Corey's 2007 FJ Cruiser Build-Up Thread
#21
Thanks Bob.
It is a lithium battery I think that is rechargeable via USB or power.
I and the two other guy's over on fjcruiserforums will be bugging the tech department to get us this firmware.
I think since we were the guinea pigs, they should just ship us a new unit when it becomes available.
It is a lithium battery I think that is rechargeable via USB or power.
I and the two other guy's over on fjcruiserforums will be bugging the tech department to get us this firmware.
I think since we were the guinea pigs, they should just ship us a new unit when it becomes available.
#22
Link to the iPod mod in the Tech Write-up section
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...013#post981013
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...013#post981013
#23
Maglite mount in the cargo bay
Sunday morning was a great day to work on the rig.
I bought a few Rubbermaid kitchen organizers to spruce up and organize my cargo boxes middle drawer which is mainly for hand tools.
It sure makes it easier to find stuff now.
Next on the days menu is the Maglite install.
In the 4Runner I had the Maglite mounted with C clips to the front passenger side Husky floormat.
The FJ Cruisers floormats do not really allow me that option.
I could have bolted/screwed the C clips to the passenger side of the lower console, but I really did not feel like doing that.
Something about a new rig I am a little more cautious on drilling
In the back is a perfect spot, the right side cargo door that covers the storage bin.
Owners of the subwoofer from the factory do not have this option though.
I used oversized washers in the back on the bolts to keep the weight of the light from ripping/breaking the plastic from the weight of the light, especially when bouncing around off road.
The head of the Maglite also is facing towards the back.
This will prevent the light from shooting forward if I am ever in a situation when the rig stops to fast.
I am very happy how this turned out.
And my website has also been updated with the info.
On with the pics...
I bought a few Rubbermaid kitchen organizers to spruce up and organize my cargo boxes middle drawer which is mainly for hand tools.
It sure makes it easier to find stuff now.
Next on the days menu is the Maglite install.
In the 4Runner I had the Maglite mounted with C clips to the front passenger side Husky floormat.
The FJ Cruisers floormats do not really allow me that option.
I could have bolted/screwed the C clips to the passenger side of the lower console, but I really did not feel like doing that.
Something about a new rig I am a little more cautious on drilling
In the back is a perfect spot, the right side cargo door that covers the storage bin.
Owners of the subwoofer from the factory do not have this option though.
I used oversized washers in the back on the bolts to keep the weight of the light from ripping/breaking the plastic from the weight of the light, especially when bouncing around off road.
The head of the Maglite also is facing towards the back.
This will prevent the light from shooting forward if I am ever in a situation when the rig stops to fast.
I am very happy how this turned out.
And my website has also been updated with the info.
On with the pics...
#24
Contributing Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Graham, Wa.
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Hmmmm....
Where have i seen that orange flashlight before?
Looks real nice. Can't beleive your still running a mag light though.
I purchased a real nice 3 watt led flashlight from Lowes. Puts out so much more light and is alot smaller than the mag light.
Where have i seen that orange flashlight before?
Looks real nice. Can't beleive your still running a mag light though.
I purchased a real nice 3 watt led flashlight from Lowes. Puts out so much more light and is alot smaller than the mag light.
#25
Contributing Member
I think the bulb itself costs about $25.00, so a little pricey but worth it IMO. I have a 3-Dcell mag with the LED bulb, quite bright (I bought the mag with the LED bulb included for $40). I have an Inova 3-Watt LED light that runs off of two 3V Lithium batteries ($70, pricey but very nice), it is darn bright but the Mag with the LED bulb is just as bright and better at long distances because it retains focusing capability.
Plus, a D-cell mag can run for MONTHS with the LED bulb...
Last edited by mastacox; 09-11-2006 at 10:47 AM.
#26
Thanks Todd.
What orange thing? Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Todd, the Maglite is not just a flashlight, but also a great weapon
Brian, any idea where to get these LED replacement bulbs for the Maglite?
I would be interested in doing that.
I wonder is Lowes has them?
What orange thing? Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Todd, the Maglite is not just a flashlight, but also a great weapon
Brian, any idea where to get these LED replacement bulbs for the Maglite?
I would be interested in doing that.
I wonder is Lowes has them?
#27
Contributing Member
Well, I got my Maglite at Sears, they had just the replacement bulbs too. I have also seen them at REI, Wal-Mart, and a couple of other places that sell the big mag's. Pretty sweet
#28
New tires!
Not to rest upon Sundays small Maglite mod, I had yakked with Les Schwab Tires Saturday about the Cooper Discoverer STT tires I have been wanting.
They are unavailable right now in the USA almost in the stock size of 265x70x17 which equal 32".
He did locate a set of 4 this morning in Pennsylvania, and I had him get them shipped, they will be here in a week.
But...I changed my mind.
Les carries a tire made by Cooper for Dick Cepek called the Mountain Cat.
They are so new they are not shown on Dick Cepeks site, or on Les Schwabs site.
When you look at them, you can clearly see they are made from the same mold.
They changed the sides a bit, and a little on the tread, but you can see the mold is pretty close.
These are still actually Cooper STT tires in disguise
I got $200 for 4 of my stock tires that came on the rig.
Not bad considering I have 1,200 miles on them.
These tires are beefy!
They are actually quieter than my Wild Country TXRs I ran for the past 8 years on the 4Runner, but the tread is way more aggressive, a true mud/dirt/rock tread.
They want some feedback from me on these tires since they are so new.
They do have a low hum, and I hope that it gets louder as they break in.
I like loud tires
They also had one demo mounted to a really cool Les Schwab brand (Ultra) wheel called the Allied 891/892 in a 17x9, and they mounted it up.
I think they had that demo tire and wheel waiting for me since it fit the FJ just right
Nice wheels, and $128 each, about $75 cheaper than the AR Mohave Teflon wheels I was thinking about.
Anyways, I can not wait to get my rig off road for the Fall Colors Run coming up and test out these new bad meats.
If I like them well, I will get five of them sized at 285x70x17 and new wheels come spring to run as my spring through fall set, and the current set will become the fall through spring set.
Nice thing about having two sets is it makes them last quite a few years.
I did not opt today to replace the stock tire on the tailgate.
I will do that before winter.
PS,
I forgot to mention that they said these tires took less weight to balance them than the stock Bridgestones.
They were quite impressed and saying how good it is that they hardly took any weight at all.
They are unavailable right now in the USA almost in the stock size of 265x70x17 which equal 32".
He did locate a set of 4 this morning in Pennsylvania, and I had him get them shipped, they will be here in a week.
But...I changed my mind.
Les carries a tire made by Cooper for Dick Cepek called the Mountain Cat.
They are so new they are not shown on Dick Cepeks site, or on Les Schwabs site.
When you look at them, you can clearly see they are made from the same mold.
They changed the sides a bit, and a little on the tread, but you can see the mold is pretty close.
These are still actually Cooper STT tires in disguise
I got $200 for 4 of my stock tires that came on the rig.
Not bad considering I have 1,200 miles on them.
These tires are beefy!
They are actually quieter than my Wild Country TXRs I ran for the past 8 years on the 4Runner, but the tread is way more aggressive, a true mud/dirt/rock tread.
They want some feedback from me on these tires since they are so new.
They do have a low hum, and I hope that it gets louder as they break in.
I like loud tires
They also had one demo mounted to a really cool Les Schwab brand (Ultra) wheel called the Allied 891/892 in a 17x9, and they mounted it up.
I think they had that demo tire and wheel waiting for me since it fit the FJ just right
Nice wheels, and $128 each, about $75 cheaper than the AR Mohave Teflon wheels I was thinking about.
Anyways, I can not wait to get my rig off road for the Fall Colors Run coming up and test out these new bad meats.
If I like them well, I will get five of them sized at 285x70x17 and new wheels come spring to run as my spring through fall set, and the current set will become the fall through spring set.
Nice thing about having two sets is it makes them last quite a few years.
I did not opt today to replace the stock tire on the tailgate.
I will do that before winter.
PS,
I forgot to mention that they said these tires took less weight to balance them than the stock Bridgestones.
They were quite impressed and saying how good it is that they hardly took any weight at all.
#30
Thanks Bob, I just noticed something looking at one of my pics.
http://www.pnw4runners.com/fj/tires/2.jpg
That thread pattern on the sidewall is not a zigzaggy design like my eyes first though.
Looking at it just now, it is a DC, short for Dick Cepek
I am going to have to Google and see if I can find out any info on these tires.
http://www.pnw4runners.com/fj/tires/2.jpg
That thread pattern on the sidewall is not a zigzaggy design like my eyes first though.
Looking at it just now, it is a DC, short for Dick Cepek
I am going to have to Google and see if I can find out any info on these tires.
#31
I am happy to report that these hogs ride just as smooth as the factory Bridgestones coming into work this morning.
Nice low hum that kicks in at about 20 mph, and at 60 to 65 they sound nice, but still are not as loud as my TXRs I ran on the 4Runner.
I am impressed though how smooth these run.
And they are perfectly balanced too, there was no shaking in the steering wheel or from the tires.
My local Les Schwab just had installed a new expensive balancer.
Not one of those Hawakas, just a good bubble/static balancer, or whatever they call it.
I had my 4Runner done one time at Big O tires with that Hawaka gizmo twice, and I would never do it again.
It rode rough.
Went to Les Schwab back then and had a simple bubble balance done and all was fine.
Nice low hum that kicks in at about 20 mph, and at 60 to 65 they sound nice, but still are not as loud as my TXRs I ran on the 4Runner.
I am impressed though how smooth these run.
And they are perfectly balanced too, there was no shaking in the steering wheel or from the tires.
My local Les Schwab just had installed a new expensive balancer.
Not one of those Hawakas, just a good bubble/static balancer, or whatever they call it.
I had my 4Runner done one time at Big O tires with that Hawaka gizmo twice, and I would never do it again.
It rode rough.
Went to Les Schwab back then and had a simple bubble balance done and all was fine.
#33
Thanks Phil.
And I think that balancer that Big O used was a Hunter.
I was confusing that bolt on Hawaka adaptor the 3rd gen 4Runner guy's use when they get a balance at a dealer or shop that has the unit.
I do not think the FJ needs a Hawaka either to balance them.
I still can not believe how these big lugs drive so smooth.
And I think that balancer that Big O used was a Hunter.
I was confusing that bolt on Hawaka adaptor the 3rd gen 4Runner guy's use when they get a balance at a dealer or shop that has the unit.
I do not think the FJ needs a Hawaka either to balance them.
I still can not believe how these big lugs drive so smooth.
#34
Home brewed shovle mount for stock rack
On my '91 4Runner I had made a home brewed shovel mount using the Yakima Snap Arounds, some long bolts, and some Yakima plastic wingnuts.
The shovel I had bought at Lowes hardware.
Since Yakima has the 10V Mighty Mounts that let me mount the Slee Hi-Lift mounts, I knew Yakima would have the equivalent of a mount that would let the bolt go vertically, but the mount would be horizontal.
With the bolt vertically, this would allow the same shovel I used before to be able to sit on top of the FJ Cruisers rack slats.
I called up Yakima and they were clueless.
The tech people there are trained to only tell you what fits your rack that they have in their rack guides.
The guy I spoke with said I had to use Yakima Universal Mighty Mounts, as that is all that fits.
I told him I beg to differ, but your 10V mounts fit perfectly, as that is what Slee turned me onto when I contacted him.
I told the Yakima guy I wanted a horizontal mount that had the same shape as the 10V.
He said he did not know, but I finally got it out of him that the 23H should fit.
Now was that so hard to tell me?
I ordered up a set from RackOutfitters.com and sure enough, they fit perfectly.
However my old bolts I had used on the 4Runner were a little bent, so I had to buy new ones.
The size you want is 5/16-18-4
Also since I took off two of my racks slats when installing the Hi-Lift mounts, the two slats left were to far apart to make the shovel work with its two holes that are drilled in it.
I had to add back a slat and move it in front of the most forward slat, and that worked out perfectly.
Here is a shot of just the 23H mounts on.
Here is a shot with the new bolts.
The other plastic Yakima wingnuts I had used were to small for the new bolts and the 5/16th nut that Yakima has you insert into the 23H.
Luckily I had some old 5/16th Yakima wingnuts laying around from some old Yakima thing I bought years ago.
You can also use a standard metal wingnut, but the advantage of using the Yakima ones are they are much bigger to grab onto.
And finally a few shots with the shovel in place.
One nice thing too about mounting it more forward like this is I can step up on the sliderz to get up and take the shovel off.
It turned out pretty good, and I have two of the 23H Mighty Mounts leftover that I can use for another project up on the rack.
Maybe the kitchen sink I can mount to them.
While I was up there working on the roof, I tried to finally mount my 48" Hi-Lift on the Slee mounts.
It is not going to happen.
Jack is to heavy, and I can not get close enough on the ladder to heft it up there.
Chalk it up to getting old.
I am still working with a friend on making a Hi-Lift mount for the spare tire, or I may end up getting the Demello Hi-Lift mounts for the side of the rack in the future.
Not as hard to put the rack on the side as it is trying to put it all the way up on top.
I do not see why everyone is in such a hurry to ditch the factory FJ Cruiser rack.
