Toyota FJ40 Tool Caddy/ Assistent/ Trolley

[FJ 432]

I purchased this Hazet Assistent back in 2009. I used it as a detailing cart and found that its’ size worked well around my garage. I sold the cart in 2012 because I knew that I bought it for a good price ($250) and could double my money. Sold it to a nice kid who was a VW mechanic and was in the middle of restoring his bug. I’ve had regrets since selling the Assistent.

This is the one that got away…..

 

[FJ 432]

I was buying a welding table off of CL and the seller brought his young son to help me load the table into my truck. I mentioned that I’m into old tool boxes and his son (who works as a mechanic for a Toyota dealership in Greeley) says that he has a 3 tier collapsing tool cart he wants to sell. The next day I met him and bought his cart for $75.

The cart I purchased was made by Hory Co. Ltd., a Japanese manufacturing company, probably in the 1960’s or 1970’s. The number one rule in design engineering coming out of Japan in those days was “Imitation is the highest form of Flattery” . Pretty easy to see that this was a direct knockoff of Hazet’s Assistent.

My new purchase was a well used cart with several modifications. Socket rails riveted to the top tray, holes cut into several of the trays to store screwdrivers and a magnetic rail bolted to the side of the cart. (not pictured).

 

[FJ 432]

I was talking with my powder coater about another project when they mentioned that someone had ordered 50 pounds of a special color mix of powder. The buyer backed out of their project and they were trying to get rid of the color. The color looked similar to a color I liked that was used on FJ40 Land Cruisers in the 1970’s. So my project and stripping began. Paint stripper along with a orbital sander (sometimes at the same time) and wire wheels.

 

[FJ 432]

Stripping completed and ready for powdercoating.

 

[FJ 432]

My completed FJ40 tool caddy paying homage to the iconic FJ40 Land Cruiser, white top and all.

 

[southalabama]

Cool cart

 

[nesw20]

sweet!! love classic toyotas.

 

[4xdog]

I like it!

 

[NKlamerus]

That looks sweet!

Are the "levels" held up by pins? Or just the top one and the chains hold the bottom.

 

[FJ 432]

That looks sweet!

Are the "levels" held up by pins? Or just the top one and the chains hold the bottom.

Thanks everyone.

The top tray has spring loaded buttons that has holes in the risers. You have on both sides a lever that allows you to retract the buttons and slide the trays freely. They lock into place once they are over the holes.

The two floating green trays have a chain that suspends them to the upper white tray. These are adjustable for different levels of height between the trays.

 

[submariner]

That's the coolest cart I've seen

 

[Bigplum]

Sweet , what's the powdercoater going to do with 49 1/2 pounds of grey left ?

 

[BK13]

Nice!

 

[FJ 432]

Sweet , what's the powdercoater going to do with 49 1/2 pounds of grey left ?

Yeah... I really put a dent in their stash!

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

That looks awesome!

Why did you strip it, most powder coaters media blast everything prior to coating?

 

[FJ 432]

That looks awesome!

Why did you strip it, most powder coaters media blast everything prior to coating?

Not necessarily, in Denver anyways. The shop I use sends out their blasting and this winds up costing more. I had this coated in the two colors for $100.

The paint came off really easy with stripper. I also enjoy being a part of the process although I have an older Snap On that I have raised the white flag.

 

[-Brent-]

FJ - That is beautiful. It's a keeper, for sure. Great work.

 

[fnieto]

cool piece of history.

 

[FJ 432]

FJ - That is beautiful. It's a keeper, for sure. Great work.

Thanks for the kind words and also the tip to look for my old Hazet on the Samba. Took a little while but it was mine.

Enjoy your new trolley as well.

 

[jabin]

Great job, and love the color with your attention to details.

 

[Terracar]

That is one sweet toolbox. I certainly like the restoration and customization on it. It certainly is "yours".

Thank you for sharing.

-Terracar

 

[ADSR]

Well done!

