Are they worth it

[Rollie]

I figured this was the best place to start asking questions. Who would know better.
I've been reading this forum for days off and on. I have allot of questions. I'm sure I will have most of them answered at JV next week. If I build one it won't be for comp because I don't have time, cash and most of all my donor rig wouldn't meet class specs.
I do quite a few snow runs so I would need to put allot of work into a heater, windshield and body panels.

***The first question is will it be worth the time, cash and effort to build one just for a trail rig.

*** second question. Will I have as much storage as my truck.

*** How much weight can I expect to loose


HERE IS THE DONOR SPECIFICATIONS


Model/Year: Toyota, 1986 PU

Engine: 1994 22 RE

Tranny: G52 5sp* (soon to be R151f)

Transfer Case(s): Dual cases with 4.7 gears in rear case (soon to be all 23 spline)

Wheel Base: 106"

Front Axle & Gear: Linked, Tera 60r, ARB ,63.5 wm-wm, 5:38s, WB 2nd gen steel Knuckles, High stear, Crane Cs, 44 rotors, CTMs, 35 sp inner/outer Chrome-molly axles

Rear Axle & Gear: Tera 60r, 63.5"W wm-wm, ARB, 5:38s, ford disks & Rotors, 40 sp Moser gun barel bored axles

Front Springs: Linked with 170/250 sway-away coilovers

Rear Springs: linked with 110/200 sway-away coilovers

Stearing: Full Hydraulic, 3" ram

Tires & Rims: 42 Iroc. Weld Racing Wheels/ EVO Sidewinder model / Champion beadlocks

Frame Mods: Rears been cut off some

Body Mods: 15.25" bobed bed, Dove tailed flush with outside of frame

Other Mods:Welder, 10pt Cage, Front Range Crossmember and Skidplate, Ramsey winch, Rock lites, Optima yellow top, High Angle F d-line, WB custom .25 R d-line, Stainless braided brake lines, 2" Exhast, SR5 speedometer cluster

Future Mods: WHO KNOWS

Thanks

[Rollie]

One more ? can the gas tank stay in the stock position :D

[a2b]

you tend to lose about 1000 lbs. or more if you comparing it to a full bodied and exo caged, etc...

and is it worth it? thats up to you. have you ever wheeled a buggy? and not had to worry about all the panels and stuff....its sooo much more fun to me. i never want to be back in a bodied rig.

as far as a heater. mike has one in his. and i think someone else does to. i know those northern guys put in windsheilds. a buggy will not be as warm as a bodied rig but you can get it close. my exhaust heats my feet up real good.:laughing:

overall, things are alot tighter in a buggy, so you definetly dont have a full size yota bed in the back. but you do have enough room to fab in all sorts of storage everywhere. for example, i put my tanks right behind my seats. then from there back i made a bed. then i am going to trunk the whole thing in, and then the trunk lid will be strong enough to use as a rack to strap stuff to. thats more than enough storage for me. i didnt use that much on a 3 day trip last year thru dusy. and of course there's always the roof for storage.

[desertoy]

Rollie, have you considered an X-chassis? It is difinately more expensive than an F-Toy but you can keep your coilovers.

[Pook]

Rollie, have you considered an X-chassis? It is difinately more expensive than an F-Toy but you can keep your coilovers.

he could just fab mounts for his coilovers, if he's wanting to keep all his frame link mounts etc, to save time, and kept plenty warm. You may need to change the rear tubes above the tire for more clearance like ghetto wheeler did, depending on how high you mount the chassis. Mines 2" above the frame and made the cockpit more roomy and easier to mount my seats and stuff.

We have been using zip ties to attach a piece of lexan for windshield, has been working good and easily removeable. If you don't plan on a rear seat you have lots of storage room...and I can see no reason why you couldn't keep the tank in the stock spot. Plenty of room for a heater and you can go as far as you want on sealing the body up.

Going the ftoy route you'd be up and running again in no time as long as you stay to the plan of just throwing the cage on your rig and not changing all the suspension etc.

[Rollie]

Thanks for your respnces keep them coming it's allot of help.

As far as the X-chassis. I did look at them on the site. I like the lines a little better. I'm not rulling it out. The thing is I would have allot more work to do. And I really like how well my rig works now. I think I will re do my hoops and drop it down as much as I can tho.

