Wood Grain Warrior INC .

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dnp said:
Just saw this thread, and many who have posted above share my sentiments. (My "wanted" items are in red)

Little Joe started out making a good point, so I'll follow up: Since GXs are reaching a "surprising affordability" point - especially considering just HOW much truck you can now get for the money - I think we're currently just off the low point of the left side of the bell curve. Just like the other Land Cruisers before them, once the trucks became "affordable," the demand for accessories started to take off in a big way. One of the more recent examples is the 100 series Land Cruiser. It hasn't been THAT long ago that you rarely saw a modded 100. Once people realized the value in that platform, they also started taking note of the truck's capabilities, and the aftermarket took off....... Let's face it, a modded GX is still somewhat of a novelty at most any off-road event you can attend, but they're (thankfully) slowly but surely gaining in popularity, largely due to their decreasing price and recognized capabilities.

Next, burtoncr referenced a rear tire carrier design that I believe is a real winner! Like him and some others, I'm not really that fond of a lot of the front and rear replacement bumpers out there. There's nothing wrong with them, they're just not to my taste/needs. That being said, for those of us who wish to keep our factory bumpers - whether due to style or price of replacement (or both) - an exterior tire carrier that could utilize the factory plastic is dead on! I had a tire carrier on an old 80 that utilized the factory bumper, and it was just what I wanted. The one burtoncr referenced as an example is even a better design than the one I had. I would definitely be interested on one of those (along with a hidden winch mount, by the way).

I'm also DEFINITELY interested in a low-profile roof rack that mounts to the factory rack locations on the roof, rather than to the factory rack itself. Just this afternoon, I was looking at the racks FrontRunner offers, and I gotta tell ya, a grand (on sale) for a roof rack is hard to swallow! Granted, it looks like a lot of engineering went into making those racks, and it may be that they're well worth what they're asking......just not to me. I guess I'd be willing to give up some of their "modular functionality" for a lesser-priced aluminum rack. I just want a rack to mount a RTT, shovel/axe, kayak, etc., and I can think of a lot of ways to properly secure those things.

I'd also be interested in skid plates, ESPECIALLY if they provided an access plate to get to the dang 2UZ oil filter! HA! I don't know how practical that would be to design, but I can tell you I sure prefer changing the oil on my 100 over my GX!!!

Lastly, I can't agree with The Great Him more on his position about tires! I, too, have bought cheap tires before (even tried some retreads - once), and it's a big mistake. You have to live with tires too long to make a mistake from the very beginning. That is one product that, in most instances, you get what you pay for! You end up with a square set of tires 20,000 miles (or earlier) into your ownership, and you'll be wondering why you cheaped out at the start.....not to mention the other issues you could end up with other than an unpleasant ride! Most have their favorite brand, and I've found mine......and I'll likely never buy anything else.

Please keep us updated. I would be very interested to learn about any of your offerings!

BTW: I dig your logo concept.....except the "offroading like a gentleman" might be step above the "pink panty" perception of many offroaders. Just my $02.
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Thank you for the response. ... I can tell you all the things you have mentioned I'm on board with ... and with questions I see on the forums constantly, The lack of market, and my resources and experience. .. this is why I wanna do this ...
 
And as for the slogan is a work in progress I'd like to make many different shirts over time ... "collect them all kids" ha ha

... but the "wood grain warrior" theme is sort of a poking fun at the stereo typing that "yes we are driving a $50k+ Lexus up a mountain, and with little effort at that " , then mix a little world's most interesting man in there, you got yourself a "wood grain warrior"....

bc you don't have to drive a dented up crap box or a jeep or be EXTREEEEEM! Brah! .... to do what we like to do

And alot of the hobby of it is the love we have for our vehicles bc we are "car guys" and the gx is only a platform for defining WHO we are ... the real fun when we start to modify and add our own little touches ...that's when our personality and creativity comes out ... but thats hard to do with a small market ...

Now I can create things for myself and have the baddest gx out there .... but that wouldnt do a whole lot for the passion and interest we all share for the vehicle ...

I'm blessed to have the resources and capabilities to make just about anything we dream up ....
just don't get greedy on me and I won't get greedy on you
Have patiences with me and I'll be patient with you ... I'm only one man ... greatness takes a little time

Sorry if I got a Lil eliquent on you guys tonight ... iv had a few glasses of wine :pompous:
 
THeGeNTLeMaN said:
that is a great idea and would compliment the hidden winch mount well ... iv been racking my brain for awhile on this one ... Chris at Hefty Fab is a Friend and customer of mine ... I may have to give him a call about those spindles
Click to expand...

4x4 Labs is another good source for proven spindles that have replaceable bearings.
Heavy Duty Spindle Assemblies | 4×4 Labs

Also, if you do make one it would be cool to have the tire carrier swing arm removable (which most are via the giant castle nut) and offer an extra "cover" to bolt back into it's place to prevent the spindle from rusting.
 
