Mounting Up with Springtail Solutions

December 14, 2009 by Equipment and Gear General Interior Upgrades Mods and Modding Toyota FJ Cruiser

IMG_3360For those of you who have been following my progress, I was now at the stage where I needed to equip the FJ Cruiser with some better accessories, accessories specifically designed with off-roading and recovery in mind.  I’ve been looking forward to this post for awhile now, since it symbolizes the first step in preparing the FJ for a true off-road experience.  This was actually one of the more exciting times during the FJ’s build-up because I was able to research and purchase multiple items in a very short period of time.  I don’t necessarily recommend this approach, as the price tags add up quite quickly.  But because of the rather shortened time frame, I decided that Christmas would be coming a little early that year.

I should also point out that I spend a great deal more time researching a piece of equipment than I typically spend installing it.  The only reason I say this is to keep readers informed and aware that I’m not simply making arbitrary purchases.  I tend to take my time performing extensive product comparisons, using a combination of 3rd-party reviews and customer feedback, before I make a final decision.  It’s not an absolute guarantee, but it does help me avoid some of the more obviously bad products.  This is yet another area where I rely heavily on the FJ Cruiser Forums for consultation.  With more than 30,000 members and 80,000 threads, these forums provide some very useful insight from actual FJ and FJ-product owners.  This particular post is the first of several that will detail most of the equipment I purchased prior to our first trip to Rausch Creek Off-Road Park. Continue Reading →

A Greenhorn’s Guide to Gearing Up

December 13, 2009 by Equipment and Gear Exursions and Expeditions General Planning and Procedures

Given the variety of equipment available for off-road adventures, locating all the necessary parts and pieces for an expeditionary load-out can be more than a little time-consuming.  There are a lot of factors to consider when selecting the perfect piece of equipment for your trip. I am by no means an expert in expeditionary trips.  As a matter of fact, I have very little experience in this area.  But since I am learning as I go, I wanted to avoid as many potential catastrophes as I could.  So I came up with my the following list of questions based on a purely-logical, common-sense approach.

I realize that it may not be the most comprehensive list, but so far I’ve found it to be quite useful when purchasing and preparing equipment for any type of overland adventure.  I know I can’t prepare for every possible event, but the more time I spend focused on the necessities, the better off I’ll be in the long run.  And my plan is to continue adding to the list and tweaking questions as I gain more experience in off-roading and overland travel. Continue Reading →

Invitation to a Rausch Creek Rumpus

December 11, 2009 by Calendar Events Exursions and Expeditions General Off-Roading Toyota FJ Cruiser Trail Runs and Reports

FJ Line Up

I’m almost ashamed to admit that it took me well over a year of FJ ownership before I reached a stage where I was comfortable with the thought of trail damage. As a sport, rock crawling is a new thing for me. I’m used to driving off the beaten path through mud, snow, etc.  But the concept of intentionally putting a brand new vehicle in harm’s way completely escaped me.  I’ve always been taught to take care of the things I own in order to make them last as long as possible.  So for the first year or so, I enjoyed the FJ in relatively stock form (minus a few previously mentioned upgrades).  That was, at least, until a forum post caught my eye in January of 2009.

The post indicated that one of the better known FJ Cruiser organizations on the Atlantic, the FJ Northeasters, was gathering sponsors and participants for their 2nd annual run at Rausch Creek in Pennsylvania.  The key difference between to this event and previous gatherings, was that this particular event focused on folks who were new to rock crawling and trail runs.  This became even more obvious as they gathered confirmations for trail types, where  the majority of folks who responded to the invitation were signing up for the green-rated trails.  For those unfamiliar with color-based trail ratings, the green trails are generally considered the easiest to navigate and are the least likely to result in unwanted damage to your vehicle. Continue Reading →

Cargo Capacity: Gobi Racks to the Rescue

December 6, 2009 by Equipment and Gear General Mods and Modding Toyota FJ Cruiser

IMG_3002It seems that no matter what the vehicle, there will always be compromises in its design.  Vehicle manufacturers typically have an intended market in mind when they design and sell a particular vehicle.  As such, they engineer features into the vehicle to accommodate future owners the best they can.  But with safety and emissions standards becoming more and more stringent, fuel prices on the rise, and the economy on the fall, auto manufacturers have been forced to make sacrifices for the greater good.  It’s disappointing at times but it is reality so as consumers we’ve learned to live with it.

The FJ Cruiser does indeed lack certain luxury features, but despite its low introductory pricing, it comes very well equipped.  With a focus on functionality instead of features, Toyota did a great job of determining what was needed in a vehicle aimed at the off-roading community.  No doubt the lack of available luxury items is intended to reduce production costs.  But based on the target demographic, Toyota was smart enough to realize that for many owners, features such as dual climate control would only add unnecessary cost.  So by eliminating some of these options, Toyota was able to produce a reasonably-priced but very capable vehicle. Continue Reading →

Project Builder’s Block Means No Photos

December 4, 2009 by General Miscellaneous Off-Topic Discussion

I have to admit, I was a bit surprised when I looked back through our photo collection, only to discover a gap of almost 11 months between FJ Cruiser upgrades.  My plan when beginning this blog was to revisit the upgrades as a series of events, chronologically, in a step by step format.  Looking back, I now realize that a combination of family, finances, full-time college and work left me little time to fiddle, let alone plan my next vehicle upgrade.  So I’m sorry to say you all will have to wait another eight months until I get around to posting more.

