SAS SAS #9 Official Page 08/04/25- 08/08/25 (24 Viewers)

[matzell]

What’s our plan there, Rob?

Well, I have been frustrated for years on one of my other builds. Builds - matzell's stretched FJ40 build - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/matzells-stretched-fj40-build.1006646/


So I decided to make another one out of Lynchburg Lemonade. This one I will wheel. The other one is too nice, or could be. I will be taking some parts off the 74 for this 77. Build thread is here. Builds - Lynchburg Lemonade, matzell's STW - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/lynchburg-lemonade-matzells-stw.1154975/

I want to make the 77 ride a little better on the trail. My race car rides so nice on coil overs and bypass shocks, the 80 rides a lot better on coils, so I want to get a little better ride out of this for those long days on the trails. Plus the steep climbs and descents will be a little more stable and the increased width will be nice for side hills.

I do not want to ramble much more here, the build threads will show the progress and changes. 3 more months till SAS!

 

[Ditcherman]

Aaauuuugggghhhh!!
3 months?!?

 

[RevISK]

I have checked 1 item off of my list…

 

[thatcabledude]

I have checked 1 item off of my list…

•Make a list

 

[RevISK]

•Make a list

Sweet. That’s two.

 

[fjdiesel]

Sweet. That’s two.

It's the little wins!!! lol.

 

[desmocruiser]

Yep,Ben the owner was trying to lift the trie for good action shots for the video and went too far
I jumped right in to help as I had just made a clean run of Hells Gate and was setting right on top.

The LC 250 stalled then the battery die. The nanny’s would not let him get it out of gear or release the parking brake
All of this was unannounced to me. Because of all that It was pulling me down the hill, I had to ask them to anchor Me to another vehicle. And then to double the line with a snatch block, It was still stalling my wrench.
Then they finally jump started the 250 to get the parking brake off and get it out of gear and we were finally able to get it up the hill.

I never even got so much as a thank you from Ben
At least I got some action shots in the video

I saw a video, easy to do in that section, sounds like an already tough recovery made more difficult by modern automotive technology, that tells me all I need to know about the 250.

That is disappointing to hear about the lack of gratitude, hopefully just an oversight during the moment. I have only met and spoke to Ben briefly at Vendor night, Raffle, etc. at Cruise Moab, he seems like a solid guy and a little out of character from my brief interactions, in fact just after Marlin’s passing he told a couple of great stories of Marlin’s trial manners/generosity and trail lesson’s learned. Hopefully, he circles back with a Big Thanks and package of your favorite beverage for the assist!


Back to a SAS question and wheeling the San Juan’s:

Better experience wheeling an FJ40 or 80 Series?

 

[sogncab]

an already tough recovery made more difficult by modern automotive technology, that tells me all I need to know about the 250.

I win the lottery, I'm going to turn one of those misbadged Camry 250's into a landcruiser.

 

[desmocruiser]

I win the lottery, I'm going to turn one of those misbadged Camry 250's into a landcruiser.

That’s a great time to place one on an 80 Series Chassis!

 

[POTATO LAUNCHER]

Back to a SAS question and wheeling the San Juan’s:

Better experience wheeling an FJ40 or 80 Series?



For on trail and mountain driving I personally prefer a FJ40. Being out in nature in a completely utility vehicle is a ton of fun. If you are driving to SAS, I'd recommend the 80. Much nicer for long hauls and extremely comfortable on the trail. I've driven thousands of miles in my 40 and wheeled hard. It takes a tole as time rolls by.

 

[RevISK]

I saw a video, easy to do in that section, sounds like an already tough recovery made more difficult by modern automotive technology, that tells me all I need to know about the 250.

That is disappointing to hear about the lack of gratitude, hopefully just an oversight during the moment. I have only met and spoke to Ben briefly at Vendor night, Raffle, etc. at Cruise Moab, he seems like a solid guy and a little out of character from my brief interactions, in fact just after Marlin’s passing he told a couple of great stories of Marlin’s trial manners/generosity and trail lesson’s learned. Hopefully, he circles back with a Big Thanks and package of your favorite beverage for the assist!


Back to a SAS question and wheeling the San Juan’s:

Better experience wheeling an FJ40 or 80 Series?

View attachment 3894433View attachment 3894434

I’m bringing my 62 this year for family comfort otherwise 40 all the way. In fact, I feel like I’m cheating on my girl by not bringing her.

