Need FJ Cruiser advice

[STREGA]

Nice choice on the FJ, you won't believe what it will do in a stock configuration. :wings:

As for bumpers...everybody has their favorites, mine is the Aluminess on the front. Weight is the biggest reason for me, the ARB/Road Armour/Fab Four all fail on this. Even without a winch most steel bumpers you will have some front end sag unless you also put on some stiffer springs. The Aluminess weighs less than 10 lbs more than the stock bumper. At the first Overland Expo Aluminess had their FJ bumper on display, it was hanging on a scale by fishing line! If I had to get a steel bumper I would get a Expedition1 Kodiak, hands down the best looking/functional front FJ bumper out there. The Aluminess bumper is a love it/hate it when it comes to looks for a lot of people, I love the 50,60 or more lbs it saves over the other bumpers. I live in Colorado and in a area where a deer encounter is highly probable and I'am sure it will do fine protecting the front end of my FJ.

 

[1911]

Haven't decided on a bumper yet. Any suggestions?

I have installed a good dozen or so front bumpers (and several rears too) on FJC's; here is a quick summary of my opinions based on my experience, in no particular order:

ARB: still the standard by which all others are judged. Extremely sturdy, arguably the best protection, crash tested, but very heavy.

Demello: A good compromise between moderate weight and utility/protection. Well-contructed. Funny angle for the fairlead. Excellent approach angle. Compact nature means that not every planetary winch will fit inside (was designed around the Warn M8000). Not always packed/shipped well.

Expedition One: Out of all the bumpers I have personally installed (not all brands by any means), the Expedition One has impressed me the most with it's well-thought-out design, sturdy mounting, quality of construction, and careful packing for shipping. It is #1 on my list. I run Demello bumpers on my own FJC, but if I were buying again for any reason I would go with E1. YMMV.

Warn: Any of their planetary winches will fit. Well-constructed.

All-Pro: Not my favorite company or my favorite bumper, by a long shot. many other folks like them just fine though.

RockTek: One of the best-looking designs, well-thought-out, sturdy. The biggest down-side is the on-again, off-again nature of the owner/builder.

Aluminess: no experience.

That's all I can remember for now. Hope this helps, and good luck with your purchase decision.

 

[theicecreampeople]

i have the demello triple hoop ....jazzed for your new ride .will se ya on the trails brother..

 

[GHOSTFJ]

Running with a allpro 3 hoop up front. Got a great deal on the bumper off a friend. I like the approach angles and the fact that it is lighter than some others. What kind of winch you can run is a little more limited, campared to other bumpers. If I was to pay full price, I would go with a Expo1 or Rocktek, IMO.

 

[Pathfinder]

My Fj is a 2010 Team Trails edition that I found the dealer willing to discount back in October of 2010. I specifically wanted the 2010 because it no longer needed premium fuel, but runs fine on regular unleaded.

My son and I installed the Expedition One bumper with the Diamond style bars, and the SuperWinch that Expedition One ships with their bumper with synthetic line.

When you swap out the bumper in the 2010 version, the windshield wiper fluid container hangs down way below the new bumper, and is sorely exposed as my son and I found out after doing the swap. I talked to the folks at Expedition One and they shipped me their kit to relocate the windshield wiper fluid tank to inside the engine compartment, and it works flawless. If you have a 2010 or newer FJc you will need something like this if you swap out the bumper.

I received my bumper at my home in Indiana, after being shipped all the way from Utah, and the bumper was fully encased in foam, and the finish was and still is flawless. I have been quite pleased with it.


I have stuck with the stock Team Trails suspension and tires so far, as I drive from Indiana to Utah, and prefer the ride quality and lower noise than with larger wheels and tires.

I get 18-20 mpg with it, and like some of the previous posters, I really wish it had a 23-24 gallon tank over the stock 19 gallon fuel tank. The Man-a- Fre replacement is too large and too expensive for me. I will add a jerry can or two if I really need that much more fuel.


Here it is at City of Rocks on the way to the Overland Expo last year.

 

[Corey]

My Fj is a 2010 Team Trails edition that I found the dealer willing to discount back in October of 2010. I specifically wanted the 2010 because it no longer needed premium fuel, but runs fine on regular unleaded.

No FJ requires anything more than regular.
The first FJs like mine have a sticker in the fuel area that says to use premium, but they recanted that later and released a statement that was false.

All FJs will run fine on good old regular fuel.

From June of 2006.
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...a-bulletin-using-regular-gas-anyone-seen.html

 

[Pathfinder]

I'll be darned!

 

[BIGGUY]

I've got the All Pro with just the middle hoop on it. I liked the approach angles, the lighter weight, and the looks of it. I went with a Warn 9000RC which is the Rock Crawler winch because it came with the synthetic line and overall was a lighter package too. The bumper has been good so far and I've never used the winch yet. If someone nearby wants to get stuck and give me a call...............

 

[brushogger]

Okay....... That deal didn't pan out, but this one did! The Disco is officially gone and this is officially ours.

New 2012 with the off road package. The Disco was a very fun truck, but It's going to be so nice to travel without wondering if we're driving a time bomb and keeping the eyes glued to the temp gauge.
Talked to Jacque today at TRD parts4U in Dallas. He has a Demello triple hoop winch bumper in stock that will probably find a home here.


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[loup407]

Congrats on your new FJ! I came late to this thread and can only echo most of the comments made already. I bought my 2008 in Jan of that year. I turned over 90,000 this week, and still have the original brake pads and clutch. I've not had any issues; and still smile when I start it up. My previous two vehicles had been 4x4 pickups with a camper shell and the FJ's rear visibility is no worse. I did spring for the Man-A-fre auxiliary fuel tank. While not cheap, the peace of mind one gains from having almost 40 gallons of fuel onboard is almost worth the cost of the tank. I installed it with a buddy in 8 hours. If I ignored the instructions I could do it in maybe 4. Our FJ has taken us from Colorado to every state west of here without a hiccup, while pulling an A/T Horizon. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I have mine.

 

[targa88]

You might want to check out the tube bumper from Metal-tech (there is a GB going on that includes a winch).

I am running one of the first tube bumpers Metal-Tech made = very satisfied.

 

[Corey]

Well congrats again, but this time on the right one.

A coworker in our office after eying mine for many a year now just bought a new 2012 black FJ Cruiser.
He picks it up today after work.

 

[brushogger]

I love this thing! I had been leery about them because of the blind spot issue everyone talks about, but since I'm used to driving a panel van every day it's no problem at all. Now I just need to get the rover stuff listed for sale and start measuring to organize our trail and camping gear.


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[Lostmanifesto]

Love my FJ. I have owned 8 Toyota trucks, various other SUVs and numerous cars. The FJ is now the second longest vehicle I have owned. I don't see myself parting with it for any reason.

Link to my build - http://www.jordanmay.com/2011/11/2010-toyota-fj-cruiser/

 

[GHOSTFJ]

I love this thing! I had been leery about them because of the blind spot issue everyone talks about, but since I'm used to driving a panel van every day it's no problem at all. Now I just need to get the rover stuff listed for sale and start measuring to organize our trail and camping gear.


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Congrats! I drove a sprinter van for 4 years, the blind spots on that are far worse than my FJC. Nothing is perfect but the FJC gives me the best of both worlds, a nice DD and Expo rig to take me and the family outdoors.