Yes and yes.
I think that is true for most people. It's certainly a good place to start.
If you add a locker to the rear end it becomes more true. Without at least one locker a 4 wheel drive isn't.
What did he do?
- Thread starter Sylvia
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Yes and yes.
I think that is true for most people. It's certainly a good place to start.
If you add a locker to the rear end it becomes more true. Without at least one locker a 4 wheel drive isn't.
- Thread starter
- #123
- Thread starter
- #124
Like looking at the forum instead of working?? That sign? I don't know what you are talking about.I think he recognizes the first signes of the addiction.
Wrote a new post with a Cruiser story enclosed. Moving Forward in the Rear-View Mirror | Cover With His Life
I know in the post I said Jeff put a lift kit on- and I know he told me he did- but I didn't know what that meant other than the trail was easier.
Dan wasn't too impressed with my shocks. So I probably need to change them to something more impressive. And the shackles need to get back to original height. How does one know if the leaf springs need replaced? I've got the 33" tires. So, it doesn't sound like it will be too hard to improve the drivability. How big of a job are lockers? I've driven a (cough, cough) Jeep with lockers. It was (coughing horribly and nearly choking) pretty nice. If you quote me on that, I'll never admit it.
Worry about the driveability first, as you will no doubt hear from others. A "lunch-box" locker is a couple-hour job to install, but driveability will suffer, IMO, and I've got one. Once you've got a couple wheeling trips behind you you can decide if you want more capability. If you're just camping on forest roads, you may never miss it. If you're planning a week in Moab, you want something, for sure.
DanS HJ-45
SILVER Star
Nice. Glad to see you guys had a good little trip back to WY, and got to see some of the same spots you've visited previously. Amazing how well we can identify things we have seen and touched before, isn't it?
You've got Rancho shocks on there. My general feeling about Rancho shocks is that they are inexpensive, super strong, and too stiff. A finely tuned shock absorber just absorbs shocks, and nothing more. Most shocks are overbuilt, IMHO, and the Ranchos fit that category in my book. But they don't necessarily NEED to be replaced just because of that, but it's certainly something a lot of us would do pretty quickly if we were driving a 40 a lot.
The leaf springs need to be replaced when they are either broken, or sagging. A broken leaf is pretty easy to spot, and sagging springs aren't inherently a problem, just when the tires rub, and the suspension bottoms out and stuff do you know when they are too far gone. I'll bet yours are fine, as they didn't seem too old (I'm guessing most leaf spring sets last 15-20 years pretty easily, unless you're hauling a piano around all day).
Not at all. My bet is shackles fixes it almost entirely.
Lockers are a fairly big job, because they can cost a pretty penny. They won't do anything for you driving around town (and might even hurt there), but they do make the vehicle exponentially better off road (if you're doing something gnarly/fun enough to use them). They also work very well as a little safety net in case you get yourself stuck, at which point you can engage the locker and likely drive out of it. A winch can generally accomplish the same task though (getting you unstuck). A locking differential would be way down my list of things to do, unless you get into doing moderately difficult trails routinely.
Dan
pb4ugo
SILVER Star
Sylvia, I'm so intrigued w/this thread, with you 1st inquiring about selling the FJ40 & now wanting to keep it. Good to here you are going to keep up a tradition w/the family. Remembering the past & now creating new memories. The future seems bright. My condolences.
After reading Sylvia's 2nd installment I wonder if the 40 has a locker in already. Has anyone checked? This could explain its twitchyness, seeing that it has caster shims in it already. The 40 could use shorter shackles & may be helpful. I'd also check the center arm for slop, along w/checking knuckles & wheel bearings & make sure the ubolts are tight. Degree shims can slip out or cause the the ubolts to loosen. I prefer to weld the correct steel shims to the frtend perches once the correct caster angle is found. Good luck & happy wheeling. Playing w/air pressures can help w/ride & handling too. Ken
After reading Sylvia's 2nd installment I wonder if the 40 has a locker in already. Has anyone checked? This could explain its twitchyness, seeing that it has caster shims in it already. The 40 could use shorter shackles & may be helpful. I'd also check the center arm for slop, along w/checking knuckles & wheel bearings & make sure the ubolts are tight. Degree shims can slip out or cause the the ubolts to loosen. I prefer to weld the correct steel shims to the frtend perches once the correct caster angle is found. Good luck & happy wheeling. Playing w/air pressures can help w/ride & handling too. Ken
Sylvia,
I, too, am intriqued with this thread.