 

[MikeF2316]

That looks so good, you need to use up the rest of their powder on everything else you own!

 

[Fedwrench]

that is one outstanding cart now. You definitely went above and beyond.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

WOW!! I just stumbled upon this thing of beauty. Outstanding job on a tool cart that pays homage to an outstanding vehicle. I really like the rear "emblems" you put on the "rear quarters" of the cart. VERY COOL!! That thing would look GREAT next to a custom 8ft+ Toyota 4x4 marquee sign (aka: let me know if you EVER want to sell it).

Where did you get the mat with Land Cruiser logo in it? Cruiser Corps?

 

[FJ 432]

WOW!! I just stumbled upon this thing of beauty. Outstanding job on a tool cart that pays homage to an outstanding vehicle. I really like the rear "emblems" you put on the "rear quarters" of the cart. VERY COOL!! That thing would look GREAT next to a custom 8ft+ Toyota 4x4 marquee sign (aka: let me know if you EVER want to sell it).

Where did you get the mat with Land Cruiser logo in it? Cruiser Corps?

Thanks buddy. Maybe I get you next secret santa!

I'm looking forward to seeing your sign. The logo mat is the rear all weather mat from a 2014 Land Cruiser. I know, I know I went overboard.

 

[PureLeaf]

Just saw this after the link you put in that guy's Assistent restoration thread. Fantastic work, absolutely beautiful. As someone who owned both an Assistent and this copy. Out of curiosity how would you compare the two? Equal quality? Maybe the imitation is even higher quality?

 

[FJ 432]

Just saw this after the link you put in that guy's Assistent restoration thread. Fantastic work, absolutely beautiful. As someone who owned both an Assistent and this copy. Out of curiosity how would you compare the two? Equal quality? Maybe the imitation is even higher quality?

Pretty close but I would give the Hazet a big step up on the casters. The Hazet posts would also be better where the Hory uses a plastic sleeve to help make the trays slide better. Hory system works well until you forget to take them out before going into the powder coater's oven!

I would love to find a collapsible post Hazet. I think that feature would make these carts a true portable cart that you could throw into your trunk if needed.

Thanks for the kind words.

 

[Trey T]

it looks cool!!

 

[Smokeshow69]

I love classic toyotas and you sure did a great job on this!! Very well done.

 

[minimowog]

loving the Toyota copy, you do know you can still buy them new?

you wont like the price though

 

[Eric64]

Thanks for the info, the wheels look just like the one I have. I couldn't find any trademark or anything else period I did find on the very top tray there are some holes going lengthwise for maybe like some sort of a steel rod to Pivot in but there is nothing currently on the top tray too attached to them but it looks like it might have been maybe like a wire or a method of retaining like paper towels or shop Rags so they didn't blow away I don't know. Thank you though for all the information

 

[SawtoothJL]

Awesome job! Thing looks like it was meant to look that way new...

 

[vettex2]

Cool Cart

 

[wxm]

Cool!

 

[macsociety]

Looks great! Too bad Hazet does not make these carts a tad cheaper. I owned 2 of the knock-offs. Purchased one new on eBay years ago and one red one popped up at a local antique place. Sold that one last year for a cheap price... $200, buyer was really happy. Kepted my new one. Still have not used it yet but this year I am going to decorate mine with tools since I have excess ratchet sets... etc... mind as well. Will start using it as an actual cart to work on specific projects. Maybe swap around tools inside of it for tasks at hand. Make it fun that way.

Yours looks great!

TJ

 

[2000-cvpi]

Thanks for bumping this. My wife has a 2014 Army Green FJ and I will keep a look out for one that I can restore to match her truck. That cart looks great finished like that.

 

[dkroth]

It needs a bezel so people can tell you it's upside down.

 

[FJ 432]

It needs a bezel so people can tell you it's upside down.

That's is funny

 

[FJ 432]

Sweet

When my Assistant gets rough around the edges I might have to paint it to match the Porsche

Those two together would be over the top ****.