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

[Corey]

ARB Intensity LED Lights Installed 7-5-2016

I ran two sets of Hella 500s on my old '91 4Runner, but never got around to getting some decent off road lighting for the FJ until I saw John owner of Auburn Car Repair & Offroad when I went in awhile back for my body mount chop as my tires were rubbing against it.
The Hellas never impressed me that much, but they were older technology.
Enter the high quality LED lighting of today, and these ARB lights are very bright and high quality.

These are not built in Australia like most of ARB products, but built in the USA by Rigid.
ARB partnered up with Rigid Lighting to make these awesome lights.
Here is a video from ARB, and there are many other on YouTube of these lights.


On with some pics, and if I get time I will try and shoot a video of my own showing how bright these puppies are.

Light switch lights up green when the ignition key is on

Light switch lights up amber when the ARB lights are turned on

Lamps off, boy those are big, and they make a 9" lens version too

ARBs on, headlights off

ARBs and low beams on

ARBs and high beams on

I pulled my Hi-Lift jack from its Four Trek's mounts on the bumper to give the tech more room to work, and after putting it back on, it does not cover the new lights at all

I brought a few extra switches with me, but after mulling it over I decided to go with the stock switch.
Also instead of having the switch installed down in the switch cluster on the console, I also decided to have the switch where it is to be able to get to it faster.
John the owner of the shop has his wired so they only come on with the high beams, but I wanted mine wired up so they could come on anytime the ignition switch was energized.
This way too I cannot leave them on accidentally when I turn the key off.

They aimed them for me too at the shop.
Drivers side is a spot, and the passenger side s the flood.
Tomorrow morning at zero dark thirty I will be able to test them out on a long stretch of road on my way into work that has no street lighting.
That is if there is no oncoming traffic.

The pics do not do these justice, as they are blinding to look at.

Links:
ARB Intensity 7" LED Driving Lights - Flood Beam (AR21F)
ARB Intensity 7" LED Driving Lights -Spot Beam (AR21S)
ARB Intensity LED Wire Loom (3500520)
Auburn Car Repair & Offroad

 

[Corey]

Warn 90287 Wireless Remote Installed 7-9-2016

I really cannot call this an installation, as there is no installation like my old Ramsey wireless winch controller.
I use to run a Ramsey Wireless winch setup on the FJ, but over last weekend I ruined it.
I unspooled my winch line to inspect it, and when I put it back on the spool, the cord that has the plug on it you plug into the Warns controller box got caught on the winchline and ripped it in two.
I could have fixed it, but this was older tech, and I saw in my online search that Warn had out a very simple setup with zero installation.
The Ramsey unit required mounting the receiver underneath the hood, hooking up an antenna, and then running the cable with the plug down to the winches controller box.

With the new Warn unit you just plug the receiver into the control box like you would a wired controller, then use the included remote control.
It does not get much simpler than that.
It also comes with a tether that clips to the receiver, and you take the end with the carabiner and attach it to the winches control box cap that goes over the plug to keep the elements out of the contacts.
This way you can leave it on while wheeling and not loose it.

When I was at the off road shop last Tuesday getting the ARB Intensity LED lights installed, John the owner also has this new Warn Wireless Remote for his Jeeps, and he likes the wireless unit a lot.

Here is a video showing the simplicity of it I found on YouTube.


A few pics:

Pull the cap off of the control box, insert wireless receiver, hook carabiner to pulled cap, and you are setup for wireless

It comes with a nice holster you can Velcro of use a rotating clip to screw to a surface, but I think I am going to leave it in the tray on my center console as that is where I had the Ramsey one


Here is a short video of it.


Links:
Warn 90287 Wireless Remote
Got mine from Amazon, Warn 90287 Wireless Remote

 

[Corey]

Hi-Lift Jack Moved 7-17-2016

For years my Hi-Lift jack has been angled down with the Fourtrek mounts.
I have to admit the business end of the jack was covering my drivers side headlight some, but not so much that I could not see to drive.

Since having my new ARB Intensity LED lights installed, them and the Hi-Lift was in the way of me getting my hand into the hole on the ARB bumper to access the engage/free spool lever on the Warn XD 9000 winch.
Never had this problem before with just the Hi-Lift there, only after the LED lights were added.

So this morning I took off the Hi-Lift and loosened one end of the Fourtrek mounts (1/4" allen wrench) and angled the knobs pointing to the sky.

