hybrid in my 80, as long as it could be 110 volt. I'd put a fridge in the back!
Honda has been marketing a Hybrid Accord on performance, not efficiency. That's my language! Does it go fast or use less gas? I vote for go fast! A hybrid goes faster.
I also like CFL light bulbs. The energy that they save is mine. I don't have to spend energy to climb a stool to change a bulb. They don't burn out or need replacing. I don't care if they use less electricity. That's not my problem......

No need to wait for 110V, several companies make very efficient 12volt freezers today.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

No need to wait for 110V, several companies make very efficient 12volt freezers today.

I don't wait for 110v. I run a microwave on snow days, I don't start fires on day trips, and I don't eat cold food when there is snow on the ground. I use a 110v compressor to air up at the highway. My power inverter is a 3,000 watt monster. I don't bother with 2-stroke fuel, just plug in the electric chain saw. When I wheel, I bring a heavy extension cord. If I wanted to kill Bambi, I would just put the freezer in the truck. I can do that now.
But I like the full torque at zero RPM that an electric motor provides. Gas engines need at least 1500 RPM's to make torque. V-8s need closer to 2000 RPMs. An electric motor needs no RPMs. It just goes.
The problem is that lead-acid batteries are far to heavy and dangerous, Ni-Cads are unreliable, and NMH's are too costly. Lithium is possible, but it is in the future, if at all. We are stuck climbing stuff with gas or deisel engines for now. So it goes.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

Back to the subject.
Our NAZ gang met up at IHOP with pretty good turn-out. Most had something come up, and couldn't go. Ben, Steve and I went anyway.
Since the others wimped out, or whatever, we could do what we wanted!
We had two 80's and a Montero.
We went from Mayer, all the way down past Bumblebee to the start of the turkey creek trail. That is a great trail in beautiful country. We roughly followed the creek for quite a distance. Went over a ridge and returned to the creek. Then we followed the creek as it got narrower and rockier. I got a new shiny dent in my RR skid plate. Another time, I slid off a rock on the right, right into one on the left. I felt the hit right under my left foot. I was sure that I had a banged the rocker panel for several miles. When we stopped, there was not a mark on it! I still don't know how that one missed! I felt it right thru the floor. It wacked the left side a solid hit. But no ding! It is time to get out the welder and get some sliders!
I have to give Ben a lot of credit. He has lived here all of his life. He knows all of the best trails. His 80 had some trail dings on it when he got it. Yet he understands that I put a lot of work into my bodywork. He will get out of his truck, and direct me thru a rough patch to protect my fenders, and to not scare my kid. Then he directs a narrower, shorter truck thru on an entirely different line to keep it wheels-down. He is great that way. He is pretty good!
We went up to Crown King and arrived just in time to find the parking lot at the Mill full of Land Cruisers! We got some grub, and joined the crowd. That was great! Like having another Cruiser meet in a remote town. It was good to see everybody.
After some time in town, we all ran down the East side to Cleator at intervals. Those of us from the north ran up to Mayer and US 69 , while the others went to Bumblebee and I-17 south. It was a good day...

 

[cruzer971]

Correction: I took Senator Rd north back to PRC. Wasn't nearly as washboarded, and I didn't have to plug my air filter with someone else's dust. And I was home in a hour and a half.

It was a fun run. Thanks Brian, for letting me make you go on that trail!

 

[Brian Macgyver]

Ben,
Thanx for showing it to us. It was a blast! The trail had just enough challenge and danger to be exciting. Thanks for understanding that I like to keep my fenders straight and my daughter slightly less than freaked out! You are pretty good at that. I hope that you get the job that you really want, but if you do, we will miss you! You may not realize it, but you are a great trail leader. You know where to go, and how to run a truck down the trail.
We made it to Crown King with perfect timing. Not only was I at the end of my food needs, but we found the lot at the Mill full of LC's! Another Cruiser meet! We had lunch, and bought some of the best butter fudge anywhere.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

I've been talking with some folks at AZFJ. I don't know about their members in the Valley, but the guys up here are great. Anyone can see my inane comments and discussions with them at this link;
AZFJ Forums Arizona FJ Discussion General Discussion Prescott area gathering
From there, you can go to home and get a user name & password.
The members of the group that I have met here have been terrific and very game to go for rough trails. I recently took two brand-new FJ's on trails that were so thick with brush that most of the time we couldn't get out of the trucks without climbing out the windows, and walking on top of the bushes. Both trucks were lifted, and one had an ARB and winch. Both came back home every bit as pinstriped as mine was. And both polished out nicely.
IMHO, we should invite them to meets, and include them on outings. Anyone who is willing to scratch the hell out of a brand new truck deserves to be a part of something, and to know where the best trails are. Contact them and invite them over!