Hello fellow 200 Series Campers
I recognize several of you from the years on Mud.
First a bit about me: I am a 4th generation Colorado Native who married his High school sweetheart (after college). I have two grown daughters who also drive Toyota's and they often wheel with me. Together we have wheeled the Rubicon, South Dakota, All across Colorado and many trips to Moab. If this year you see a Red 200, White 100 and 3rd Gen 4runner, all built traveling down the highway, that is the Romer Caravan
I have owned 3 FJ 40's, an 80, a 100 and now a 200. You could throw in two more 4runners, another 80 and another 100 if you count the wife's and daughters rigs.
In college I had a 74 FJ40. I bought it 5 years old in 79 and drove it all around Colorado and Arizona. After college I sold it and went through several vehicles, even a Jeep but they just were not the same. I would comment when I saw an FJ40, and in 2003 my wife told me to go get another one.
I bought a 1977 FJ40 and this thread describes the build.
I was still driving a 99 GMC as my DD and in 2004 I bought an 1997 80 (LX450). Here is the build thread on that rig. The next year I became the 80's section Moderator. I had sold my 40 during the build to pay for a supercharger. I said one day I would buy another one and build it the way I wanted it
In 2011 I bought a 2004 100 series. Great truck and enjoyed doing the Maze trip and all the rest of our Utah and Colorado spots. Here is the build thread. The 100 is a great platform.
In 2013, the kids were grown up, out of college and owned their own houses. Now the toy budget was increasing. I made good on the promise I made to myself and bought and built another 40 just the way I wanted it, Fuel Injected V-8 with some modern accessories. My wife refers to this as my baby
I would still have the 100 today if I hadn't upgraded my camper and imported a new 2016 Kimberley Karavan. Here is the story on that. I had no issues towing my previous trailers and the Kimberley Kamper up the Mtn passes. The Karavan doubled the weight and I could feel the difference. It would have been fine, but who likes chugging up a mtn pass. Several folks were nice enough to give me their comparison in a 100 vs a 200 and that sold me.
Doing lots of research on this great forum I narrowed my choice to a 2013 to 2015 based on features and finally wanting a cruiser that was still close to new. After building the 40, buying the Kimberley, a new 2016 would have been too much for my bank account. Besides I did not like the rear screens on the seat backs.
I had always bought my rigs out of state looking for the best deal and quality and was surprised to find a great deal on a local cruiser at Carmax. A 2014 with 25K miles still under factory warranty for $58K.
I have been waiting to sell my 100 to do the majority of the mods, but have started with what I took off the 100. My plan for modifications is as follows:
ARB Front Bull Bar (I have a 12K WARN winch)
Slee Sliders
Slee Skid Plates
BP-51 Lift (edit went with the standard OME Lift)
Dual Battery Setup (IBS system from my 100)
ARB Storage Drawers (From my 100)
Hamd and CB Radios (From My 100)
ARB Front and Rear Lockers
Rear Bumper (debating between ARB or waiting for Slee's)
Here is what it looked like when I bought it
I recognize several of you from the years on Mud.
First a bit about me: I am a 4th generation Colorado Native who married his High school sweetheart (after college). I have two grown daughters who also drive Toyota's and they often wheel with me. Together we have wheeled the Rubicon, South Dakota, All across Colorado and many trips to Moab. If this year you see a Red 200, White 100 and 3rd Gen 4runner, all built traveling down the highway, that is the Romer Caravan
I have owned 3 FJ 40's, an 80, a 100 and now a 200. You could throw in two more 4runners, another 80 and another 100 if you count the wife's and daughters rigs.
In college I had a 74 FJ40. I bought it 5 years old in 79 and drove it all around Colorado and Arizona. After college I sold it and went through several vehicles, even a Jeep but they just were not the same. I would comment when I saw an FJ40, and in 2003 my wife told me to go get another one.
I bought a 1977 FJ40 and this thread describes the build.
I was still driving a 99 GMC as my DD and in 2004 I bought an 1997 80 (LX450). Here is the build thread on that rig. The next year I became the 80's section Moderator. I had sold my 40 during the build to pay for a supercharger. I said one day I would buy another one and build it the way I wanted it
In 2011 I bought a 2004 100 series. Great truck and enjoyed doing the Maze trip and all the rest of our Utah and Colorado spots. Here is the build thread. The 100 is a great platform.
In 2013, the kids were grown up, out of college and owned their own houses. Now the toy budget was increasing. I made good on the promise I made to myself and bought and built another 40 just the way I wanted it, Fuel Injected V-8 with some modern accessories. My wife refers to this as my baby
I would still have the 100 today if I hadn't upgraded my camper and imported a new 2016 Kimberley Karavan. Here is the story on that. I had no issues towing my previous trailers and the Kimberley Kamper up the Mtn passes. The Karavan doubled the weight and I could feel the difference. It would have been fine, but who likes chugging up a mtn pass. Several folks were nice enough to give me their comparison in a 100 vs a 200 and that sold me.
Doing lots of research on this great forum I narrowed my choice to a 2013 to 2015 based on features and finally wanting a cruiser that was still close to new. After building the 40, buying the Kimberley, a new 2016 would have been too much for my bank account. Besides I did not like the rear screens on the seat backs.
I had always bought my rigs out of state looking for the best deal and quality and was surprised to find a great deal on a local cruiser at Carmax. A 2014 with 25K miles still under factory warranty for $58K.
I have been waiting to sell my 100 to do the majority of the mods, but have started with what I took off the 100. My plan for modifications is as follows:
ARB Front Bull Bar (I have a 12K WARN winch)
Slee Sliders
Slee Skid Plates
BP-51 Lift (edit went with the standard OME Lift)
Dual Battery Setup (IBS system from my 100)
ARB Storage Drawers (From my 100)
Hamd and CB Radios (From My 100)
ARB Front and Rear Lockers
Rear Bumper (debating between ARB or waiting for Slee's)
Here is what it looked like when I bought it
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