We finally did it. 
After many years of trying to decide which adventure vehicle to own (we are slow decision makers), we are now the happy owners of a 1990 FJ62. We liked the strong build quality and reliability of the Land Cruiser, and are just suckers for the classic look and experience. Not the fastest thing on the road (we have a 89 Porsche 911 for that), so we are learning to enjoy life in the slow lane.
She came to us from TLC with 178,000 miles on her. Jonathan & Co. had tracked down a very clean, original rust-free example that checked out very well during their inspection, but needed serious attention to some overdue maintenance items. So she went through a Stage 1 restoration that included replacing the brakes, exhaust, radiator, oil pan, spindles, almost every hose and vacumn line, and servicing the transmission, axles, and burfield joints. Then we added an OME 2.5” suspension with 33.5x10.5 BFG ATs. Oh, and an engine tuneup. Our plan is to drive the truck for the next year and see what needs to be done to suit our adventures. BTW: the TLC experience was wonderful. Jonathan, Jamie, and Jay were awesome throughout the entire experience.
We are absolutely loving the truck (we call her Lucy). Our type of adventure travel is to explore backroads looking for secluded primitive camping spots, findng trailheads for hiking, and discovering great scenery and peaceful settings. We have had her only a month, but have already put on more than 100 off road miles. The first picture below is from a trip through the Modoc National Forest west of Likely, CA, where she covered 55 off road miles ranging from gravel roads to very slow, rocky trails. In the pic we are crossing the dam at Graven Reservoir; the night before we slept in her and woke to find elk and antelope grazing on the opposite shore. Our kind of place.
Many more trips are planned. We have already begun to explore the wonderful trails near us in Tahoe National Forest. The second pic was taken on the Sierra Buttes trail by a little stream near the start of the trail (before it gets steep and rough). We have more trips planned to that area. Hope to see you out there!
At Graven Reservoir
On Sierra Buttes trail
After many years of trying to decide which adventure vehicle to own (we are slow decision makers), we are now the happy owners of a 1990 FJ62. We liked the strong build quality and reliability of the Land Cruiser, and are just suckers for the classic look and experience. Not the fastest thing on the road (we have a 89 Porsche 911 for that), so we are learning to enjoy life in the slow lane.
She came to us from TLC with 178,000 miles on her. Jonathan & Co. had tracked down a very clean, original rust-free example that checked out very well during their inspection, but needed serious attention to some overdue maintenance items. So she went through a Stage 1 restoration that included replacing the brakes, exhaust, radiator, oil pan, spindles, almost every hose and vacumn line, and servicing the transmission, axles, and burfield joints. Then we added an OME 2.5” suspension with 33.5x10.5 BFG ATs. Oh, and an engine tuneup. Our plan is to drive the truck for the next year and see what needs to be done to suit our adventures. BTW: the TLC experience was wonderful. Jonathan, Jamie, and Jay were awesome throughout the entire experience.
We are absolutely loving the truck (we call her Lucy). Our type of adventure travel is to explore backroads looking for secluded primitive camping spots, findng trailheads for hiking, and discovering great scenery and peaceful settings. We have had her only a month, but have already put on more than 100 off road miles. The first picture below is from a trip through the Modoc National Forest west of Likely, CA, where she covered 55 off road miles ranging from gravel roads to very slow, rocky trails. In the pic we are crossing the dam at Graven Reservoir; the night before we slept in her and woke to find elk and antelope grazing on the opposite shore. Our kind of place.
Many more trips are planned. We have already begun to explore the wonderful trails near us in Tahoe National Forest. The second pic was taken on the Sierra Buttes trail by a little stream near the start of the trail (before it gets steep and rough). We have more trips planned to that area. Hope to see you out there!
At Graven Reservoir
On Sierra Buttes trail
