BajaNomad - For fans of new Jeep pickup concept photos:

For fans of new Jeep pickup concept photos:

David K - 3-28-2012 at 11:14 AM

The return of the Forward Control Jeep Truck!

From: http://uncrate.com/stuff/jeep-mighty-fc-concept/

Cypress - 3-28-2012 at 11:21 AM

Nice! Would like a larger bumper. What's that little dumpling gonna cost? :tumble:

Barry A. - 3-28-2012 at 11:31 AM

NICE-------but how do you get into it (at our age?)

Barry

Cypress - 3-28-2012 at 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
NICE-------but how do you get into it (at our age?)

Barry

Good point!

DENNIS - 3-28-2012 at 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
NICE-------but how do you get into it (at our age?)

Barry

I think you'll have to roll into it from the back.

Anybody have a price yet?

vgabndo - 3-28-2012 at 01:06 PM

It looks like it would air-down and go LOTS of places. But, those are plastic fake bead locks right?

For me the hole in the hub cap would be foothold #1, 10 o'clock on the tire #2. and pivot my butt into the seat hoping my hand holds on the door didn't swing me around backwards and drop the back of my head on that bar over the driving lights! :?:

I wonder how many reasonably sized, fuel efficient, 4x4, soccer mom, family camp-out, half a cord of firewood hauling vehicles they could have designed for the same money. Aren't these the same forward thinking folks who tried to sell Hummers to people living in 90210?

[Edited on 3-28-2012 by vgabndo]

David K - 3-28-2012 at 02:53 PM

It would make an awesome 4X4 motorhome platform! Hey Art!!! :wow:

LaPazGringo - 3-28-2012 at 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
It would make an awesome 4X4 motorhome platform! Hey Art!!! :wow:

Totally agreed. I was prepared to roll my eyes at yet another photoshopped pic. While I think it looks awesome and would be great to build on, it'd be hard to pass on estanlished technology to go with a first-gen product.

David K - 3-28-2012 at 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaPazGringo

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
It would make an awesome 4X4 motorhome platform! Hey Art!!! :wow:

Was established 55 years ago (1957)...

From Jeep.com (Discover Jeep History link)

Jeep® FC-170 Story

In a bold departure from previous designs, Willys Motors unveiled its highly-maneuverable Forward-Control (FC) series of Jeep® four-wheel drive trucks. These highly maneuverable workhorses featured a unique cab-over-engine design gave them a hoodless, flat-nose appearance. While its "cab forward" styling had little in common with traditional Jeep vehicle body design, the FC-170 was actually built on top of the existing CJ-5 chassis.

Essentially work trucks - the cab-over-engine Jeep vehicles came in two models: an 81-inch wheelbase FC-150 with a four-cylinder F-head engine, and the 103.5 inch wheelbase for the FC-170 with a six-cylinder L-head engine.

Both models included pickup, stake bed, chassis & cab, and assorted specialty editions, with the FC-170 also available in a heavy-duty dual-rear-wheel version.

"More cargo space! On less wheelbase! And goes 'anyplace'!" claimed FC ads of the time. And indeed,
with the FC-150/170, workers and farmers had a vehicle that could go virtually anywhere (due to its eighteen-foot turning radius) while also hauling a load.

The FCs were remarkably convenient trucks-their unusually low beds making them easy to load and unload-that enjoyed popularity in foreign markets.

They were virtually unchanged throughout their production
runs, save 1959 when the FC-170 received HD rear springs, which increased GVW to a max. 8,000 pounds: additionally, a few '67 170s were offered with dual rear wheels and a four-speed manual transmission option that bumped GVW up to
9,000 pounds; some '59-'60 FCs came with full-floating front and rear axles as well.

mtgoat666 - 3-28-2012 at 03:12 PM

VW did it better:

[Edited on 3-28-2012 by mtgoat666]

LaPazGringo - 3-28-2012 at 03:16 PM

A Jeep FC-170 is as close to the above pictured concept as an FJ40 is to a 2012 FJ Cruiser. They look similar and are sold under the same brand. Nothing else is even close. And the chances of the concept being released are nil. It'd be great to see an American-made platform like that though, especially a diesel with a 100 gal tank to really allow for overland travel.

