OK, I'll go out on a limb here...
I am an avid Toy enthusiast.
I don't fancy Jeep stuff, and harass my hunting buddy
at every opportunity (as I help him build it up).
But I think that XJ/Toy/Commanche-like hybrid
is extremely cool and very clean.
Good work!

So....
Think it's still titled as a Cherokee? That's not right...

I have to admit, it looks very clean and fit together well.

After reading the whole thread, two, no, three observations.

One, still looks like a Toyota. I like the way they praised the wheel base.

Two, he got D44's for it...Toyota would have been better, but he was concerned about width. I guess nobody told him about spacers.

Three, I thought several were gonna blow a gasket over Toyota guys criticizing. We are " asses ", "pricks", and a few other choice adjectives. I , for one, will take the hi road.

Definitly looks like a capable off road rig. Seems like quite a bit of fabrication and work for SAS and coil suspension but if it works why not. Any ramp test info on it yet?

Can't get past the jeep grill on Toyota cab though, something about it just makes me feel wierd.
Are they really that close?
I just sold an XJ to my buddy and it seemed wider in some of the tight trails we commonly visit.
Must be the lift on my Toy. Jeep sat stock and popped mirrors off all the time. Mine rarely even get folded back.

Hey stuff happens.. sometimes for good reason... if you've already built a good off road chassis...

I saw a Toyota truck extended cab body sitting an an early Bronco chassis at Paragon last week. (sorry no pics!)

Early Bronco bodies in good condition are getting harder to come by and at least one guy from the early bronco group has pulled his Bronco body off his off roader to save it for use as a restored street Bronco...

He said the Toyota truck extended cab body has plenty of room and since he muds a lot, he needed a tight body...

Restored Broncos (and rising prices likely to happen).. MEB meet at Paragon 6/8-9/06

Very creative, and very nice work! I don't think anyone noticed your login name and "1 post" and made the connection that you built this rig. Again...nice work!

Maybe the guy one the lottery, before he received the winning ticket he was a top notch body man/gear head. I would like to think this is how this guy came to build his little monster, the alternative makes me a litte queezy. He also may have just gone through a divorce and this is his litte middle finger to the world....
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />

Cool, i'm starting to get a little support here on this forum.

Long rant starts;

Look, I'm a big fan of Toyota trucks and I've owned a couple. My intent on this project was not to defile Toyotas in any way. True I didn't have to put the jeep front clip on. But there were several reasons for it. There's the unique Cherokee radiator that is wide and short. There's the lamps, wiring, grille, that I had for the Cherokee but not for the Toyota. Then there's the fact that this vehicle is mostly a Jeep. Didn't seem right to try and pass it off as a Toyota. And I get to have a totally unique vehicle.


The only problem I ever had with Toyota 4x4 trucks, is when they are equipped with a 4 cyclinder engine. You just can't run big tires and still be able to do 55mph + on the mountain highway passes.

Generally I prefer foreign made vehicles. Usually the engineering is better, the durability is better, and they have better economy. But all manufacturers have their strong points, and their weaknesses

For those that think that anything that is made by Jeep (or whatever brand you may hate) is junk. You're just being close minded and unrealistic.



I wanted the best of both worlds..

A full frame but not a full size truck. I wanted to keep it light and still have good ground clearance.

A little wider wheel base than mid-size trucks come with stock

Room and power to turn 35" to 38" tires on the highway and off highway ('cause I didn't want to buy another truck and trailer to haul it to the trails).

A wheel base at least 105" (I ended with 111").

Reliability and most important of all...

I wanted to build it cheap



I know, you don't believe the cheap part.

Well almost everything I used came from my 1987 Cherokee that I rolled. It had a 4.0 6cyl. fuel injected engine with good torque and power, that used no oil, a 4 spd automatic transmision known for good durability, a long arm 4-link coil front suspension, Good exhaust system, and rear Detroit locker and front True-trac LS. (yeah they were the weak Dana 35 and 30 but I knew I could get some use out of them before I upgraded axles).
If I didn't use those parts I would have had to spend alot more for a good reliable drivetrain. So I looked around considered every vehicle that I could make a truck/buggy out of. I didn't find many options under 2 grand until I found the Toyota cab and frame. It had already been stripped of engine, trans, dash and wiring, rear diff., etc. The only thing left was the cab, doors, fenders, frame, and front IFS & suspension. But the price was right.

I paid $150 for the Toyota.

I spent several hundred on steel and a few hundred on tubing and couple hundred on misc. parts, welding supplies, etc. I got the paint donated and paid my painter a couple of hundred. About $2,400 spent including the tires.

Of 'course the labor hours spent on the project were astronomical. Probably about 550 hours to date.

But I was going to build a rig no matter what. And it doesn't feel like work to me when I do a project like this. It's alot of fun building your own rig and of course I enjoy the unique factor of this project.



I considered different options

So would it have been alot easier to find a V6 Toyota?

Not with a solid axle front and probably could not build it the way I wanted it, for under $10,000.00. And probably just as much work.


How about a V8 conversion in an older Toyota solid axle?

Possible, but by the time all the drivetrain is upgraded and body work and tubing built. Probably at least $10,000.00 and just as much work.


In conclusion, when you consider my unique situation of having a already reliable drive train.

I ended up with a very capable off road rig that still drives on the highway good and pulls the mountain passes with little trouble.

Total investment including all the money spent on my 1987 XJ in the 2 years I owned it. About 10 grand. (and take into account that I would have lost about 6 grand on the XJ if I would have just parted it out)

So I spent out of pocket since 10/2/05 $4,000.00. Any other option would have required $8,000.00 or more out of pocket.

I am currently building a pair of Dana 44's with lockers and 4.88's and that will make the rig extremely durable.( another $2,000.00 spent on this)

And here's what it currently looks like


So I have my flame suit on and I can take the heat.

But i'll wheel with any of you and keep up with most of you. Lets all have fun on the trails, whatever we drive or build.

Peace,
Terry

Aw, shucks... no worries. Don't take it hard.
I think its a cool truck.
And as stated, I am partial to Toys.

Oh, and on the underpowered motor thing... there are cures for that that don't involve Ameri.. uh, German iron. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />
But the 4.0 is fine for wheelin'.

Se ya on the trail!

well, just cause i havent posed on this thread yet....

i wouldnt have personally done it, but im also not in the same situation.

honestly, the ending product is damn cool. you can tell a lot of fabrication went into it, and it dosent look like a half-assed project. nice work!