4x4 / Off-Road TechThis section contains all discussion related to taking the FJ Cruiser in Off-Road situations, 4x4 applications and any armor modifications.
"Wanted - young, skinny, wiry fellows, not over 18. Must be expert riders willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred"
Original newspaper add placed by William Hepburn Russell, founder of the The Pony Express
I would like to humbly submit why I would make an excellent recipient of this awesome giveaway.
Currently I am a grad student in Mechanical Engineering. Going to grad school and doing research for a university is not exactly a get-rich-quick scheme. As such, nearly all of the short list of mods to my truck has been accomplished either creatively or with the generous help of others.
I do not have skids of any kind (beyond the stock tin foil).
I believe that, more than most anyone, I wheel the hardest, rockiest trails with the least amount of modification to my truck. Sometimes this involves going places that in fact are not passable, and being dragged over things by the buggy I'm following. The only additional under-armor I have on my FJ is a set of Trail Gear sliders which I have abused in the largest fashion possible!
This summer I will be taking a break from the rock crawling to embark on a nearly 50-day expedition covering over 7,500 miles from far north in Canada down the Continental Divide to the Mexican border. Of course there will be a stop in the middle at the FJ Summitt in Ouray!
In preperation for this trip I had planned to purchase a T-case skid from a different vendor, but not having to do so would allow me to use the funds to help cover escalating fuel costs. This would be a MASSIVE boost for me!
Here are a few pics of my typical trail outing...
Note all the rock rash on my Trail Gear sliders...
Here you can see the massive amount of punishment my undercarraige has withstood. Smashed muffler, holes in the gas tank skid, sliders gouged to hell, exhaust crossover smashed, Tcase skid smashed, frame crossmembers bent and beaten, etc... in this pic the stock skid plates look OK, and that is because the morning this was taken I had replaced them with a new set given to me by a forum member.
Frequently, this kind of wheeling brings my Tcase dangerously close to destruction!
Based on the information you have provided and the massive success I have had with my Trail Gear sliders, I am confident the new Trail Gear Tcase skid would more than stand up to the abuse that I would put it through.
I am in a unique position to run this product through the entire spectrum of 4x4 settings - Arizona rock crawling to long distance expedition driving.
Thank you for your consideration and for this great offer to our community.
I'm throwing my hat in the ring for Mike...no one here holds a candle to his FJ, or what he has been able to do with it...this guy seriously needs a Toyota commercial. I've personally wheeled with Mike on several occasions, and have had the pleasure of getting to know him over the last 6 months. Not only does he rock his FJ hard, but he is honest and hard working, and a ton of fun! He has done many things with his stock FJ, only due to lack of funds, that most of us live in fear of doing. It may not be pretty, and some shudder at the mere sight of it, but Mike and his FJ are a testament to Toyota and what the FJ can do!
This guy hands down should be the one to receive this Tcase skid..not only will he put it through the paces for you, but it will be a huge help in getting him on the road toward his goal of travel this summer, and allow him to put that money into gas or one of the other many modifications he needs to do before he leaves.
Tibaal89 for prez! Or, at least, for Tcase skid giveaway winner!!
I think tibaal89 should get it. There isn't a single person on this forum who can say that they've done as much with a stock FJ as he has. He really knows and understands the limitations of the vehicle and has taken it to that extreme with mostly stock components the entire way. If he says he needs it, it's not because he wants to show off new shiny armor, it's because he knows the car needs it. You want to see what a skid can do in the hands of a person not afraid to punish their car? Then he's the person for you.
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2007 Voodoo Blue 4X4 AT / Upgrade Package 2
Scangauge ll
BigBill CB radio combo with Bandi mount
IPF 968 Driving Lights with FJC Aux Light Switch
Wet Okole seat covers / Black with Cobalt Blue
Factory Roof Rack
Factory Alloy Wheels with BF Goodrich A/T KO 285/70R17
OME 884 springs and OME 140s Shocks up front
Toytec Lift Springs with OME 71E Shocks in the rear
Mobil 1 Synthetic oils and gear lube
Scuba Install
Aux Propeller for better gas mileage
Will the winner be the result of a random drawing (in which case I might actually hav a chance), or should I try to make up some lame reason why you should pick me over all of these other, obviously more worthy fellow FJers?
2007 FJ, 5AT, Sun Fusion Yellow, CQ, UP, GY, RB, 2Q, EL, VS.
"Enjoying the Journey"
As such, nearly all of the short list of mods to my truck has been accomplished either creatively or with the generous help of others.
Linear Mode