[Edited on 3-28-2012 by LaPazGringo]

Actually, No

Bajahowodd - 3-28-2012 at 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vgabndo
Aren't these the same forward thinking folks who tried to sell Hummers to people living in 90210?

[Edited on 3-28-2012 by vgabndo]

A rather complex history. But, at the end of the day, it was GM that acquired the Hummer brand and set forth to market them to Beverly Hills and beyond.

Interesting that the Hummer had its root with Studebaker Corp in South Bend, IN.

AMC (American Motors), where George Romney once was CEO, was acquired by Chrysler. But the Hummer nameplate was ultimately GMs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummer

[Edited on 3-28-2012 by Bajahowodd]

Udo - 3-28-2012 at 04:22 PM

I owned an FJ-170. Great drive train, plus it used to have an ultra-low gear.
I rolled it near Johnson Valley and sold the scrap. Got a CJ-2 afterward.

Cypress - 3-28-2012 at 04:26 PM

International Harvester made/makes a 4-wheel drive rig that looks similar.

durrelllrobert - 3-28-2012 at 04:35 PM

In 1965 I had a '58 FC-140 that I stuck a Chevy 283 in and added an overdrive for highway cruising.

Ken Cooke - 3-28-2012 at 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

The return of the Forward Control Jeep Truck!

From: http://uncrate.com/stuff/jeep-mighty-fc-concept/

I LOVE IT! :bounce:

SMART CAR ALSO HAS SOME INTERESTING CONCEPTS

durrelllrobert - 3-28-2012 at 05:09 PM

tripledigitken - 3-28-2012 at 05:45 PM

love the approach/departure angles!!!

Icon has the ability to build one, would take very deep pockets.

David K - 3-28-2012 at 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaPazGringo
A Jeep FC-170 is as close to the above pictured concept as an FJ40 is to a 2012 FJ Cruiser. They look similar and are sold under the same brand. Nothing else is even close. And the chances of the concept being released are nil. It'd be great to see an American-made platform like that though, especially a diesel with a 100 gal tank to really allow for overland travel.

[Edited on 3-28-2012 by LaPazGringo]

Yah, I can go along with that!

TMW - 3-29-2012 at 07:05 AM

Jeep has concept vehicles headed to MOAB.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/jeep-shows-off-six-concepts-hea...

LaPazGringo - 3-29-2012 at 08:37 AM

oh maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan! My knees just buckled when I saw the J12 concept.

David K - 3-29-2012 at 09:11 AM

I also liked the Gladiator concept and was expecting to see it as a production model by now!

Baja12valve - 3-29-2012 at 11:55 AM

Interesting looking rig. I wonder what powerplant they will install? Hope for a diesel, otherwise mileage will be a real issue, especially in this day and age. I also wonder if it is full time 4wd which does not help mileage. My guess is, with the portal axles, it is. To me the real drawback is driving over the front wheels. I had a van once and it was very scary in the rain. What would happen is the rear would lock up because it was so light and you could not feel the rear swing out because you were over the pivot point. Once it got to about 45 degrees out, then you would notice something wrong. You had no idea where the car was until it was really out of line. Bad for rain, mud, snow, ice.

motoged - 3-29-2012 at 12:45 PM

An affordable Unimog in the making????

vgabndo - 3-29-2012 at 02:33 PM

Mt.goat:

Mine was the crew cab. (not this one but very similar!) I used it to haul top soil for the Chicano's People's Park under the freeway to Coronado back when my freak flag was flying.

I had two dirt bikes, and four days camping gear on board on the way to Laguna Hansen when east of Tacate I hit a cow in the dark.

1970.

