If you were going to do a buildup and needed to be able to seat six, what truck would you use as a basis? I can think of a few offhand that seat six+, but of course size matters, and I wouldn't want to start with something that's so big it won't fit on most trails (ie. burb, excursion.)

scrambler with a roof rack andtwo seats in the back

i believe there was a thread similar to this a few weeks ago. You may want to do a search. An Excursion could be way cool if done right. An early 90s land cruiser may fit the bill, i'm not sure exactly which years were good.

-Steve

old four door chev truck cab, lose the bed and move the rear axle as far forwards as possible.

I did search, didn't find anything. I may be a newbie, but I'm not THAT dumb. ;)

I'd REALLY prefer three rows, I'm a big guy and three across is pretty tight.

What about a Durango? Decent amount of lift, SAS, lose the plastic bumpers and steps, etc etc. Something along those lines.

You said you wanted 3 rows, but do you have to carry 6 peoples stuff with you or just smush 6 people in for the trial ride? If you have to take everyones stuff I would sudjest the mid eighties landcruiser, or a range rover. I wouldn't go for the durango, they really are allot bigger then they look, and your gonna have to pretty much fab averything for it. If you don't have to carry everyones stuff I would go for a toyota 4-runner or a jeep cherokee with an extra seat stuck in the far back.

Seems like you could take many of the current 4 seater vehicles out there and add a Jeep rear seat in the cargo area for the addition seating for two....

84-89 4Runner, Jeep Scrambler, etc....

With two huge bench seats this will seat 6

shortened 72 suburban with 2 bench seats. ha ha

There is a land Rover Disco all coil,3.25:1 low range stock, FF rear axle,100" WB,no rust alum body, and they seat seven with the rear jump seat set up.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=395907

:barf: :barf: :barf: :barf: :barf: :rainbow:

Originally posted by Old Scout
With two huge bench seats this will seat 6

I'm with the folks recommending the FJ80 Land Cruiser... A great full-frame truck with a *lot* of aftermarket parts which make it a killer trail runner. The only caveat being that rear jump seats suck up all the cargo room, and are only for the kids. Of course with a decent full roof rack... :D

The price for used ones has absolutely dropped bottom, making me wish I wasn't building up my FJ60 so much...

screw that! get a K5 Blazer!

Originally posted by teknalee
screw that! get a K5 Blazer!

I thought he said "trail vehicle" not "tree catcher". :D

FJ-80 would get my vote. Coil sprung solid axles front and rear. Available with factory selectable e lockers front and rear. Seating for 7. Lots of aftermarket parts. Easy to throw in new coils and shocks, slap on some 35"s and wheel the crap out of it...

Not to be anal retentive, but you mean FZJ80 Land Cruiser. The FJ80 designation refers to 1991-1992 models, which were powered by the anemic 3FE engine, didn't have lockers, etc..

1993-1997 FZJ80's are powered by the 1FZ-FE engine, which is a more powerful inline-6. They come *stock* with SAS, FF rear axle, 4.11 gears, disk brakes all around, coil suspension, lots of interior goodies. Front and rear electric lockers were a fairly common option, and there is a pretty good aftermarket for them. There is even a supercharger option that adds serious power.

With minimum modifications, you could have one of these capable trucks running 35-37's, driving thousands of miles, wheeling it pretty hard, then driving it back home with plenty of room for six people.

Originally posted by Old Scout
With two huge bench seats this will seat 6


Old Scout is that your Wagonmaster?

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=395845

I'd bob this one, lift it a bit, a 3rd row(?), full cage and open, & 38.5s or 42s ... :D

NO! I'm not :rainbow: and it wouldn't be a :barf: rig either!! :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

I don't wanna be just another rig amongst the others. Dare to be different peoples!:rasta: Once the build up is done, you'll see what I'm about. :p

:fj: GET A PIG :fj: GET A PIG :fj:

Toyota FJ-55

People will stare, mothers will grab their children.

My blazer seats 6 right now (and still has a lot of room to spare!). I have thought about putting in a van seat in the rear (behind the back seat)...then it would seat 9 (or 6 w/ 2 people in each seat). 104" WB...not much longer than a toy! I would never want to ride in a side facing fold down seat...it just don't feel right to me.

