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
By Tony and Eric
Pulling a tranny in the woods? Just how to make this happen started out as a conversation where we went back and forth for about an hour trying to find an easy way to do this with only the gear in the rig should you ever have to do this.
For us, the epitomy of Land Cruiser design is the 60 series wagon. It doesn’t look like a car, truck or any other rig on the road. While being a wagon it does pay tribute to it’s past with several design details that come straight from the 40 series. Just look at the raised center section of the hood and the lines on the front fenders.
By Tony and Eric
These are just some of those things we have proven to ourselves over the years and on the trail. We will keep adding to this list as things come up or if we hear of a good one from a fellow wheeler.
Gears are more important than horsepower.
On the rocks, lockers are more important than tires.
In the mud, tires are more important than lockers
By Tony K
Don’t let anybody fool you, welding is not that hard to learn how to do. Frequently all it takes is someone to show you the basics and get you started. You don’t have to know all kinds of theory or go to a tech school , all you need is a little guidance to get started. If you are hesitant to believe me, I taught my 70 year old mother to arc weld in less than an hour. She had a piece of art she had always wanted to make and it was the perfect opportunity to learn. I also taught her how to use a cutting torch which I happen to think is even harder to do than arc welding.
Day 1 of Rubicon 2010, I hear and feel an occasional clanking sound coming from up front. Now the first thing that comes to mind is a broken birf, and that would not be the first for me. As I press on to catch up to our trail leader, Don, I get out to asses the situation. What I see definitely stands out, my driver front spring hangar is about 6-10 inches below the frame rail. It was a clean break, right at the weld, or lack of weld I will say. These spring hangars are not welded on how I would have thought. Only a few short spots around the edge and thats it. Not even a center rivet helps attach it to the frame.
