The Jolly Green Giant...aka the Recycled Rig

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Well as most of you know, I sold this for a redirection in off-roading. It had served me and my family very well with many good trips and memories. I had some ideas of what I wanted to replace it with. In broad strokes it had to have four doors, be reliable and have a wide variety of aftermarket support...after all, if I am going to drive a wagon. It would have to be a cool wagon.

Not being turned on by any (And I really mean ANY) of the new vehicle offerings I turned to the used car market. At first I set my mind on the venerable 80 series cruiser. As I did more research, I started to sway to the 100 series. Finally, I just decided to keep both options open until "The right one" showed up.

The search continued. Deals fell through. The search continued. Lemons were culled. I thought buying a new car was a pain. It doesn't hold a candle to trying to find a nice used model.

This was the last deal to fall through. "For sale, not for sale" To say I was really bummed at this point would be an understatement.

I really thought I was going to have to ride my mountain bike to the EXPO TROPHY this year. I thought I was going to be rigless and at this point I was kicking myself for selling the jeep before October (The jeep sold in two days of being advertised and the Tentrax sold by word of mouth to the first guy that heard it was for sale).


I finally found this on the mud board. At first, I thought the price was too high for the year. The more I looked around the more I returned to it. Then, a good friend of mine Harry Wagner (DirtyHarry) sent me a link to an 80 series that he liked. Low and behold, it was the same one. The guy lived in the same neighborhood in SoCal as my girlfriends parents, so I had her father go over and give it a good look and test drive. He liked it, so a deal was made over the phone. I flew down on a saturday morning picked it up and drove the return 500 mile trip home that afternoon. I'm starting to see a trend of marathon road trips to SoCal and back. We drove down picked up the Adventure Trailer, ate lunch and returned home the same day.


Here she is in the condition I bought her in.

Hannah Quality Sliders
Front Middle and Rear Lockers (Factory)
OME Lift with J Springs

and the best part of all...A TRD Supercharger.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Here she is the next day...after all the EXPO TROPHY is right around the corner...She's sporting new Maxxis Bighorn M/Ts in the 255/85r16 (Thanks Redline).

A little bit of love showing up from Slee Offroad...

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

More Slee Love...After market headlight harness and auxiliary light harness.

My helper pointing out his handy work. and wondering when we are going to add "custom paint and safety wire". HAHA...that cracked me up. I tried to explain that 80's don't get flames. He said it looked "like someone had used it a little" when I brought it home. He's ruined.

Brian, he's wearing a BMW dirtbike shirt for you.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

This is where it becomes the recycled rig. The Lightforce 240's were on a shelf in the garage from a previous rig. The Lightforces are adjustable by turning the housing and you can also replace a bulb in the field with no tools.

The Warn 12,000 lb. winch was also in the garage from a previous project. The Warn fits like a glove and surpasses the guideline of your vehicles' weight times .5

Throw some MasterPull Synthetic winch line on it and we are good to go as far as the winch duties are concerned.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Here is a before and after shot of the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) switch that powers the Lightforce lights. It's in the mock up position, the fit is after all factory Toyota.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Some more electronic help from West Marine. I later removed the backing plate on the three 12 volt outlets.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Throw some never installed comm. that is also recycled from the closet shelf and a handy talkie to make it portable...Now if I can only get the time to take the test.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Lastly, I have to wire and mount the Lowrance Globalmap Baja C. Pack it up and head south for the Trophy. Maybe This should have been called the "Two Week Build Up." Instead.

 

[Brian894x4]

Looks like Harry is getting to be a regular 80 series match maker!

He found the one I bought too.

Yours is looking good! :clapsmile

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Looks like Harry is getting to be a regular 80 series match maker!

He found the one I bought too.

Yours is look good! :clapsmile

That's too funny, he found yours also. Thanks for the compliment. My dad is starting to look around for a white one now that he's been in mine.

 

[locrwln]

Thanks for the compliment. My dad is starting to look around for a white one now that he's been in mine.

Looks great J. I can't wait to see the pictures from the trophy. Also you know that white is the best color.:wings:

I am heading out of town also, so my build oddessy will start when I get back, should be around the end of October.

Jack

 

[Moody]

Looks great! How do you like those 255's on the big rig? I have considered a set of those to get the true 33" height.

 

[kcowyo]

Your Chaser looks right at home behind that 80.

Nice build - :beer:

 

[Andrew Walcker]

Congratulations, nice choice! :26_34_3:

 

[calamaridog]

Awesome.