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

[targa88]

Corey,
I ordered the same face plate mount (Panavise) for my FT8800.
Doesn't take up a lot of place and puts it in good position for viewing.

Not sure about have the "guts" of the radio under the seat - in case it could get wet.
Currently I have mine mounted in the double din where the OEM radio was with another radio. Thinking of moving it back over the rear wheel well.

 

[NorCalBorn]

Corey, off-topic, I was reading a post (I think was yours) where it was mentioned about the floor covering of the FJ-C being a wow/deciding factor and I just thought to mention you can get the vinyl style floor coverings for a majority of the vehicles post-93. I don't have an exact part # for the double cab Tacoma's yet since I have yet to get access to a Hilux double cab to borrow one from, but..You can see where I am going with this, right?

Inside new Hilux you'll find a passenger car-like interior with improved space and ergonomics – a serious working vehicle with enhanced comfort and space.

* Air conditioning
* Single disc CD player with 2 speakers and audio input jack
* Fabric seat material
* Vinyl floor covering
* Five seats

Yes, you have to pay additional for it. Yes you have to outsource the part from the world market rather than the U.S. market, but I just got done putting in vinyl flooring in a friend's 2nd-Gen 4Runner using factory parts. the front was Hilux flooring and the rear was from a panel van, all we had to do was a little cut and stitch to the rear section. From what I saw as far as current vehicles in South America, the parts are out there, just nobody's pushing for it or asking openly about it. WeatherTech seems to be the simpler solution rather than ebaying take-off parts. The factor here is their vehicles are usually a year or two behind us, something for people to consider if they want to go that route in styling and equipping their interiors. ~Another example, Prado's have fabric SR-5 style seating and vinyl floors..as evidenced by the Up-Armored Prado we delivered a while ago to one of the African Governments. Want a different interior for your Lexus, there ya go!

:coffeedrink: Shane

 

[Corey]

Colin, I am not into taking my FJ into deep water (snorkel is for dust duty where we caravan many rigs at a time kicking up lots of dust, kind of like in the pic from ARB) so the radio will be fine where it is.
Besides I have a huge stereo amp under the drivers seat right next to it.
Behind the wheel well is a good idea too, I have seen a few FJs that have it done that way.

Shane, the waterproof fabric seats and the flooring in the FJ Cruiser were a few of the selling factors in my getting my rig.
I do not care for carpet in a vehicle, and I also hate leather interiors.
Never had leather in any of my vehicles.
Having what the FJ comes with makes for easy cleanup in case it gets muddy/dirty inside from wheeling or camping trips.

That is cool you can order stuff like this to modify newer rigs.

 

[Corey]

Springtail Solutions MPAC Side Rack For Powertank Installed 12-3-2011

For years now the Powertank and one of my fire extinguishers has been mounted to the top of the cargobox as seen in the first picture.

While this has worked out good, it takes up a lot of room there for valuable space for camping gear when the rig is loaded with it.
Springtail Solutions has had for quite some time now a side rack (click here to view it) for mounting a Powertank and other items via holes for Molle straps, Quick Fist mounts, and other methods.
This newly designed side rack I installed is just for the Powertank only, and also made to use the Super Bracket from Powertank that is linked at the end of this article.

This will allow me to have more space for my 7 gallon drinking water jug, a large propane tank, and my chuckbox.
Depending on how much space this opens up, it will be much easier to load my camping gear back there now.
You can see by this older picture with the chuckbox back there that there is not much room on top of the cargobox for other gear with the Powertank there.

Please note this new rack is a prototype that I am testing for Springtail Solutions, so there is no URL for it yet on their website at the time of this writing.
This rack may not even get manufactured by Springtail Solutions unless they hear from other potential customers that there is a demand for these.
Hopefully after readers here see mine there will be enough interest warrantied for them to bring this into full production, and if so, it will be priced around $20 cheaper than their current side rack.
So if there is, please contact Doc at Springfield Solutions and let them know there is a desire to have these built.

My old large fire extinguisher bracket I have had since around 2000 or so for a Powertank in the 4Runner and then the FJ Cruiser is to big for the new rack, so Doc at Springtail Solutions suggested the Super Bracket from Powertank is the one I wanted to pick up, plus Doc's side rack is pre-drilled for the Super Bracket from Powertank.
I ordered the black Super Bracket one from Steve Sasaki owner of Powertank, and it arrived in a two days.
Steve, you guy's rock

Below is a picture of all the parts spread out.

Here is a picture of the side of the FJ Cruiser showing the grocery hooks in place from the factory where the new rack will go.
Remove the stock bolts with a 10mm socket.

Here is a picture of the black billet aluminum mounts that replace the stock grocery hooks.
They install with 45mm stainless steel bolts and an included Allen wrench.

