Metcalf
Expedition Leader
Hi all,
Its time to replace our current throw away car, a 90s VW Jetta, with something more suitable for Colorado. I've been doing some looking and it seems that the 93-94 FZJ-80 Landcruiers have come down in price A LOT in the last few years! I always liked these vehicles.....
How would you recommend building a mild one? Something clean, affordable, and simple.....
Here is what I was thinking. I will be making all the armor myself. I will have my new tubing bender I am building done soon and am itching to make some stuff, so most of the ideas have a lot of tube
-255/85R16 Tires
-Deflare it, fix the holes, and touch up the paint.
-Very minimal lift, basically just get it to sit level, maybe just a spacer in front?
-Build a very simple front bumper.....
...or maybe one with an affordable winch?
-Then some simple tube rockers, maybe even without the kicker tube. I just need minimal protection from the bottom.
-Finally do something about the rear bumper? How has trimmed the rear frame down for a more compact bumper? I just want something minimal that wraps around the corners, but provides a good departure angle since this vehicle will be pretty low. If you have some neat pics post them up! Something like this....
or this....
-I generally don't like spare tires hanging off the back, so I would most likely build a quick removable rear cargo area spare tire mount. Hopefully if its quickly removable it won't get in the way when we need to use the full rear are area to haul something. I may even try and shove it way over to the left and up out of the way above the wheel well as much as possible.
I think that about covers the basics. I just want something simple, clean, and capable without going overboard. This will get daily driven by my very understanding S.O. and she says I will be able to steel it for mild weekend wheeling
Maybe she will want to drive the dodge to work????
What else would you guys do? Post up pictures for ideas if you have them.
Its time to replace our current throw away car, a 90s VW Jetta, with something more suitable for Colorado. I've been doing some looking and it seems that the 93-94 FZJ-80 Landcruiers have come down in price A LOT in the last few years! I always liked these vehicles.....
How would you recommend building a mild one? Something clean, affordable, and simple.....
Here is what I was thinking. I will be making all the armor myself. I will have my new tubing bender I am building done soon and am itching to make some stuff, so most of the ideas have a lot of tube
-255/85R16 Tires
-Deflare it, fix the holes, and touch up the paint.


-Very minimal lift, basically just get it to sit level, maybe just a spacer in front?
-Build a very simple front bumper.....

...or maybe one with an affordable winch?

-Then some simple tube rockers, maybe even without the kicker tube. I just need minimal protection from the bottom.

-Finally do something about the rear bumper? How has trimmed the rear frame down for a more compact bumper? I just want something minimal that wraps around the corners, but provides a good departure angle since this vehicle will be pretty low. If you have some neat pics post them up! Something like this....

or this....

-I generally don't like spare tires hanging off the back, so I would most likely build a quick removable rear cargo area spare tire mount. Hopefully if its quickly removable it won't get in the way when we need to use the full rear are area to haul something. I may even try and shove it way over to the left and up out of the way above the wheel well as much as possible.

I think that about covers the basics. I just want something simple, clean, and capable without going overboard. This will get daily driven by my very understanding S.O. and she says I will be able to steel it for mild weekend wheeling
What else would you guys do? Post up pictures for ideas if you have them.