Expeditionr

Traction Control: Gaining Upper Hand with Lower Foot

// February 9th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // 4WD and Traction Aids, Off-Roading, Plating and Protection, Toyota FJ Cruiser

In my never-ending quest to build the ultimate expeditionary vehicle, a good portion of my focus has been spent analyzing various trail and weather conditions, and gauging the FJ’s capability under said conditions.  I am once again breaking away from the modding time line in order to get feedback on a more recent experience, one involving the FJ and its performance in two plus feet of snow.

The mid-Atlantic region was recently blanketed with what the meteorologists dubbed, “an epic winter storm.”  The fallout of this event was more than two feet of snow and ice, and now they’re calling for another 20 inches on top of that.  Marylanders are used to getting snow in the winter, but it rarely accumulates with such ferocity.  Thankfully, we were well prepared and decided it would be best spent holed up in the house for a few days rather than venture out too far.  But by mid-afternoon the next day, the snowing had ceased, leaving us with a wonderful landscape of frosty goodness. (more…)

Rausch Creek Runnings with the FJ Northeasters

// January 17th, 2010 // No Comments » // Calendar Events, Equipment and Gear, Exursions and Expeditions, Mods and Modding, Off-Roading, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Trail Runs and Reports

Just to avoid any possible confusion, the following post details events that occurred during the 2nd Annual FJ Northeast Run, in April of 2009.  Event details for the 3rd Annual FJ Northeast Run can be found here.

Despite my mad-dash efforts to complete all mods prior to our first trip to Rausch Creek, I was not able to complete everything I had planned.  With some advanced planning, however, I did make remarkable progress towards the end goal, acquiring and installing a host of different options that would make the FJ a bit more capable and the passengers a bit safer.  In preparation for a winch and other accessories, I upgraded the electrical system using the Dirty Parts Dual Battery Kit.  Having the new Icon suspension now in place, meant ride quality was dramatically improved.  The new Nitto Terra grapplers would not only give me additional ground clearance beyond that of the Icon lift, but better traction in the mud and rocky areas too.  To increase traction further, I planned to air down the tires prior to hitting the trails.  Pressure restoration would be completed with my newly installed Powertank setup.  Interior cargo items were now more easily secured using the Springtail Solutions MPAC rack systems and the Gobi ladder and roof rack were also available for any additional cargo that wouldn’t easily fit into the rear of the FJ.  And last, but most certainly not least, the BudBuilt skids were now affixed in rock-solid position, awaiting the inevitable clashing of rocks, stumps and whatever else happened to obstruct our path. (more…)

Invitation to a Rausch Creek Rumpus

// December 11th, 2009 // No Comments » // Calendar Events, Exursions and Expeditions, General, Off-Roading, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Trail Runs and Reports

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. (more…)

Getting Tired with Nitto Terra Grapplers

// December 5th, 2009 // No Comments » // Mods and Modding, Off-Roading, Product Reviews, Suspension, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Wheels and Tires

As a dedicated BFGoodrich tire guy for almost ten years, I was surprised to see such a loyal following in the FJ forums for Nitto brand tires, specifically their all-terrain series tire known as the Terra Grappler. The positive feedback for this tire and rating for its performance under the FJ was so overwhelming that I decided to take a chance and branch away from BFG. With the new rear suspension on the way, I decided nothing would complement it better than a new set of shoes. Plus, with the suspension raised three inches higher than stock, the original tire size was going to look somewhat dwarfish. So I decided to upgrade the tire size in the process. After calling around to various tire shops, I finally got a smokin’ deal on five brand new Nitto Terra Grapplers in a size of 295/70R17 and an appointment to get them installed.  For those who may have missed my previous post, I had recently ordered the remaining pieces of a Stage One suspension from Icon Vehicle Dynamics.  So two new springs and shocks, five new tires and one alignment later, I was driving home in a lifted, but very smooth-riding FJ Cruiser. (more…)

FJ Cruiser: On and Off the Road

// November 28th, 2009 // No Comments » // 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. (more…)