[65swb45]

I talked with Robbie Antonsen last weekend and shared some thoughts with him about the trail team. He suggested that the Trail Team had a place on the internet where you could post stuff like that. I can't find it.

I tried going to the toyota.com/fjtrailteams site that is on the card I got at Rubithon, but all I got was instructions on downloading flash and Active X software that I am not interested in downloading.

Anyone have another link to this page where comments are posted?

TIA

Mark A.

[RokCrawlinToy]

Originally Posted by 65swb45

I talked with Robbie Antonsen last weekend and shared some thoughts with him about the trail team. He suggested that the Trail Team had a place on the internet where you could post stuff like that. I can't find it.

I tried going to the toyota.com/fjtrailteams site that is on the card I got at Rubithon, but all I got was instructions on downloading flash and Active X software that I am not interested in downloading.

Anyone have another link to this page where comments are posted?

TIA

Mark A.

This might be what he is talking about.
http://toyota.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/t...duser/live.php

[65swb45]

Thanks for that link Ron, but I thought Robbie was talking about a PUBLIC forum somewhere, where more people could read the thoughts.

I thought about submitting something to the TT, but timeliness seemed to count for something as well.

Best

Mark A.

[FirstToy]

Originally Posted by 65swb45

I talked with Robbie Antonsen last weekend and shared some thoughts with him about the trail team. He suggested that the Trail Team had a place on the internet where you could post stuff like that. I can't find it.

Mark A.

Uh... not to be a smarta$$ but this forum is a place where the Trail team posts pics and stuff... there is a sticky Robbie (from Colorado, TT member I believe) posted to give 'direct' access to toyota. not sure what you mean if it's not toyota or Mud... fjcruiserforums?...yotatech?...

[powderpig]

Yes Mark IH8mud was a good area as well as just the TLCA mailing list. I also sent you a PM on some direct thougts as well. Thanks for thinking of us.
Later robbie

[65swb45]

Well, I'm certainly not shy about posting on MUD! Sooooo, here goes!

FJCTT at GGG

Having just returned from the Southern Nevada Landcruiser's 30th annual Glitter Gulch Gambol, one of the things that struck me as being particularly noteworthy about this event was how well the new FJ Cruiser's fit in. It has been several months now since I last wheeled with the Trail Team at the Rubicon, and the time in between has brought quite a bit of change to the 'feel' and the 'fit of the newest FJ, at least in my mind.

In the months leading up to this year's Rubithon, speculation abounded about how the FJ Cruiser would do on a real 'hardcore' trail, in a 'real' world setting, as opposed to when they ran the trail 'secretly' last year. Several of the team members, though they were cordial enough, seemed to me to have a little chip on their shoulder about being there. They had heard the rumours of resentment that had been floating around the Internet and the campfires: Toyota had financially muscled it's way into our community with a vehicle that really wasn't quite worthy of being there, and that somehow we were all being taken advantage of to help promote it.

On the trail, the vehicle struggled, some temperatures flared, and the smiles became a little strained. Comments were misinterpreted; the Trail Team perservered, eventually managing a 'draw'. But the ice had been broken. The new kid on the block, the one that nobody wanted to be behind, made it to Rubicon Springs and earned his place at the campfire. And, once out of their vehicles, we were able to remember that the occupants weren't just Toyota reps; they were PEOPLE, and they were our friends.

By the time I ran into Ron Q. and Gustav again, this time at the Cruiser Rally in August, you could tell that the mood had changed dramatically, and for the better. Having earned their stripes [and dings] on the Rubithon, the pressure was finally off, and the business of promoting the FJ was no longer just about talking the talk. They had walked the walk. Now people were listening differently. The message was the same, but there was a new air of confidence in the speech that was catching more people's attention. At the 45 Run in September, we were one big family, the jokes were comfortable and familiar. If this was Toyota's objective, they had succeeded.

The thing that struck me differently about Glitter Gulch was the idea that Trail Team had turned another corner, one that Toyota may not have anticipated when they started this program. In the same way that a fraction of the whole FJ40 population uses their vehicles the way we do, the same being said for the FJ80 crowd, there was now a small but definite segment of FJ Cruiser owners that were making their way to these events, intending to wheel their rigs as part of the Cruiser community. For those new faces, the Trail Team had a different role, the role of liason.

Their continued presence at our events not only continues to draw the interest of prospective buyers, but helps the new owners who are coming out for their first events, and whose vehicles are all still pretty much set up the same, feel more comfortable taking them out, using them, chatting it up with other cruiserheads on the trail, and slowly integrating into the community.