Both headlights are now wide open with no jack obscuring any of their light, plus I can now get my right hand into the hole to access the lever on the winch.
This is something I should have done a long time ago, and I am looking forward to seeing if the headlight output has increased with the Hi-Lift out of the way.

One day I may go for some brighter headlights either with a bulb exchange, or the whole lens.
I looked at some of those Halo things online last week, and all I see is terrible reviews of them, and bulbs and wiring harnesses burning out.
No thanks, unless there is a good set of those on the market that are trouble free.

Links:
Fourtek's
Luke is a great guy to work with, have bought numerous mounts from him over the years.
I already had these of course, but if anyone is looking at getting some, I am providing the link.

A few pictures from today

Hi-Lift in its old position, angled down

With the gray bar on the Hi-Lift out of the way, I can now get my hand behind the ARB Intensity LED light to access the lever on the winch, and you can see both headlights with no obstructions

I notice the Hi-Lift more from inside the FJ, but not enough to cause any visibility issues

 

[Corey]

Demello Dominatorz Sliders Installed 7-22-2016

Ordered June the 22nd, and they arrived July the 22nd.

My current set of sliders have been on the rig since I bought my FJ in July of 2006.
The powder coating is chipped off quite a bit, and it was time for an update.

I checked out Demello's site, and I liked what I saw when I checked out the Dominatorz.
These came with all new hardware, the bolts take a 13 mm socket of ratchet wrench.
I actually used both.

They were packed quite well too as you can see in the first picture below.
I would say it took me a good hour or more to get all the plastic wrap off, then the cardboard, then even more plastic wrap

Piece of cake to install, but a lot heavier than my old ones.
Balanced them on my stomach, and used my knees to lift them up so I could align the holes.

Link:
DEMELLO OFF-ROAD DOMINATORZ

A few pictures, and after I wash my rig hopefully tomorrow, I am going to get some better pics to add to my thread here.

For some reason that picture reminds of of those Star Wars Walkers

Also bought a new winchline to replace an old one, and I will update the thread here once it is installed.

Masterpull 8mm (5/16") Superline Winch Line - 21,700 lbs, 75'
8mm (5/16") Superline Winch Extension - 21,700 lbs, 25'
ProLink Thimble
HitchLink 2.0
Channellock 927 8-Inch Retaining Ring Plier
The snap ring pliers are required to secure the titanium pin into the ProLink that goes on the winchline
Jack Cover for the Hi-Lift to cover just the moving parts near the base

 

[Corey]

Added a few more pics from Saturday of the new Demello sliders.
Please excuse the mess on the ground, that is Ajax powder from scrubbing my tires in the morning when I gave the rig a bath in my parking spot.

I am still sore from installing these on Friday, and in addition to balancing them on my stomach, I used my knees and lower legs to hold them up while aligning up the bolt holes.
Back of my calves are sore too, gettin' too old for crawling under the rig

 

[Corey]

New Recovery Stuff Installed 7-29/30-2016

I took off work a little early yesterday to stop by John's shop, Auburn Car Repair & Offroad.
I bought a Factor 55 1.0 Hawse fairlead earlier in the week, and I knew there were going to be complications with it for having an ARB bumper (they fit others with no modifications I hear) with it not fitting without modifying it first.

The tech there pulled off my roller fairlead, and the space then to put on the Factor 55 one would not allow it to go in.
Some aluminum on each side of the fairlead would need to be shaved some.
Also the lip on the bumper behind where the Hawse sits was up to high, and this would cause the synthetic line rubbing over it and getting worn.
That needed to be ground down as well, and then touched up with some paint.

Today I installed my new Masterpull 75' Superline synthetic winchline.
I also have a 25' Superline extension line if ever needed.
The Factor 55 ProLink is very cool as you can take it off of the winchline without having to weave a synthetic winchline onto a thimble or a hook.
Simply use a snap-ring pliers, and the titanium pin come out, and you remove the small thimble end on the winchline.
This makes it easy too if I ever want to switch to the FlatLink thimble.
Same as the bigger ProLink, but it folds flat against the fairlead instead of protruding like Rudolph's nose.

Links:
8mm (5/16") Superline 75' Winch Line - 21,700 lbs
8mm (5/16") Superline 25' Winch Extension with Cobra Sling Hook - 21,700 lbs
ProLink With Titanium Pin & Rubber Guard Safety Thimble
Factor 55 1.0 Hawse Fairlead

A few pictures:

Very cool attachment point to fasten the winchline to the Warn XD9000s drum
Compare it to the other one on my old line.

Fairlead with no winchline loaded onto to the spool

New line attached to side of drum

Line installed, and ProLink thimble attached

And with shackle with rust already forming in the little side hole on the pin
They have only been on the rig for a few weeks too.

Masterpull 25' extension with its orange hook around shackle
Note the red coloring of the curved part of the shackle.
That is not paint, that is the reflection of the anodized finish of the ProLink thimble on the black shackle.

Another way to hook the extension to the shackle by using the heavy loop end on it, leaving the hook end to attach to a tree saver

I like the look of the new Factor 55 Hawse 1.0 fairlead

I was telling John the owner at the shop Jeeps have it made, the Hawse on his Jeep and others at his shop with ARB bumpers required no modifications to them.
He took back the president of ARB's Jeep, and came back with another AB employees to do some work on it while I was there too.
ARB USA headquarters is just down the street from his shop.

 

[Corey]

Hi-Lift Lock - Versatile Lock - 1/2" Bolt Lock Installed 8-1-2016

For years I have had my Hi-Lift installed on my ARB bumper using Luke's Fourtrek mounts.
Very nice product, but anyone can come up to them and unscrew the huge wingnut and be off with your Hi-Lift.
So far that has not happened to me as where I live it pretty much is alive 24/7 with someone one walking their dog, or just going for a walk.

But after buying a jackcover from Jackcovers.com, I saw on their site a lock that might work.
I got a hold of Luke at Fourtrek's and asked him for the bolt size used on his mounts, and it is 1/2" x 13 threds per pitch.
I got a hold of Adam at jackcovers.com, and his locks will work with that perfectly.

I now have extra security in case of sticky fingers wanting to pawn my Hi-Lift for meth

By the way, Adam is a member on fjcruiserforums.com I found out from him.
Great guy to work with.
You only really need one lock too, and they are not keyed the same, so if you do order two, you will have to carry two keys with you.

Links:

Hi-Lift Lock - Versatile Lock - 1/2" Bolt Lock
Fourtrek Hi-Lift Mounts
11" Jackcover (have not got it installed yet)

A few pictures:

Stock knobs/wingnuts

Full view

New lock

I do have one of his jack covers too for the Hi-Lift, but I need to move my jack some to expose more of the mounting holes so I can get the cover on.
That will happen probably over the upcoming weekend.

 

[Corey]

New Recovery Stuff Installed 7-29/30-2016

My Warn recovery bag I have had since I had my '91 4Runner before the FJ Cruiser was starting to get pretty crowded with some of the new items I have added.

I bought a new kinetic recovery rope from Masterpull, and I also decided to get their large gear bag.
The new bag does not zip closed like the Warn, you roll down the top of it, then secure it closed with webbing and Fastex type buckles to cinch it closed.

There was no way my new recovery rope was going to fit into the old Warn bag.
Also the Warn bag weighed a ton, and I remembered it came with a long chain with a hook on it which I will probably never use, so I am saving a lot of weight there by not adding it back to the new Masterpull bag.

There is still a ton of room in the new bag, but I have everything I would need.
Several shackles, a tree saver strap, gloves, the Masterpull synthetic winch extension mentioned in a previous post in this thread, a snatch block, and the Warn wired remote which I will probably not use since I now have the Warn Wireless one also covered here in my thread previously.

Links:
Masterpull Gear Bag
Masterpull Kinetic Recovery Rope 7/8"x25'

A few pictures:

Size comparison between the new black Masterpull bag, and the old red Warn bag

All the gear laid out, the new kinetic rope is looking mighty nice

Yep, it all fits, and that is only about 1/2 full, where you could not even fit the new kinetic rope into the old bag

Nice and compact

 

[AaronK]

Did your fj get wet? It shrunk!

Sent from my OnePlus One using Tapatalk.

 

[Corey]

Did your fj get wet? It shrunk!

Indeed
All of us first year FJ buyers got one, and they are serial numbered.
Toyota sent them to our homes in the same color as what color FJ we bought, pretty cool.
Later dealers sold them individually too.

 

[Corey]

Hi-Lift Jack Cover Installed 8-7-2016

I have had this cover now for a few weeks, and just now got it done.
I had tried test fitting it before, but two things kept it from going on.
First the Hi-Lift needed to have a few more holes exposed on the jacks mounting plate, and I had to remove the WabFab Slider Adapter.
Too bad the WabFab unit cannot stay on, but I keep a wrench in my new Masterpull Recovery bag that I can use to tighten up the bolt and nut to reinstall it if needed.

