Newbie in need of advice.

s4drifter · 03-11-2007, 07:45 AM

Picking up my TRD SE next week and already I am modding the damn thing. Crap. I thought this was only a sickness I had with my sports cars.

Anyway, I have never been wheeling in anything other than deep ruts in my subaru outback, so I would like to know which mods you recommend for offroad travel.

My planned use for the FJ is:
1. Daily Driver
2. Deep rutted roads to get to our lake house (dirt road is not plowed in the winter).
3. Towing my corvette to the track
4. Going out over the sand dunes on cape cod (primary off road use).

I was going to get some budbuilt skids. But do I really need the full gas tank protection etc? Bumper and winch? Sliders? (Came with rock rails). What am I missing and in what order would you add the recommended items so I can try to slow down the outflow of money from my wallet.

I haven't even taken delivery, but I have already purchased the AVIC-D3 as part of the group buy and gotten the rear view camera. Sigh...

by the way that "wooshing" sound you hear is the sound of twenties flying out of my wallet. Thanks for all your help!

highbeams · 03-11-2007, 08:45 AM

sound of 20s. sheesh thats the sound of hundreds

ok, have you ever needed a winch? or ar we just wanting to upgrade?

the TRD has stiffer shocks, so unless you want to lift, they should be fine. But your primary use will be sand dunes? And You want to upgrade, tell you what, get the Hoes for the front, get a set of OME springs for the rear and OME nitro chargers. now it will sit 2 inches higher, have some killer coilovers infront that love sand, stiff springs in the rear for towing. Winch? Let it ride

now go ahead and skid up, sand dunes, get that bud built, get the All Pro tail pipe, the plastic gas tank skid will be fine

gnwhite · 03-11-2007, 08:49 AM

How much does your corvett and trailer weigh? Could pose a problem.

bncsauve · 03-11-2007, 08:51 AM

Sounds like some great mods!

One word of caution though, I don't know what your corvette plus trailer weighs, but, I would guess you may be challenging the limits of the
FJ in the towing category.

s4drifter · 03-11-2007, 10:24 AM

My Z06 weighs 3,100 pounds and the traler is 1,500 lbs. (aluminum). Too much?

s4drifter · 03-11-2007, 10:26 AM

The only reason for adding a bumber and winch would be for future off road endeavors. I have a feeling that playing in the sand may only be the beginning...

BMThiker · 03-11-2007, 10:35 AM

I am a fan of All Pro, but you can go to any muffler shop and get them to do the tail pipe for less $$. I also don't like the fact that AP still goes out under the bumper. It should go out the side just behind the rear passenger wheel well for better clearance.

I'd replace the front OEM skid with AP or BB but after that I'd think you would be OK sans steel skids. The gas tank is pretty tough and it just bounces back after any impact. So unless you are planning on driving through a landfill or junkyard, I think the factory gas skid will do fine in dunes.

An aftermarket front bumper's greatest advantage is approach angle. It's second most feature will be the capability of accepting a winch. Weigh those factors into the type wheeling you will do.

bncsauve · 03-11-2007, 10:36 AM

Quote:

s4drifter previously said:

My Z06 weighs 3,100 pounds and the traler is 1,500 lbs. (aluminum). Too much?

You're within the published limits. Others have towed about the same and say their experiences were good. Trailer brakes would be a good safety feature.

s4drifter · 03-11-2007, 10:46 AM

Thanks for the responses everyone. Love this board and looking forward to returning the favor once my knowledge level improves.

other1 · 03-11-2007, 11:06 AM

Quote:

s4drifter previously said:

Picking up my TRD SE next week and already I am modding the damn thing. Crap. I thought this was only a sickness I had with my sports cars.

Anyway, I have never been wheeling in anything other than deep ruts in my subaru outback, so I would like to know which mods you recommend for offroad travel.

My planned use for the FJ is:
1. Daily Driver
2. Deep rutted roads to get to our lake house (dirt road is not plowed in the winter).
3. Towing my corvette to the track
4. Going out over the sand dunes on cape cod (primary off road use).

I was going to get some budbuilt skids. But do I really need the full gas tank protection etc? Bumper and winch? Sliders? (Came with rock rails). What am I missing and in what order would you add the recommended items so I can try to slow down the outflow of money from my wallet.

I haven't even taken delivery, but I have already purchased the AVIC-D3 as part of the group buy and gotten the rear view camera. Sigh...

by the way that "wooshing" sound you hear is the sound of twenties flying out of my wallet. Thanks for all your help!

Seeing that you can't drive in the dunes on Cape Cod, and you have to stay on the beach, you really don't need anything special on your FJ, just some good sand tires. Check out the Mass. Beach Buggy Association site for more info.