New FJ Cruiser

[Brock]

Okay....finally bit the bullet and got an FJ Cruiser that I just heard no less than an hour after getting home that my wife wants to keep for herself now since I also have a FJ60... :( So until she gives her car to our daughter and her husband in a couple months the FJ is mine alone...LOL Dealer still has to install the tow hitch and harness...the SIRIUS Radio...and give me the all wx mats when they arrive...but I made sure it had the basics like the locker..the atrac...roof rack...etc. I saw Tuffy has a center console that also locks to allow your arm to sit somewhere other than the small arm rests that come with the Cru.....is this the only other option now besides what factory offers or are they one in the same? Also, the tires on the truck were the HT Bridgestones.....so going to call around and find out if any of my previous tire dealers will give me a good trade for them to put ATs at least on if not MTs. We have one outstanding tire place called Geralds which is locally owned chain of 6 stores.....but what about National Tire or Tire King...anyone know if they will take tires off a one day old truck and give you a great deal on trade for different set....things till got the nubs on them even. LOL The lift, bumper, additional armor, etc will have to wait a little at a time. Thanks for your info....

[DEWFPO]

You'll have no trouble finding someone to sell you new tires for the FJ, no matter how many miles are on it. You can go on eBay and see what takeoffs (tire/wheel sets) are selling for, that will give you some data when you talk to the tire stores. They will most likely give you less than you can get on eBay, Craigslist, selling on the forums etc.... You decide.

DEWFPO

[Brock]

I got $500 for the five tires and saw them online for about $130 ea...so only lost 30 bucks on their value.....the shop here in charleston is putting nitto terra grapplers on all five points for $500....so I am happy.

[Brock]

I put on 295x70x17 Nitto Terra Grapplers two or three days after getting her from dealer.
Now I need to put a 3" lift....torn between economy of RevTek since I wont be doing any Rubicon or hard core wheeling...at least until she is a few years older.....or the longevity and reliability of OME.

Next is All Pro Rock Sliders, WeatherTech Window Vents...

[Brock]

Here are some pics taken today crawling some small dirt piles of 20 and 30% grade according to inclinometer...LOL. First time out with new tires and ToyTec 3" lift...absolutely no rubbing at any time whether turning, climbing, descending, etc...

[Brock]

more showing suspension compressed on rear and front as much as I could get them...and no rub with the 295 Nitto TG...

[Brock]

two boxes on steps when i got home....a set of BudBuilts new rock sliders with rear kickout. Rattle canning them now with primer and black HAMMERED finish from Rustoleaum.....will mount tomorrow and take more pics.

[T man]

I only got 450 trade in for my bfg's. I'am now running 295 75 16 Hankook Dynapro mt's with a 3" lift.

[Brock]

The rock sliders are installed... 2" tubing all the way around....gussets on all support arms...did not have to relocate brake line mount.

Painted with Rustoleum HAMMERED finish black. I have a big sheet of 3M non-slip step tape but has to be above 50*F and is around 46*F now.

[tddfj]

nice lookin rig you got goin on there any plans for a front bumper?

[Brock]

I likely wont do a front bumper and winch until next year....buying brand new FJ...new tires...new suspension...rock sliders...tuffy box...and going to build rear storage drawers....so wife is a bit sensitive right now to more money on it. LOL

I am leaning heavily to the Lucrum front bumper with the hoop light mount on top. I like the look....and it is very strong from what I have heard and read. Not the protection against deer and stuff of some but have not hit a deer in 30 years of driving in a state with non stop rutting and over a million deer...knock on wood. LOL

So next year looking at Lucrum bumper and Superwinch 9.0i on front.....with IPF submersible lights mounted on the hoop. Might also upgrade factory shocks with OME shocks next year since I kept my stock shocks front and rear when I did the ToyTeck upgrade to save a little money.

Still planning on doing the differential breather relocation and maybe get the inchworm e-locker guard....but not much else. Then again you know how that goes....there is always something else. LOL

Thanks for kind words...hope to see you around.

[Brock]

here she is with tires, lift, sliders....tomorrow she gets trailer hitch and my Sirius module hooked up from purchase deal finally...

[tddfj]

did you use toytec coilovers on the front or just springs

[Woodeye]

Originally Posted by Brock

here she is with tires, lift, sliders....tomorrow she gets trailer hitch and my Sirius module hooked up from purchase deal finally...

Man that looks nice!! My FJ is tha same color but bone stock for now. It's my business car so I gotta be careful what I do. Which Charleston?

Woodeye

[Brock]

Originally Posted by tddfj

did you use toytec coilovers on the front or just springs

Originally Posted by Woodeye

Man that looks nice!! My FJ is tha same color but bone stock for now. It's my business car so I gotta be careful what I do. Which Charleston?

