The poll doesn't even include "jumped it!" and you really should get a poll on who doesn't have cracks and their modifications. (<----control group for sceintific study, no???) Or we could just say that 12 out of 55,000 sold FJ's have cracks
That's a lot of work, why not just take off the fenders
Yeah lets take off the fenders then we wouldnt have to cut them where the tires Smash the inner fender hahaha
For those of you wondering about the Trail Team vehicles:
Keep in mind they are driven by people who are paid to be professional drivers. They know what they are doing and there job is to push the limits of the vehicles without much damage.
*Corporate spokeshole speak*
Having driven several FJs(3) last year 30k plus and using them to do trails to prove the reputation of the FJ you cant make the arguement to me that these "CRACKS" are from soft wheeling.
*None Corporate spokeshole speak*
Now don't get your panties in a wad Im just saying I have beat the everlivin crap out of these vehicles to get through a trail, maybe it comes down to more education and driving classes to make people understand their limits. Also understand that modifying your vehicle with larger suspension and tires has an affect on a lot more than just havin fun. You are changing the center of gravity of the vehicle and you probably aren't putting in larger bump stops. Oh and by the way, look at any CJ or YJ that has been wheeled hard by the front part of the doors and you will see the whole body cracked. Jeep reinforced the body there after 15 years of research Bet Toyota does something about it sooner than that.
For those of you wondering about the Trail Team vehicles:
Keep in mind they are driven by people who are paid to be professional drivers. They know what they are doing and there job is to push the limits of the vehicles without much damage.
That is exactly why I want to know what is happening to them.
__________________
Tomas
KC0NRZ
My other ride is a Scott Spark Ultimate
VooDoo Blue, 6M
Panorama from the top of My FJ at Last years Summit.
VVVVVVVV
Location: native California gal, now expat in Germany
Posts: 1,850
Re: Engine Bay Body Rips
Quote:
J762 previously said:
The bumper is not the cause, it just speeds things up a bit it seems. I am stock and have the issue, even if only slightly.
Didn't you say that a giant sequoia (or something of that magnitude) fell on your FJ? Might that not have something to do with your body bulges? It's a good thing you mentioned you own Booger... your screen name is far less memorable to me.
Bellydoc and others who say this is no big deal....normally I would be right there with you..
However in this case we are talking about it happening on rigs with under 10k miles (mine has bulges)...
This will kill resale, public perception, and maybe the future of the model.
Personally I don't plan on selling mine, I could give a rats a** what others think and since I have mine already who cares if they ever make another.
Oh but then there is that nagging thought....if the fenders are cracking at 10k miles what is next? How strong is the frame? When will my back door fall apart on a trail....roof cave in (ooohhh and I have a sunroof so its really weak up there).....suicide door not close due to misalignment...
It all speaks to quality and that nagging voice in the back of your head.
Granted I haven't owned a 4x4 in 20yrs and that was a monster lifted Chevy Blazer but the other offroad forums I am on don't have mention of Land Rovers, Jeeps, Hummers, Land Cruisers, or Tacoma's with cracked parts.
Well there was just that post about the CJ with body cracks..never heard of it before.
__________________
enjoy,
1leglance
KE7NKP
Disabled Explorers
Helping the handicapped independently access the backcountry www.disabledexplorers.com
Voodoo Blue driver, night nurse, cigar smoker & all around happy camper
Location: The desert. And yeah, it gets hot here...
Posts: 553
Re: Engine Bay Body Rips
Quote:
mlovett previously said:
Didn't you say that a giant sequoia (or something of that magnitude) fell on your FJ? Might that not have something to do with your body bulges? It's a good thing you mentioned you own Booger... your screen name is far less memorable to me.
The tree was what almost hit me, the day after I got mine back from the shop. Man, you all probably felt my balls crawl up inside from across the country when I saw that. It was a really unsettling feeling you had one morning in July, and it only lasted for a second or so.