Just kidding.

That would be cruel.

Luckily, that gap has long since passed so I can dive right back into the magical madness of modding.  I’m off to dig through some more photos to see if I can sort out the dates and times of various upgrades.  With that large of a gap there’s going to be some guesswork in the time frames but I’ll do my best.

UPDATE:  Okay, after doing a bit more research it seems that I simply failed to capture eight months of upgrades on camera.  I thought that was a little odd.  I found photos taken in February of 2008 that show several major modifications, mods that would have required additional upgrades prior to their installation.  But apparently, I have no photos to prove these mods ever took place.  Weird.  Since most of the products in question are commercially available to anyone, I’ve decided I’ll just end up adding some photos from the vendors’ site to help illustrate when I need to.  Stay tuned for another post later this evening…

Better Equipment Does Not Equal A Better Driver

December 3, 2009 by Equipment and Gear General Off-Topic Discussion

If life has taught me anything in my 37 short years, it’s that no amount of fancy equipment or tools can make up for a lack of experience.  We’ve all been there at one time or another.  We’ve convinced ourselves that if we just had a particular tool that we’d be up for the challenge.  While it is true that the right tool for the job is almost always the best choice, by no means does the right tool in the wrong hands make that person a craftsman.  Any tool in the wrong hands is, simply put, dangerous. As I spend time floating from one virtual haven to another this evening, my search results leading me to a variety of expeditionary sites, I continuously come across misleading information.  I realize that many of the sites I visit are intended to sell a product, therefore the vendors will make it look as easy as possible to implement and use.  As a tool enthusiast, I even find myself getting sucked into these types of advertisements, wishing that I too, could join in the excitement of owning such a shiny new product.  But after I bit, I have to take a step back and wonder if a) this tool is something I really require and b) I would be better or worse off having purchased it.  The adventurous side of me will almost always answer with “absolutely” to the first question following immediately by countless justifications as to why.  Thankfully, the logical side of me has a better grip on reality. Continue Reading →

Witness the Build-Up: Let the Modding Begin

November 30, 2009 by General Toyota FJ Cruiser

DSCF0041While I spend some time getting acclimated with Word Press, I thought the rest of you might enjoy witnessing the modding process first hand.  Since I initially purchased my Toyota FJ Cruiser in January of 2007, a lot has changed.  It’s still technically an FJ Cruiser, but a whole lot of modifications have occurred over the course of almost three years now, modifications intended to improve one or more aspects of an already well-built and very capable vehicle.  But even the best built vehicles still leave room for improvement.  The best part about the Expeditionr blogs, is that as readers, you have the distinct advantage of being three years ahead of the modding schedule.  The hard part is technically already done (at least three years worth of it).   The only delay now is waiting for me to post up details and pics so you all can enjoy the cliff-notes version of modding an FJ Cruiser.   Stay tuned for updates to follow very soon and thanks for reading!

FJ Cruiser: Inside and Out

November 29, 2009 by Body and Frame Electrical Electronics and Gadgets General Interior Upgrades Toyota FJ Cruiser Wheels and Tires

As promised, I’ve compiled quite a few additional videos covering some of the many great features available on the FJ Cruiser platform. Most of the videos are short but they do provide a good visual demonstration in addition to describing each feature. Not all of the options featured in the videos are available in the base level configuration; some require one or more upgrade packages. But each of the upgrade packages offers a number of additional options that may also be of interest to a potential buyer. For more details on upgrade packages, simply contact your local Toyota dealership. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to fill you on the details. Without further ado, the video links I promised can be found below. Continue Reading →

FJ Cruiser: On and Off the Road

November 28, 2009 by 4WD and Traction Aids General Mechanical Off-Roading Transmission and Drivetrain

As a follow-up to yesterday’s article detailing the FJ Cruiser’s core structural components, I’d like to add a few more details, specifically addressing the drivetrain systems.  The FJ Cruiser can be ordered with either a 5-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission.  Both of these transmissions are extremely capable.  It really comes down to personal preference as to which model you choose.  I personally prefer an automatic since I’d rather focus my attention on the trail.  But for many, a manual transmission is the only way to drive.  Arguments as to which is better and why are similar to the IFS versus solid axle argument.  There will always be pros and cons to either side.  Even though I tend to lean towards the automatic model, I’ve included videos that provide more details for both transmission models below. Continue Reading →

FJ Cruiser: Building on a Solid Foundation

November 27, 2009 by Body and Frame General Suspension Toyota FJ Cruiser

FJ Cruiser Grille Perhaps before I dive into the modding madness, I should provide some details regarding the FJ’s stock capabilities and features.  Targeted at the 20- to 30-year-old off-roading demographic, the FJ was designed with ruggedness in mind. Even though the exterior shell of the FJ Cruiser is brand new, many of the underlying components are based on slightly modified versions of other existing product lines. Some may see this approach as cobbling, a vehicle designed in true Frankenstein fashion. But in my opinion, Toyota’s approach to designing and eventually producing the FJ Cruiser prototype was pure genius. Rather than rely on newly designed and therefore untested parts, Toyota dug into their existing product lines in order to determine which parts were proven to be the most reliable over long-term testing. By piecing together the strongest and most reliable parts, Toyota was able to produce not only a quality vehicle, but one which contained many of the best features from other vehicles. Continue Reading →