I just thought to add, I OBVIOUSLY wasn't going very fast. :lol:

[Edited on 3-29-2012 by vgabndo]

vw hammerhead (Small).JPG - 45kB

mtgoat666 - 3-29-2012 at 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vgabndo
Mt.goat:

Mine was the crew cab. (not this one but very similar!) I used it to haul top soil for the Chicano's People's Park under the freeway to Coronado back when my freak flag was flying.

I had two dirt bikes, and four days camping gear on board on the way to Laguna Hansen when east of Tacate I hit a cow in the dark.

1970.

I just thought to add, I OBVIOUSLY wasn't going very fast. :lol:

[Edited on 3-29-2012 by vgabndo]

cool rig!
classic VW beats a jeep any day anywhere!

Barry A. - 3-29-2012 at 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

[Edited on 3-29-2012 by vgabndo]

cool rig!
classic VW beats a jeep any day anywhere!

I have gone to Baja driving both----but----the jeep sure got me more places than the VW. Yes, VW busses were amazing but you could get in real trouble FAST in the sand!!! Been there/done that!!! :light:

Barry

Ken Cooke - 3-29-2012 at 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

cool rig!
classic VW beats a jeep any day anywhere!

Beats Isuzu :!:

Beats Toyota :!:

motoged - 3-29-2012 at 08:54 PM

Ken parking at Walmart on a BAD day....

LaPazGringo - 3-30-2012 at 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666classic VW beats a jeep any day anywhere!

I guess this is for another thread, but... IMO "Classic VW" beats Jeep only in nostalgia, and even then barely. It really makes me snicker to see guys trying to jam Westfalia vans into places they shouldn't be all because they think they look cool. Check my sig for my response to that. I don't need hemp shirts where I go...

David K - 3-30-2012 at 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaPazGringo

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666classic VW beats a jeep any day anywhere!

Awesome clip dude!

LaPazGringo - 3-30-2012 at 03:29 PM

I thought you might like that, David. Your kinda place, huh? We've been some really neat places in that van and she's proven to be allot more than pretty paint and big tires. we have some big plans before it gets too hot to go to San Francisco de la Sierra for a week or so. We'll be camping up north of San Evaristo as well in the next few weeks.

David K - 3-30-2012 at 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaPazGringo
I thought you might like that, David. Your kinda place, huh? We've been some really neat places in that van and she's proven to be allot more than pretty paint and big tires. we have some big plans before it gets too hot to go to San Francisco de la Sierra for a week or so. We'll be camping up north of San Evaristo as well in the next few weeks.

Yup... You and I have the same idea of fun... You just have the luxury of bringing your home along with you! Art did the same with his 4WD motorhome on the Mision Santa Maria trip:

Front and Rear ABS Lockers were used!

The Widowmaker ...

Not only did Art putter up The Widowmaker, but if you notice the strap used to pull Neal John's Tacoma Camper up it, too! (blown rear differential)

VIDEO

David K - 3-30-2012 at 03:58 PM

I found the video from HB Murphy of us coming down the Widowmaker...

LaPazGringo - 3-30-2012 at 04:45 PM

David, my son and I got a good laugh out of that video. Amazing! That van deserves a name (if she doesn't have one already!). It looks totally bulletproof. Does he have a battery bank on the frame rails?

Sorry but I got wicked pleasure from the old Chevy dragging a Toyota around.

David K - 3-30-2012 at 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaPazGringo
David, my son and I got a good laugh out of that video. Amazing! That van deserves a name (if she doesn't have one already!). It looks totally bulletproof. Does he have a battery bank on the frame rails?

Sorry but I got wicked pleasure from the old Chevy dragging a Toyota around.

I will let Art tell you ('edm-1' on Nomad)... He recently sold it as he already built a much bigger motorhome (4WD) with lockers front and rear!

Here is the next video from HB Murphy of 'The Bog' (which was worse for most than the Widowmaker. HB is in a 2009 Tacoma Off Road with A-TRAC and lockers front and rear, I was behind him with my 2010 Taco Off Road, and the others were a Dakota with a rear locker, an '03 Tacoma Off Road with camper, Art's van and a 4Runner with no locker (and that was the only one that needed a pull going in).