 

[OlYellr]

In fact, I feel like I’m cheating on my girl by not bringing her.

Yellr is sad already.

 

[sogncab]

Better experience wheeling an FJ40 or 80 Series?

Depends on criteria.
Capability, 80
Comfort, 80
Capacity, 80

The 80 is probably the best Landcruiser made. Probably the ugliest too.

Overall experience though, I love the 40. Something about driving a 50 year old pos Toyota does it for me.

 

[Broski]

I just spent 10 days in Utah wheeling the 80 on some of the hardest trailed out there including Pritchett Canyon in Moab & 4 straight day at Sand Hollow running 8 rated trails.
After 10 years of ownership it still amazes me of it capabilities and how you can beat on it like ugly stepchild and it can hold up.
Not a single issue the hole trip never had to pull out the tool bag and every day it would run down the Hwy back to camp at 70 MPH smooth is butter.
IMO the most capable, dependable Land Cruiser ever built !

 

[desmocruiser]

I just spent 10 days in Utah wheeling the 80 on some of the hardest trailed out there including Pritchett Canyon in Moab & 4 straight day at Sand Hollow running 8 rated trails.
After 10 years of ownership it still amazes me of it capabilities and how you can beat on it like ugly stepchild and it can hold up.
Not a single issue the hole trip never had to pull out the tool bag and every day it would run down the Hwy back to camp at 70 MPH smooth is butter.
IMO the most capable, dependable Land Cruiser ever built !

Awesome part of the world, that is some hard core stuff sounds like an epic trip!

I have done Cruise Moab a dozen plus times since 09’, admittedly I have been getting farther away from town the last few trips so I am really looking forward to the San Juans and SAS, been a 3 year effort to get registered!

Exactly, it is remarkable what an 80 series will do on the trail and still make it back across the country in relative comfort after wheeling hard for several days!

 

[Broski]

Awesome part of the world, that is some hard core stuff sounds like an epic trip!

I have done Cruise Moab a dozen plus times since 09’, admittedly I have been getting farther away from town the last few trips so I am really looking forward to the San Juans and SAS, been a 3 year effort to get registered!

Exactly, it is remarkable what an 80 series will do on the trail and still make it back across the country in relative comfort after wheeling hard for several days!

Looking forward to meeting you at SAS it will be my fifth straight year attending it was seventh for Cruise Moab.
CM & SAS are both hard events to make sign up.
Both well worth it !!

 

[desmocruiser]

Looking forward to meeting you at SAS it will be my fifth straight year attending it was seventh for Cruise Moab.
CM & SAS are both hard events to make sign up.
Both well worth it !!

Looking forward to it, probably a good chance we have crossed paths at CM. I was there for most of them since 09’ or 10’ and only missed the past 2 years in a row due to abrupt work/family schedule changes and of course the 2020 cancellation.

If you have been on the Swell overnight run with Kurt and his Wasatch crew in any of those years, I was likely on that run.

 

[matzell]

I saw a video, easy to do in that section, sounds like an already tough recovery made more difficult by modern automotive technology, that tells me all I need to know about the 250.

That is disappointing to hear about the lack of gratitude, hopefully just an oversight during the moment. I have only met and spoke to Ben briefly at Vendor night, Raffle, etc. at Cruise Moab, he seems like a solid guy and a little out of character from my brief interactions, in fact just after Marlin’s passing he told a couple of great stories of Marlin’s trial manners/generosity and trail lesson’s learned. Hopefully, he circles back with a Big Thanks and package of your favorite beverage for the assist!


Back to a SAS question and wheeling the San Juan’s:

Better experience wheeling an FJ40 or 80 Series?

View attachment 3894433View attachment 3894434

I have both and will be bringing my 40 back for the 3rd time in 3 years. Nothing like open air. Although it does seem to rain every afternoon.

My 40 has fuel injection so that is a non-issue. Carb from a lower elevation may be a different story.

 

[DangerNoodle]

I have both and will be bringing my 40 back for the 3rd time in 3 years. Nothing like open air. Although it does seem to rain every afternoon.

My 40 has fuel injection so that is a non-issue. Carb from a lower elevation may be a different story.

I love my 40. Not much left stock, but the old body styling is my favorite. Not great for cramming more than 2 people in, though.

 

[RiggityJ]

I decided to do a small modification before the trip

I too decided to do a small modification.