new to 4 wheelin

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sandbox31

sandbox31

Joined
Aug 4, 2007
Threads
3
Messages
13
Location
Fishers, IN
Im new to 4 wheelin and just bought a 07' FJ cruiser stock with no MODs. I live in Fishers, IN and have visited the Badlands to get an idea of what is available there but have not tested it out. I am interested 4 wheelin there but like I said I am new and would like to learn more about whatever it is I need to know (ATrac & diff lock). Does anyone have any ideas of where to start? I have read alot on the forums and everyone seems to have their own ideas about tires, lift kits, bush guards, rock rails, etc.. Makes my head hurt and I am having trouble knowing what is for fun and what is necessary. I want to have fun in the MUD but want to make intelligent decisions on what is best. I know there is probably no perfect answer but did I mention I'm new to this.:bounce:
 
Welcome!!
Your first step, you already did right, that is thinking it through instead of jumping in blind and wasting money. If all the mod does is look nice, put it on the back burner. You already have a nice looking new vehicle, so don't worry about looks. What i did was to wheel it in stock form first. Thats the best way to see what you might want to add and prioritize. Keep wheeling, keeping adding mods. Then don't expect that process to be over any time soon.
I don't know much about the FJC so i can't give you specifics.
Start with meeting the Hoosier Cruiser's at the Badlands on Dec. 01.
 
Welcome sandbox31 to the "sandbox". The Badlands have a lot of it. I live in Indy near Glendale and the Pres of Hoosier Cruisers is a couple streets over. We are close so let's get together sometime.
 
Welcome!:flipoff2:

Come on out for toys for tots at Badlands in Dec. Check HERE for dates. There'll be plenty of stuff for you to do in stock form and plenty of good people to chat with.

Take it slow and the need for mods will present themselves, unless you're rich, then screw it, do'em all at once!:D

BTW - this thread is useless w/o pics!

Again, welcome,
AJ
 
Sounds great let me know the next time you guys are going out and I will try to join. I have surgery on an old knee injury coming the week before Turkey day, so before then would be cool if it works out. Im itching to do something at Badlands so one of these weekends would be great. Is there any place else around that we can go? I saw a thread about the Dunes in Northern Indiana but they were not sure if they would be allowed on the Dunes? Im just happy to hear about the Badlands, Im originally from Buffalo, NY and they have nothing like that but they have a Hella of alot of SNOW...
 
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There was some talk last weekend of a badlands run from the local Fj cruiser guys. They said thay would post up about it.
 
sandbox31 said:
I saw a thread about the Dunes in Northern Indiana but they were not sure if they would be allowed on the Dunes?
Click to expand...

I don't think vehicles are allowed there. But they are allowed at Silver Lake in Michigan. It is right on Lake Mi. Most of you are probably familiar with it. There is a state owned ORV park with lots of camping available. It's a 3 hour drive from my place (NE Ind).
 
Welcome Mr. Sandbox. I say you are starting off right by purchasing a Toyota. I agree with all the info posted above about letting your personal experience show you what mods you will want/need to do. Every time I go out, I come home and modify my rig to meet the need it could not meet last time ( $$ permitting, of course). Join Hoosier Cruisers, the people involved are worth the price of admission alone. I got to drive the new FJ at the last meet. Awesome rig. Hope to see you out on the trail. Tony.
 
Thank's

thanks for the help. I guess I will wait to see what I need How doI join Hoosier Cruisers? If anyone is interested I'm going to the Badlands tomorrow 11/2 to see what this FTC will do.
 
Sandbox,

The FJC is a great rig. The first time I took mine out to Badlands last April, I got stuck three times because I didn't know how to work everything. In September, it worked great. No problems. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. I would recommend getting rock rails, from my own experience. It is a little "peace of mind" in my opinion. DON'T do a lift kit on the FJ!!! There are several examples of what will happen posted on this forum and on the fjcruiserforums.com site. And if you are interested in any Toyota factory Mod for the FJ, you can check it out on my rig before you buy.
 