Wow... lots of opinions. :D

Few things... I currently wheel a fullsize Bronco (tree catcher ;)), so a Durango while a little longer (10-15") is actually shorter and narrower. :) If I DO decide to chop up a Durango someday, I know it'd be a lot of fab work, but hey, that's half the fun.

Jumpseats? YOU want to sit in a jumpseat for an 8 hour trip? I agree with Triaged on this one.

One option obviously would be to just replace my buckets with a bench, and lose the storage space/etc. that's up front. I had a Bronco with a bench before, and I don't think a bench seat is real comfortable... but it would work.

The biggest thing is that something newer is going to have more comfortable rear seats, A/C, etc. I'd like to have more air to the rear seats in my Bronco as it is, if I put a third seat in the back it'd be pretty stuffy.

Anyway, thanks very much for the ideas, at this point it'd be at least a few years away anyway, so I'm in no hurry.

Brian, you didn't say if it was six adults you want to seat, or are some children? I don't think there are any vehicles smaller than a Suburban or Excursion where you can take six full-size adults for an 8-hour trip in any degree of comfort...maybe one of those gigantic International Travelalls? Not the most agile wheelers, though....

I still think a 1993-1997 FZJ80 Toyota Land Cruiser is a pretty good deal; for the amount of features, the overall wheeling capabilities, and the excellent aftermarket support. And even then, the third row seats, while they can seat a full-size adult, are best for children on long trips.

Two adults, four children, some in car seats. #3 is on the way, #4 is a possibility. ;)

And no worries, they'll all grow up RIGHT :usa:, unlike many I see these days. :mad3: but that's another topic.

I'll add the TLC to the list, thanks. Sounds like it would be a more complete baseline to work from.

Brian, check out:

www.sleeoffroad.com

for more information on the model series, aftermarket support, etc...

Good luck with the little ones!:usa:

Originally posted by 60seriesguy
Brian, check out:

www.sleeoffroad.com


$1650.00 for a bumper and tire carrier!:eek: :eek:

DAM that makes Rover suff look cheap!

Get a four seater and build an offroad cart for the older kids. Thats what i'm doing.

Originally posted by 60seriesguy
Not to be anal retentive, but you mean FZJ80 Land Cruiser. The FJ80 designation refers to 1991-1992 models, which were powered by the anemic 3FE engine, didn't have lockers, etc..

1993-1997 FZJ80's are powered by the 1FZ-FE engine, which is a more powerful inline-6. They come *stock* with SAS, FF rear axle, 4.11 gears, disk brakes all around, coil suspension, lots of interior goodies. Front and rear electric lockers were a fairly common option, and there is a pretty good aftermarket for them. There is even a supercharger option that adds serious power.

With minimum modifications, you could have one of these capable trucks running 35-37's, driving thousands of miles, wheeling it pretty hard, then driving it back home with plenty of room for six people.

You know I noticed my mistake after I had posted, but I figured everyone would know what I was talking about and no one would call me on it, no need to edit. Little did I know the anal retentiveness in 60seriesguy runs very deep! ;)

Ok, I'm impressed. Spent a little time poking around the net, I think an FJZ80 would fit pretty well. One thing tho - I can't find good interior pictures anywhere, especially of the seating arrangement. Got anything?

You could buy a 76-80 Scout II "Traveler" with COMFY seating for 6.

Two captains' chairs up front, two just behind it, and either two more buckets, or a bench for the third row.

It's 118" WB.

If the rear overhang is an issue for you.. BOB IT. You can take about 18" out of the rear of the body, make it 1/4 eliptic, still have room for a gas tank, AND... when you re-stitch the back half back on, you can put a standard 100" Scout II hardtop (or soft-top) on it.

You'd have zero interior cargo room with the three row seating though. Probably about as much interior cargo room as your average EB!

Lots of room for a dual t'case setup underneath.

Throw a full width 44/60 combo (or 60/60!) under it and it'll be stable, SOA, and still have a narrower body.