I had a shade canopy made of metal pipe and water proofed canvas pull up and blow against me. On the passenger side. All of my damage was to the roof, passenger doors, fenders, Bezel top, and hood top. None of it was anywhere near the drivers side fender where my issue is, and if toyota wants to strip off my new paint to verify they are more than welcome as long as I get it paid for for a repaint.
None of what hit me was heavy enough to cause stress enough to bulge the fender. Imagine taking some 3/4in conduit, and throwing it against the fj a few times. Not gonna do what we are seeing. It's funny, ADH and I were just discussing this very possible argument from toyota against my bulge. Oooh, new paint, owner did something stupid.... Yeah, strip it off and see some pristine body metal there.
I'm actually getting excited to pull off the doors, cut off the roof, Rhino line everything inside, and build an SFA Rock buggy with it. I figure you'll all see that in about 7-8 years or so.
I just noticed, we have a forum full of mainly guys, and we're all here discussing our various "Bulges" and tears. My wife kept cracking up until she saw the pics and figured out what we were really talking about.
Location: native California gal, now expat in Germany
Posts: 1,850
Re: Engine Bay Body Rips
Quote:
J762 previously said:
The tree was what almost hit me, the day after I got mine back from the shop.
I had a shade canopy made of metal pipe and water proofed canvas pull up and blow against me. On the passenger side. All of my damage was to the roof, passenger doors, fenders, Bezel top, and hood top. None of it was anywhere near the drivers side fender where my issue is, and if toyota wants to strip off my new paint to verify they are more than welcome as long as I get it paid for for a repaint.
None of what hit me was heavy enough to cause stress enough to bulge the fender. Imagine taking some 3/4in conduit, and throwing it against the fj a few times. Not gonna do what we are seeing. It's funny, ADH and I were just discussing this very possible argument from toyota against my bulge. Oooh, new paint, owner did something stupid.... Yeah, strip it off and see some pristine body metal there.
I'm actually getting excited to pull off the doors, cut off the roof, Rhino line everything inside, and build an SFA Rock buggy with it. I figure you'll all see that in about 7-8 years or so.
I just noticed, we have a forum full of mainly guys, and we're all here discussing our various "Bulges" and tears. My wife kept cracking up until she saw the pics and figured out what we were really talking about.
Ok, thanks for clearing that up. Yeah, sounds like that accident did only enough damage to get you a nice green paint job. But in my limited experience, Toyota will stop at nothing to try and lay the blame on YOU.
I was also thinking there must be a better term than bulges... I am female and would rather not think about bulges. hahaha j/k
Okay, so I finally got around to this, as I mentioned about 400 posts ago...
Here are two pages from the FJ Repair manual. The first shows the steal used in different areas, you can see the passenger cabin has higher strength steel in areas than the engine bay does. So it will naturally not flex as much, plus the previously mentioned "box" structure vs. the open top of the engine bay. So the energy absorption is likely to occur in the "softer" part of the body.
Next we see where Toyota tells techs to look for collision damage. First you can see how the energy transfer/absorption is designed to occur. Next, if I'm not mistaken, the second circle on top designated "confirmation point" is where all this has been happening. In other words, those points are designed specifically be markers for stress to the body, that's why it's there. They are telling the techs "look here for any signs of damage". Now that doesn't mean they anticipated what is happening to some here, but it does show that that spot is made to break first.
Since I don't have ProE here at home, I'm now getting off the engineering analysis of it (although I might talk to some ME grad students about if they could do this as a project...), and on to a true Forum solution... --->
Here is a kit we can do a group buy on (FJoel???), and I might sell to Toyota. It's a two part kit. $100.
1) Your choice of matching or artistically clashing Duct tape, put this over the crack so you don't think about it every time you open your hood.
2) You can be proud of your crack mod by wearing your choice color of t-shirt with the following logo proudly displayed on the back (right above your crack). Sizes med - XXL.
Please let me know your suggestions before we finalize this kit...
hahaha