Dbl Blk is your Sirius sat built in? I am considering hooking it to my radio. Why the rock rails?
 
Yes, the Sirius is built in IF you have the FJammer Radio in your rig. Sirius was a dealer installed option that came out after I ordered my rig. The rock rails are important to protect the rocker panels from getting damaged when you go over something that causes you to turtle. My Toyota rock rails have gouges in the metal underneath where they have already done their job. My Toyota Front Skid Plate has also taken a beating. The Toyota Rock Rails have done the job but there may be better ones out there. I say that because the Toyota Rock Rails are close to the vehicle. My rig came with them as part of the TRD Special Edition package. But the damage to the right side door would not have happened if I had installed an aftermarket set of rock rails because they generally stick out further from the vehicle. On a positive note, my wife likes the ones we have on the rig because they don't get in the way of her getting in and out of the rig.

Let us know how Badlands went your first time out.
 
Rock Rails and Badlands

Thanks for the insight on the rock rail, it something I didnt know about. I tried to upload some pics I took while I was at the Badlands today but couldnt, I think the file is to big. I roamed around the sands for some time until I found the Quarry. I had a good time watching the Jeeps try to crawl through some Big Boulders then have to Winch themselves out. I also go to see a Jeep Cherokee try to climb to 45 degree wall only to break his powertrain. I climbed some simple hill in the back area of the Quarry and went down a Muddy trail to find a section where is was deep and I wasnt sure I had enough clearance make it so i turned around and went back. I think there it seem I would have to have a lift but i dont know. I was surprised how easily the FJC went through the deep mud holes, it was exciting! I scratched the s**t out of the side of the truck on the trees. I was just waiting for that to happen though, its about time I broke it in and stopped being such a wuss. Cant wait for an event to happen and join some others. i was just caustious being by myself. :cheers:
 
Gotta be careful goin out by yourself. You can join the Hoosier Cruiser club by going to Hoosiercruiser.org Then fill out and submit your application. If they let me join, I'd say your chances are pretty good. We have the Toys for Tots event at the Badlands on Dec. 1st. Hope to see you there. Have you joined the TLCA yet? Go to tlca.org (thats the Toyota Land Cruiser Association). Later. Tony.
 
sandbox31 said:
I think there it seem I would have to have a lift but i dont know.
Click to expand...

Be VERY CAREFUL when considering a lift for this vehicle. Many people have done a lift and lots more are willing to sell you a lift kit. BUT, many of the FJs are cracking at the top rear of the front wheel wells. So far the common thread in all of these failures seems to be a lift kit. Otherwise, the rigs have been great!

Glad to hear you finally broke in the FJ. Looking forward to seeing another FJ at Toys for Tots!:)
 
If we dont get a lift kit because of the possible cracking then how do you handle the trails? When I was at the badlands there was a part of a trail that was rutted (high in the middle) and I didnt think I could get through without scrapping the s!@t out of the bottom so I turned around and went back. Is this something FJC should just avoid?
 
The bottom has skid plates front to back and the gas tank is double layered reinforced plastic so that it doesn't get punctured. The rock rails will help the rocker panels of your rig and a front skid plate will help entry into rough areas as well. The Trail Team rigs have a 2" spacer installed, but I don't know if they are experiencing the body cracking that the lifted FJs are seeing. You could also install a solid front to back skid plate which is being manufactured for the FJ. You could gain some height with a larger tire diameter. I don't know what your expectations are to really help point you in the right direction.

Personally, I drive mine where ever I can and I get stuck every once in awhile. I know that I can't go over a giant log or do some of the rock crawlin' that the lifted rigs can do. But I still have fun.

Maybe Woody or someone else could chime in and offer suggestions.

Another idea is to come out to Badlands during TFT and follow me. You will see what another FJ can and can't do, then decide if you want to try it as well.
 
Lift should be acheived with tires. Trail manners should be the reason for suspension.

Thats ideal but i know with a new vehicle you dont want to cut body, but at least understand how it should be done.

Oh and a lift kit wont help in deep ruts at all, agian you need tire for that :D
 
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