You could then use the 100" top and a roof-rack to stow some extra gear.

Toy Pickup Longbed

Cut the back out of the cab and the front of the bed, put in 2 rows of seats in the bed, add a full cage, and you're all set! Much cheaper than an FZJ-80, you won't be afraid to dent it up :D

JZ had a E350 van with D60 Front, 10.25 rear. It would hold 6-7 pilots + lots of gear and cooler plus a driver, and like 10 hang gliders on the roof. (some spares) I've seen it carry team green up some wicked ass roads...when it wasn' t vapor locking or breaking axles.

Vans suck for about half of what you need to do to an engine though, and of course they do help keep trails clear of nearby and overhanging branches.

Jimmy Jacks WAY long Scrambler, i can't find pics but some else would have some

Just buy another Bronco, EB?, and teach the wife how to 'wheel! 2 rigs are always better than 1!

Originally posted by welndmn
Jimmy Jacks WAY long Scrambler, i can't find pics but some else would have some

If he ends up going Heep, i would vote for the CJ-6, not the CJ-8...

With a little luck, I'll have an answer for you one of these days. Just bought 4WD #4, which will please my wife to no end. Parts rig toy truck, the plan is to kinda trekker-ize it and see how many seats fit without getting stupid. My goal is to have reasonably comfortable seating for my three kids.

BTW, three RCI style poly seats total 63", which is as wide as the bench seat in my Dodge Ram. I want something along those lines. I was eyeing the older 4runners, as that bench is nice and wide but the more I thought about it it just seemed like it would reallys suck to be the kid in the middle when things get interesting.

I have seen some dunebuggy designs somewhere that had three rear seats that were somewhat staggered. Two back with space in the middle for a footwell, with a third seat in back, and I could swear that I saw a setup with a seat kind of behind where a console would sit, with two rear seats a bit farther back. Hmmm.

Originally posted by bsoder
Ok, I'm impressed. Spent a little time poking around the net, I think an FJZ80 would fit pretty well. One thing tho - I can't find good interior pictures anywhere, especially of the seating arrangement. Got anything?

Suburban.............a real tree catcher...............ever seen 'Titanic' from ColoradoK5? Serious wheeler at Tellico and it seated 9. Lift it high enough, forget about body damage and it will go places in comfort. Or a K5 with a bench seat.

Didn't say if comfort mattered..........if so, go big. If not, go tiny and cramp up...........I'm 6'4" and nothing but fullsize works for me.

I guess the easiest solution would be a bench seat in the front of my Bronco, three across front and back. There just isn't enough room behind the rear seat for another set of seats.

Oh well, it's all down the road anyway... mabye it'll be time for a different truck at that point. :)

Originally posted by BlazzinOR


Suburban.............a real tree catcher...............ever seen 'Titanic' from ColoradoK5? Serious wheeler at Tellico and it seated 9. Lift it high enough, forget about body damage and it will go places in comfort. Or a K5 with a bench seat.

Didn't say if comfort mattered..........if so, go big. If not, go tiny and cramp up...........I'm 6'4" and nothing but fullsize works for me.
Titanic was some serious entertainment. I watch Steve run it up Slick rock. Did a wheel stand as he launched up. Seeing 20 ft of Sub with all four 42's spinning and rear up like that was amazing. Then he came around the low side and hit a tree trunk laying on the ground. Caught right above the tail light and some poor bastard was sitting on the other end and got lauched! hahaha.
That was the only truck I saw make it up Slick rock that morning.
Titanic is no more. It's had the running gear stripped and is getting a S10 Blazer body.

Originally posted by Screwzer
:fj: GET A PIG :fj: GET A PIG :fj:

Toyota FJ-55

People will stare, mothers will grab their children.

I agree.

http://community.webshots.com/rz/r1/3/55/84/16735584tSAmXiYlBB_ph.jpg

This bad boy could sit 5 easy and 6 if you squeezed. Hell of a fun rig to drive cause everybody had no clue what it was. Never should have gotten rid of her. Can you belive I sold it for $1000 and a $300 Tatoo. Someday I'm getting her back :flipoff2: :flipoff2: