Wanted to post a small project (that took way too long) that was completely inspired (possibly stolen out of love) by The FJ Company. I just love what they do, how they do it and the vision that have set (and bar) for the classic 4x4 industry. Clearly they have a very expensive final product and many of the craftsmanship they execute cannot be purchased on their own (but they do sell their bespoke 16" wheels that are on their +$275k Land Cruisers), so that leaves us lowly owners to take inspiration queues to apply to our own rigs. In particular - their OEM bumpers that have integrated Baja Design Sport Chasing (Trail) Lamps. My inspiration for this project:
Clearly the quicker way here is to hang this kind of trail lamp under our bumpers with the generic bracket supplied. Or you can easily cut (or butcher) the bumperettes and mount these from on top and not worrying too much about your cut lines. But FJ Company does a clever job of flush mounting these from the back where the final results are borderline factory looking and slick. This is what I wanted to document for anyone who is looking to do something similar - inspired from the FJ Company. I'm a visual guy, so in the following pictures - you will see how I did (attempted) this and the external help I needed to get this to fruition. But because of the rear flush mount design, this does take time and careful precision...even with my final attempt, my cut lines required most of it by hand where a plasma cutter would have been the right way to go.
General Cost breakdown (including tools that I needed anyway)
(Initial cut lines, was redone a few times)
(Centering the Baja Design lamp bezel for the flush mount)
(Making sure I was using accurate templates to cut the flush lines and to then cut the mounting plate designs - whcih treally required thinking about this several times)
(A$$ pucker moment, but the beer helped)
(Scrap steel turned into the mounting plates that would be welded to back of bumpers. Note - the holes here are smaller than bumper cuts)
(Quick fitment check. The bumpers have slightly rounded angle to them and needed to cut this plate down in order to sit flush )
(Test fit of mounting plates that would be welded to back of each bumper)
(Nice to have local welders who love beer - and Land Cruisers)
(Final build....painted black just to have reference for any metal damage over the process. Sanded a few areas that were highlighted by the temp paint)
(A quick blast of unicorn dust)
(Near final that was powder coated and sealed)
(I overdid it on welding, but wanted serious support and longevity)
(Wiring them up, but I am a stickler for good and well organized wiring)
(Systems check go)
(Happy with final performance)
Hit me up with any questions or if you would like me to build you a set (not cheap due to labor).
Clearly the quicker way here is to hang this kind of trail lamp under our bumpers with the generic bracket supplied. Or you can easily cut (or butcher) the bumperettes and mount these from on top and not worrying too much about your cut lines. But FJ Company does a clever job of flush mounting these from the back where the final results are borderline factory looking and slick. This is what I wanted to document for anyone who is looking to do something similar - inspired from the FJ Company. I'm a visual guy, so in the following pictures - you will see how I did (attempted) this and the external help I needed to get this to fruition. But because of the rear flush mount design, this does take time and careful precision...even with my final attempt, my cut lines required most of it by hand where a plasma cutter would have been the right way to go.
General Cost breakdown (including tools that I needed anyway)
- L/R OEM Bumperettes: $140
- Baja Design S2 Amber Trail Lamps: $210
- Sandblasting: $40
- Welding Services: 6pk of Tropicalia
- Powder Coat: $50
- Angle Grinder and steel bur bits: $100
- (Already had wire, wire loom and AuxBeam 6-way gang control module in my rig)
(Initial cut lines, was redone a few times)
(Centering the Baja Design lamp bezel for the flush mount)
(Making sure I was using accurate templates to cut the flush lines and to then cut the mounting plate designs - whcih treally required thinking about this several times)
(A$$ pucker moment, but the beer helped)
(Scrap steel turned into the mounting plates that would be welded to back of bumpers. Note - the holes here are smaller than bumper cuts)
(Quick fitment check. The bumpers have slightly rounded angle to them and needed to cut this plate down in order to sit flush )
(Test fit of mounting plates that would be welded to back of each bumper)
(Nice to have local welders who love beer - and Land Cruisers)
(Final build....painted black just to have reference for any metal damage over the process. Sanded a few areas that were highlighted by the temp paint)
(A quick blast of unicorn dust)
(Near final that was powder coated and sealed)
(I overdid it on welding, but wanted serious support and longevity)
(Wiring them up, but I am a stickler for good and well organized wiring)
(Systems check go)
(Happy with final performance)
Hit me up with any questions or if you would like me to build you a set (not cheap due to labor).
