About Marlin
Crawler
Marlin Crawler Off-Road (Est. April 1994)
At Marlin Crawler, our mission is to provide high-quality off-road products and services that help our customers tackle any terrain with confidence and ease. We’re committed to designing and manufacturing innovative and durable products that exceed our customers’ expectations, while also providing exceptional customer service that fosters long-term relationships with our community.
We believe in the power of off-roading to inspire adventure, build camaraderie, and connect people with the natural world. As passionate off-roaders ourselves, we strive to embody the values of respect, responsibility, and stewardship for the environment and the off-road community.
Through our commitment to continuous improvement and innovation, we aim to lead the industry in the development of new technologies and techniques that enhance the off-roading experience. Our ultimate goal is to empower our customers to explore the great outdoors with the utmost confidence, knowing that they can rely on Marlin Crawler products to withstand even the toughest challenges.
Marlin Crawler History
Since 1983, Marlin Czajkowski (Resting In Peace, tribute) has been improving the off-road capabilities of Toyota trucks. He created many innovative products, such as the first on-board welder, the first heavy duty Toyota axle joint (Marfield), and the first heavy duty Toyota crossover steering link (Marlink), but his most revolutionary creation was the Marlin Crawler (info), which took Toyota trucks to new capabilities never before possible.
Before the Marlin Crawler, Toyota pickups had a maximum final drive ratio of 56:1, making them less competent off-road. Marlin’s inventions transformed his 1980 Toyota Pickup into a powerful machine, with a final drive ratio of 2,158:1. Thanks to his products, Toyota trucks can easily and affordably eclipse a 200:1 final drive ratio making them more competent off-road than both Jeeps and Land Cruisers.
Marlin created terms like “Rock Crawling,” “Crawl Ratio”, “Crawl Box,” and “Crawler Gears,” which have since become common in the off-road industry. Marlin’s products have set the quality standards for Rock Crawling for Thirty years, and his legacy has made Toyota trucks a respected and reliable choice for off-roaders and overlanders alike.
Below are demonstrations of how the Marlin Crawler can improve your off-road adventures and demonstrates why Marlin has been widely credited in creating the Rock Crawling Industry.
Increased Traction
Increased Torque
Increased Control
Increased Reaction Time
Less Bouncing
Less Breakage
Less Trail Abuse
Less Risk
Community involvement
We are highly active in the community and use our resources to help keep it alive and strong for many generations to come. Here is a membership list of our past and present Four Wheel Drive Club and Organizations. We have been giving back to the community since 1983 and have a lot of experience with trail repairs, toilet installation, highway and trail clean-up, campground management, community fundraising, government public forums, and forest service OHV route redesignation projects.
When you support Marlin Crawler, you are supporting the community.
- 4WD Club of Fresno
- Lifetime Member
- Second oldest 4WD Club in the world!
- 4X 4HIM Christian Club
- Bakersfield Trail Blazers
- Blue Ribbon Coalition
- CAL4WD
- Lifetime Member
Since 1983
- Lifetime Member
- Central Valley Crawlers
- Friends of Panamint Valley
- Friends of the Rubicon
- Lock & Low 4WD
- Madera County Land Cruisers
- Pacific Mountain Cruisers
- Rubicon Trail Foundation
- Southeast Toyota Land Cruiser Association
- Southern Nevada Land Cruisers
- Toyota Land Cruiser Association
- Since 1983
- Toys-4-Fun
- Tread Lightly
- United 4WD
- Wheelers for the Wounded
- X-Toys
Additional community involvement:
- Annual Marlin Crawler Round-Up Event has donated $140,682 to the Rubicon Trail (as of 2019)
- Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) Rock Award recipient, Marlin
- Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) inarguable Challenge Coin recipient, BigMike
- Adopt-A-Highway Chairperson through the Department of
- Transportation, California (Hwy 168)
- Certified Chainsaw Operators through the United States Forest Service, High Sierra Ranger District
- Certified CPR through the United States Forest Service, High Sierra Ranger District
- Distributor of Toyota 4WD Owner and TLCA Toyota Trails Monthly and Bi-Monthly Publications
- Dusy/Ershim OHV Route Chairperson through the High Sierra Ranger District
- H.A.M. Radio Operators, licensed and certified through the United States Forest Service
- Toyota Land Cruiser Association Hall Of Fame, Inaugural Member since 2006
- Vehicle Safety Coordinators for multiple 4WD Clubs
Marlin Crawler's Passion
Marlin in the mid-1980s before he put Toyota’s “On The Map”
Dropping down Whales Back, circa 1984 (Dusy-Ershim trail, CA)
Here is Marlin dropping down the same Whales Back,
same truck, nearly 30 years later (Dusy-Ershim trail, CA)
Widely accredited as the founder of “Rock Crawling”, we are a team of Toyota gear heads who develop highly reliable products and a wide range of services to meet your needs. Specializing in Toyota Drivetrain components, we also offer a broad range of genuine Toyota parts, in-house manufacturing, and custom services for on- and off-road, competition, desert race, and high powered Supra drag/race cars.
Our products have been featured in all major magazines including CRAWL, FOUR WHEELER, Petersen’s 4 Wheel & Off-Road, 4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility, 4WD Toyota Owner, and TLCA Toyota Trails. Our products have survived the King Of The Hammers an event record 6 times and counting, W.E. Rock and Pro Rock Formula Toy National Champion 2007, 2008, and 2009, twice through the BAJA 1000, numerous SCORE desert race events, numerous stadium truck events, as well as street racing where our extremely reliable transmissions and components can be found in track-prepared and drag-prepared Supra race cars.