Here is a picture of the side rack and the Powertank Super Bracket in place.
The side rack is held to the billet mounts with 6mm bolts and washers.

If mounting a heavy item such as a Powertank or a fire extinguisher the below step should be taken.
There are two holes on the bottom of the side rack, and you drill two 15/64 holes through the plastic wheel well.
You then secure it with 6mm button head bolts and fender washers/locking nuts with another (smaller) included Allen wrench and a 10mm socket.

Here is a picture with the Powertank now in its new location.

Another picture showing how much room was opened up by relocating the Powertank to its new position.

I will mount the Quick Fist mounts at a later time when I can do some more measuring and figure out what will be mounted with them.

Doc has an excellent installation guide over at fjcruiserforums site, and the install is the same for the new prototype rack I have.
The link to it is at the end of this article/post.

I will update this at a later date when I have the rig loaded up with camping gear to show you what it looks like with the gear and the new rack installed to the side now.
Here is a picture from 2010 showing how much valuable room the Powertank and fire extinguisher is taking.

I want to also add that this rack is beefy.
It is not going to flex on you, it is very well constructed, just like my MPAC rear door rack I have.

Links to parts used:
Springtail Solutions
Quickfist Mounts for the racks available from Springtail Solutions
Powertank Super Bracket part # BKT-2260-BK
Doc's installation guide for the regular style side rack over at fjcruiserforums

 

[STREGA]

Looks like it should help you with better space management Corey, with FJ's you need every cubic inch you can get. So is the biggest difference between the old rack and this one is there is only molle mounts on one half of it?

 

[Corey]

Thanks!
Yes, the molle mounts are on the left half, and the Powertank installs on the right side.
I have a molle bag too that I might try mounting later to the left side.
Very cool Springtail one, and I will update the thread here with it later.

 

[Lostmanifesto]

Still love your FJ Corey. Tank looks great there.

 

[Salue]

Looking good Corey; we need to take that thing out to play some time.

Side note: I think I saw your rig yesterday. I was at the 25-01 building yesterday morning for an all SSG SM employee meeting and I thought I saw it parked when we were leaving after the meeting at around 11:30.

Salue

 

[Corey]

Still love your FJ Corey. Tank looks great there.

Thanks man, I am happy to have the extra room now.
Still need to mount the fire extinguisher though.

Looking good Corey; we need to take that thing out to play some time.

Side note: I think I saw your rig yesterday. I was at the 25-01 building yesterday morning for an all SSG SM employee meeting and I thought I saw it parked when we were leaving after the meeting at around 11:30.

Salue

David Zartman of 4WD Toyota Owner magazine has been wanting to get me out to run an article on me.
Finding the time is hard, burned out from work.

Yes, that was my rig.
I am parked right out at the end of one of the big flight simulator doors.
Old photo when I had the old roof rack on.
That is my bread and butter maker parked next to the FJ

Were you in the TA Wilson room?
If so, I was in our lunchroom at 11:30 right behind the shipping dock that is next to the Wilson auditorium.
Or were you in the facilities office where you kind of walk up a small ramp?
If there, that is our office area, and my boss and other coworkers are in there.

I must have just missed you, as I walked out a little after 11:35 to take my lunchbox to the rig.

 

[Marc P]

Corey...FJ looks great, come a long way since the early days on YT when we had our 2nd gen runners.

 

[Corey]

Corey...FJ looks great, come a long way since the early days on YT when we had our 2nd gen runners.

Thanks Marc.
Ah yes, the old rig
I often wonder what my dealership did with it.
It needed a new engine pretty much.
Other than that, it was in very good shape.

 

[Corey]

Just installed the new molle pack.
Once it is mounted via its two straps, you can grab the bag and separate it from its Velcro backing, thus leaving just the mount hooked to the rack, and you take the bag with you which has a carrying strap on top of it.

 

[Cabrito]

Corey,

Since I got my new FJ I've been checking out your website on your rig.

Lot's of great information that I needed.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Corey]

Corey,

Since I got my new FJ I've been checking out your website on your rig.

Lot's of great information that I needed.

Thanks for all the help.

You are welcome!
I need to update my personal website still with the new side rack above.
I also have a tank boot coming from Powertank, it should be here today or tomorrow hopefully.
It will replace that yellow "tubing protector" that is on there now.
Those come on the aircraft tubing we receive at work to protect the ends of them.

 

[Corey]

Got Boot?

After all these years I chucked the yellow aircraft tubing protector cap I had on the bottom of my Powertank and put a tank boot on it.
The new boot protects the lower portion of the tank better than the cap I was using.

Part used:
Tank Boot, (Fits the 10# and 15# tanks)
Part Number: TBT-6090