For those new wheelers, they have the reassuring feeling the rest of us take for granted that there are others on the trail driving the same types of rigs they do that they can relate to. The presence of the Trail Team helps them feel like they don't stand out in the crowd quite so much [except for the fact that their rigs are still shiny!]and can become part of the cruiser community if they want to. Of course, as they become more comfortable, and they are seen by others, packed up and heading off for the great outdoors, Toyota reaps the PR, whether or not is a windfall or a calculated investment.

I hope that Toyota has the wisdom to appreciate this unique PR opportunity and continue to support the Trail Team in its efforts to not only promote the FJ Cruiser, but help integrate a new segment of outdoor enthusiasts into the TLCA community.

[FirstToy]

Thanks for the writeup Mark! Maybe this will start others creating some history

[fullnelson]

Mark,

First of all, it was a pleasure to meet you at Glitter Gulch and see your sweet FJ45. Secondly, what you wrote was very well put IMHO. Your words offer insight into somthing that is a new endeavor in the automotive industry and our community.

It has been a dream come true for me to be fortunate enough to take part in the Trail Teams and go to most of the events I have dreamed of attending for over a decade. In that, I am trying to express the passion we have for this as representatives for the FJ.

Looking ahead to what next year brings, I hope to see us with the opportunity to embrace the rapidly growing number of FJ owners who are joining our beloved community. "Gate 1" of this tour is quickly coming to an end, with rumors of the specifics about "gate 2" starting to fly. Mark, it is insight like you offer that helps to provide a direction.

It 's hard for a corporation to measure the success of something like this. I really can't think of something like this that has ever been done to this extent. It's my hope, through this experience, that Toyota wants to continue to embrace this community and these new members with their highly capable (and comfortable) FJ's.

If again I am fortunate enough to have this opportunity, I intend to do all I can to offer my experience to the newbies out there and continue to 'wheel the hell out of an FJ. With more FJ owners growing by the day, I think Toyota has a great opportunity to start hosting some 'wheeling events with an instructional component.

I love my old cruisers and hope to keep them running and in my quiver for the rest of my life, but the FJ builds on this heritage. I know we are a purist bunch, just think how long it took for people to start wheeling the 80 series. Toyota thought this idea up to get people out on the trails with the new FJ because they built it for that. As more people experience this for themselves, I think the Trail Team will be increasingly important to help these new owners into our community as Mark so eloquently put in his well though out words.

Happy trails,

Chris

[Blues Dawg]

As one of those "newbies" (this is actually my 5th Toy 4x4) who is out wheeling the heck out if his FJC, thanks, Mark. Well said. I have been at three events with the trail team from June through October, and they really have been great.

[Chef]

As President of TLCA, I want to say thanks to TMNA, and the TFC TT for coming to all of our TLCA events. I enjoyed visiting with you guys, riding in the FJC's, and watching our membership get to know a great new Toyota offraod product.

I hope TLCA can collaborate with y'all in some likje manner in the future...Imagine "Camp Toyota," with an nextended off road product line there for folks to try, off road driving instruction, service classes, etc.

I think that would be awesome!

[Yoda1]

Well put 65 ! After 8 years and 3 back surgerys i bought my first 4 wheel drive vehicle and first toyota . I bought it in june and 2 weeks later was at Raush Creek PA for my first event. I was glad the trail team was there as well as 2 other fj's, this made the weekend easier as we where the outsiders. I was lucky to meet a owner of a 4 runner who likes to help the newbies . I have followed him to 4 other events sence then and have meet some awsome people in my travels . During my travels i have had rude remarks made to me ( you need to take that thing back to the dealer , your not taking that on the trail ) so on and so on . I guess my point is this , if it were not for the trail team and the brother hood of 1 guy i would be still sitting at home bored with a very capable 4x4 . No matter what we drive were all looking for the same thing , A GOOD TIME. I look forward to meeting alot more people in the future as my sons and fj get bigger . Todd

[ginericLC]

Todd,

That is the way it works with some people in the LC community. In 2000, I was given crap for wheeeling my 60 series Land Cruiser in Moab. I was told to take some bypasses by the trail leader on an already easy trail. I did not follow his instructions and did just fine. In 2005, I was back with an 80 series I was told that I shouldn't run Pritchett Canyon in that rig. I did and was OK, no damage. Locally, I took a lot of crap from club members who always said I was driving the school bus. But you know what I just kept disproving them and I always had a good time.

This is where the FJ Cruiser Trail Team has made it a lot easier for you in entering a world dominated by older owner built trucks. There are many hours and dollars put into a lot of the trail rigs you see at events. And I imagine it is hard for some people to get over the fact that you can go into the dealer and buy something that performs pretty darn good (a lot of times better than what some people have built). I can easily understand how this must hurt some people's pride.

At Cruise Moab 2006, I didn't wheel with any of the FJ Cruisers. But I did get to see them up close and sit in them and take a good look at them. And this was good as I rarely see an FJ Cruiser in Idaho and I've only met one owner. It has been a real challenge to try to get him out on the trail. I keep getting a "Next Time" answer from him. We just don't have a lot of them in Idaho yet as we are pretty rural state so my contact with owners has been limited. At CM O6, I also had a chance to see photos and videos from each days runs and I was impressed with what I saw from the FJ Trail Team drivers. They kicked some butt on some pretty major obstacles. They really did a great job of paving the way for other FJ Cruiser owners. I don't think there was any doubt in anyone's mind at the end of Cruise Moab at how capable the FJ Cruiser could be in the right hands.

This brings me to where I think Toyota should go. A lot of us have learned to drive off road incorrectly. Through the school of trial and error. Some of us have more errors than others. I believe it would be in Toyota's best interest to step it up a notch in 2007 and provide some training to FJ owners on how to utilize some of the potential they have right off the showroom floor. Jeep has Camp Jeep. Each Hummer dealer has to have 3 outings a year for new owners. Land Rover has all sorts of opportunities for their owners. If Toyota wants to get serious about participating in the off road world they need to step up and provide some education. And being a pretty big Toyota fan, I wouldn't mind going and learning something too even if my 80 series had to sit on the sidelines and I had to hitch a ride with an FJ Cruiser owner. Really I think an education program like this should be open for all Toyota 4wds. I know their are new Tacoma owners that want to push their rigs to the limits too.

I hope Toyota continues to stay active in the 4wd community. I've sure enjoyed the enthusiasm they've shown this year that was formerly absent from them other than in the racing world.

Eric Vogt
MSVP TLCA

[esh]

Cascade Cruisers' "Cruising The Woods" was made that much better this year by all the FJ Owners that showed. I think we had somewhere around 12-14 FJ Cruisers including the Trail Team trucks. Everyone in the club said that all the FJ owners came away from the event with smiles on their faces and a little dent or scratch somewhere on their rigs- they didn't care! They all were ready to come back to Tillamook State Forest OHV area for more trail runs. I don't think many, if any at all, had much experience offroad.

One FJ owner who had been to a few meetings and along on the required number of club runs, was voted in at the last meeting AND nominated for an officer position. He is a great guy and brings enthusiam and friendliness our club strives for. Hopefully through a continued outreach from Toyota and the TLCA (together!), whatever this momentum is with FJ owners will continue for years to come.

Eric's comments are dead on, both in history and part of the direction Toyota should head in an education program. I still don't understand what the reluctance is from Toyota about diving deeper into the enthusiast community. If Rover and Jeep can generate "buzz" and more popularity from their programs why can't Toyota do it? They even have a leg up with the best built vehicles in the market to work with.

You can bank that we will see FJ owners running with a bunch of built up FJ40s and whatever you want to classify W's rig as during out Christmas Tree run at the start of December.

[fullnelson]

Based on recent discussions, it seems as though Toyota plans on continuing to send the FJCTT to TLCA and TTORA events for next year's tour. They made reference to some of the comments that have been posted and are very happy with the presence of the Trail Teams at these events.

They seemed very encouraging of our role as liasons between the new FJ owners and the rest of the Toyota community. They were supportive of the spotting assistance and instruction we have offered on the trails and recognized a continued opportunity for this as more FJ owners start attending events.

As far as holding their own events, they rather us continue to support the existing ones. Toyota seems very appreciative of what TLCA and TTORA have done for nurturing the Toyota enthusiast community and don't want to get in the way of that dynamic. Instead, they want to continue to compliment it with our presence.

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm excited to see what next year brings!

Chris

[chappysfj40]

Hi ya all, i was too like most not too happy with the looks and design of the FJ, but honesty the presence of it out on the trail using it as a 4x4, to have fun has changed my opion. again if it would not have been for the FJ team guys out and about i would still be a in dought about it. thanks guys.... one question, are thiniking of a 4 to 1 t case or some other mods in the future?
chappy