Every Now and Then: An FJ Cruiser Flashback

February 3, 2011 by General Miscellaneous Off-Topic Discussion Toyota FJ Cruiser

toyota_timelineAs I was digging through photos for my latest articles, I happened across an older directory that has not seen activity since early 2007. I’m speaking, of course, of an image repository that has remained largely isolated over the last four years. Like most things in life, memories fade all too quickly and in our haste to move into the future, we often forget to appreciate the past. I’ve spent the last four years performing a variety of modifications to my FJ Cruiser. Some were minor projects that I completed in less than an hour. Other upgrades required multiple days, even weeks before they reached a state of completion. And though I have yet to reach the solid axle conversion stage, I’d still rate the extent of my particular modifications somewhere between medium and high. It’s quite amazing how the FJ has transitioned over time.

For those of you who have yet to be bitten by the “mod bug”, these pictures might seem all too familiar. But for me, there are a pleasant reminder of where it all began. If the FJ had a story to tell, mine would have started here. I’d had the FJ less than a week when these photos were taken and it brings back fun memories when I browse through the photos. Quite frankly, I don’t remember another time when the FJ looked this clean. I’ve become quite used to the mud and dirt residue throughout. It’s part of history now and a big part of my daily life. From the day I picked it up at the dealer, my enthusiasm for the FJ Cruiser platform has only grown, and I have Toyota to thank for it. So here’s to Toyota for building not just a vehicle, but a legacy that will hopefully continue for years to follow! Continue Reading →

Trunk Monkey: A Revolutionary Idea

May 17, 2010 by Miscellaneous Off-Topic Discussion

I don’t normally segue too far from expeditionary- or off-road-related topics, but every once in awhile I come across something that either makes me laugh or think harder than usual. I realize that everyone’s sense of humor is different, but I thought the following compilation of advertisements might be worth sharing with others since it made me chuckle. The Trunk Monkey ad campaign was put together by the Suburban Auto Group and due to the overwhelming popularity of the ads, many of them have made their way online to sites like YouTube. Whether these are old or new to you, I bet you still get a good chuckle. Enjoy! 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 →