Woodeye

I used just the ToyTec kit for springs front and back and maintained my stock strut up front and shock in rear. They told me all I would lose is some travel length if heavily articulating wheels and could change them out next year to OME or other as I wanted. Charleston SC....though I do travel to WV all the time...thanks. She is my dailydriver so not going to do much to her for now...and will take it easy with no serious rock climbing or stuff....

[Woodeye]

Originally Posted by Brock

I used just the ToyTec kit for springs front and back and maintained my stock strut up front and shock in rear. They told me all I would lose is some travel length if heavily articulating wheels and could change them out next year to OME or other as I wanted. Charleston SC....though I do travel to WV all the time...thanks. She is my dailydriver so not going to do much to her for now...and will take it easy with no serious rock climbing or stuff....

Thought those trees and grass looked familiar. Used to live in Rockhill, actually installed the Oxygen supply system and tanks at MUSC hospital. Great city! Hate that WV Turnpike - I too go through Charleston WV 4 or 5 times a year. Maybe we'll cross paths one day! See Ya! Is yours MT6 or Auto?

Woodeye

[Gizmos_fj]

Your rig is looking good thanks for the pics it is giving me some good ideas.

Blake

[Brock]

she is an Auto....since also daily driver...my years of pumping a clutch in rush hour traffic for 5 years in Wash DC in my heavily modified Jeep Cherokee broke me of that habit. Give me an auto anytime now.... well except on my motorcycle. LOL

[Toledo FJ]

How do you like the Budbuilt sliders? I got the first pair he made for production. Same style as yours but I got them with a textured powdercoat. As with all Budbuilt products, I love them! I didn't disconnect the break line either, but I think I'm going to disconnect and then run them through the little hole on the rearmost gusset. As is, the line is kinda pushed up by the mount and I think the hole is there so you can run the breakline through.

[Toledo FJ]

Brock,
I saw in the blue forum that you said Bud didn't send you any stickers? I have an extra one or two I would be happy to send you if you want one. Or if you just shoot Bud an e-mail or call, He'll hook you up proper. That is what I did and he sent me like eight of them or something.

[Brock]

I love the budbuilt and decided against powder coating as I expect them to be scraped and scratched and touching up powder coat always looks like crap due to the thickness of the application...so it was easier for me to rattle can them with bare metal primer and then follow with a hammered texture finish in can from rustoleum.

as for brake lines...mine were away from frame enough for me to slide the mounts under them without touching them...and are far enough from bracket to not even be close and are above supports....so maybe he reengineered the support mounts for that reason.....there is absolutely no reason to move or change anything after I mounted them in relation to brake lines....but I do love them.

I will see if he sends a sticker today...as I was short one bolt...not that I am busting him out or holding it against him...LOL I gave him shit and Bud has a great sense of humor....and gave it right back to me. LOL

I will let you know if you still have that sticker collecting dust by Thursday...

[Brazenhead]

Brock- maybe you mentioned this already but i'm gonna ask anyway.

If you don't mind sharing, How much did you pay for the 5 tires? Also did you have any issues mounting them on the stock wheels?

I read somewhere that 295's and up should be on 8" width or wider wheels. Any merit to that?

Thanks

By the way your truck looks great!

[Brock]

I traded my 5 Bridgestone Dueler HT in to a local tire dealer and with the trade I paid $500 to get the Nitto Terra Grapplers so guessing I ended up paying about $175 per tire plus $25 for mounting and balancing per tire. With the trade in it only cost me $500 out of my own pocket...

Previously, I have purchased the same exact tires for my Dodge 2500 and paid $189 per tire through online tire discount.

[Brazenhead]

Great price!

I had a local tire shop here in my neck of the woods price out some 295/70/17 Nitto Terra Grapplers @ $320.00/ea (that's not a typo).

I currently have 285/70/17 Goodyear Mtr's but am looking for something more suitable.

I think a trip into the U.S. is in order.

Thanks

[Brock]

also for reference the 295x70x17 is 20 dollars cheaper than the 285x70x17......LOL The 285 is more popular so might be able to get better deal.

yep, most places only wanted to give me $25 per tire....but he never told me what he would give me for tires...just what he would charge me to make up balance on NITTOS.......the duelers only had 75 miles on them so still had nubs...

When he said $500 for all five mounted, balanced, installed...etc. I said DEAL! He was only going to charge me $200 to install my ToyTec lift...but he is so back logged it was going to be two more weeks....so I paid the extra money and got it done for $340....then got an alignment. :( Oh well...happy with lift, happy with tires, happy with sliders....happy with trailer hitch and wiring harness...and everything else so far. Tuffy box is here tomorrow and then I am done for now.

[Mountainclimber]

Brock,

Your FJ is turning into a very sharp rig.

Off topic question-
Didn't your avatar used to have a little red scooter on it? Looked like a '51 Chief.

[Mountainclimber]

Hey Toledo,

Have you any pictures of your rig posted anywhere? I've been thinking about the FabFours front bumper and a Warn rear bumper. It sounds like you have this part figured out.