CADavebert's Egg Plant FJ

[CADavebert]

In the beginning.....

I've had various 4x4 vehicles since 1989. First one was a Mullet sportside pickup. I had BFG A/T's with wheels that added about 1.5 inches out, nerf bars, and a bull bar on the bumper. I thought I was cool. Loved that truck. Sold it to my Dad, and he had a head on crash in it and killed it. Others were a 4X4 Dodge Ram, and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Sold the Jeep and got a 2WD Double Cab Tundra. Two weeks later, I got stuck, ran into a tree, and needed pulled out, because I was in Idyllwild with a 2WD in the snow. I knew then I would have to get back to 4X4 if I wanted to really take my family to the snow again.

Two years later, I began searching for 'something' smaller than the Tundra, but 4X4. I narrowed it down to the new 4 Door Jeep, a Tacoma double cab, or an FJ Cruiser. I spent 2+ months agonizing over which one. Several trips to dealerships, internet searches, etc. I HAD decided on the Jeep, till I went to actually buy one. I was so turned off by the end, I didn't look back. Once I focused on Toyota, the FJ really floated to the top, and then it was just a matter of features and color. I would have chosen VDB, but I'm just one member of this marital partnership, and it needed to be a unanimous decision. Black Cherry Pearl (aka, Egg Plant, Man purple, etc.)

I don't have any photo's of the first couple months. I found the FJ Cruiser Forums (aka - The Blue Room) site during those first months, and it wasn't long before I finally got the nerve to join a trail run. These early pictures are from the first run I took, to Rowher Flats, with FJEssence, and BigDougieDoug. We didn't know it when these were taken, but this was going to be a run we would not soon forget.


It looks so tiny...


After browsing the forums, and seeing everyone elses rigs, I finally went out and got some ProComp A/T's, and the Old Man Emu Heavy's. I also got a Bandi Mount, Midland CB & Firestik, Fourtreks rings from a forum member, and then mounts for Hi-Lift and Shovel/Axe.



The next step was to start getting some armor. First was some Trail-Gear Sliders, followed by a partial set of Aluminum ASFIR skids that I picked up from a forum member. I got the pieces that mount from the transfer case all the way back to the gas tank. These will work to give me some protection in those areas (which had none or thin plastic) and not weigh too much for my daily driver. Eventually I purchased a nice RED Demello Front Skid Plate, and modified the ASFIR and Demello skids to connect together.




More recently, I decided to get some beefier rear lower arms. I chose the All-Pro Ultimate Links, and got the All-Pro Lower Links Skids too. I also purchased the All-Pro Shock Skids, but it seems I didn't get the new ones. These will do for now, and I'll weld up a lip on them once I learn how. ;D

This area seems to be the skid section... Just got some new Lower Front arm skids from Total Chaos. Painted them red to match the front center skid from Demello...

[CADavebert]

For now, I have a Demello bumper. I'm considering a possible sale of this bumper, and then making my own tube bumper, using the funds from the Demello to purchase a welder...

[CADavebert]

I wanted some lights up top, and spent a lot of time trying to find just the right light bar for the look/install I wanted. If I had to do it over again, I would just get an after market rack with a built in light bar, but the Manik on the stock rack is pretty good. Here are some pictures of the install. I ran the wires inside of the light bar tube, then into the roof rack, and down into the roof under the roof rack foot. FJVP and MikesCruiser REALLY helped out on this install.







I put RTV on the seams, and it attracts the dust. I might weld it together once I get a welder.

[CADavebert]

Odd's and ends.....

I think the pictures will show the various nick knack's and such that have made their way into my rig....



This was my first real mod, and I had to force myself to drill into the plastic of my nearly brand new car. whew, I did it right. ;D




This one is very important. It is sometime in the front seat. It provides some protection and heightened viewing abilities to my most trusted and faithful co-pilot.


"One of these day's Daddy, one of these day's...."

[CADavebert]

Damage along the way...

My first damage came at The Parking Spot, on Century Blvd at LAX. They took it for a wash, and hit something that jacked up my roof rack a bit when it hit one of the Four Treks tool mounts. I didn't see it till the next morning at home. I was just going to let it go, but after some poking to contact them, and then they sent me a request for feedback, I let them know. I then filed a claim, and about 6 months later, got $750 for my troubles.








It doesn't photo well, but I've got TONS of pits and pock marks on my passenger side paint and glass from that HUGE wind/dust storm that brought in the fires in late 2007. I was driving to Las Vegas for an event for work. We also saw the Mojave caravan headed home that day. I'm just going to leave it for now, but if a deal comes around to paint it, I'll jump at it.

I also have some dents, dimples, and scratches on the gray portion of my stock bumper. This is only going to effect the resale value of that individual piece. ;D

The other 'damage' was found when installing my rear lower links, skids for the links, and shock guards. I believe (based on my trail activity and timing of installs) that this occurred at Gold Mountain trail in Big Bear during the Trail Team event. the new lower link skids have it all firmed up now.





I also got a flat during that trail, and the warranty from 4WheelParts covered it.

I'm not totally happy with the ProComp tires. I've looked at other rigs to see if they have the same type of rubber chunks out of their tires, but I've not seen the same level of damage as I see on mine. I thought it was just the razor sharp steel laced rocks at Joshua Tree, but even the new ones have some missing pieces now, and they've only been on Main Divide and the highway.
It doesn't seem to photo well, but feel free to look when you see it in person.




That's it for now, and hopefully for a long time. ;D

[CADavebert]

Electronic stuff....

Scan Gauge - LOVE this mod. 2 second install. ;D


Phone/PDA/GPS mount - ProClip. Another 2 second install...


Remote CB speaker.

[CADavebert]

Future plans....


1 - Sell Demello bumper
2 - re-install OEM bumper
3 - Buy a wire feed welder
4 - practice welding by beefing up OEM rear lower links.
4.5 - practice welding by putting bolt head protector lip on All Pro shock skids
5 - re-install OEM rear lower links, and sell All-Pro links. (probably keep link skids, but may weld on)
6 - fabricate new tube bumper with integrated D rings and front side hitch mount
7 - fabricate hitch mountable frame for holding winch (like Saphteemon on blue)
8 - fabricate cage for onboard air compressor (not sure yet if it will go under the hood, or in the rear cargo area)
9 - fabricate cage for onboard air tank, and mount under rig

[CADavebert]

Suspense hold post #8

[CADavebert]

Suspense hold post #9

[CADavebert]

Suspense hold post #10