What do you think of my build so far???

[CreeperSleeper]

Sorry but I don't understand this line of thinking?... Wouldn't it be better to have a cage that the trees and rocks can slide on rather than your body??? The tighter the terrain the more I would want an exo!! With out it your rig comes out the other side look'n like hammered goose crap!

Sheetmetal moves... Tubing doesn't (as easily). With my trails it's not protecting the body, it's "I think I can squeeze through here without loosing my mirrors." Our trails are too narrow for an 80 to begin with. Adding width wouldn't help! There is a reason most people don't run full-width axles. You don't fit on the trails!

 

[Farr off road]

Sheetmetal moves... Tubing doesn't (as easily). With my trails it's not protecting the body, it's "I think I can squeeze through here without loosing my mirrors." Our trails are too narrow for an 80 to begin with. Adding width wouldn't help! There is a reason most people don't run full-width axles. You don't fit on the trails!

I've got'a see these trails! Post up some pics! Or a link or something! I can't imagine that they are tighter than the trails I use to run in GA, AL, TN, SC & NC!

 

[blzrfn]

Google Browns Camp and you will get some pics and videos.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

We have trails that have a 74" width filter on the top and bottom. I've lost a lot of paint off my sliders and wheel weights are worthless.

 

[Farr off road]

Google Browns Camp and you will get some pics and videos.

Looks like a really cool place to wheel!!! I like the rock gardens!
Didn't see the narrow section though!

We have trails that have a 74" width filter on the top and bottom. I've lost a lot of paint off my sliders and wheel weights are worthless.

I'll have to pull a tape on my rig and just see how wide it is with the exo.

I have a hard time believing that you can go somewhere I can't just because of a little exo!

 

[CreeperSleeper]

I never said you couldn't! It's just easier without it... My main reason for not running an exo is triangulation.

 

[Nay]

I have a hard time believing that you can go somewhere I can't just because of a little exo!

Says the guy who wheels in the desert as opposed to the rain forest

I know a guy with an exo on a Toy p'up and he uses it all the time protect as he slides off stuff, pivots, whatever. I don't care for them visually on SUV's, but the functionality is there, no question.

 

[Dusty]

I have a hard time believing that you can go somewhere I can't just because of a little exo!

when i put on the 1tons i took off my old bolt on sliders. they were bombproof and have served me well. great protection too. but they stuck out wider than the truck. they kept me from completing some lines. my new sliders are just enough to protect my rockers. tiny step. they wheel so much better.

i have had it both ways on my 80: lots of heavy armour (bigger sliders, big ass bumpers) and now (as little as poss). go light every time. get rid of all the steel you can. put the spare in back and low.

people here who wheel their 80 should take a sat and take all the s*** off their trucks: sliders, bumpers, tents, extra fuel cans (why you have it for 1 day runs?), 150lbs of drawers, 12000lb winches (you never use on those easy runs with 10 other guys who all are also lugging around 140lbs of winch), showers, tow assemblies, 3rd row of seats, 100lbs of amps, giant floor mats, fridges, compressors, beadlocks (when they never go less than 10lbs of air anyway). and the 200lbs of spares you can easily leave in camp cause your simple run is only a few miles and someone else can go get the spare if you need it. even leave the spare at camp

then to top it off tell that fat guy who always wants to wheel with you to stay home so your truck can breath.

now take your naked 80 on the road. feel how fast and nimble she is. let her dance. now take her to the trail and watch her go. a butt naked 80 can easily get down to 4300-4400lbs. ill bet an 80 without her 2nd 2 rows of seats, spare or bumpers/running boards weighs even less. (off the showroom an 80 weighs 4700lbs)

a stock tj (no d44s) weighs 3700lbs before armour

i took all the crap off my 80 before my recent build. i drove her naked for a week. was a whole diff truck. i had forgotten.

take it all off her and remember how hot she can be. and just because she's so willing to take in all your friends doesn't mean you have to share. make them get there own girl on the next outing so you can have some special time with her where she can perform for you alone

 

[Farr off road]

Says the guy who wheels in the desert as opposed to the rain forest .