LaPazGringo - 3-30-2012 at 08:23 PM

Best part was the wife's sound effects. "Ewwwww, it's muddy!" :tumble:

Thanks for sharing!

The Next Day (Mision Santa Maria 2010)

David K - 3-31-2012 at 10:43 AM

Neal Johns pulled through the bog I:

Neal in the bog II:

Art going up the Widowmaker:

Barry A. - 3-31-2012 at 11:08 AM

It was probably mentioned before, but just where and how (widowmaker or bog, etc.) did Neal lose his diff, and was it the front or rear diff? Any more details on that?

Barry

David K - 3-31-2012 at 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
It was probably mentioned before, but just where and how (widowmaker or bog, etc.) did Neal lose his diff, and was it the front or rear diff? Any more details on that?

Barry

Hi Barry, Neal made it to the mission fine (except for where the palm tree 'kissed' his camper)... It was on the way out, just before reaching the bog... his rear differential blew apart. He tried using just the front diff. biut that pop up camper is just way too heavy... and he has a manual tranny, as well... See the inside of his diff... with this photo from BajaCactus on the part 1 of my trip report page: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=46050#pid5202...

David K - 3-31-2012 at 11:47 AM

Art wasn't without troubles, as he had the tires pop off their rim a couple of times (too much air removed from tires for the weight on them and the rocky road)...

The air pumps didn't have enough volume to pop the tire back on the bead... so I suggested the Mexican method of using gasoline and 'explode' the tire back on... Here is hbmurphy attempting such a fix (this was on the way out, just before the Widowmaker)... I was the next to try, and it worked! Click on photo to start movie clip:

http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc212/DavidKier/Santa%20M...

David K - 4-1-2012 at 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

Here is a good photo of Neal's rear differential at the mechanic's shop in El Rosario (taken by Antonio, 'Baja Cactus':

Barry A. - 4-1-2012 at 08:33 PM

OUCH!!!!!!!!!! That is a mess!!!! Thanks, David. I had heard that Neal was "aggressive", but I thought it was only with the WIW. :lol:

Barry

David K - 4-2-2012 at 02:08 PM

Funny one Barry...

edm1 - 4-6-2012 at 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
It would make an awesome 4X4 motorhome platform! Hey Art!!! :wow:

Thanks, but it is too small and too short wheelbase for a motorhome. BTW I'm already working on a short wheelbase ATV, side by side, streetable and freeway capable!!!

My new ATV

edm1 - 4-6-2012 at 06:05 AM

Offroad, streetable, freeway capable to over 70mph, side by side, 86-inch wheelbase ATV! It's less than 12 feet long and less than 2500 lbs.

Complete with factory built-in rollbars, T-tops, A/C (yes), body on ladder frame, true transfer case with shifter, 4-speed auto with overdrive and locking torque converter!!! Love 'em 30-inch on 16-in wheel tires. Yes over 10 inch of ground clearance.

[Edited on 4-6-2012 by edm1]

edm1 - 4-6-2012 at 06:51 AM

Quote:

Some people called it the UAV (Urban Assault Vehicle) and others would ask "is it bulletproof?". I used to get people approach me at gas stations and make conversation about it. Yes it's been sold but I don't miss it much.

On the subject of house batteries, yes, there are 2 battery banks - at both sides outboard of the frame rails. The batteries under the floor can be accessed from inside for watering.

chuckie - 4-7-2012 at 04:35 AM

How did you lift the X90? i have been toying with the idea of building one of them lil boogers...

edm1 - 4-7-2012 at 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chuckie
How did you lift the X90? i have been toying with the idea of building one of them lil boogers...

For less than $300 I used strut/coil spacers, camber adjustment bolts, longer shocks and a rear arm spacer from Lowrangeoffroad. The 30-inch tires still required trimming of the backside of the front wheelwell and the front side of the rear wheelwell.

[Edited on 4-7-2012 by edm1]