Only had to move the Hi-Lift towards the drivers side a few holes, and all is good.
Have not road tested it yet to see if the cover will silence the lifting mechanism on the jack when going over bumps on the road, or washboard ruts on forest service roads.
It was very noisy before, and I used a couple of Zip-Ties around the jack and the WabFab unit to hold them to keep them quiet.

Link:
01 - Black Lighting CF 11"

A few pictures:

Cover on, and WabFab slider adapter below on bumper, too big to fit under the cover

Full view

Close-up from behind

 

[Corey]

Outer Limit Weekend Warrior First Aid Kit Installed 8-20-2016

I have a few first aid kits and I keep a small one in the FJ Cruiser full time, and I have a big tackle box full of first aid stuff for when I go camping.
But after seeing this one online, I had to have it as it is pro quality.

It is a bit pricey, but the owner is a one man company who is also a fire fighter/EMT, and he does this kind of on the side.
All the contents are professional grade packed into a nice air tight/dust proof case.
Plus some of the $$$ from the purchase price goes to three organizations, you can look them up for more info.
Blue Ribbon Coalition
Wheeling For Warriors
Set Them Free

What I like about this kit is it comes with a mounting plate to mount it in your vehicle.
I mounted mine on the Mpac rack on my rear door, a great spot for it.

The contents come packaged in a few clear bags, but he wants you to organize your kit the way you want it, so this way you become familiar with every item in the kit.
There is a lot of stuff packaged into this medium sized kit.
And you can add some of your own supplies too if you want to.

I have already seen a few of these kits on some of the off-road/overlanding forums I frequent, I think the kit is very nice one.

Links:
Outer Limit First Aid Kits
Weekend Warrior Kit (The one I bought)

A few pics, uh OK, a lot:

Back side of the mounting plate

Kit strapped to the mounting plate

Since Travis does not sell directly to the public, many re-sellers will put their logo on it such as mine from Cascadia Vehicle Roof Top Tents

This is the way it appeared when I opened it up, most everything in plastic bags until you organize it yourself

A letter explaining about the kit

All the contents laid out

Mounting plate attached to my folding table on the rear door

Table back up and mounting plate installed

All mounted

In case anyone was wondering why I called that rack on the rear door a table

Updated picture from 8-27-2016, added some Celox to the kit, and showing how I organized my kit

Ordered some of that blood blocking stuff for wounds from Amazon.
Celox 2 GM package of 5

Contents of The Weekend Warrior kit:

Dressings:

(50) 1 X 3 Plastic Strip Bandage Box

(1) 1/2" X 5 Yards Adhesive Tape

(1) 2" Rolled Gauze

(6) 2” X 2” Gauze Pads

(6) 2” X 3” Moleskin

(3) 3" Rolled Gauze

(6) 3” X 3” Gauze Pads

(2) 4" Rolled Gauze

(2) 4” X 4” Cool Blaze Burn Dressing

(16) 1” X 3” Woven Elastic Patch Bandages

(5) 2” X 3” Elastic Patch Bandages

(5) Elastic Knuckle Bandages

(5) XL Elastic Fingertip Bandages

(6) 4” X 4” Gauze Pad 12 Ply

(2) 5” X 9” Abdominal Pad Each

(1) Blood Blocker Wound & Trauma Dressing

(4) Eye Pads Sterile

(10) Triple Biotic Ointment

(1) Vaseline Petroleum Gauze


Tools:

(20) Antiseptic Wipes

(1) Basic First Aid Booklet

(10) Butterfly Closures

(1) Cold Pack

(1) CPR Shield

(3) Disposable Gloves (3 Pairs)

(1) Emergency Survival Blanket (84"X52")

(1) Eye Wash 1oz Bottle

(6) Hand Sanitizer

(1) Light Stick Yellow (12 Hour)

(1) Paramedic Shears

(1) Triangle Bandage (40" X 40" X 56")

(1) Tweezers


Medications:

(5) Aspirin (Chest Pain)

(1) Glucose Tube (Low Blood Sugar)

(5) Cetafen Extra Strength (Non-Aspirin)

(5) Diotame (Diarrhea)

(5) Exaprin (Pain Relief)

(5) Histaprin (Allergic Reaction)

(5) Ibuprofen (Pain Relief)

(5) Medi Lyte (Dehydration)

 

[wrenchMonkey_]

Looking good. We have two FA kits. One for humans and one for our dogs. Always need to be prepared when heading out, and, be well versed in what everything is and how to use it.