Hey I'm from GA! I know all about wheeling in the rain forest!

I remember having a beautiful red and white FJ55. The body was in good shape until I had to drive under tree that had partly fallen across the trail! No where to turn around so I had to drive under it! The tree crushed my rain gutter and put a big dent, about 2' long down my roof edge! Causing my roof to have a big bow in it! It doesn't end there...the trail was a dead end so I had to go back under that tree again crushing the other side!
Exo cage would have saved it!

 

[Farr off road]

when i put on the 1tons i took off my old bolt on sliders. they were bombproof and have served me well. great protection too. but they stuck out wider than the truck. they kept me from completing some lines. my new sliders are just enough to protect my rockers. tiny step. they wheel so much better.

Yeah I do wish my rock sliders were tucked in a little farther! They have been a hindrance a few times. That's something I plan on fixing at some point!

i have had it both ways on my 80: lots of heavy armour (bigger sliders, big ass bumpers) and now (as little as poss). go light every time. get rid of all the steel you can. put the spare in back and low.

people here who wheel their 80 should take a sat and take all the **** off their trucks: sliders, bumpers, tents, extra fuel cans (why you have it for 1 day runs?), 150lbs of drawers, 12000lb winches (you never use on those easy runs with 10 other guys who all are also lugging around 140lbs of winch), showers, tow assemblies, 3rd row of seats, 100lbs of amps, giant floor mats, fridges, compressors, beadlocks (when they never go less than 10lbs of air anyway). and the 200lbs of spares you can easily leave in camp cause your simple run is only a few miles and someone else can go get the spare if you need it. even leave the spare at camp

then to top it off tell that fat guy who always wants to wheel with you to stay home so your truck can breath.

You do make a very good point Dusty! And I do try to go as light as I can in other area's....having tube bumbers is a lot lighter than the Big ARB's ect. I don't cary alot of tools, snatched the jump seats out, I only cary a 35" spare (hopefully would get me out'ah the woods), my winch is a little 8k Smity so it's light, I cary no extra parts....my wife does ride with me but she only weighs 125lb, I'm kinda the fat guy and guess what,,,I'm not stay'n home!!!

Again very good point but I'm willing to make a sacrifice on weight to keep from having a rig that looks like this!

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/...35108103106520pdf-AdobeReade.jpg?t=1225462520

now take your naked 80 on the road. feel how fast and nimble she is. let her dance. now take her to the trail and watch her go. a butt naked 80 can easily get down to 4300-4400lbs. ill bet an 80 without her 2nd 2 rows of seats, spare or bumpers/running boards weighs even less. (off the showroom an 80 weighs 4700lbs)

a stock tj (no d44s) weighs 3700lbs before armour

i took all the crap off my 80 before my recent build. i drove her naked for a week. was a whole diff truck. i had forgotten.

take it all off her and remember how hot she can be. and just because she's so willing to take in all your friends doesn't mean you have to share. make them get there own girl on the next outing so you can have some special time with her where she can perform for you alone

Holy Cruiser Erotica, Batman! Is there some Cruiser porn forum you hijacked this from???lol

No seriously, I'm sure 80's are very fun naked and who knows...if I do end up flip'n this thang and the cage fails....I might resort to that but I want to preserve my 80 as long as I can from the afore mentioned demise!!!

 

[CreeperSleeper]

And I think you wanting to protect the sheetmetal is honorable... It's just not for me. Personally, I think that Taco you posted is beautiful!

