Brian894x4’s Land Cruiser FZJ80 build thread.

[DaveInDenver]

FWIW, the construction that you describe is pretty much identical to how my ARB is made. On my IFS Hilux, the front frame member is enclosed by the bumper and it will hang on there without any fasteners. It does use about 14 bolts total to hold the thing on, tho. That Slee did it that way is probably because the ARB for the 80 series goes on about the same way. His bumper exists because the people who put ARBs on found that they were trimming them for gain clearance for rock crawling mostly. So it's really a slimmed down bull bar in concept. You are right on about the weight and bulk. The qualities that make a bull bar good, front end protection, make it royal PITA to pick up and put on. More so when you've loaded it with a winch. The combo on my truck (when I get around to buying a winch, some day) will be in excess of 150 lbs easily. Looks good!

 

[blupaddler]

Brian,

I really like the look of that bumper. The ARB is just huge. Did it come with the light tabs? Or did you fab some up?


Regarding tires...I prefer the 285's. I like the skinnier profile. But, I know Kevin has the 305 MTR's on his and really likes them.

 

[adventureduo]

Installed the Slee Shortbus bumper tonight.

One dilemia I'm having is deciding whether to go with 285x75R-16s or 305x70R-16s. I'm seriously leaning towards the bigger tires. Anyone have any thoughts?

Bumper looks good.

My comment on the bigger tire issue is this.. do you really need a bigger tire? If it's a expedition rig... you can go anywhere on 33's as you can on 35's. Also, IMHO anything over 33's you need to re-gear. Do you want to re-gear the rig? If you go 305's you'll lose plenty of power. That's just my .02.

 

[waldrtw]

Brian,

The rig is looking great!! I like the draw system in the back. If I did not have to carry three big dogs in my rig everytime I go exploring I would do something like that too.

As for the tires I am not sure what you should do. I may go with the 305's. I had 285's on mine for about a year of so. They would go anywhere I wanted but looked to small. I now ahve the BFG 295 AT's on and I love them. You can feel the power loss with the big tires. Everytime I drive my wifes LX450 and then get into the Landcruiser it is a big difference in power!

I also ordered the template for Landtank. Let me know who is going to install the bushings.

Where you headed next week?

Tim

 

[Brian894x4]

Oh ya, there's definately not much room for dogs. Especially the size of yours with the drawer system in there.

That's cool that your wife got a LX450! I would have bought another LC or an LX for Jen, but she drives too far to work to make it economical. Even with the Forester, we're getting killed on gas mileage.

I'm headed to Southern Oregon next weekend for a family get together. So, it will be all road, but I'd like to get it all set up as this would be a good long maiden voyage to work out any potential bugs. Unfortunately, I'm working this week and next with no days off, so I'm cramming this all in the mornings and evenings.

I just got the template from Landtank today. I'm going to have an alignment shop that is near my house press them in. It's a one man shop and he's done other work for me, so I think this will be a simple job for him, especially with the template. I've just got to get the arms off the LC.

As for tires. The 305s I was considering is 305/70R-16s. I'd be going MTRs. Unfortunately, MTRs aren't available in 295s, according to Goodyear's website. Going off of Goodyear's measurements.....

The 285/75R-16s that most people run, are 11.3" wide x 33.1" tall on 8" rim.

The 305/70R-16s that I'm considering, are 12.2" wide x 33.1" tall on 9" rim.

Just to compare to my old tires on my truck...

The 33x12.5-15s that my truck had are, 12.5" x 32.8 on a 10" rim

Unfortuantely, all three were measured on different rims, so it's hard to compare. But I figure the wider the rim, the shorter the tire, by a tiny bit. So, with that in mind, a 305 on a stock 16x8 LC rim will probably end up about 3/4 inch wider than the 285 and maybe 1/4" taller.

Which is fine with me. They wont' be any wider than the ones on my truck and I think they'll fill the wheel wells out a little better than 285s do with a 2.5" lift. But I'm going to do some more searching on Mud.

Here's some more Slee bumper pics in the daylight.

 

[kcowyo]

Looking good Brian. I never really believed you when you said you weren't going to do many mods to this outfit.

Love the Slee bumper. I saw that one on the 80 he chopped into a truck and thought it was one of the nicer aftermarket offerings out there.

