New Member Saying Hello

[BIC JET]

Hello,

Not a Toyota owner yet, but hope to be soon. I have a Land Rover which I am crazy about, but it is time to rotate out and I dont think the LR3 is nearly as capable as the Discovery......so FJ Cruiser, here I come.

Any advice on factory options would really be welcome. I am definitely going with the skid plates, 4x4, diff lock, roof rack?(maybe not on the roof rack, I have seen some pretty cool after-market roof racks out there). The dealer tells me that they cannot order the FJ with the black steel wheels.....I really dont want the alloys, would rather have the black steelies or get some ProComps or something. My plan is to either go with the ARB bull bar or maybe the Fonnesbeck Trail Series Bull Bar
( http://www.exp-one.com/FJCruiserbullbar.htm )
I am really leaning toward the latter. I would plan on the OME lift, as IU installed that on my Rover and would plan on doing that as well.

I do have a few questions on some general stuff too:

True Fuel Economy - Give me some real world data....no jackrabbit starts, but a normal 70 - 75 miles an hour

Tire size - How big can I go with no lift? WHat about with a 2'-3' lift.

Tire type - Rover folks love the BFG AT and MT. I got the REVO AT's and really liked them. My FJ will be a DD so I need something that is going to last for a while.

Write me back.

Thanks JOHN

 

[TEXASLAWMAN]

Welcome... Get the rear locker but dont pay for the Atrac. All teh 4x4's come wired for it. Then go to the parts dept and buy the $40 switch vs. the $3000 option...

 

[BIC JET]

Will do. Even the 2208's are wired for it?

 

[BIC JET]

Sorry that was 2008's.....

 

[TEXASLAWMAN]

As far as I know I dont own one but I was looking into getting one and that was the info I was given.... Dont know about the 2008 but I cant imagine yhey would change it....

 

[G-Cat]

Post up with the Toyota Trail Riders, also. Lots of FJC owners there, several who work at Toyota of Dallas. Pretty sure getting one with black steelies is an option...why else would Toyota offer black steelies?

 

[valkyrie610]

I wasn't going to speak until invited, so...

John,

<infomercial>
I am the Collision Center Director for Toyota of Dallas (formerly the Parts Manager) and a member of the Toyota Trail Riders. Phil Stetson is the Parts Director, he and several other TOD parts employees are also members of TTR.

If you get with Phil, he can help you outfit your new FJC how you want it. Way back in 2005 we worked with ARB in adapting Prado OME suspensions to other Prado platforms (4th Gen 4Runner, Tacomas and later the FJC's). We build and sell FJC's fully outfitted with ARB & OME setups tailored to your requirements for off-road capability & on-road comfort.

They also set 'em up with Donahoe suspensions and Demello armor as well.
</infomercial>

Anyways, you didn't ask but yes, as far as I know you can add A-TRAC to a 2008, as there were no significant changes to the platform. You do not need to worry about hacking the A-TRAC to make it work in conjunction with the rear locker because after November 2006 the factory upgraded the ECU to allow both ATRAC and the rear locker to work together for the TRD edition.

The ARB roof rack is a solid rack and is a significant improvement over the factory rack. If it were me, I would omit the factory rack entirely.

As far as wheels, you can't "order" a vehicle with them. In fact, you can't "order" an FJC at all unless you are really hard up for a particular odd combination and can sit around for 6 months. The steelies are rarely optioned because they are highly unpopular with retail consumers. You can occasionally find a set for sale here and there, or you can check with the folks at TOD if you want them.

Since it sounds like you will be outfitting your FJC at the time of purchase, in my honest opinion, I would rather buy the 16" black steelies from Wheelers. Your tire cost will be cheaper, and they are half the cost of the factory 17" steelies. Of course, if you want the steelies now but don't want to upgrade your tires right away, then you'll have to get the 17's. You can always sell the factory alloys and tires, or get the Parts Department to give you a credit at the time you purchase your vehicle.

Tire size is a tricky one, because the type of 'lift' (for instance, there are three different OME setups), the type of tire and the width of wheel combine to give varying results of clearance, but in any case, trimming the front cab mount is pretty much accepted as the first and easiest way to get a little more tire. Justin Holt of Rocktek (Grapevine) does this at a very reasonable cost.

For instance, with the OME Heavy suspension and American Racing teflon's and the body mount chop, you can clear on the trail (not just "fit" for street use) 305-70-16 Nitto Terra Grappler's (34x12), which is a great looking and a great performing combination.

If you are going to wheel your rig, Carl @ Just Diff's has a great deal on 4.88 gear sets, which would be a great improvement with 34's.

Sorry for the long post...

 

[spaldam]

Will do. Even the 2208's are wired for it?

You have to have 4x4 and e-locker from what I understand to have all the proper wiring and ECU's in place, if I understand correctly, but I wouldn't know because my TRD SE came with it.

The last time I checked i was averaging about 15 mpg, but that was when I first got it and I was a little heavy on the gas petal. It seems to have improved as the engine gets warn in with more miles (and my foot has relaxed), but I haven't checked to see exactly for a while. Anyway, as long as it's not too windy out, it curses along just fine without breaking a sweat at 70 mph.

 

[BrettinSanAntonio]

John, were you part of Texas Rovers up in Dallas? I was the VP of the San Antonio chapter of Texas Rovers before I abandoned the dark side of the force and came back to Toyota.

Hello,

Not a Toyota owner yet, but hope to be soon. I have a Land Rover which I am crazy about, but it is time to rotate out and I dont think the LR3 is nearly as capable as the Discovery......so FJ Cruiser, here I come.

Any advice on factory options would really be welcome. I am definitely going with the skid plates, 4x4, diff lock, roof rack?(maybe not on the roof rack, I have seen some pretty cool after-market roof racks out there). The dealer tells me that they cannot order the FJ with the black steel wheels.....I really dont want the alloys, would rather have the black steelies or get some ProComps or something. My plan is to either go with the ARB bull bar or maybe the Fonnesbeck Trail Series Bull Bar
( http://www.exp-one.com/FJCruiserbullbar.htm )
I am really leaning toward the latter. I would plan on the OME lift, as IU installed that on my Rover and would plan on doing that as well.

I do have a few questions on some general stuff too:

True Fuel Economy - Give me some real world data....no jackrabbit starts, but a normal 70 - 75 miles an hour

Tire size - How big can I go with no lift? WHat about with a 2'-3' lift.

Tire type - Rover folks love the BFG AT and MT. I got the REVO AT's and really liked them. My FJ will be a DD so I need something that is going to last for a while.

Write me back.

Thanks JOHN