 

[Nay]

when i put on the 1tons i took off my old bolt on sliders. they were bombproof and have served me well. great protection too. but they stuck out wider than the truck. they kept me from completing some lines. my new sliders are just enough to protect my rockers. tiny step. they wheel so much better.

i have had it both ways on my 80: lots of heavy armour (bigger sliders, big ass bumpers) and now (as little as poss). go light every time. get rid of all the steel you can. put the spare in back and low.

people here who wheel their 80 should take a sat and take all the s*** off their trucks: sliders, bumpers, tents, extra fuel cans (why you have it for 1 day runs?), 150lbs of drawers, 12000lb winches (you never use on those easy runs with 10 other guys who all are also lugging around 140lbs of winch), showers, tow assemblies, 3rd row of seats, 100lbs of amps, giant floor mats, fridges, compressors, beadlocks (when they never go less than 10lbs of air anyway). and the 200lbs of spares you can easily leave in camp cause your simple run is only a few miles and someone else can go get the spare if you need it. even leave the spare at camp

then to top it off tell that fat guy who always wants to wheel with you to stay home so your truck can breath.

now take your naked 80 on the road. feel how fast and nimble she is. let her dance. now take her to the trail and watch her go. a butt naked 80 can easily get down to 4300-4400lbs. ill bet an 80 without her 2nd 2 rows of seats, spare or bumpers/running boards weighs even less. (off the showroom an 80 weighs 4700lbs)

a stock tj (no d44s) weighs 3700lbs before armour

i took all the crap off my 80 before my recent build. i drove her naked for a week. was a whole diff truck. i had forgotten.

take it all off her and remember how hot she can be. and just because she's so willing to take in all your friends doesn't mean you have to share. make them get there own girl on the next outing so you can have some special time with her where she can perform for you alone

That's why I stayed light. I armored up a Cherokee and it wrecked the rig, which is why I cut the frame and tubed the bumpers on my 80 - my only extra weight is a roof rack and sliders, although I do carry minimal spares and tools.

I can tell a huge difference when I bring my entire family on a harder trail vs. going alone. A few hundred lbs of high center of gravity sprung weight changes the feel of the rig.

You should always wheel her naked if possible. It keeps everybody happy.

 

[Farr off road]

And I think you wanting to protect the sheetmetal is honorable... It's just not for me. Personally, I think that Taco you posted is beautiful!

Oh I agree it's still killer but the doors won't go on anymore! Windows are busted out and the sheet metal is so beat up you can't replace the glass! Besides if I wanted an open air rig I would have a 40! What keeps my wife coming out with me (and yes I want her to come!) are the creature comforts of the 80!

 

[Farr off road]

Finally more Death Valley pics.

Desperately trying to find something challenging......failed!

$200,000 Icon getting wheeled!

The rover guys came along....and guess what????...broke! It was just a PS line, we were back on the trail in no time!

Scotty's Castle in Death Valley

 

[Farr off road]

Crazy Rocks!

"The Race Track" in Death Valley!

These rocks move around all by their selves on this dry lake bed!!!

The best guess that scientist can make is that it happens when the lake bed is wet and the wind blows hard!

 

[cool breeze]

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing!

What and why exactly is that a $200k icon?

 

[CodyRx7]

So now theres at least 3 of us 80s with the monster tires of inpenetrable doom?

They flex and pose nicely:

Now you just need a trailer to match:

This summer I'm going to try out the 8" coils and a few other mods, but there's already clearance for days.

 

[Farr off road]

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing!

What and why exactly is that a $200k icon?

Well he got the fully loaded version plus he had a few extras added on! It's a Very Impressive 40! It even has a real strong new car smell!!

The 80k version that we see in adds is a very base model...atleast that's what I've been told!

 

[Farr off road]

So now theres at least 3 of us 80s with the monster tires of inpenetrable doom?

They flex and pose nicely:

Now you just need a trailer to match:

This summer I'm going to try out the 8" coils and a few other mods, but there's already clearance for days.

Very Cool 80!!!

Were can I see more pics and more info?

 

[Flank]

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing!

What and why exactly is that a $200k icon?

Elaborating:

Icon is a company that builds basically new FJ40s from scratch with aluminum bodies on original 40 frames. Base starts around 80 and apparently goes to stupid expensive. Very cool, very expensive, and apparently not without their design and build problems.

Also, apparently, this one is just about the only one that has been used as God intended - custom pin striping from brush and all. He even had to have custom skid plates built because no one else had ever wanted to protect the essentials before...

ICON