 

[Corey]

Rigid Industries Rock Lights Installed 9-2-2016

Looking good. We have two FA kits. One for humans and one for our dogs. Always need to be prepared when heading out, and, be well versed in what everything is and how to use it.

Thanks Wrench!

I did not purchase these really for rock crawling, but more to light up forest service roads/fire trails when venturing out before the sun comes up.
What we have liked to do in the past is go up the the Greenwater area early in morning up FS road 72 and park at the top in a big open space that faces Mount Rainier, and we will watch the sun rise and take in the full view of Mount Rainiers spectacular beauty.

These will come in handy while milling around making coffee, having a quick breakfast, etc.
Also these will come in handy when setting up/breaking camp when it is dark out.

I thought about getting one of the much cheaper sets from other brands that can change colors on the fly with the push of a button on a remote, but often those light kits fail from reading online reviews.

The Rigid line of lights are pro lighting and well made, but also a lot more $$$.
So well made that ARB partnered with them to make the ARB Intensity LED lights that I am running on my front ARB bumper.

These do come in other colors, and I was tempted to get the green ones as that would cast a wicked looking green glow under the rig.
But as far as putting out enough usable light, I think the white color LED is a much better choice.

Since John the owner of Auburn Car Repair & Offroad has done some other work on my FJ Cruiser (body mount chop, ARB rear bumper, ARB Intensity LED lights, and the hawse fairlead for my winch), I contacted him to see if they wanted to install these.
John has a great shop and crew, and comes highly recommended by many offroaders and overlanders including myself.
Jason was the tech who installed these for me.

I went with the bigger six pod kit, they do have a smaller kit of four lights.
Also have these wired up hot so I can turn them on without the key.
My ARB Intensity lights are wired up so that the key has to be on at least in the accessory position.

Also for the front pod light to put out enough light it had to be positioned pointing straight down, and about the only place was at the front of the front half of the two part factory skid plate area.
They did not want to mount it directly to the skid plate because if I have to remove it as when changing out a synthetic winchline like I did awhile back the wires would get ripped off.
What Jason did was cut the skid plate and notch it so the light could be permanently mounted to the frame and not interfere with the skid plate during removal/re-installation, pretty darn trick!

Links:
Auburn Car Repair & Offroad
All of their rock light kits
A-Series Rock Light Kit - 6 Lights (Cool White)

A few pictures and a video:

Rock light switch turned off, it is unlit when off

Rock light switch turned on, casts a red glow

Under the rig view with the front pod lit up in daylight

Picture of the skid plate notched so the pod is not affected by removal of the skid plate
Could not get the camera to focus on it very well as I have a very big lens on it, and I was only a few inches away.

Overall view with all six pods lit up at 3 am
There is a lot of over spill light from the buildings, but this shows you overall how much light they are putting out.
I cannot wait to see how it lights up in a totally dark area.

Video below was shot early Saturday the 27th
The hissing sound you hear in the video is the lawn sprinklers, they come on around 3 am here.

 

[Corey]

Philips LED Interior Lamps Installed 9-8-2016

First, knock on wood...
Have had my rig ten years as of July the 25th this year, and I am still on all of the stock bulbs, not one has burned out on me.
But after seeing a few online threads about LED interior lights, I decided to try these 30 mm Festoon shaped lights from Philips.

They are slightly longer than the stock ones you take out, but they work just fine.
If they do not light up at first, you have to put the bulb in the other way.
For some reasons LED bulbs are finicky this way.

I opted for a single LED emitter as I did not want to put in the adapter type fake bulb with a clip on that you then attach to a plate you stick in there with sticky back tape that has multiple LEDs on it as it might be a pain to get off the sticky backed plate you put in there.
They do make a Festoon bulb with two emitters on them, but I decided to try these as they got pretty good reviews on Amazon where I bought them from.

They are a much whiter light than stock, and they stay cool.
Oh yeah, when I did the front one the stock bulb had been on for a bit, and it was quite hot to the touch.
With these when you put them in you have to make sure the LED emitter is facing downwards to project the light output correctly.

So far I am happy with these.
I put the front one in a few days ago so I got to see how it was in the dark,and I just finished up the rear one.

Link:

Philips 30mm festoon Bright White Interior Vision LED light, 1 Pack
One pack equals one bulb, so you will need two, unless you have a different vehicle you will need more.

A few pics:
These were all taken in daylight too, they are much brighter than they appear here.

Stock front bulb

Front LED lit up

LED bulb in place in the rear socket

Rear LED lit up

A view to both LEDs lit up