07, Solid Axle, 3-link with Diamonds, Inchworm, Caged and trail ready

[sbechtold]

Savvyav previously said:

Quitter

[Sean K.]

I totally understand....but I will say this having gone from full bodied truck to truggy to buggy: you may regret selling it. No, it won't compete with your buggy, but there's just something about being able to drive it to work, or all the way to Colorado, or wheeling with other full bodied rigs.

If you ever show up in a buggy to a mostly full bodied rig event, there's just a different feel...and not everyone is accepting of you simply b/c of what you drive.

Good luck with the sale.

Sean

[FamilyJ]

I'll give you tree-fitdy for it...




...unless you're some loch-ness monster or something.

[BellyDoc]

sbechtold previously said:

Thank you! The next project has a lot LESS sheet metal. I am planning on building a linked formula toy.

Are you sure? If you do that, you'll never be able to use it for cone dodging. It'll be a trail toy only. My guess is that you'll want to modify it extensively, beyond the basic F-toy class description.

The F-toy is built on a 4Runner frame, if I understand correctly, and because of the original design of the frame, the amount of clearance underneath it for link motion is limited. I discovered the issues that go along with this on my project and I ended up doing a LOT of chopping and replacing of frame material in order to accommodate 4 link motion.

Either you'll end up doing the same chop-and-lift, or you'll end up building in a "basement" to drop your link captures and create a flat belly. Then you'll probably think your rig sits unnecessarily high relative to that!

My project has been mods-on-mods-on-mods from a stock frame to a completely fabricated construct designed to echo the lines of an FJ40. As the project proceeded in stages, accuracy became harder and harder to maintain.

If your goal with the F-toy is to K.I.S.S., then modifying the already highly modified rig could put you in danger of sliding down this very same slippery slope.

On the other hand, if you want to end up with a no compromise trail tool but bypass extensive tube construction, then why not just start with a quality tube chassis?

Fjamming previously said:

Is this the inevitable end to all the highly modified FJs? Good luck Sol.

You know what? I was wondering the same thing. You may be onto something there. The FJ Cruiser, for some, may fuel enough offroad fever to cause an eventual rejection reaction to auto body sheetmetal. It's just too crazy to love the rig that much AND love to abuse it.

Sean K. previously said:

I totally understand....but I will say this having gone from full bodied truck to truggy to buggy: you may regret selling it. No, it won't compete with your buggy, but there's just something about being able to drive it to work, or all the way to Colorado, or wheeling with other full bodied rigs.

If you ever show up in a buggy to a mostly full bodied rig event, there's just a different feel...and not everyone is accepting of you simply b/c of what you drive.

Good luck with the sale.

Sean

They're not rejecting your rig, Sean... they're just shocked that after you've managed to irritate them on the forums, they meet you and find out that your pecs are the size of their tires. All hope of facing you down is then lost.

Everybody loves your buggy though.

[Sean K.]

BellyDoc previously said:

Are you sure? If you do that, you'll never be able to use it for cone dodging. It'll be a trail toy only. My guess is that you'll want to modify it extensively, beyond the basic F-toy class description.

The F-toy is built on a 4Runner frame, if I understand correctly, and because of the original design of the frame, the amount of clearance underneath it for link motion is limited. I discovered the issues that go along with this on my project and I ended up doing a LOT of chopping and replacing of frame material in order to accommodate 4 link motion.

Either you'll end up doing the same chop-and-lift, or you'll end up building in a "basement" to drop your link captures and create a flat belly. Then you'll probably think your rig sits unnecessarily high relative to that!

My project has been mods-on-mods-on-mods from a stock frame to a completely fabricated construct designed to echo the lines of an FJ40. As the project proceeded in stages, accuracy became harder and harder to maintain.

If your goal with the F-toy is to K.I.S.S., then modifying the already highly modified rig could put you in danger of sliding down this very same slippery slope.

On the other hand, if you want to end up with a no compromise trail tool but bypass extensive tube construction, then why not just start with a quality tube chassis?



You know what? I was wondering the same thing. You may be onto something there. The FJ Cruiser, for some, may fuel enough offroad fever to cause an eventual rejection reaction to auto body sheetmetal. It's just too crazy to love the rig that much AND love to abuse it.



They're not rejecting your rig, Sean... they're just shocked that after you've managed to irritate them on the forums, they meet you and find out that your pecs are the size of their tires. All hope of facing you down is then lost.

Everybody loves your buggy though.

Hey, I only seem to really irritate people on this forum. Everywhere else, I get along just fine.

Anyway, you're right on the FTOY thing. IMO, you're much better off going full custom chassis route than being limited by the FTOY using the stock 4Runner (or pickup which is actually what it was designed for) frame.

However, my understanding is that Air_Ride on Pirate builds the chassis with lower tube frame rails if you want to go that route and not deal with the factory frame.

Personally, I don't care for the FTOY chassis....but it is cost effective. Personally, I'd look at Twisted Customs if you're after a 2 or more seater. One seaters are a different story altogether, but I'd assume that unless you're going to compete you're looking for a trail rig and that usually entails something that can accommodate at least you and a friend.

JMO,
Sean

[illFJC]

This rig has been inspiration to so many. Best of luck with your next project. Hope that you get every penny you are asking for your FJ!

and much love for a great build!!

[BellyDoc]

Sol...I should mention that I've held out the carrot of another wine country getaway to Linda as a motivator for her to tolerate my increased fever rate on the current build. I've told her that the Rubithon happens at a great time of year for a dual purpose vacation. Your help on the last trip, incidentally, was major.

If you need an analogous cover story, I can promise you numerous reasons to have a tube frame buggy to trailer out to Phoenix during the winter, spring or fall.

...and if you make the trek, I'll take you here:

Binkley's Restaurant

[FJ_Marine]

Now that's what I call teamwork!!!

[Fjamming]

BellyDoc previously said:

You know what? I was wondering the same thing. You may be onto something there. The FJ Cruiser, for some, may fuel enough offroad fever to cause an eventual rejection reaction to auto body sheetmetal. It's just too crazy to love the rig that much AND love to abuse it.

I've decided the modding is pretty close to an end for my FJC. To do some of the more extreme stuff, I'll need a different vehicle. The FJC is a great all around vehicle. I'm looking for a rock crawler, but first I need more room.

Sol's rig is a great exercise in what could be done with the FJ!

[SKINUM]

Fjamming previously said:

I've decided the modding is pretty close to an end for my FJC. To do some of the more extreme stuff, I'll need a different vehicle. The FJC is a great all around vehicle. I'm looking for a rock crawler, but first I need more room.

Sol's rig is a great exercise in what could be done with the FJ!

It is kind of odd. Several people I typically wheel the FJ's with are looking to move on to a more capable trail rig and I can't say that I feel any different.

Good luck with the sale it definitely is one of the best FJ's out there.