By Tony Konovaloff
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.
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-
Tools for the Trail
By Tony Konovaloff
The next time you work on your rig, set aside the tools you use during the repair. You would be surprised by how few of the tools in your kit are actually used. I sometimes think you could disassemble a Land Cruiser with only a phillips screwdriver, 10, 12 and 14mm sockets and a hammer. Even a Birf replacement on the trail is a job that doesn’t take all that many tools to actually do. But I have to admit I am chicken to carry such a small set of tools. I will also admit that I do carry too many tools on the trail. I think the point of this is to try and determine just what tools I really need to carry or if there are some I can leave behind.
About my Tires
By Tony Konovaloff
Its time to buy new tires and I thought you might like to hear what I am thinking while I look. This is just about all my options. First and foremost is just what I am putting the tires on. I drive a BJ 60 with a 5 speed running through 4.88 gears in the axles. The gears will allow me to run taller tires. But not too tall. Without moving the axles to the other side of the springs, I am limiting myself to 33 or 34’s. I have heard of people running taller tires but I just don’t think it would be practical on my rig. Another thing I like is that 33’s and the gears I run put the speedometer just about right on.
Recovery Gear
By Tony Konovaloff
Just what recovery gear you are going to pack mostly depends on how your rig is set up as well as how you intend to use it. If you want to stick with dirt tracks and camping in mostly fair weather there is not that much you have to drag along. At a minimum I feel that a Hi-lift, tow strap and a shovel are mandatory as well as tow points on the rig front and rear. Not that many situations that these won’t be of help. If on the other hand you want to go hardcore there are a few more things you should take along. Another thing to consider is if you always have capable help with you or do you stick to yourself.
Spring Under, Spring Over
By Tony Konovaloff
There is no doubt that a spring over rig has a very cool stance when you look at it. You just may want that for your rig but do you need it. And you have to be honest with yourself and admit there is a drastic difference between wants and needs. Like I have said many times, how you wheel your rig should be the main factor in determining any changes you want to make to it.