Getting back into the game.

[Gilaoro2]

Slowly getting restarted into prospecting. Started with a cherry 2010 FJ Cruiser that was a daily driver and had never been off-roaded ( until me ). Had it checked out by my favorite mechanic who is an old Toyota man and he said it needed nothing , no codes no defects , just the factory recall for airbags most have. I have had an still have a Sienna Van , one of which I used in my former business escorting oversize trucks nationwide + Canada accumulating over 600 K miles and was going strong when I sold it to another escort business in 2008 having went through many tires and windshields and one timing belt. I have had two Tacoma,s , both I used in Baja when I lived there for 15 years off and on. Sold the first one to a guy who wanted it bad , brush marks and all from off-roading all over Baja Gold Prospecting and following the Baja 1000 races. Missed it so much went and bought a brand new one, never had a problem with either other than tearing off the rear bumpers.

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a more serious off road vehicle , I have tested it locally and  it will go places and do things I won't attempt. It has an inclinometer built in and I have already accidently got it to the point that if you stuck your arm and hand out the window you could feel  it was at the balance point. It came with full time 2 or 4 wheel drive , rear locker, high and low 4wd, Rear camera , Sonar Backup alarms, ARM ?,  tow hitch, socket wired and ready, ABS ? , Smittybilt 10000 LB winch in a Warn bumper, roof rack , TRD alloy wheels w/ BFG Baja specials on 265/16/LTs, AC 400 watts, Subwoofer, Am/FM/Tape/Sat./48" LED light bar. I  changed the 3/8 " steel cable on the winch to 100 " of synthetic rope with twice the breaking strength of the steel and it has no stored kinetic energy. My first good deed with it was to winch a Razor 100 back up to the road after it had skidded off into a canyon and overturned.  That man had his helmet on and the Razor had its spare mounted on top of a good roll bar or it would have been a body recovery. 

 I am ready to move boulders! 
Anybody on the Forum have one ? I see 3 of them around Wickenburg but have not been able to meet them yet , one is Tan , One is Yellow, One is blue, mine is black w/white top , Daughter named it "Pepe La Pew'

Thoughts , remarks ?

Max Gilaoro2

,

 

 

[GotAU?]

Those are great vehicles, I really thought about getting one as I love the FJ series, especially the classic FJ40’s.  I opted for a truck though for camping and hauling more gear and bought a Tacoma instead. I really like it, but get sad when I see a nicely equipped FJ Cruiser or an older one go by.  It’s too bad they stopped making those, Toyota now puts in a 4-wheel independent anti-slip system in their 4x4’s they call “crawl control” that is unbelievable how well it works for improving traction on slippery climbs and descents, and in soft sand and mud, having that as a backup to its good old fashioned stock rear lockers and limited slip differential is nice.  Still, that FJ has a place in my heart for sure! Congratulations on finding a nice one Max!

-Anthony

Edited July 29, 2021 by GotAU?

[Nugget Shooter]

Howdy Max, good to have you back!

[Mike C...]

Ive always liked the FJ but not practical for me instead I have a 2nd gen 4 door Tacoma Trd sport-its always gotton me from point A to point B with no issues at all very dependable (knock on wood) and they hold their value quite well-Max enjoy your new toy   PS- Forgot to add-Max your going to have to rename your FJ-seems  Pepe La Pew has been deemed in the same category as Dr Seuss amd Mr Potato head   

Edited July 29, 2021 by Mike C...

[Gilaoro2]

Looks like GOTAU finally got a GOOD prospecting rig ! Anyone who reads this forum knows my history with Toyota's and Samurais and Geo Trackers and yes Killer jeeps! Maybe I didn't post the story about my jeep? When I still lived in Morristown I acquired a little jeep, don't even know the specs but it was old and had the single front seat and small bed , no top. I still had the group of claims including "Fault Intersect"  which the west edge bordered the old stage road and has a nice wash the full length. Testing it out I found a stretch down off the road and in a deep drop spot . I drove the jeep down the hill and parked with the front wheels on the edge of the wash since I was using my self built copy of a Beck Drywasher with a 12 volt motor it was convenient too use the Jeep battery. About the second day still by myself I was in the gold from deep cracks in the bottom of the wash after getting all the other stuff out of the way my Vac would get most of the deep cracks and a little hammer and bar work would open them to the rest, all pickers and a couple  of near gram size , I was feeling good! Working just about head high to the bumper with 2- 12 volt clip on wires to power the stuff I felt I did not have a good connection to the dry washer so reaching up I wiggled the wires to the battery and they jumped off and and instantly shorted something the engine started and here came the Jeep down into the wash with me ! If you have ever had the feeling that you are going to die and alone at that you know what went through my mind! The only thing that saved me was that I had the full length off the dry washer between me and the jeep and was facing it. I pushed back as hard as I could and as it came down and forward it tilted on to the dry washer raising me a little bit up the other wall. The jeep had a tendency to flood and it died just as the 4 wheel drive as starting to dig in the front. I was able to wiggle up and out off behind my dry washer which was folded in half! This was the second time one of my 4X4"s tried to run over me! If you have any ideal of how hard it was to find and assemble a BECK from his original parts and wood you would cry with me. Charlie Salwasser in Randsburg had bought Beck's building and a all the parts and let me use his shop and built it , the bearings were WW-2 surplus aircraft , the wood was solid Maple from old bowling  alleys , they were Hand cranked but I put a gasoline motor on mine on my later copys I put 12 volts. The original I had assembled right from Becks shop and used his original red paint on it . I later succumbed to an offer from two guys at Stanton for 4 brand new  Mine Labs in the boxes unopened. regret it every since! I have made several copies but the originals sell for many peso's.

Max

[GotAU?]

26 minutes ago, Mike C... said:

Ive always liked the FJ but not practical for me instead I have a 2nd gen 4 door Tacoma Trd sport-its always gotton me from point A to point B with no issues at all very dependable (knock on wood) and they hold their value quite well-Max enjoy your new toy  

Talk about holding their value, a friend of mine paid $20K for a ‘87. If you have one parked in your backyard, it’s a nice little golden goose egg that is doing better than most stocks. Those FJ’s are holding their value too, a very good investment!

Edited July 29, 2021 by GotAU?

[GotAU?]

9 minutes ago, Gilaoro2 said:

Looks like GOTAU finally got a GOOD prospecting rig ! Anyone who reads this forum knows my history with Toyota's and Samurais and Geo Trackers and yes Killer jeeps! Maybe I didn't post the story about my jeep? When I still lived in Morristown I acquired a little jeep, don't even know the specs but it was old and had the single front seat and small bed , no top. I still had the group of claims including "Fault Intersect"  which the west edge bordered the old stage road and has a nice wash the full length. Testing it out I found a stretch down off the road and in a deep drop spot . I drove the jeep down the hill and parked with the front wheels on the edge of the wash since I was using my self built copy of a Beck Drywasher with a 12 volt motor it was convenient too use the Jeep battery. About the second day still by myself I was in the gold from deep cracks in the bottom of the wash after getting all the other stuff out of the way my Vac would get most of the deep cracks and a little hammer and bar work would open them to the rest, all pickers and a couple  of near gram size , I was feeling good! Working just about head high to the bumper with 2- 12 volt clip on wires to power the stuff I felt I did not have a good connection to the dry washer so reaching up I wiggled the wires to the battery and they jumped off and and instantly shorted something the engine started and here came the Jeep down into the wash with me ! If you have ever had the feeling that you are going to die and alone at that you know what went through my mind! The only thing that saved me was that I had the full length off the dry washer between me and the jeep and was facing it. I pushed back as hard as I could and as it came down and forward it tilted on to the dry washer raising me a little bit up the other wall. The jeep had a tendency to flood and it died just as the 4 wheel drive as starting to dig in the front. I was able to wiggle up and out off behind my dry washer which was folded in half! This was the second time one of my 4X4"s tried to run over me! If you have any ideal of how hard it was to find and assemble a BECK from his original parts and wood you would cry with me. Charlie Salwasser in Randsburg had bought Beck's building and a all the parts and let me use his shop and built it , the bearings were WW-2 surplus aircraft , the wood was solid Maple from old bowling  alleys , they were Hand cranked but I put a gasoline motor on mine on my later copys I put 12 volts. The original I had assembled right from Becks shop and used his original red paint on it . I later succumbed to an offer from two guys at Stanton for 4 brand new  Mine Labs in the boxes unopened. regret it every since! I have made several copies but the originals sell for many peso's.

Max

Wow, you sound like a cat Max! Hope you saved a few more of those 9 lives for the future!  Those old Willy’s jeeps were awesome, even with their little motors you could still get them to pop a wheelie so high they could flip over backwards in 4low on dry pavement without even burning rubber. High school idiots and their cars…

(Dads)    (me and my friends)

[Bedrock Bob]

24 minutes ago, GotAU? said:

Talk about holding their value, a friend of mine paid $20K for a ‘87. If you have one parked in your backyard, it’s a nice little golden goose egg that is doing better than most stocks. Those FJ’s are holding their value too, a very good investment!

I bought a 1969 FJ-40 about 20 years ago. I restored it and gave it to my son. A few years later he traded me for a 1976 that I had. I sold the '69 for $23k. I paid $3500 for it. 

I had a couple of the FJ-55 Iron Pigs. They ran excellent but the rust had completely destroyed them. I sold them for $6000 each.

I have owned seven Toyota FJ series LandCruisers. I have sold every one for much more than I paid for them. They are super solid and easy to work on. 

My old standby has been my favorite ride for 36 years. It is a 1976. It has over 650,000 miles on it and runs like a top. I take it out all the time. There is almost nothing it won't do. 

I'm going to restore it again this fall. I completely restored it 25 years ago. Took it off the frame and replaced every moving part. Since then I have bounced it off of every rock in New Mexico. It has outlasted two new pickups and a couple Jeeps. 

 

When the forces of nature have weathered the mountains to dust I will drive my Landcruiser in the flats. 

 

[GotAU?]

36 minutes ago, Bedrock Bob said:

I bought a 1969 FJ-40 about 20 years ago. I restored it and gave it to my son. A few years later he traded me for a 1976 that I had. I sold the '69 for $23k. I paid $3500 for it. 

I had a couple of the FJ-55 Iron Pigs. They ran excellent but the rust had completely destroyed them. I sold them for $6000 each.

I have owned seven Toyota FJ series LandCruisers. I have sold every one for much more than I paid for them. They are super solid and easy to work on. 

My old standby has been my favorite ride for 36 years. It is a 1976. It has over 650,000 miles on it and runs like a top. I take it out all the time. There is almost nothing it won't do. 

I'm going to restore it again this fall. I completely restored it 25 years ago. Took it off the frame and replaced every moving part. Since then I have bounced it off of every rock in New Mexico. It has outlasted two new pickups and a couple Jeeps. 

 

When the forces of nature have weathered the mountains to dust I will drive my Landcruiser in the flats. 

 

Those are great vehicles. Are you keeping the stock engines on those? Why do so many people put other types in, the stock ones are so good.

Edited July 29, 2021 by GotAU?

[GotAU?]

Max- there was a guy selling a very nice Beck’s drywasher near me for about $100, but I passed and suggested he donate it to the Rand Museum because he couldn’t sell it. I think he did end up selling it for less. I regret not buying it now, and have to add that one to my long should haves, would haves and could haves list! 
-Anthony

Edited July 29, 2021 by GotAU?

[Gilaoro2]

28 minutes ago, Mike C... said:

Ive always liked the FJ but not practical for me instead I have a 2nd gen 4 door Tacoma Trd sport-its always gotton me from point A to point B with no issues at all very dependable (knock on wood) and they hold their value quite well-Max enjoy your new toy   PS- Forgot to add-Max your going to have to rename your FJ-seems  Pepe La Pew has been deemed in the same category as Dr Seuss amd Mr Potato head   

Mike C, Well since it is now in my daughters name I will let her deal with the name ! I have even told her I would let her drive it some day, she is 58 and when she has as much off-road experience as I do I will consider it! !!!

 I can't find my previous post about Toyota's in general and Tacoma's in Particular.  But  have had 2 Tacoma,s both of which I used in my Baja Mexico operations. I have went 1000's of miles off-road and the only weakness I ever found was the back bumper/towing arrangements. I took my newest at the time in to the Toyota dealer in Yuma,AZ for its first check up at about 1500 miles with the rear bumper in the bed !  WOW the service manager said, how did you do that ? Well I told him my towing arrangements : I tow the Tacoma behind my Motor Home , behind the Tacoma I tow my Samurai or Geo Tracker behind the Tacoma. When the Motor Home can go no further I take the Tacoma towing the smaller 4x4 and proceed until the Tacoma gives it up  then proceed with the smaller 4x4. Coming back I use my 200' Samson Double Braided ships towing rope to tie on to it Tacoma and take off at the highest speed possible instructing my co-co driver to help when the stretch is recoiling . Do he same with the Motorhome using either one and get it out never failed me and I went places no one would believe, Lost all my pictures when my house burned, had over 6000 sides and prints. kinetic energy is the key ! That said the first thing I changed  the 100" steel cable that came on the winch to synthetic. Having over 25 years  experience on various US Coast Guard construction ships with all kinds of cables , chain , double braided nylon, and the injuries and deaths they cause I am a great fan of this new stuff we never had.   

The dealer had no problem with reattaching the bumper and reinforcing it ! Especially since I shared a townhouse with the sales manager and paid cash for it . When we left Mexico I sold it for essentially the price I paid for it . I also dove a Tundra for the Motorcycle group as the support truck everywhere it was needed and it was mostly off-roading  training trips/Pre runs and it carried everything, welder, spare MC's and parts, tires. gas, BEER, food, kids and wifes who had to come along on those trips , it was also a beast and would go anywhere you pointed it , loaded or unloaded, wet or dry, salt or fresh. My present daily driver  Toyota is a 2008 Sienna LE with 200,00 +miles. 

Max

[Gilaoro2]

12 minutes ago, GotAU? said:

Max- there was a guy selling a very nice Beck’s drywasher near me for about $100, but I passed and suggested he donate it to the Rand Museum because he couldn’t sell it. I think he did end up selling it for less. I regret not buying it now, and have to add that one to my long should haves, would haves and could haves list! 
-Anthony

.

[Gilaoro2]

If you see one for sale take pictures and send them to me! If you see one for that price you even think is genuine by it for me!

[Gilaoro2]

1 hour ago, Bedrock Bob said:

I bought a 1969 FJ-40 about 20 years ago. I restored it and gave it to my son. A few years later he traded me for a 1976 that I had. I sold the '69 for $23k. I paid $3500 for it. 

I had a couple of the FJ-55 Iron Pigs. They ran excellent but the rust had completely destroyed them. I sold them for $6000 each.

I have owned seven Toyota FJ series LandCruisers. I have sold every one for much more than I paid for them. They are super solid and easy to work on. 

My old standby has been my favorite ride for 36 years. It is a 1976. It has over 650,000 miles on it and runs like a top. I take it out all the time. There is almost nothing it won't do. 

I'm going to restore it again this fall. I completely restored it 25 years ago. Took it off the frame and replaced every moving part. Since then I have bounced it off of every rock in New Mexico. It has outlasted two new pickups and a couple Jeeps. 

 

When the forces of nature have weathered the mountains to dust I will drive my Landcruiser in the flats. 

 

you are totally awesome Bob! I have neglected the forum for a while. My wife's cancer is spreading and there is nothing they can do, my oldest daughter is widowed and is here taking care of us both. I kid her and tell her when she gets old enough I will let her drive my FJ , kidding ? maybe maybe not. Just got me a 17.5' toy hauler to tow behind it. Expect a visit some time ? 

Max

"

[GotAU?]

18 minutes ago, Gilaoro2 said:

If you see one for sale take pictures and send them to me! If you see one for that price you even think is genuine by it for me!

Ok, the search is on.  When I find one, I’ll trade it for one of your maps, Max! 

[Gilaoro2]

Maps? What is a Map? 

[GotAU?]

11 minutes ago, Gilaoro2 said:

Maps? What is a Map? 

Hah, one of those! I worked once with a field tech where we had to make sketch maps of the site on our field report and he drew trees on our maps…  We were in the desert and there were only boulders there.

He also once took the offramp on 1-15 thinking it was the correct turnoff on his map… It was the runaway truck ramp and it took the paint off to the primer on the bottom of his doors and quarter panels!  …

[Bedrock Bob]

2 hours ago, GotAU? said:

Those are great vehicles. Are you keeping the stock engines on those? Why do so many people put other types in, the stock ones are so good.

Everything is stock. I have a Holley 2bbl. Carb, headers and a bit larger valves in ported heads but otherwise it is all factory.

It's snappy. Off road it will really sling the dirt. It will pull 36" of snow with the tires all chained up. So it has enough power to do whatever you need off road. 

It will go 80-85 down the highway but it is foolish. I never drive it over about 60 mph. and that is pushing things. But it will accelerate as fast as you can shift through the gears. 

The Chevy V8 conversions are popular. So is the Buick V-6. I have always ran the stock 2F engine in all mine. The old 69 was an "F" engine that only made 100 h.p. but it still roared down the road pretty good.

Mine is probably cranking out 135 h.p. with a pantload of torque. 

Honestly... I drive a 1998 Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0 litre 6 cyl. and auto trans. It is a MUCH better 4WD than the Land cruiser. But it isn't nearly as cool.

It climbs better, is faster, gets better mileage and is INFINITELY more comfortable than the FJ-40. Safer too. But the old loyal Toyota has always been my favorite ride