I put the TRD exhaust on my FJ a few weeks ago. I have not noticed any difference in mpg, but I have never really figured what my rig was getting to begin with. These trucks were not designed to be fuel efficient (think of a brick travelling down the road) and after a lift, bigger tires...
I ended-up buying the stock Toyota sliders. They were too cheap not to get ($180), but they really don't offer much protection from sliding sideways into a tree or rock. They have provided some protection underneath, but I certainly don't think they can compete with the other companies making...
I would buy an FJ again. It does have it's quirks (small windshield, big doors and only 2 windows that roll down), but for as little as I drive and for my types of recreation (hunting, camping, wheeling, snowshoeing) it is perfect. My dog and I can track mud all over the inside and just hose...
Of all the aftermarket rear bumpers I have seen for the FJ, I just gotta tell you that your's is the nicest, most functional and best that I have seen. That is awesome!
I like my auto. I like having my hands free and having to shift up and down when going over mountain passes. It has performed well off road and gets a little better gas mileage than the MT (from those who know).
I have been really happy with my FJ. I did have a double cab Taco and traded-in for the FJC. I liked the Taco, but I like the FJ more! I have done some off-roading where there was a lot of flexing and so far no rips or tears.
I had the OME lift done about a year ago and had a small issue with wandering and a larger issue with decreased gas mileage. I finally had the alignment checked about 5 months after the OME install. The Toyo tech told me he had never seen a rig so far out of alignment as my FJ. I doubt the FJ...
I have a Yakima swing away bike rack on my FJ. I am not sure which model it is; however, it holds 4 bikes and the spare tire being in the way has not been an issue. I, too will have a dog soon and the rack swings well away from the door so I can easily open the rear door and let the dog out...
I think I misspoke about the tire I size I am now running on my FJ. I did have 285/70/17 and now have 285/75/16 using Bridgestone Revo's. Sorry about that!
I have been running Bridgestone Revo's and have great results using them. They do well in mud (although not as good as a true mud tire) and snow. I live in an area where we get alot of rain and so far I have not experienced any hydroplaning. I did have 285/70/17 and then I bought some TRD 16"...
DEWFPO - You're right on the lengths. It may have been the dealership had the 16" length for the front and none for the back or the 14" in stock. The Toyo service guy did end-up cutting the correct lengths for the back and the shorter front blade(s). It has been awhile so my memory is a bit...
When I went to the Toyo dealership to get replacement blades they had two blades of the correct length for the front and none for the back. We ended-up cutting two blades to fit the shorter front wiper and rear wiper. I can't remember what I was charged, but it seemed reasonable at the time.
I don't have the ARB front bumper (I have the Expedition One), but a few of the guys on the forum recommended the 886's on the front. I took their suggestion and am running the 886's and am quite happy with the ride. I use my FJ on the road more (80%) than off-road as well.
If I remember correctly, the Expedition One front bumper caused my front end to sag about 1/8" with the stock suspension. The bumper weighs in right around 100 lbs so it is not a beast. I only added the ome heavy duty coils up front after I installed a winch. Hope this helps.
I have used the inverter while testing a small air compressor for use off-road. I had no problems and everything seemed t work OK. I didn't probably have the compressor going for more than 5 minutes, though.
I have seen them in a couple of different websites, but cannot remember the places that I had visited. I used a Google search with "FJ billet shift knobs" and had several hits.