Posted a few times elsewhere but might as well start documenting my FJ. Looking at other builds helped me figure out what I wanted and some other handy knowledge.
Background: Been offroading for quite some time, building a Suzuki Samurai crawler and 2nd gen 4runner among a plethora of short timer vehicles. Found myself needing something that balanced being a reliable daily driver carrying 2 kiddos and can enjoy time in the woods doing weekend to week camping trips. My favored trails tend to not be well suited for anything bigger than a current 4runner and the post Covid car market is something awful for buying.
So I scoured tons of options and FJ's caught my eye, yeah the daily duty with kids is a decent compromise with the rear doors but the back seat room is way better than even a current crew cab Tacoma.
Finally found one worth pursuing that would save a ton of time on the build side from a Mud member down in Texas (being from Ohio the no rust aspect was a huge draw) so my mom and I did a Fly-n-Drive back in March over a long weekend.
Seller's picture from ad:
Highlights:
Exp 1 front bumper with 9k winch
Metal Tech rear bumper
Sway-a-Way front coilovers and rear springs ~2.5-3in lift
285/70 tires
Full Budbuilt skid plates
43qt fridge on slide out in back
The FJ was as described and fit exactly what I was looking for. So we left Austin TX mid day Saturday and had to choose how to get home. Having been a few years since my mom or I had been to New Orleans we decided to head that way and maybe find some beach time if possible.
Stopped in Elgin TX at Southside Market & BBQ because you cant go to texas and not have brisket. Also found a friend in the parking lot.
The drive was uneventful save for charging up the A/C which was a disclosed issue and surmised to be an evaporator core leak to be fixed later. I didn't take many vehicle related pictures but stopped at Cafe Du Monde for beignets and coffee before turning the hood north and heading to my place in western NC. Averaged 18/19MPG through the very flat south.
Once in NC I picked up a trailer I had from my parents that needed returned as I took my mom home to Ohio. I flew her down for the trip but since we were already road tripping might as well keep going. To my surprise the "little" 1GR yanked the trailer through the mountains of NC, TN and WV without issue, although single digit MPG
After visiting with my parents and addressing some baselining (filters, oils/fluids etc..) I headed back to NC but with some fun in store.
Had to stop at Hillbilly Hotdogs in BFE West Virginia. Unfortunately not open on Mondays but pictorial evidence was needed.
Also headed south on the scenic byway through WV.
Background: Been offroading for quite some time, building a Suzuki Samurai crawler and 2nd gen 4runner among a plethora of short timer vehicles. Found myself needing something that balanced being a reliable daily driver carrying 2 kiddos and can enjoy time in the woods doing weekend to week camping trips. My favored trails tend to not be well suited for anything bigger than a current 4runner and the post Covid car market is something awful for buying.
So I scoured tons of options and FJ's caught my eye, yeah the daily duty with kids is a decent compromise with the rear doors but the back seat room is way better than even a current crew cab Tacoma.
Finally found one worth pursuing that would save a ton of time on the build side from a Mud member down in Texas (being from Ohio the no rust aspect was a huge draw) so my mom and I did a Fly-n-Drive back in March over a long weekend.
Seller's picture from ad:
Highlights:
Exp 1 front bumper with 9k winch
Metal Tech rear bumper
Sway-a-Way front coilovers and rear springs ~2.5-3in lift
285/70 tires
Full Budbuilt skid plates
43qt fridge on slide out in back
The FJ was as described and fit exactly what I was looking for. So we left Austin TX mid day Saturday and had to choose how to get home. Having been a few years since my mom or I had been to New Orleans we decided to head that way and maybe find some beach time if possible.
Stopped in Elgin TX at Southside Market & BBQ because you cant go to texas and not have brisket. Also found a friend in the parking lot.
The drive was uneventful save for charging up the A/C which was a disclosed issue and surmised to be an evaporator core leak to be fixed later. I didn't take many vehicle related pictures but stopped at Cafe Du Monde for beignets and coffee before turning the hood north and heading to my place in western NC. Averaged 18/19MPG through the very flat south.
Once in NC I picked up a trailer I had from my parents that needed returned as I took my mom home to Ohio. I flew her down for the trip but since we were already road tripping might as well keep going. To my surprise the "little" 1GR yanked the trailer through the mountains of NC, TN and WV without issue, although single digit MPG
After visiting with my parents and addressing some baselining (filters, oils/fluids etc..) I headed back to NC but with some fun in store.
Had to stop at Hillbilly Hotdogs in BFE West Virginia. Unfortunately not open on Mondays but pictorial evidence was needed.
Also headed south on the scenic byway through WV.