FWIW, I'd stay with 285's and get a Long Ranger Auxillary Fuel tank, but that's just me hypothetically spending your money.

 

[Brian894x4]

Ya, that idea lasted about a day didn't it.

I actually always intended to get a bumper and winch and upsize the tires to 33s. The big debate for me what what lift, if any. That was a hard decision and I'm still a nervous about how it will turn out.

Now, I haven't gone out and bought sliders, or a rear tire carrier or roof rack or snorkle or tent or anything like that...so when I'm done with these current mods, it will still be a fairly simple build.

Fuel is definately going to be an issue, when stock range can be as low as 200 mile on a full tank. The auxilery tanks look expensive and complicated so I'm hesitent to go that direction just yet. Plus I'd need a rear tire carrier for the spare. I would absolutely love a OEM 13 gallon spare tank. But unfortunately they're rare as hen's teeth these days.

After the lift and tires are finished, I'll be taking a break from any major mods for a little bit. But eventually, ARBs will be installed and I'm considering regearing to 4.56s. Then sliders and possibly a rear bumper and tire carrier fo some kind. But now that you mention it, some kind of auxiliery fuel tank might still be in my future too.

 

[blupaddler]

FWIW, I'd stay with 285's and get a Long Ranger Auxillary Fuel tank, but that's just me hypothetically spending your money.

Even though KC does a really good job of spending other people's money, and I blame my spending on him btw. He is right. (there i said it)


Judging by your pickup. I know you are very mechanically inclined. The aux. tank isn't that difficult. Just time consuming wiring everything and running hoses, pump, etc. And, after a 10 day Baja trip where I went over 600 miles before needing to fill up (still over 1/4 tank). The aux. tank is probably the best mod, next to the fridge. They are making a 24 gallon aux now as well as the standard 44 gallon. From what I have read the 13 gallon sub tank will still allow you to fit your spare under the vehicle...But, for they require more effort than the 44 gallon to install.



Seeing the side profile of the Slee bumper almost makes me want to sell my ARB...

 

[Brian894x4]

Hmmm,

24 gallon tank would be nice. Is that Man A Fre?

 

[blupaddler]

Yeah, I think them. I want to see a 24 in person. My 44 doesn't hang down that far at all. My main concern is the 300# or so back there when I am full, believe me I can feel it. Check over at mud though, I know someone did a write-up on one recently.

Or call Sean (?) at PV Cruisers. He brought in a bunch a while ago.
www.pvcruisers.com

 

[Brian894x4]

Well, I'm getting cold feet on the 2.5" lift. After looking at photos of them on mud with 285s, I really don't like the set up. I originally wanted to go with 285s with a low lift OME and now I really wish I did that instead. The few rigs I've seen with that set up look REALLY good to me and I think would have worked out better for our purpose.

Now I have to decide what to do.

When I saw this rig over on the Mud FAQ http://image.boompa.com/images/users/j/jd/jditom/rides/dsc06493-132_525.jpg
I realized my mistake. This is the rig I want to build. I believe it has low lift OME springs, bumper and 285 tires. That's where I want to be. Not where I'm headed.

 

[blupaddler]

You said you're getting the heavy front and medium rears?

If so, you will be fine. And probably be level too.

The winch and bumper should help out with the front. And the drawers + your equipment will balance things out.


As an 80's sound once said..."don't worry, be happy!"

 

[DaveInDenver]

I originally wanted to go with 285s with a low lift OME and now I really wish I did that instead. The few rigs I've seen with that set up look REALLY good to me and I think would have worked out better for our purpose.

I'm probably completely clueless, but my OME catalog doesn't seem to indicate a difference in lift heights. They list springs by light, medium, heavy, etc. When you say a low lift, are you talking about lighter spring rates? My OME catalog is from 1998, it's the bright yellow one with all the Australian vehicles names (Hilux, Navara, Holden, etc.). In any case, I think OME heavy springs with a winch/bull bar and drawers will be a good combo, you will ride nicely off highway fully loaded.

 

[Skillet]

don't rule out the 4" comps in the rear. They worked great for me!

 

[blupaddler]

O.T...What's in the tube?


Oh, and how come I can't find the reply from Brian that was emailed to me at 1218am?