Corey's 2007 FJ Cruiser built for expedtion/overland, & daily driver

I have three identical build threads on three other forums that I started all the same day, July the 25th of 2006.
For the full thread from the beginning, here it is on YotaTech.
It would be to hard to copy it all here, so I will condense this and list some of the mods, then continue to update this when I do the others.
Using Streakerfreak's format to list the mods.
All off my mods are also listed on my website in my sig below, and here is a direct link to the mods.
You need Flash installed, as my table of contents is Flash driven.
http://www.pnw4runners.com/fjc/mods/modindex.htm

Make: Toyota
Model: FJ Cruiser
Year: 2007
Color: Titanium Silver

Engine: 4.0 V6
Trans: 5 speed automatic

Modifications & Additions:

* Bentup rock sliderz
* Cobra 29 Nightwatch CB radio, Firestik II 4' antenna, and serial # 6 Bandi mount
* Cargobox that was made for my '91 4Runner, but fits the FJ just fine.
* Powertank 10 lb model
* Lund Vent Visors, in channel ones
* Maglite installation
* Toyota high pitched horn to accompany the stock one
* ARB bumper, IPF foglamps, OME lift (heavy duty up front, medium duty back aft), Warn XD9000 winch, Winchline's synthetic winch line and safety thimble.
* Inchworm elocker guard
* Ramsey wireless winch control
* Ellis Precision custom battery hold down bracket
* Magnaflow 11226 muffler hooked to stock pipe
* Pioneer AVIC-D3 headunit with DVD navigation, Focal 165v2 component speakers, Alpine PDX-4.100 amp, Infinity Kappa 3.27f rear speakers
* ARB fridge/freezer
* Custom 12v Bluesea fusebox and dual 12v plugs for 12v power anytime
* ******** Cepek Mountain Cat mud tires sized at 285x70x17 mounted to Pro Comp 7089 wheels
* Hi-lift jack, and Hi-Lift Handle-All, four tools in one (shovel, axe, pick axe, sledge hammer)
* Fourtrek Hi-Lift mounts mounted to the ARB bumper
* Halguard HG250R fire extinguisher (clean agent, safe for electronics)
* Kidde fire extinguisher for other types of fires outside of the vehicle
* Total Chaos upper control arms
* Dual battery setup
* Springtail M-Packs and rack
* Safari snorkel
* Maggiolina AirLand medium roof top tent
* Camping Lab awning

Below are a few pictures.

Stock, the day I brought it home, and one of the hottest days of the year, near 100 that day.



Did not stay stock for long, the old cargobox from the '91 4Runner was in the next day along with my Powertank.



I customized the stock rack to hold my axe and shovel.



While it worked out great, I later switched to Fourtreks mounts on the rear of the rack.



However I do not have them up there anymore, I am now using the Hi-Lift Handle-All.
http://www.hi-lift.com/handle-all/index.html
It stows behind my seat full time in its bag.
Less of a fuss putting the other axe and shovel on the roof for a run.

I mounted the Hi-Lift to the stock rack via Fourtrek mounts also.
However later I moved the Hi-Lift to the front of the ARB bumper as seen further down in this thread.



Pioneer AVIC-D3 DVD navigation head unit with iPod, Sirius support.



Dual 12v plugs in the rear live full time via Deep BlueSea fuse box.



Total Chaos upper control arms.



Dual battery setup.

Part II

Switch to switch dual battery mode, and lights to the right of the switch to let you know which mode you are in.



Springtail M-Packs and rack for the rear door.





Maggiolina AirLand medium roof top tent.



This picture shows the Safari snorkel, Fourtrek Hi-Lift mounts, Bentup sliderz, Procomp 7089 wheels, and Mountaincat mud tires sized at 285x70x17.







Camping lab awning.



The ARB fridge use to be on the cargobox, but I moved it behind the drivers seat after taking out my rear seats.
This opened up the area to stow camping gear, and makes it easier to access the fridge too.

Nice FJ!

Thanks Brian.

Nice looking rig.

2 questions:

1) What purpose do the short cables on the drawer system serve?

2) When are we going to see that truck get dirty?

tdesanto said:

Nice looking rig.

2 questions:

1) What purpose do the short cables on the drawer system serve?

2) When are we going to see that truck get dirty?

Click to expand...

Thanks td.
1. The cables prevent the drawers from sliding backwards when you accelerate.
When I first had the box in hte '91 4Runner, whenever I took off from a stop, they would slide out and hit the back of the tailgate.
They have pins on the end of the cable that goes through the top of the box and into the side of the drawers.

2. It gets dirty, but have not wheeled it as of late this year with the tent on top.
Goal is to get the tent lowered via new rack setup so the center of gravity makes the rig more stable.

Nice FJ!! Did you win the lottery? Or are you some kind of a millionaire!
Man I am so jealous!

He he, thanks.
Nope, I work for Boeing, very good salary.

ARB Fridge Rehinged 9-26-2008

First I had the fridge on top of the cargobox, then I moved it to behind the drivers seat as seen in a previous update in my buildup thread before I started this one here at Expo.

It is much easier to get to the contents of the fridge now, but I still could not lift the lid up all the way, and I had to hold it open with one hand.

On my trip to Mt. Rainier in August, it was a PITA to have to hold the lid open with one hand, and move the contents with the other hand.

Awhile back I came upon a thread on IH8MUDs forum about relocating the hinges so the lid will open from the side.
The creator of the thread ended up putting together a kit so one does not have to hunt around for the parts.

The kit arrived today, and I could not wait to dig in on another project.
Total time was around a half hour or so.

While the instructions do not call for drilling a pilot hole for the self tapping screws supplied, I did drill a small 7/64th pilot hole.
I was careful to not drill into far.

