The Wagon Way

Curiosity or friends got you here so just what are we about. The Wagon Way site is two guys sharing and giving back to the wheeling community. We have been there, done that and are willing to tell you about it. We both owned FJ40’s at one time but these days we just happen to enjoy wheeling in wagons, wagons that are also daily drivers. Our wagon of choice is the 60 series Land Cruiser. Reliable, durable, easy to modify and built like a tank.

The site is about rock solid advice on what you can do with and in a wagon. It's a source for information, answers or a link to what you need. Technical know how that can be trusted without question. Inspiration for your own adventures, as you won’t believe the places you can put a wagon.

This is not a forum. While forums are full of good advice, they are also a risk for bad advice. The anonymity allows someone to spew out garbage all day and no one knows who they are and just what they really know. Here it is only real people with real names and years of practical experience. Everything on the site has been done to one or both of our rigs. And even though we both drive 60's you will find they are very different.

No one pays their way to get on here. We make mention of companies and individuals that we have dealt with and received good to great service from. And if we have been shafted by someone we will tell you that too. But probably with kind words so they don’t sue us. We will even give them a shot at redeeming themselves.

What’s in a wagon? Family, friends and my dog (who happens to be both). Wagons have plenty of room for others, they are inclusive, rather than exclusive. And to be honest you don’t even have to drive a wagon to find something of interest here on the site. Be sure to check back often for updates, edits and additional articles.

The Wagon Way is a mindset, a way to wheel and act, a philosophy if you will. But not one that is in your face.

There is a right way, a wrong way and The Wagon Way.


Eric Burch and Tony Konovaloff


-New Articles-

Tony’s Wagon Cave (aka the driveway)

While this thing won’t be updated daily I will try to put those little things in it that really are not worth a write up of their own.  Lump them together, let you chuckle at my expense for the latest dumb things I have to fix.

Oct 25

Skidplates

By Tony K

If you have ever crawled under a Land Cruiser you will have seen some sheetmetal that can best be described as gravel shields even if Toyota does call them skidplates.  If you are gonna hit the rocks you are going to need a decent skidplate and for us wagon guys that means fabrication.

Quarter Guards

By Tony K

Once I installed my rock sliders the next chink in the armor reared its ugly head.  Due to the long overhang on our wagons more sheetmetal is at risk for some serious carnage.  The rear quarters on a wagon need some protection if you are going to venture out into the rocks. 

Bumpers and Winch Mounts

By Tony K

Doesn’t really matter what style of bumper you run as long as it does what you want it to.  I like short minimal bumpers that rely more on me to keep my rig from running into things.  But my bumpers are more than stout enough to hit something and survive, on the road or in the rocks.  

-Front Bumper-

Rock Sliders

By Tony K

I had first thought about completely fabricating my own sliders, right up until I found out how cheap you could get them from Trail Gear.  Trail Gear sells a set of sliders that are designed for a mini truck that are the perfect size for our wagons, 67 inches which is just about perfect.  They are made from DOM tubing (which stands for Drawn Over Mandrel by the way, and yes I had to look it up myself).  DOM tubing is generally stronger than the same size of HREW tubing.  HREW tubing has a seam, just run you finger around inside and it will catch on the weld residue.  DOM tubing also has a seam but you can’t see it for the most part due to the manufacturing process.

  • Write Ups:

    Contains all of Wagon Way's articles organized by categories. We have over 160 articles with more being written all the time and almost 700 photo's scattered throughout the site. Just click on the subject below to open up the index


  • As seen in Toyota Trails!


    Various articles written here have been published in TLCA's Toyota Trails magazine and on their website. After roaming around our site, click on the magazines to visit TLCA.


  • Shop Corner:

    What's going on in our Wagon Caves?

    • Ben’s FJ60 Build
    • Tony’s Cave

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    Articles that have recently had additional info or images added to existing "Write Ups".