November 2005 -  Riser Cables for the Extreme outback!!!! 

Or for cruising around town too!  Here's a simple way to make functional Riser Cables for your rig!  First off, you'll need to find some BLACK COATED AIRCRAFT CABLE for the job to look right!  What's that you need some?   Contact me and I will send you 18 feet worth for an easy $15 (free shipping).   You will find clear coated cable at Home Depot for about the same price.   I went to Home Depot or Lowes for the rest of the gear.  A simple turnbuckle and some aluminum cable clamps (you can pinch these with a hammer and a piece of flat iron to clamp them, and you are set.   And the Black coated cable looks the best too!  I simply wrapped one end and through the loop on the ARB  bar and they DO NOT SHIFT AT ALL due to the coating on the cable and the tension.  Best of all they are easy to take on and off and they do not cause ANY damage or hole drilling in your bumper.  Email me at johnny at wildyoats dot com if you wish to buy some cable from me (while supplies last) .  I was forced to purchase an entire roll of it so I am hope to recoop some money.    Oh, and who the hell cares what people say you with them on, come on, after all you are driving a Land Cruiser.  Anything else is uncivilized!!  -Johnny Lange 

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Bumper 001.jpg (153403 bytes)  Bumper 003.jpg (148773 bytes) October 2005 - Rear Moab Tested Protection 

The club trip to Moab was soon approaching.  I did will in getting the front and side protection on in the month that I have had the vehicle so far, but I needed something quick and easy to protect the rear stock bumper.   So, I went out to the garage, put my thinking cap on, and came up with this solution.   I simply unbolted my OEM hitch and mounted this piece in it's place.  The only welding is done on the bar itself, no mods are necessary on the vehicle.  Quick and simple!   Oh yeah, we went to Moab, I hit this bar on all types of rocks and she held up beautifully so we can now call it trail tested!  Good luck, Johnny! 

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lightweb3.jpg (37358 bytes)  lightweb1.jpg (40807 bytes)     September 2005 - OSRAM CoPILOT L Map Light Install

Here's a quick and easy one...

The map light in the 80 Series is great for everyone BUT the driver when he/she is driving at night.  I went to my local law enforcement supply store and picked up the 22" inch permanent mount OSCRAM CoPILOT L Map Light. These are made in Germany and are high quality. I paid $33, but found them on the net for $27 here (caveot, I am in no way associated with this place).  Installation was a breeze. More so due to I had a hot wire already there for my flashlight and CB. Everything else was installed in about 6 minutes.  Note the clip it comes with which I mounted on the side of the radio bezel. This is the 22" model, they also come in 8.5 and 15" model, as well as some cigar mount models.  When I mount my laptop, this will be great at night for lighting up the keyboard as well.

 

91FR 002.jpg (144039 bytes)  91FR 003.jpg (157038 bytes)  September 2005 - SLEE SLIDERS & A/C DRIER SKID PLATE

Originally, I was dead set on making my own rock sliders and skid plate.  Then a Salt Lake City man posted these on the popular IH8MUD Forum and I just couldn't resist the fact that they were a great deal, no shipping, and could have them in a matter of 30 minutes!  So, they were purchased and installed!  I have to give SLEE some great credit, the products are TOP NOTCH and easily installed.  When seeing these in person, I suddenly understand the lengthy planning and fabricating that took place to make them.  Very stout and perfect fabrication. 

 

RTCweb8.jpg (24759 bytes)   September 2005 -  REAR TIRE CARRIER BUILD  

READ ALL ABOUT THIS REAR TIRE CARRIER HOW-TO HERE

 

rackweb08.jpg (28637 bytes)    September 2005 - THE "J-MOOSE" All Aluminum Roof Rack!! 

READ ALL ABOUT THIS ROOF RACK  HOW-TO ARTICLE HERE

 

night-005web.jpg (41638 bytes)    September 2005 -   THE WHOLE ENCHILADA!!! 

Well, I haven't had the FZJ80 all but only some days now and it has been Christmas early at my house.  Some say I am crazy, I just think I am impatient!  It is too difficult to go from a built rig to just a street cruiser.  So something had to be done about it!!!!  With the help of SLEE Off Road, and more so 4WHEEL PARTS, I was able to get a few things (ok, a lot of things) and turn this street cruiser into a mad machine!!!  Check out the latest pic after adding the following goodies:  

ARB Bull Bar,  Warn XD9000i Winch,  Safari Snorkel,  Old Man Emu J-Spring springs with L shocks,  WC/Ratio Front Spring Spacers,  SLEE rear sway bar drops,  SLEE extended brake lines,  SLEE Hand Throttle Mod,  TOYOTA Center Diff Switch,  TOYOTA Groovy Cup Holder,  TOYOTA Light Switches, HELLA 4000 Rallye lights with EURO,  HELLA 500 Roof top lights,  Hi-Lift Jack and Mounts on Rack,   RADIO SCHNACK El-Cheapo CB 

 

August 28. 2005 - DASH BOARD PANEL REMOVAL 

After the 1300 mile journey we took in bringing back the FZJ80 to Utah, I got sick of looking at the faded, spotted, and otherwise peeling wood trim that was on dash and surrounding panels.  With a trick learned by D. Conners, (heating up the interior of the vehicle for 20 mins), I pulled off the wood panels rather easy.  I then used a mild adhesive cleaner to remove the residual glue.  A quick and simply (yet hot) tip that sure does make things look better in there!