I first put the hinge in place, and I went back in 1.5" from each end of the fridge to center the hinges.
I marked one hole with a felt pen, then drilled it.
I then put the hinge in place and used the 18v drill to put in the new screw.
Once it was in and tight, I then drilled one hole at a time and repeated with the self tapping screws.
So in other words, I did not drill all four pilot holes at once.

Once the hinges were in place, I then took out the top screws I had just put in and took the lid all the way off.

You then have to remove the stock hardware from the lid and the fridge for the stock hinges.
Once you have done that, you reuse the stock bolts (these are not screws) to fill in the holes.

I put the lid back on again and put back in the upper screws for the new hinges.
I then snapped close the stock latch, and all is very tight.
I did not opt to install the new clasp/lock supplied in Kevin's kit, as the stock hinge worked out fine in its original position.
Plus I will not have to modify the thermal bag by cutting a hole in it for a new clasp/lock.

Picture one below shows me holding the lid open with the fridge in the rig.
The lid hits the ceiling and will not raise up all the way.

Picture two shows the hinge on with three screws in place and a pilot hole ready for the fourth screw.

Picture three shows the new hinges in place and the lid open.
Note that the lid stays open too.
It has an adjustment screw you tighten to cause friction in the hinge, thus allowing the lid to stay open in any position.
Way cool man

Picture four shows the new hinges in place and the lid off ready for me to take off its hardware and the fridges hardware for the stock hinges.

Picture five shows the fridge back in its native environment, and the lid open as if I was going to access it for grub.
The lid clears the ceiling just fine too.

This retrofit will make an ARB or Engel fridge that more enjoyable to access the interior of it.

This kit gets the two thumbs up award





Click here for the instructions and to order the kit.

The thread on IH8MUD that started it all

Nice truck. How do you like that awning?
I've never heard of that brand before. Their website makes the product look decent. Good price too compared to the others.

How does it mount? I would be mounting it to the top of my canopy.

Thanks, love the awning.
Here is a review on it.
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17789

Here is how it mounts:



The L shaped brackets are bolted to the channels on the rear of the awning, then U bolts are used to secure it to the crossbars.

You could forgo the brackets and get longer bolts, and run them through the canopy I bet.

NorCalBorn said:

This method of tool mounting scares me for more than one reason, (aside from the lack of sharp edge covers)
most highly of which is the creation of a stress riser in the main stress points having drilled holes like that.

I'm sure the visual draw's there, as far as 'speccing out" the vehicle, but why risk a broken tool that could hurt you or someone else??
Also, is that drawer system even secured to the floor?

Click to expand...

If you were to view my pictures above, you will note that I have a roof top tent and no longer carry tools on the roof.

I use the Hi-Lift Handle-All which is a shovel, pick, sledge hammer, and ax.
Prior to the Handle-All, I used the Four Trek mounts.
The Handle-All be viewed in my post above with the fridge open.
The Handle-All is in the yellow bag on the floor behind the drivers seat.

Yes, the drawer is secured very well.

NorCalBorn said:

Thank you for the clarification points, as from this picture..



..it appears that although you switched to the Four-Tek mounts, it was your intention to still possibly use a compromised set of tools. Please tell us you've thrown them out and nobody's going to ever use them, unbraced (surrounded) holes equal to a hazard in plastic, fiberglass, or wood handles, unless just a small one at the end of the handle for a hand-strap.

Click to expand...

I think Corey has sufficiently addressed your post. If you'd like to discuss the points of mounting tools or equipment on a vehicle, it would be best to start a new thread in the General Vehicle Modifications section where you are likely to get more interaction on the matter and it won't detract from this thread by going off-topic. Thanks.

TwoZone Basket Set For ARB Fridge 10-21-2008

I am like a kid on Christmas morning.
As soon as UPS dropped off my package from Expedition Exchange, I tore into it and got out the camera.

First off I really dig my ARB fridge/freezer.
No ice to mess with, low battery draw, and you can pack enough food for a week or more into it.

When I took my vacation to Mt. Rainier in August of 2008 I ate really good
Problem is you still have to move around a lot of the grub as it is just one big deep carnivorous well that swallows whatever you can throw at it.

One problem I solved keeping the lid open on the fridge by itself, and not having the lid hit the roof of the FJ was solved in a prior post in my buildup thread.
So once again the fridge is undergoing another mod, it is being transformed into a basket case...

I saw a thread on Expedition Portal that led me to the TwoZone Basket Set sold by Sierra Expeditions.
They are two different sized baskets that hook onto the stock basket in an ARB or Engel 42 qt fridge.
Here is a little info from Sierra's website:

The TwoZone Suspended Basket Set is compatible with most ARB, Engel, Norcold, and Waeco fridge/freezers.

The larger basket measures 11.5" from suspension tab to tab, and the basket is 10.4 wide, 9.5" long and 4" deep.

The smaller basket measures 11.5" from suspension tab to tab, and the basket is 10.4 wide, 5" long and 4" deep.

Click to expand...

This will allow you to pack your vegetables and fruits on top without the worry of them getting bruised and turned into mush by heavier items that may bump up against them.

You can also load up a basket with your snacks, eggs, dip, whatever you do not want buried.
Below the two baskets you still have room to store stuff you might want to keep a little colder such as meats, frozen burritos, milk, orange juice, whatever beverages you are into

So if you are looking for a great solution to keeping your trail/overlanding grub well organized, look no further, these baskets are a great addition to your fridge.

Here are a few pictures showing the size on my laptop for comparison, and some out in the fridge loaded up.
You can easily access the food below by taking out one basket.





TwoZone Basket Set sold by Sierra Expeditions

Looks good Corey! Glad you are liking them :luxhello: