Will my stock 73 FJ55 survive the Washington BDR?

[Unfamed]

Hi all, I just upgraded from a 100 series with to an FJ55. I’m honored to now be part of the prestigious Pig Preservation Society!

(I sold my 17 year old son the 100 series, he saved all summer to become a Land Cruiser owner.)

I have taken the 100 series on multiple ~1000 mile off-road trips as the chase car for a few adventure bikes. In September I did Utah border-to-border off-road in the 2001 100 series, in May I did Arizona in a 98 4runner.

I get a kick out of pushing these 20 year old rigs hard and demonstrating how awesome old Toyotas are.

Here’s my question for you FJ55 experts:

Am I absolutely crazy to want to try the Washington BDR next July in my newly purchased FJ55 on what’s likely the original 2F, leaf springs, etc...

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Welcome to the sty. I'm sure you can get some new springs on before next summer.......

What's the Washington BDR?

 

[RUSH55]

Map of Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (WABDR)

The Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (WABDR) is an overlanding route across Washington State from Oregon to British Columbia that utilizes mostly unpaved public backroads. The route climbs over the vast mountains and ridges of Washington’s Cascade Range. Four-wheel drive vehicles with high...

www.mountainzone.com

Looks like it could be a fun Pig Party destination sometime!

Congrats @hammertimeSD ! Post up some pics for us so we can get a better idea of whether or not your new Cruiser can get you through the BDR

 

[bobm]

You're Crazy for joining this group

 

[scrapdaddy]

A stock 55 that's in running order would be in heaven on that route, so welcome to the group brother! Question is will the new owner hold up after a trip like that. No power anything, bench seats, no a/c and nothing like your "old" 100. Sounds like it will be a great adventure if you don't mind getting sore and beat up a little.

Post up some pictures and give us an idea of what you think are going to be the problem areas and maybe we can help you get it ready.

Great, now I have to buy some new maps.

 

[Megadoomer]

Looks like a fun time. Maybe I could join you. I have been wanting to do a PNW trip. What part of SD? I am in Scripps Ranch but my Pig is in Escondido.

 

[xtremeVA]

Congrats on the purchase and welcome to the sty. This is a FUN group.

Sensei @scrapdaddy provided some excellent advice on an older Land Cruiser with less creature comforts. Might be worthwhile to do a weekend trail run as a test for the BDR. Don't forget to perform some "new vehicle" baseline maintenance to ensure your rig is reliable. (change fluids, inspect belts, hoses, brakes, steering etc). Post pictures of your new ride!

 

[bobm]

And buy a Hemmoroid pillow for the trip

 

[J Mack]

Its 600 miles off road and that route has gained considerable popularity with adventure motorcyclists and overlanders as per the link above. Any trail that is popular with adventure motorcyclists and overlanders should be an easy drive for a stock pig.



Maybe you guys should get back to talking about your super soft November birthday parties and stop scaring @hammertimeSD, we just had two pig parties this year that had stock pigs in attendance with similar routes to the Washington BDR in difficulty

 

[J Mack]

Great, now I have to buy some new maps.

42 years ago they started working on a system to help with navigation,

Global Positioning System - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I know this sounds like new technology but it actually fits in with your old school theme.

Then you can just download maps.

Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (WABDR) Map & Information

This 575-mile route thoroughly explores the Cascade Mountains beginning in Stevenson, WA and making it to the Canadian border at Night Hawk.

ridebdr.com

 

[scrapdaddy]

That's a whole other ball game. We're still figuring out the flip phones.

 

[Megadoomer]

January 6, 1980 the GPS constellation was born. The system was designed to only count seconds from Sunday to Sunday, and weeks. Effectively making Y2K a non issue 2 decades prior. Currently in week 2134, and seconds 328320...328321, 328322, 328323

 

[bobm]

Its 600 miles off road and that route has gained considerable popularity with adventure motorcyclists and overlanders as per the link above. Any trail that is popular with adventure motorcyclists and overlanders should be an easy drive for a stock pig.



Maybe you guys should get back to talking about your super soft November birthday parties and stop scaring @hammertimeSD, we just had two pig parties this year that had stock pigs in attendance with similar routes to the Washington BDR in difficulty

He should be scared . Didn't know you're a November child

 

[PabloCruise]

Map of Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (WABDR)

The Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (WABDR) is an overlanding route across Washington State from Oregon to British Columbia that utilizes mostly unpaved public backroads. The route climbs over the vast mountains and ridges of Washington’s Cascade Range. Four-wheel drive vehicles with high...

www.mountainzone.com

Looks like it could be a fun Pig Party destination sometime!

Congrats @hammertimeSD ! Post up some pics for us so we can get a better idea of whether or not your new Cruiser can get you through the BDR

^^^This. We cannot help you w/o pictures!

 

[Unfamed]

Whoa!!! Feeling all the new Pig love!

Yeah, the Washington BDR looks to be one of the easier BDR routes. I'll say the Utah BDR pushed my 100 series close to it's limits, Lockhart Basin was a challenging and fun ride.

From what y'all are saying, I'll treat this just like I do with my 100 series. Go through it, make sure fluids are good and everything is in good working order, and then hit the road.

I will take some photos underneath and under the hood later today. For now, here's the new r̶i̶g̶, pig.

 

[PabloCruise]

Great, now I have to buy some new maps.

You can never have enough maps!

 

[PabloCruise]

Map of Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (WABDR)

The Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (WABDR) is an overlanding route across Washington State from Oregon to British Columbia that utilizes mostly unpaved public backroads. The route climbs over the vast mountains and ridges of Washington’s Cascade Range. Four-wheel drive vehicles with high...

www.mountainzone.com

Looks like it could be a fun Pig Party destination sometime!

Congrats @hammertimeSD ! Post up some pics for us so we can get a better idea of whether or not your new Cruiser can get you through the BDR

Pig Party NW - wood be sweet!

 

[Unfamed]

For those interested in BDR maps, Butler Maps makes a really great map for each of the routes (geared towards motorcycles, but still great maps!). We use the paper map each morning at camp to preview the route and identify some upcoming highlights, and then use the .gpx tracks with Gaia as we head down the trail.

GPX Tracks: Download Tracks - Backcountry Discovery Routes
Paper Maps: BDR Maps – Butler Motorcycle Maps

 

[PabloCruise]

Maybe you guys should get back to talking about your super soft November birthday parties and stop scaring @hammertimeSD, we just had two pig parties this year that had stock pigs in attendance with similar routes to the Washington BDR in difficulty

The Letterkenny is strong with this one...

I was just about to make a new thread asking people what kind of cake they had for their November birthdays. Hopefully @scrapdaddy will approve the thread as "Pig-like Enough".

 

[PabloCruise]

42 years ago they started working on a system to help with navigation,

Global Positioning System - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I know this sounds like new technology but it actually fits in with your old school theme.

Then you can just download maps.

Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (WABDR) Map & Information

This 575-mile route thoroughly explores the Cascade Mountains beginning in Stevenson, WA and making it to the Canadian border at Night Hawk.

ridebdr.com

That's a whole other ball game. We're still figuring out the flip phones.

January 6, 1980 the GPS constellation was born. The system was designed to only count seconds from Sunday to Sunday, and weeks. Effectively making Y2K a non issue 2 decades prior. Currently in week 2134, and seconds 328320...328321, 328322, 328323

Anyone here ever read One Second After? Paper maps are still cool...