Builds TLC-77 Old school, new member :) (1 Viewer)

[GTSSportCoupe]

Yep! I also heared about those "Icelanders" trucks. Of course in deep snow large tyres are better. Only one thing is different.
In wide spaces of Arctic snow is hard, with crust (we call it "nast"), Wide tires are best for it.
In our region snow is soft, loose. Wide tyres makes a bunch in front of itself and stops. So, tire must be not very wide, but a lagge diameter. And it must became more longer than wider when deflate

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That is very interesting! I had never thought of that. Often the snow where I live has melted/frozen several times so has a hard crust. Sometimes even with my 235/85R16 I can easily float on top.

 

[Lapocruiser]

Me too! Only last 2 winters I became to study snow driving, and it turned out to be very interesting! Snow is very different. In Arctic it may change from hour to hour. We have more than dozen words for different types of snow Native arctic people have even more

 

[Lapocruiser]

And I got SIMEX 36*12.5

SIMEX! One of rhe best extreme mud tires. I got 3-lines tires. It's not so extreme as 2-lines. But more comfortable on road and also pergect in mud. Side blocks makes wonderful grip in trails, central small blocks provides steering and grip on rocks.

 

[Lapocruiser]

Time flies, SIMEX wears out, time to try something else.
Somethins with same perfect side lugs. And bigger size, of course!
The choise in Russia is not large. Silverstone and Interco. Silver smaller than SIMEX. So, choise is only one - TSL
TSL Bias 38*13
Three Stage Lugs makes me sure it will ride. Diameter also what I needed.
I feel happy. Tire fitting guys are happy too.... ))))

 

[Lapocruiser]

TSL also avesome mud tire. Central blocks makes steering as well as it possible on bias 38 tires Side lugs moves it throw the mud.
BTW, narrow SIMEX ET and Silverstone always digging the Earth surface TSL is not so agressive, it moves the truck ahead, not down.

 

[Lapocruiser]

Here are foto and video of our short trip alond the Ob river. It was very wet spring
We found the village of orthodox christians. And much water everywhere

 

[Lapocruiser]

People living here thousands years. First it was native siberian tribes. Last few hundreds years russian people living here. Thay called "starovery". That means orthodox christians.

 

[Lapocruiser]

Only one way between this village and "big land" - across the river Ob.
BTW, one of the longest and largest rivers in the world.
Fortunately our way was along Ob, not across )))

 

[Lapocruiser]

Some words about equipment

The dark side of all these equipment is WEIGHT. The most hard road for Lapocruiser is swamp...

 

[Lapocruiser]

I drove onto an industrial scale. 2850 kg with me inside
"Too much metal and pipes!" - I thought

 

[Lapocruiser]

"What can I do?" (Smokie, 1976)

What iron stuff should I remove?
Ftont bumper is highly lightweight. It's about 15 kg. Side bars are also not heavy. And both are necessary at offroad.
Rear bumper was extremely heavy! It holded spare tire and made like a whole piece of steel.
Remove it without remorse!

 

[Lapocruiser]

Roof carrier also was too heavy. Made of steel, basket with bottom grille.
4 men needed to pull it off

 

[Lapocruiser]

I have TIG welding, and new roof carrier mede of thin-walled inox
I like inox steel because it o not needs any painting. So it's possible to make changes, add or cut something anytime!

 

[Lapocruiser]

I also tried to make a foot like AIBA, but made of inox too
But idea needs to be improved. Too many welding - inox steel warped, the product is crooked finally
The whole plane must be curved onto a bending machine, with spot welding only.

Now I used original AIBA pillars, slightly lower.

 

[Lapocruiser]

Roof carrier platform turned out light and flat. That's what I need.
Now will add all stuff: lights, radio, hijack frame etc...

Only one thing infuriates me - it sounds like Boeing747 on speed! I used U-channels instead of pipes, and and created a new stringed wind musical instrument )
I hope front light bar will solve this funny problem

 

[Blomdala]

Roof carrier platform turned out light and flat. That's what I need.
Now will add all stuff: lights, radio, hijack frame etc...

Only one thing infuriates me - it sounds like Boeing747 on speed! I used U-channels instead of pipes, and and created a new stringed wind musical instrument )
I hope front light bar will solve this funny problem

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This is BY FAR the best 77 roof rack! Nice and close to the roof, and no sides! I love it!!!

 

[Loober]

@Lapocruiser where did you source those roof rack supports?

 

[Lapocruiser]

It was old roof rack from Japan.

 

[Lapocruiser]

This is BY FAR the best 77 roof rack! Nice and close to the roof, and no sides! I love it!!!

Yes, it's close to the roof because of two reasons: reduce drag and be able to enter the garage door )))

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

Yes, it's close to the roof because of two reasons: reduce drag and be able to enter the garage door )))

I like the roof rack a lot too. Nice work!

Maybe if you put a wind deflector at the front it will reduce the wind noise? It would not be too hard to fabricate a custom one? Something like this?

I'm impressed by your english writing ability! When I look at Russian landcruiser websites I use Google Translate; otherwise I don't have a clue. Did you take english courses?