Containerized: Retromod Global Tacoma

[Containerized]

kfgk14: Thanks! Nothing special: They're the same ATX Mojaves (16x8) many are running, but stripped and powdercoated white to match the truck.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Sounds like you have your plan set. It's obvious you're into cars and have had some nice ones, so I"ll be watching with anticipation to see how it turns out.

I enjoyed your first thread and pictures and remember when you mentioned that you were going in the direction of a Tacoma.

Like I said, even before knowing your previous quill of vehicles. It's obvious you're into cars.

 

[carpetbagger]

hey karl,

interesting build. looking forward to seeing the end result. i was trying to find some updated pics on your fb page of the fjc but it looks like you either defriended me or you pulled them all down. looks like you've got some interesting things going on these days.

sincerely,

scott ("old" aw person)

 

[Containerized]

Scott - Good to see you over here.

I re-did my FB (new account)... re-friend me (you'll find me, I'm friends with all the old AWOTers).

FJC is about to be sold here in Africa, but PM me and I'll give you my email and can send you plenty of pics.

 

[nophwa]

Good night! Man this is a sweet build, quite the stable of cars you've maintained over the years! Good luck, and keep posting!

 

[nickw]

T Case

Sweet build!

What are your plans for the tcase? No retro truck is going to have pushbuttons...just saying. Coolest truck of all time if you swap in a 4runner TE/SR5/FJ Tcase.

Any trouble finding 255/85's in Africa? I was surprised you originally wanted 245's, wouldn't 235's be a more common size in Africa (7.5 R16)?

 

[Expedition.Report]

Looking forward to see what this turns out like!

If its anything like what I have pictured.... I dig it!!!

 

[ETAV8R]

Wow!
Without reading the whole thread the Taco build is very interesting.
You have lots of toys!

 

[Containerized]

nickw - I'm running 285/75R16 right now... and I had to choose whether to build the Taco to local tyre availability or be willing to go with one spare and wait for resupply. The latter let me run the sizes I wanted, though there is some risk of being somewhere without an appropriate spare. You are correct that 7.5 R16 is a relatively common size here in East Africa, partly because they are commonly run on the Hiace and (somewhat less commonly) on the Defender. But usually the tires for sale are in such rough shape (almost all used or badly-assembled retreads) in this part of the world that I'd rather have the next person meeting up with me bring a pair of KM2's as baggage and offer to pay their bag fee. It's a nice fantasy to think you'll be able to build something that has spares available here in the Continent, but when it comes to tires... they're so much of your experience with the vehicle that it's not worth making the (big) compromises needed to run on locally-available stock.

FWIW, in nearly two years in Africa, I've not lost a KM2 yet on the FJC (touch wood).

On the t-case question: We're going to run the drivetrain close to stock for its first trip out and consider what setup to run in terms of axles and lockers.

 

[jds0912]

24H - This statement wasn't made to say that this build has the "best of the best" parts; it certainly doesn't.

Says the guy with the Icon Stage III suspension Edit: Stage IV

Really looking forward to this truck; your FJ is freaking amazing. Awesome thread! :bowdown:

 

[whytebredd]

I'm really looking forward to how this comes out. My plan was to have a life like yours studying poli sci with the intent of getting out to Africa some how but I recently had a reroute. Definitely not too late for me to find a way there though.

But if your plan is to bring this to Africa why not buy a Hilux there?

 

[eurosonic]

wow , great build. Indeed something different. :smiley_drive:

 

[Containerized]

whytebredd - I've been fortunate to (and still do) work for organizations (mostly banks) that have a dozen Hiluxes and Prados ready to be borrowed at nearly every office - if I really leaned on clients for vehicles, they'd probably (reluctantly) issue me a 70 or a Hilux as a company vehicle during the contract. Don't get me wrong - those trucks are awesome vehicles and when I need them, I definitely use them (borrowed and drove a Hilux to pick up some supplies yesterday and bring them to a friend's farm). But I want something a little different, a little retro, and something that's "mine" for long weekends camping, exploring, or hunting around the New Year. Is this project vehicle, or any of the vehicles in my garage, something that I strictly "need" to have? Of course not. Would buying a 70 Series pickup or a Hilux at the local dealer right here in Uganda make more sense practically and financially? Maybe it would. But is it essentially unlimited fun to imagine something and then build it? Absolutely. And that's 99% of this project for me. That it also suits my needs and can deal with the three- or four-day overland trips that I usually do is a bonus.

Today, I'm driving with one other vehicle (4 people total) to the Albertine Nile region that separates Congo from Uganda. It's a relatively easy drive and one I've done before. Spend half a day driving out, stay two nights not far from Murchison Falls, drive back. We're doing it with an FJC and a Hilux. This is the kind of trip that would be fine in a Taco, or a Tundra, or a 70, or a whatever. And that's true of most travel here in East Africa. As long as you've got a well-maintained, reasonably capable vehicle that you're comfortable with (for me, comfort means dual batteries, winch, reasonably good tyres, etc.) then you're good to go. The rest is mostly a matter of preference, style, familiarity (from a driving and maintenance perspective), and other factors. The number of situations where I've been so close to the edge of a vehicle's capability in real-world conditions that a FJC could actually go somewhere a Taco wouldn't have, or where I'd wished I'd brought a 70 Pickup instead of a Hilux... those situations are rare, and I struggle to remember one if I'm being completely honest.

Bottom line: Life's too short, drive something you like.

 

[Caoboy]

Bottom line: Life's too short, drive something you like.

Sig worthy material right there.

:beer:

 

[samguert]

whytebredd - I've been fortunate to (and still do) work for organizations (mostly banks) that have a dozen Hiluxes and Prados ready to be borrowed at nearly every office - if I really leaned on clients for vehicles, they'd probably (reluctantly) issue me a 70 or a Hilux as a company vehicle during the contract. Don't get me wrong - those trucks are awesome vehicles and when I need them, I definitely use them (borrowed and drove a Hilux to pick up some supplies yesterday and bring them to a friend's farm). But I want something a little different, a little retro, and something that's "mine" for long weekends camping, exploring, or hunting around the New Year. Is this project vehicle, or any of the vehicles in my garage, something that I strictly "need" to have? Of course not. Would buying a 70 Series pickup or a Hilux at the local dealer right here in Uganda make more sense practically and financially? Maybe it would. But is it essentially unlimited fun to imagine something and then build it? Absolutely. And that's 99% of this project for me. That it also suits my needs and can deal with the three- or four-day overland trips that I usually do is a bonus.

Today, I'm driving with one other vehicle (4 people total) to the Albertine Nile region that separates Congo from Uganda. It's a relatively easy drive and one I've done before. Spend half a day driving out, stay two nights not far from Murchison Falls, drive back. We're doing it with an FJC and a Hilux. This is the kind of trip that would be fine in a Taco, or a Tundra, or a 70, or a whatever. And that's true of most travel here in East Africa. As long as you've got a well-maintained, reasonably capable vehicle that you're comfortable with (for me, comfort means dual batteries, winch, reasonably good tyres, etc.) then you're good to go. The rest is mostly a matter of preference, style, familiarity (from a driving and maintenance perspective), and other factors. The number of situations where I've been so close to the edge of a vehicle's capability in real-world conditions that a FJC could actually go somewhere a Taco wouldn't have, or where I'd wished I'd brought a 70 Pickup instead of a Hilux... those situations are rare, and I struggle to remember one if I'm being completely honest.

Bottom line: Life's too short, drive something you like.

Wish the forum had a ¨Like¨ button. Would have pressed for this post