THeGeNTLeMaN said:
And as for the slogan is a work in progress I'd like to make many different shirts over time ... "collect them all kids" ha ha

... but the "wood grain warrior" theme is sort of a poking fun at the stereo typing that "yes we are driving a $50k+ Lexus up a mountain, and with little effort at that " , then mix a little world's most interesting man in there, you got yourself a "wood grain warrior"....

bc you don't have to drive a dented up crap box or a jeep or be EXTREEEEEM! Brah! .... to do what we like to do

And alot of the hobby of it is the love we have for our vehicles bc we are "car guys" and the gx is only a platform for defining WHO we are ... the real fun when we start to modify and add our own little touches ...that's when our personality and creativity comes out ... but thats hard to do with a small market ...

Now I can create things for myself and have the baddest gx out there .... but that wouldnt do a whole lot for the passion and interest we all share for the vehicle ...

I'm blessed to have the resources and capabilities to make just about anything we dream up ....
just don't get greedy on me and I won't get greedy on you
Have patiences with me and I'll be patient with you ... I'm only one man ... greatness takes a little time

Sorry if I got a Lil eliquent on you guys tonight ... iv had a few glasses of wine :pompous:
Click to expand...

Make us all the things! Now! You greedy bastard! [emoji857]
 
j-f-kernan-thanksgiving-country-gentleman-cover-november-24-1923.webp

Happy thanksgiving you sophisticated sons of guns...
 
Would anyone happen to have a front bumper core that you took off when you changed your bumper ? ( This is the metal structure part behind the outer plastic) ... mine seems to have been thrown away ... Iv gotta start designs on this hidden winch mount that everyone wants so I wanna record the factory bumper dimensions .... you can respond here or pm me ... I'll pay for shipping and send it back if you want it I won't be modifying anything... and I'll give you a free WGW tshirt when that is available for helping!
Thanks for the help
Catlin
 
Buying someone else's product and then using that even if you modify it opens you up to possible copyrighted issues. And even if it's completely different, it looks bad from a customer or ethical stand point. I know I don't like supporting companies who copy other companies and then undersell or ever directly complete. Now if a company goes and starts from scratch and come up with a similar design, to me that tells me the product is good and a smart design. And competition is always good for the consumer when done right.

Not saying that it would be a bad idea to take a look at the budbuilt one, but it could be taken wrong if done so right at the start.

Sent from my XT1585
 
wingysataday said:
have you thought about buying bud builts hidden winch and modifying it?
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THeGeNTLeMaN said:
No I wanna build mine stronger. ..
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The Great Him said:
Buying someone else's product and then using that even if you modify it opens you up to possible copyrighted issues. And even if it's completely different, it looks bad from a customer or ethical stand point. I know I don't like supporting companies who copy other companies and then undersell or ever directly complete. Now if a company goes and starts from scratch and come up with a similar design, to me that tells me the product is good and a smart design. And competition is always good for the consumer when done right.

Not saying that it would be a bad idea to take a look at the budbuilt one, but it could be taken wrong if done so right at the start.

Sent from my XT1585
Click to expand...

Yeah, being that my 470 will be the first one this is going on, I don't want a Bud Built knock off. Building one specific to the GX is more preferable. Same frames but different bumpers. I know @THeGeNTLeMaN can build one better suited to the GX. Plus, this will have shackle mounts where Bud's does not. Huge plus for me.
 
The Great Him said:
Buying someone else's product and then using that even if you modify it opens you up to possible copyrighted issues. And even if it's completely different, it looks bad from a customer or ethical stand point. I know I don't like supporting companies who copy other companies and then undersell or ever directly complete. Now if a company goes and starts from scratch and come up with a similar design, to me that tells me the product is good and a smart design. And competition is always good for the consumer when done right.

Not saying that it would be a bad idea to take a look at the budbuilt one, but it could be taken wrong if done so right at the start.

Sent from my XT1585
Click to expand...

freddydt said:
Yeah, being that my 470 will be the first one this is going on, I don't want a Bud Built knock off. Building one specific to the GX is more preferable. Same frames but different bumpers. I know @THeGeNTLeMaN can build one better suited to the GX. Plus, this will have shackle mounts where Bud's does not. Huge plus for me.
Click to expand...

Exactly. ...

Mine won't be attached to the core like bud builts it will replace it ...
 
THeGeNTLeMaN said:
Would anyone happen to have a front bumper core that you took off when you changed your bumper ? ( This is the metal structure part behind the outer plastic) ... mine seems to have been thrown away ... Iv gotta start designs on this hidden winch mount that everyone wants so I wanna record the factory bumper dimensions .... you can respond here or pm me ... I'll pay for shipping and send it back if you want it I won't be modifying anything... and I'll give you a free WGW tshirt when that is available for helping!
Thanks for the help
Catlin
Click to expand...
I just did an ARB on mine a couple weeks ago.... I'll check if that is still kickin around, but it might've gotten chucked out already....
 
An onshore aux tank system would be awesome...armored for trail use. I could use that now! :P
 
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