Kevin & Shannon's 07 FJ build, "Serenity"

[Kevin108]

I've had a 4x4 ever since I first started driving. I've had the wheeling bug ever since I first shifted a transfer case in that 85 S-10 almost 20 years ago. I went from it to an 87 Silverado and a 00 Jeep Cherokee. I've had other cars and trucks for DDs, but I've always had an adventure rig as well.

Last year the Jeep was giving me a fit. I was really about 3 years out from being ready to buy something else, but the time had come. I was having a hard time finding any FJs locally, and told my wife I'd settle for a 4Runner, Taco, or Xterra. She said, "I don't want you to settle. You've wanted an FJ since you first saw one. That's what you need to get."

In May of 2015, I finally found an 07 in great shape with 80,000 miles on it. It had A-TRAC, the rear locker, the dash-top accessories, and a roof rack. Those were all the must-haves on my list. The previous owner had installed rock rails, a rear receiver, a Rough Country lift, and new tires. The only thing I could find wrong with it was that door speakers were blown and the cup holder inserts were missing.

I added a ScanGauge II, snorkel, and trailer wiring within a few days.

After that, I put it on the beach as quickly as possible.

Interior lighting, especially up front, is insufficient, so I converted it to LED. You can see here how much brighter the upgrade is over stock.

The beach driving had caused the trans temps to get higher than I liked, so I added a large transmission cooler.

The next glaring shortcoming was rear visibility at night. I added flush-mount LEDs to the rear bumper wings.

I tested out a homebrew awning before springing for the real thing.

I did a stealth installation of a 32" light bar behind the lower grille. Also added some flush mount lights to the wings, giving me 180° of light up front.

I finally achieved the dream of owning a rooftop tent

Added some LEDs for underhood lighting. They come on automatically when the hood is opened. The whole project was less than $15.

$6.95 for the LEDS - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C1YI2XA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00
$3.49 for the switch - DEI 8607 Viper Avital Car Alarm Security Adjustable Pin Switch For Hood Trunk

Swapped out the previous owner's Walmart battery for an Optima Yellow Top.

I have plans for the rear cargo area including a cooler/fridge slide and some custom drawers, but I'm not there yet. When we're going out, I have a system of loading everything up in milk crates, which isn't without its own advantages, but I think I can improve upon it. When we're unloaded, I just run a single bin and a simple frame to keep it from sliding around.

Currently in the process of finishing up my CB install and cleaning up my Sirius installation.

We're planning a couple short trips this year. We'll also be doing a multi-day run from Tidewater to Disney World, and we'll be at Overland Expo East.

 

[Adventurous]

Looking good! I'll certainly be following along. Props to your wife for encouraging you not to settle for something you didn't really want (though the Taco and 4runner are fantastic vehicles).

 

[AaronK]

Serenity huh? Do you aim to misbehave?

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[Kevin108]

Looking good! I'll certainly be following along. Props to your wife for encouraging you not to settle for something you didn't really want (though the Taco and 4runner are fantastic vehicles).

Thank you! I would have been happy with either, but it's been a long time since I've loved a vehicle like I love our FJ. It's a weird, odd-looking, and uncommon vehicle. I relate to it personally. :wavey:

Serenity huh? Do you aim to misbehave?

Absolutely.

 

[AaronK]

Firefly class tag, love it! Nice build, Captain Tightpants!

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[jebbello]

Good looking build.

 

[Kevin108]

I'd had enough of work this week, so I took today off and made a solo run to Oregon Inlet in Nags Head, NC. The water was a bit rough today, but I still had a great time.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

I guess early FJ's didn't have Sirius radio from the factory?

 

[Kevin108]

It was an option, but mine wasn't fitted with it. I was going out of town and wanted some tunes for the trip, so I ordered a $40 receiver off Amazon and dropped the extra $4 for 1-day shipping. I'm sure the OEM components could be used, but I'm fine with my setup.

 

[Kevin108]

This year fought me tooth and nail and I had surgery a second time back in August. This time I had two stents placed in my heart. Along with my other health issues, it seems I also have a genetic heart condition that makes me significantly more likely to develop blockages. Awesome. Just what I needed! I managed to catch things before anything bad happened and they estimated the current level of heart damage at less than 1%. I can live with that. No pun intended. My daily schedule now includes AM and PM trips to the weekly med dispenser, like most old people. But it's also forced me to reevaluate my life and better prioritize doing the things I'd like to do.

I started with Overland Expo. 3 friends and I went down for the trip and came home with a head full of plans for what we want to do next.

We camped away from the crowd at Powhatan Lake, which featured a peaceful overnight experience and warm showers as desired.

I was thoroughly impressed by both the number and variety of rigs on display there.

My buddy in the JK brought home a 12v fridge/freezer. I just picked up a set of Go Treads for getting unstuck, leveling the body when camping, and congregating the cats in the living room

We ate great, we slept great, we drank in the coolest bars, and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. This may well become an annual tradition. Did I mention FJs were a popular vehicle choice? This was check-in on Thursday.

I came home contemplating the next build. I think one of these camper shells would work great in a Tundra...

 

[Kevin108]

I never really unloaded from Overland Expo. We swapped a few things around, added a Luggable 'Loo to the cargo area and my wife's sleeping bag to the RTT, we headed out from the east coast to the WV line for a weekend of camping in the George Washington National Forest.

From the pavement to the gravel, we enjoyed the ride and the varied selection offered by Sirius. This was the longest trip my wife and I have ever done in the FJ and it went great.

We finally pulled in just as the rain started Friday. We setup the tent and awning quickly, and Shannon made us cheeseburgers for dinner just as it got dark.

We slept like babies and woke up dry but windy. Shannon cooked us a breakfast of sausage, eggs, and toast.

We had a lazy Saturday of exploring the camp site, the stream bed, collecting firewood for Saturday night, and giving curious visitors tours of the rooftop tent. We later rode back east out of the woods to make a beer run to Jake's Convenience Store and to get a hot shower at the Buckhorn Inn. I wouldn't mind that being a future stop on the way in. As much as I love sleeping outside, having a romantic night at a bed and breakfast before a few days in the woods sounds great!

After another cozy night in our RTT, we lazily packed up, had coffee with our friends, and went a few miles further west toward Reddish Knob as Shannon had never set foot in West Virginia before.

We didn't go all the way to the top. I figured I'd save that for next time. After the pics, we came back down, met up with our friends for a final goodbye, and headed east for breakfast on the road. We ended up at Kathy's in Staunton, and enjoyed the best pancakes we've ever had. No wonder it was voted best breakfast in the valley!

Needless to say, we can't wait to get away again. We're currently planning a trip south, camping in GA and spending a few days in Disney World.