I'm sorry to hear about you losing Jeff, and I admire how you're dealing with life as it goes on. I really enjoy your stories, especially ones that involve and describe Wyoming.
I grew up in Wyoming, lived in Lander for a few years (early 90's), and bought my first Landcruiser (Green FJ40) from a shop between Lander and Hudson. And I took my kids to some of the same places (Sinks Canyon).
It seems like that area still holds a special place in your heart, as it does mine. Your writing brings back a lot of fond memories of that area.
Oh and -
Thanks for sharing.
If you're not careful your sig line will start to look like mine. Cruisers are addicting.
I, too, am intriqued with this thread.
I'm sorry to hear about you losing Jeff, and I admire how you're dealing with life as it goes on. I really enjoy your stories, especially ones that involve and describe Wyoming.
I grew up in Wyoming, lived in Lander for a few years (early 90's), and bought my first Landcruiser (Green FJ40) from a shop between Lander and Hudson. And I took my kids to some of the same places (Sinks Canyon).
It seems like that area still holds a special place in your heart, as it does mine. Your writing brings back a lot of fond memories of that area.
Oh and -
Can't say for AK, but YES to CO and UT. I do all the time in my stock FJ40 or stock FJ60. I'm probably not as hard core as some others here, I haven't come across anything around here (SW CO and SE Utah, Moab) that is as difficult as trails I drove around Wyoming. Just have to drive careful.
Thanks for sharing.
If you're not careful your sig line will start to look like mine. Cruisers are addicting.
Can't say for AK, but YES to CO and UT. I do all the time in my stock FJ40 or stock FJ60. I'm probably not as hard core as some others here, I haven't come across anything around here (SW CO and SE Utah, Moab) that is as difficult as trails I drove around Wyoming. Just have to drive careful.
If you're not careful your sig line will start to look like mine. Cruisers are addicting.
X2 on that! I try to tell people all the time, a stock Toyota 4x4 is a lot more capable than people give them credit for! Learn to drive a stocker and you will become a better driver!
- Thread starter
- #130
So ...I was planning to sell the Cruiser. (Gasp!) I'm not a big treasure keeper and I feel entirely inadequate at keeping up the Cruiser. It has always had frequent tinkering- so I figure it NEEDS frequent tinkering- and I don't know how to tinker. My son has never shown any interest in it. I asked him if he'd want to drive it some day. "No, but if I went to buy my first car and it turned out to be Dad's and someone had fixed it all up- THAT would be REALLY COOL!" He's 10. He doesn't know. I need to keep it for now. And I'll either learn how to tinker or pay someone else to tinker. Or maybe I'll find someone of the male variety who likes hanging out with me and likes to tinker and doesn't mind tinkering on some other guy's vehicle. I wish I had that crystal ball.
But, if I had never considered selling it, I would never have logged on to this site and asked for help and would never have virtually met all you guys or the guys that came by and helped me figure out what was up- or the gal who's been praying for me. All that is REALLY COOL stuff I would have missed out on. So I think it was a superb idea to sell it, and an even better idea to keep it for now.
It needs to drive better on the road so I will use it around here now and then. But it needs to be able to handle some trails, because if I keep it I intend to take it off the road periodically. We were always a "destination" family... we went on trails that took us some where- usually to a lake to fish in. I'm not too hip on driving a trail just to see who can get over the biggest rock. Maybe if I was in the driver's seat my competitive spirit would win out over my sense of self-preservation - but I'm thinking probably not.
BTW it is now called "Sir". My daughter would only participate in the conversation of what to name it if I first promised to keep it. She didn't want to name it if I was going to sell it. Funny.
But, if I had never considered selling it, I would never have logged on to this site and asked for help and would never have virtually met all you guys or the guys that came by and helped me figure out what was up- or the gal who's been praying for me. All that is REALLY COOL stuff I would have missed out on. So I think it was a superb idea to sell it, and an even better idea to keep it for now.
It needs to drive better on the road so I will use it around here now and then. But it needs to be able to handle some trails, because if I keep it I intend to take it off the road periodically. We were always a "destination" family... we went on trails that took us some where- usually to a lake to fish in. I'm not too hip on driving a trail just to see who can get over the biggest rock. Maybe if I was in the driver's seat my competitive spirit would win out over my sense of self-preservation - but I'm thinking probably not.
BTW it is now called "Sir". My daughter would only participate in the conversation of what to name it if I first promised to keep it. She didn't want to name it if I was going to sell it. Funny.
- Thread starter
- #131
- Thread starter
- #132
I really enjoy your stories, especially ones that involve and describe Wyoming.
I grew up in Wyoming, lived in Lander for a few years (early 90's), and bought my first Landcruiser (Green FJ40) from a shop between Lander and Hudson. And I took my kids to some of the same places (Sinks Canyon).
It seems like that area still holds a special place in your heart, as it does mine. Your writing brings back a lot of fond memories of that area.
If you haven't looked through the category "Purely Entertainment" on my blog, you will find several more WY stories there. I love the mountains. It was good to go back. And my son wanted to know why we hadn't driven the Cruiser there..... about 750 miles one way. Hmmm...
I am glad you are going to hang onto it for a while, if you son is 10 it will only be a few years till he is very interested in it, and 4 or 5 years he will be posting on this site to learn how to tinker with it. As much as your husband loved it, I am sure he would love for his son to drive it.
Glad to read that you plan to use it. A tip for the clean the plastic windows, Plexus cleaner i buy it from a local motorcycle store or check ebay also. I'm not an expert on Paki soft top but everything that i learn its from this web page...
https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/411534-canvas-paki-top-my-camping-rig.html
A cheap fluoride toothpaste worked great when I was young to clean plastic windows.
That to me is a perfect setup. a diff lock in the rear will see you through most trails that don't need full tube buggy's with a little patience and creativity. my 40 was most fun in that setup.
I wonder what happened with Sylvia and the Cruiser.
Well, do tell if you know....
- Thread starter
- #140
I guess there's been some wondering going on about the current state of affairs for my green machine. It's still in my garage, tucked away out of the weather. I got INCREDIBLE assistance from Dan and Aaron! Dan put that loose bolt on the alternator and told me all about what I had. But- decided NOT to sell. Aaron was EXTREMELY helpful in selling my Lexus. He put LOTS of work into it and wouldn't take a dime. I'm SO glad I got on the site. Sir sits waiting for the big snow. Without the Lexus, it's now his job to get to me work in bad weather. Haven't changed the lift or shackles or anything. Usually take him out for a short drive every few weeks, but have been mending a broken elbow, so haven't been able to do that for a couple months.
Happy New Year my Cruiser friends!!
It's still in my garage, tucked away out of the weather. I got INCREDIBLE assistance from Dan and Aaron! Dan put that loose bolt on the alternator and told me all about what I had. But- decided NOT to sell. Aaron was EXTREMELY helpful in selling my Lexus. He put LOTS of work into it and wouldn't take a dime. I'm SO glad I got on the site. Sir sits waiting for the big snow. Without the Lexus, it's now his job to get to me work in bad weather. Haven't changed the lift or shackles or anything. Usually take him out for a short drive every few weeks, but have been mending a broken elbow, so haven't been able to do that for a couple months.Happy New Year my Cruiser friends!!
