4x4 / Off-Road TechThis section contains all discussion related to taking the FJ Cruiser in Off-Road situations, 4x4 applications and any armor modifications.
Started another mod today. polyethylene skids, I saw this on the forum earlier about the weight reduction, cost effective, and still having the integrety to do the job at hand, (keeping the belly protected). so I bought a full sheet for $140.00. Wanted black but was twice the money. stuck with white, I started with a full sheet of cardboard, cut and cut again and bend and try again till I was satisfied. I the traced the template on to the hdpe and cut away. I then started heating the sheet with a propane torch to get the bends I needed... Alot of crawling under the FJ, almost to much I did have a floor jack to help with the holding while I marked the sheet, for drilling and where I wanted it bent. I decided to keep it all one piece from the gas tank to the cross member. Heres a few picts of how the day progressed and skid finally bolted up to the belly. I still need to fabricate a cross member to hold up skid in front of the gas tank . I hope it hold up.
Crozhawk did this on his 4th gen 4-Runner. They seem to hold up well over time. He has put the weight of his vehicle on them with no problems. They slide over anything. I want to do this for my gas tank skid.
The only problem is the heat near the catalytic converter has melted the HDPE a little, but it did not burn.
If you search in here or on 120 you can find his writeup.
-Ben
__________________ Chairman of the Board 2007 FJ in Sun Fusion FJ, CP #2
ARB Bull Bar W/Warn M8000 & IPF's, ARB Rear Bumper W/Warn M8000 (both W/in-cab switch), OME 3" lift, Eclipse AVN GPS,DVD,CD,Sirius & B/U cam. AR Craters, W/ McT 35" MTZ's, tire gas can mount, Gobi Ranger Rack W/ ladder shovel/axe & Hi-lift, & 12 IPF's, ARB Sliders, VIAIR 450 & tank, Dirty Parts 2 Battery W/ 2 Optimas, All-Pro skids, U&L links, A-arms & Bandi to a Cobra 75WX,ScanGuage 2, and Toshiba Tablet PC W/ Topo USA 6 on A2A mount.
Crozhawk did this on his 4th gen 4-Runner. They seem to hold up well over time. He has put the weight of his vehicle on them with no problems. They slide over anything. I want to do this for my gas tank skid.
The only problem is the heat near the catalytic converter has melted the HDPE a little, but it did not burn.
If you search in here or on 120 you can find his writeup.
-Ben
you might me able to solve the melting problem by laminating the high heat areas with carbon fiber and high temp epoxy. its not easy but it could be done. fiberglass would work too. the trick is finding the right epoxy, high temp and will bond to this type of plastic. I wouls suggest something like hysol. this is often used for major aircraft structural composite repairs. its pretty much JB weld but in bulk.
__________________ 2007 4x2 black diamond, "Shadow"
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convenience package, tow package, TRD CAI, KC Daylighters, Demello front skid, Gibson catback, upgrade 4x4 front coil overs, Kenwood sound system, Thule tray bike rack, black out door handles and mirrors, blacked out bumpers and bezel, TRD floor mats, bronzed rims, Royal Purple oil.
silverado canyon, cleghorn, hungry valley, ride along at Mojave
Chairman of the Board 2007 FJ in Sun Fusion FJ, CP #2
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