I like it a lot, and with a little creativeness, you can do a lot with it by fabbing up your own stuff like I did the shovel mount here.
With the two leftover 23H mounts and buying another box of four mounts (would use four mounts), I could fab up a nice jerry can mount adding back the fourth slat.
The shovel I had bought at Lowes hardware.
Since Yakima has the 10V Mighty Mounts that let me mount the Slee Hi-Lift mounts, I knew Yakima would have the equivalent of a mount that would let the bolt go vertically, but the mount would be horizontal.
With the bolt vertically, this would allow the same shovel I used before to be able to sit on top of the FJ Cruisers rack slats.
I called up Yakima and they were clueless.
The tech people there are trained to only tell you what fits your rack that they have in their rack guides.
The guy I spoke with said I had to use Yakima Universal Mighty Mounts, as that is all that fits.
I told him I beg to differ, but your 10V mounts fit perfectly, as that is what Slee turned me onto when I contacted him.
I told the Yakima guy I wanted a horizontal mount that had the same shape as the 10V.
He said he did not know, but I finally got it out of him that the 23H should fit.
Now was that so hard to tell me?
I ordered up a set from RackOutfitters.com and sure enough, they fit perfectly.
However my old bolts I had used on the 4Runner were a little bent, so I had to buy new ones.
The size you want is 5/16-18-4
Also since I took off two of my racks slats when installing the Hi-Lift mounts, the two slats left were to far apart to make the shovel work with its two holes that are drilled in it.
I had to add back a slat and move it in front of the most forward slat, and that worked out perfectly.
Here is a shot of just the 23H mounts on.
Here is a shot with the new bolts.
The other plastic Yakima wingnuts I had used were to small for the new bolts and the 5/16th nut that Yakima has you insert into the 23H.
Luckily I had some old 5/16th Yakima wingnuts laying around from some old Yakima thing I bought years ago.
You can also use a standard metal wingnut, but the advantage of using the Yakima ones are they are much bigger to grab onto.
And finally a few shots with the shovel in place.
One nice thing too about mounting it more forward like this is I can step up on the sliderz to get up and take the shovel off.
It turned out pretty good, and I have two of the 23H Mighty Mounts leftover that I can use for another project up on the rack.
Maybe the kitchen sink I can mount to them.
While I was up there working on the roof, I tried to finally mount my 48" Hi-Lift on the Slee mounts.
It is not going to happen.
Jack is to heavy, and I can not get close enough on the ladder to heft it up there.
Chalk it up to getting old.
I am still working with a friend on making a Hi-Lift mount for the spare tire, or I may end up getting the Demello Hi-Lift mounts for the side of the rack in the future.
Not as hard to put the rack on the side as it is trying to put it all the way up on top.
I do not see why everyone is in such a hurry to ditch the factory FJ Cruiser rack.
I like it a lot, and with a little creativeness, you can do a lot with it by fabbing up your own stuff like I did the shovel mount here.
With the two leftover 23H mounts and buying another box of four mounts (would use four mounts), I could fab up a nice jerry can mount adding back the fourth slat.
#37
Fuel can
This one is 2.5 gal
http://www.pnw4runners.com/runs/41203/14.jpg
http://www.pnw4runners.com/runs/41203/5.jpg
Not that I would run out with the new rig.
Bigger tank than the 2nd gen had, and way better gas mileage.
May just skip doing that mod altogether.
This one is 2.5 gal
http://www.pnw4runners.com/runs/41203/14.jpg
http://www.pnw4runners.com/runs/41203/5.jpg
Not that I would run out with the new rig.
Bigger tank than the 2nd gen had, and way better gas mileage.
May just skip doing that mod altogether.
#39
Thanks.
It is a pretty good idea to carry along a shovel when off road.
We even used them a few years ago to help un-bury a members rigs rear tires.
I also carried an axe on the 4Runner, but not so sure if I will on this.
It is probably one of the lesser tools used, but I could be wrong, I will have think about it.
I could easily drill two holes into an axe handle like I did the shovel, and mount it right next to the shovel, or even on top of the shovel with longer bolts to go through both the shovel and axe.
It is a pretty good idea to carry along a shovel when off road.
We even used them a few years ago to help un-bury a members rigs rear tires.
I also carried an axe on the 4Runner, but not so sure if I will on this.
It is probably one of the lesser tools used, but I could be wrong, I will have think about it.
I could easily drill two holes into an axe handle like I did the shovel, and mount it right next to the shovel, or even on top of the shovel with longer bolts to go through both the shovel and axe.