1988 TOYOTA FJ62 LANDCRUISER
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Now beware people...this is a Yota that actually gets used. You'll be hard pressed to find another truck, let alone a toyota on this site that does what this cruiser can off pavement. If this is alarming, exit now and view someone else's "blingin chrome show ride." Otherwise, enjoy this ride...
I also take pride in fact that this is a continuingly updated page with a long timeline and some interesting facts along with advice i've learned along the way. If anything, my page is more inclusive and overall entertaining than others. So, once again, enjoy.
UPDATE: The cruiser is gettin' gutted out right now...carpet replaced with pond liner, new electrical components in the starting system and new starter...can't wait to ride out after this!
The new starter is in...it's actually a factor toyota forklift starter! Almost equivalent to a mean green starter, it'll turn the engine bone dry full of sand! Rubberized the floor of the cruiser, waintin to purchase liner.
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Here's the most recent pic...it's got 35 mickey's sitting on the rear axle and the tranny hangin' along with the inside torn to pieces. Working hard on it, so it can keep workin hard for me.
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Ok...this is different, but i realized putting the updated pics up front was much more appealing, especially to those who might have viewed this page more than once. If ya feel like, sign the guestbook on your way out. So starting from the top, here's the most recent trip:
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just thought i'd make a note while updating my page...it's dec 1st and i havent been wheeling in my cruiser in 11 months, save for one trip in Lake Wales, FL to retrieve my brothers T100 from obliteration!
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Jan. 1st, 06, Richloam w/ special guest, my stepbrother from GA!
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His 93 T100 is now ready for action...sitting on 35 Baja Claws with 5 1/2" of homemade lift. The first pic is of a traditional exercise when wheeling with me...ridin on da roof!
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First stuck of the day...funny thing was i tried driving back through that same hole and wound up no better than him!
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DEC. 23RD, 05...DESTINATION: OCALA FOREST
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Anyone who said you can't find nothing good in the ONF obviously hasn't taken me. Drove 100 miles offroad that Friday! Here, I'm in a "no motorized vehicle" pond, ruttin' it up, then 2nd i'm coming down a hill in one of the supposed "bomb craters."
The cruiser is waving to ya.
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Shots in my driveway after a night of mudhole fun in Lakeland. One of six vehicles to traverse the mud abyss...other five trucks were sportin 42's or bigger!
My undercarriage caked with mud and more.
More pics from post-saturday night mudhole chaos...this time at Bubba's Mud Ranch in Adale, with the Boggers.
My Grandma and the cruiser, right after the Spring Over Lift with the 33" SSRs.
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HWY 540...Polk County Parkway land in Lakeland
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This is just one pic of the cruiser out there...bout 10,000 acres to roam on. Couple cool spots due to huge construction trucks tearing it all up.
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On the right, me standing at the rear of the Landbruiser; notice the logo on the back window...classic.
The Spring-Over Suspension Lift
My steering in shambles during the spring over build-up.
My front end during the process...notice my old set of 33X12.50 SSRs laying the floor.
My wife driving the cruiser way back when it only had 2 1/2" of lift and sat on the 33X12.50 SSRs. She's in a swamp in Poinciana I like to rut up time from time.
My wife at work again behind our old apartment, only this time washing the mess...more mudhole results. My American Pitt-Terrier "Bruizer" looks on from a distance.
Wedding Reception Pics (NO JOKE!)
The above series of pics were taken during my wedding reception. Myself, the bestman, groomsman, usher, and 3 other guests went along for the ride throught Poinciana's nightime wilderness. The folks still partying at the reception could watch us since one of the huge ditches was basically the home's backyard. The usher, Club White's President Cody Harvey, rode on the roof the entire time, but oddly enough i have no pics of the feat.
I did in fact get stuck, at the end of the journey in a saturated sugar sand washout ditch, leaving my suspension almost completely articulated as shown. Wet, sugar-sand that continues to slosh and give way (due to all our recent hurricanes) is worse than soupy mud, especially if you have no locker. I do intend of acquiring a locker however, and possibly a limited slip for the front axle as well. My father-in-law (of all people!!!) had to pull me out with his F-350.
POINCIANA UNLEASHED
For everyone who doesn't live in Polk County, Poinciana is our "Ocala Forest." Only less trees and more swamps. But it happens to be #2 on my list of local fave spots, second only to the legendary "K-Ville Area." However, due to extreme housing development, this area is now a big No-Go.
My brother managed to sink his T100 in this swamp. To the right is the in-the-cab view of Cody having to use key positioning to avoid falling off the hood into the water. Luckily for him my brother Matt had just installed his bumper guard before this outing. The Landbruiser got him out, no prob.
The above two pictures are our "hook-up specialists," Cody & Chris, doing their jobs. Notice Chris in the shorts is wearing house slippers...
My brother got stuck a second time...bottomed out on some deep ruts. His undercarriage was pretty soiled.
The Landbruiser finally got finished off at the end of the day. The ironic part was that i made it through twice before, only this time we got out the video cam to get some good shots...so much for that idea. Advice- Don't try to follow a John Deere Tractor anyways.
Cruiser Specs
Original 4.0L I-6, w/ 199,000...Just finished rebuilding at 195,000...head, gaskets, fluids, and everything else in there.
