Anyone out there built an FJ40 expedition vehicle?

[General Automag]

Greetings all! We bought a '71 FJ40 over a year ago, and our goal is to turn it into an expedition vehicle. This is mechanically a very simple vehicle. If anyone out there has worked with a similar vehicle, we'd love to see your pictures and any major modifications you've made?

Particularly, we're interested in
-any interior mods (storage, electrical, cb/radio/secure lock box
-roof racks (perhaps one that would work with a soft top)
-roof rack tents (although we don't mind pitching a tent on the ground)
-bumpers (rear-jerry cans, spare tires, jack, etc.)
-bumpers (front - for an 8274-50 Warn winch).

Thanks for your help!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Define 'expedition', week long trips in the US or a 3 year trip around the globe, very different approach and criteria. All the mods you list are very common add-ons and upgrades available for 40's. 40's are short, lack space, drivers seating is less than ideal and they have the aerodynamics of a brick leading to rather dismal economy in most cases. That said they've been around the globe and can and still are used to haul explorers all over the world. I'll post some more detailed pics after the holidays but in the meantime here are some to wet your appetite.

This Cruiser has been all over the United States, from his home here in Utah he's driven it to Texas, Washinton, Virginia and it still tackles 4+ trails in the meantime.

This Cruiser has over 300k miles, the owner spends weeks a year roaming through Southern Utah or hunting in the high mountains of Utah.

My FJ40, I wouldn't call it an 'expedition' vehicle though it was built nearly 10 years ago now with many of the 'must have' items that are commonly considered. Welder, high capacity fuel tank, on-board shower, full-float, dual bats, etc. I was heavily influenced by the PO of Cruiser Outfitters (Darrell) whom was doing the whole camping out of your rig for weeks at a time before it had a popular name. Its done me well, from a trip to the Rubicon to living out of it for 9 days this last spring all over Southern Utah. Its not the prettiest out there but it gets used and used hard.

Lots more generic pics here:
http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/gallery.html
http://www.expeditionutah.com/gallery2/main.php

I've got thousands of detail pics (interior shots, electronics, etc) on my work computer, I'll try and grab some next week.

 

[General Automag]

Can't wait to see your pics. Traveling will be just me and honey for 2-6 weeks at a time, mostly in the US and Canada for now in the warmer months. 'Thought about a trailer but would like to see what we could pack in the vehicle by itself, but some of the trailers we've for sale are as much a good used vehicle.

Yes, the mileage and aerodynamics are great, but we aren't in a hurry to get anywhere. We have a "modern" vehicle we could easily trick out, but we want to play with this "antique" until we get bored with it. This old Cruiser is awesome.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...Yes, the mileage and aerodynamics are great, but we aren't in a hurry to get anywhere. We have a "modern" vehicle we could easily trick out, but we want to play with this "antique" until we get bored with it. This old Cruiser is awesome.

I absolutely agree, between our local Land Cruiser club and my monthly customer runs I get to see plenty of them out in their elements, the wild. The only thing that make a clean 40 more photogenic is a good background

You should plan a trip out to Utah to coincide with the Relic Run, its 4-5 days of trekking with all 70's era vehicles, camping gear, even clothing and food

 

[1911]

I use mine for trips of a week or more in the U.S. Storage space is the limiting factor, but as an old backpacker I travel pretty light anyway. I did add a Man-A-Fre 4+ rear bumper to hold jerry cans, and that helped the interior storage space quite a bit:

Since you asked about them, I also rebuilt an 8274 and put it in a 4+ front bumper:

and have a dual-band ham radio w/ APRS in the truck:

As well as a CB in the Tuffy center console:

Other expo mods - I just bought a 37 QT ARB fridge, and am thinking about a plywood storage box/bin to fit between the wheel wells. Been managing so far with plastic storage bins and lashing stuff to the roll cage. Also plan to either have my stock alternator re-wound for higher output, or replace it with an FJ80 alternator.

 

[General Automag]

Your bumpers look great, and the roll cage does give you more overhead options. Factory roll bars didn't come stock on ours, so we have a stock roll bar out of a '74 that we are installing. We're trying to keep it as stock looking as possible though. Did your man-a-fre rear bumper require replacement of the stock bumper, or does it bolt above it? I'd like to keep the stock bumper just for the ease of not having to remove it.

Have you used a basket on top of your hardtop? I am trying to find a setup so we can use a roof rack with a soft top, but most of the setups I've seen on IH8MUD bolt support brackets of some sort through the rear sheet metal on the body, and I'd like to stay away drilling more holes through the body. Since we'll be traveling in the US for now, I'm not worried that much about theft.

Regarding the hard top, ours leaks now so it's got to come off, and I'd like to stay away from any mounting shelves that affix to the hardtop above the sun visors, simply because if you ever move the top and you have radios, CBs, etc. mounted there, you have to find somewhere to mount them. Again, space is at a huge premium here, especially since we have the bench seat.

 

[1911]

Did your man-a-fre rear bumper require replacement of the stock bumper, or does it bolt above it? I'd like to keep the stock bumper just for the ease of not having to remove it.

It bolts directly to the rear frame cross-member, replacing anything else that may be bolted there. Stock would be the classic silver "bumperettes", which would have to be removed if you had them.

Have you used a basket on top of your hardtop?

No; I've thought about it but would rather avoid it if I can. With 3" lift springs and 33" tires it's pretty tall already and I don't want it to be any more top-heavy.

I am trying to find a setup so we can use a roof rack with a soft top, but most of the setups I've seen on IH8MUD bolt support brackets of some sort through the rear sheet metal on the body, and I'd like to stay away drilling more holes through the body.

I'm with you there; you don't want to be drilling any holes in a good rust-free tub that you don't absolutely have to.

Regarding the hard top, ours leaks now so it's got to come off, and I'd like to stay away from any mounting shelves that affix to the hardtop above the sun visors, simply because if you ever move the top and you have radios, CBs, etc. mounted there, you have to find somewhere to mount them. Again, space is at a huge premium here, especially since we have the bench seat.

Yeah I really like my MetalTech roll cage, for many reasons. FWIW, it doesn't harm the stock look. Does require drilling some holes in the floor to mount it to the frame tie-ins and etc. though. I did remove the rear folding seats from mine to have more room for gear. If I went on a week-long trip by myself I would take out the passenger seat and put the fridge there, but as it is one of my daughters or my wife usually comes with.