Thats good news about the gas tank. Keep any comments you can think of coming. Feel free to stop by pirate camp at the jambo I'll wip up a margareta for you.

[desertoy]

You can also take your stock fuel tank and mount it sideways in the rear of the chassis. If you mount it low in the frame, you can make storage above it.

[camo]

windshields and heaters are for pussies :flipoff2: but they can easily be added to the Ftoy format for those with the gash...I mean cash :D

worth it ? I wish I still had mine. they are great trail rigs.


you can build in all the storage you would ever need in my opinion.

[GETTINTHERETOY]

Build it. We need more Central/Northern Calif Ftoys. The stock fuel tank is mounted sideways and low in mine and I plan on making a removable tray above it for tieing down extra camping gear. Right now I used a large rubbermade box mounted in the rear for day runs and overnight trips.

I have been on three snow runs this winter in mine. I think the fun I had overrode any chill I felt. As long as you dress somewhat waterproof you will be fine. And like someone said above you can enclose the interior as little or as much as you need.

[FYRDUDE]

I too am not competing with my F-toy. As a trail rig, it kicks arse. With your setup, you could ditch the body, use everything you have now and make it work. You could probably leave everything were it is on the toy frame and work around it. The coils wouldn't be a problem, just weld up some hoops to the chassis and away you go. Heater isn't a problem, my engine heat keeps me warm (plus a jacket):D You could always throw in one of those Mojave heaters from Summit. I am making a lexan windshield for mud and snow as well.

[FYRDUDE]

Forgot to mention that wheelin' in an F-toy is way better than a bodied toy. Narrow, light, no damage, etc. I've wheeled with comparable toys and non toy buggies and wheeled circles around them with the F-toy. I've done things that guys with "more well built" rigs were unable to do. Good luck.:smokin:

[chvyhs]

Couldn't you do a Formula Four? Just stretch your frame to you can get enough wheel base for the F Four. Lots more space in a Four seater.

[rickibrat2]

You could go with a formual 4 it would make a great trail rig i bet
and i think they are more for trail then racing any way

i have #58
i use it now on the trails around here getting use to it, and seeing what i can break here at home so i know thw weakness before going other places

so far the only thing to break was the Sky jacker springs, they bent like paper for no real reason, was backing up a tree to turn around and zip

have been back there this week with the new trail gear springs same lcation same thing no more bending of springs
and yes there was no anti warp bar at the time and still is not

right now still waiting on the new springs as the replace trail gear changed the way it sat and both spring set were suppose to be 5 overs
the trail gear really are

for cold weather i have 12 volt outlets by each seat so i can plug in bike riding suits to keep warm
and with the big gm one wire alternatory i have more then enought ampage to run heated suits and every thing else oon the rig

[benttoy]

The Trail Gear springs are the way to go it takes a bit to break them in tho

[am4x4]

As far as the X-chassis. I did look at them on the site. I like the lines a little better. I'm not rulling it out. The thing is I would have allot more work to do. And I really like how well my rig works now. I think I will re do my hoops and drop it down as much as I can tho.

Just order an X-chassis with no lower frame or subframe and mount it like an f-toy. I don't remember who, but some one on here did it. Depending on where your links mount you might be able to get it without the front 3/4 of the lower frame but get the rear 1/4 so you have a tube back half.

Another crazy and slightly getto fab idea would be to get a full X-chassis and use the middle few feet of your frame rails where the links mount as the subframe.

[Rollie]

Thanks for all your help guys. I was able to check out allot of your rigs at JV. Nice shit. I hope to start something this winter.

[Brandon]

my mojave heater was a scorcher - and would work great in one of those..

[Mustard Dog]

my mojave heater was a scorcher - and would work great in one of those..

Air Ride has one of them, he says the same thing, they'll cook you right the fawk out of your rig.

[Stealthrunner]

hey rollie, talked with you a bit at the benders cleanup, build one man you won't regret it!!!!!! i'd really like to see an f-toy on the pirate videos.....POR II kicks ass!!!!!!!!!!

[YELLOWHOBO]

How can you not build one after the picture above? :smokin:

I have had a great time spotting for Matt's rig (#029) for 2 seasons now. I am a little mad at the front spring hanger that stabs every rock that I try and guide him thru... with this said...

I have also had a great time on the trail with him where nothing on the trail can even touch that F-toy. You will always have to take the difficult section of the fork just to have fun.

Hobie's right, you pretty much don't have to worry!