4.88 Sierra Gears in the axles
Rear Lockright Locker
Replaced & Rebuilt A440f Tranny/Transfer
Cat-Back Duals
Lift (All Suspension, Body is for posers)
2 1/2" Add-A-Leaf, Rough Country
4" Rearch Springs
6" Spring-Over
Yeah, do the math...12 1/2" of total lift!!!
Time to Learn: Rearching springs is temporary...I knew this, but had it done anyhow. The current lift has settled to 10 1/2"...still plenty!
Tires (lotta history w/ these...)
31X10.50 Trail Rebels, 33X12.50 Swamper SSRs, 33X12.50 Boggers, 16/35 Boggers, 38X15.50 TrXus, 33X12.50 BFG MT, and currently: 37X12.50 Swamper SSRs on 15X10 Alcoa's. Right now though, my rear passenger tire is a 38X12.50 TSL Bias! HAHA
My tire experience: Boggers are the best, hands down...Hawgs, Gumbos, TSLs...nahhh. But if you drive on pavement more than offroad, the Swamper SSRs are your best bet. One of the few 40,000 mile rated Mud tires...plus they still dig like hell!
Dual Rancho Steering Stablizers
K&N Air Filter
MSD Super Conductor 8.5mm Plug Wires
Hi-Lift Jack
Custom Titanium Alloy Shackles
Mile Marker Locking Hubs 
WORD OF ADVICE!!! The Bosch 4X platinum plugs are a rip...no plug should have more than a single spark piece. For those of you who know this, laugh it up.
Also: Mile Markers and Warn Hubs don't compare to the factory AISIN Cruiser hubs...never replace, just rebuild! FACT!!!
My father's cruiser on the left, the pewter 96 FZJ80...the white one is a 92 FJ80 that was his, i bought, fixed up a lil bit, and then sold a month later.
This is my brother's 4X4, a 93 Toyota T100. It is has the 3.0L V-6, 5-Speed Manual, 31X10.50's, and 4.56 gears (all stock photo...see pics at beginning for new look).
Here you see my mother's 4X4, a 95 Toyota 4Runner. If somehow you haven't guessed it yet, we're a Toyota family. 
My cruiser next to a 78 FJ40 Landcruiser on 37X13.50 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws with 15X14 Eagle Alloys
The Landbruiser...next to the cleanest Cruiser in Florida, Mr. Walker's 89' FJ62. You can catch a glimpse of his at his detail shop in Winter Haven, Mr. Detail. Notice the height difference between stock and mine, noting I only have the 33X12.50 Boggers in this pic!
Photos from TRU Offroad Christmas Party. This was an obstacle course built on Mike Giles' property to play in during the festivities on Dec. 11th. It proved how much I need a rear locker & that Toyota's are more durable than jeeps. I was one of only 2 vehicles to escape w/o breaking anything.
CAMPING AT INVERNESS
In March we went on our maiden voyage with the FLCA to Inverness, FL. About 25 cruisers showed up for the event. This also happened to be my daughter's first experience camping.
I was driving over a tree underneath the water.
The remains of someone's automobile...served as my articulation ramp. Not bad for Leafsprings, eh? Unfortately, this being only the 2nd vehicle I've ever driven on top of, my front passenger side swamper had a gash cut into its sidewall the size of my fist. "W.I.P. (wheel in peace)"
UPDATE!!! I'm welding the tire back together! No Joke!!! It will live to wheel again!
Update: didn't weld it back together again...no one crazy enough here to do it. Fact: it is possible through plastic welding with a specifically matched rubber rod and a skilled fabricator to weld a tire back together. Popular practice in other states, just not in FL.
This WAS our tow vehicle for the cruiser, formerly my ex-wife's daily driver. It's an '03 Toyota Tundra, Limited, with the TRD Offroad package, Iforce v-8, 5 speed tranny; the cadillac of trucks. I hauled a single-wide mobile home with it, no kiddin! Talk 'bout oversized load! Quite a sight with the cruiser on my trailor behind it.
Our new tow vehicle is one to be reckoned with...a beast of trucks: 2004 Dodge 2500 Heavy Duty, with none other than the Cummins Diesel w/ 325 Hp &610lbs of torque...& yes, it is the HIGH OUTPUT Cummins. Eat that Ford and Chevy. Four wheel drive, SLT, Quad Cab. Oh yeah...that's wuh I'm talkin' bout!
Alas, I like to truthfully update my page and watch the timeline over the years that I've kept this webpage running. The dodge is gone, no longer in my possession. It was sold due to my ending my lucrative hauling business (like an idiot, lol). The Landbruiser is the wheels now...along with my other car, an 83 Mercedes 240D Diesel!
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Believe me, the Shortstick in the Dodge gets Used Too
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These are photos taken in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee...my ex-wife was working while my daughter and I were playing!
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People who like wheelin' buy Jeeps.
People who are serious bout wheelin' buy Landcruisers.
People who want to drive straight up walls buy Unimogs.
This is my life, my absolute pride and joy, the one & only love of my life that far surpasses the Landbruiser, my daughter Annabelle. She's everything to me.
The only thing I love more than my cruiser is my family. Annabelle is almost 2 1/2 years old in this photo that I took. She used to drink her bottle and sleep while we wheeled (lightly) when she was just an infant!
"We're a generation of men raised by women...is another woman what we really need???"
"There are those who make things happen, watch things happen, and then those who wonder 'what just happened?'"
