The trails up their are relatively easy, every now and then you will find an obstacle, but nothing crazy, and it seems they are doing there best to close off any by passes, and allow only one trail which has been gromed with a bulldozer. By far I had the most fun on Black Bear. But any of the trails give a spectacular view of probably some of the most beautiful landscape in the world!
On Friday I talked bob into going up to a lake that I found last year after we chose to not go on our scheduled trail run. However about a 1/4 mile into a very narrow section we ran into a snow drift that we would be still digging out today had we chose to continue. It took us about an hour and a half to back three FJ's down to where it was wide enough to turn around. You read about how in training to be a Trail Teams member you have to drive blindfolded and only count on your spotter not to get you killed. Well last friday we might as well been blindfolded backing down that narrow trail, as we all know how hard it is to just back the FJ into a parking spot.
I will update this post with some pics later.
Sean
If I had to be blindfolded to get my FJ down it would still be up there
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Hey everyone, I'm thinking on ordering Bud Built skids for my FJ he's got 1/2 off on shipping for the rest of the month. My question is should I rattle can them or powder coat? Also can I install these by myself with a floor jack or will I die when they fall on my chest and crush me?
Thanks,
I went with several coats of rustoleum, but I know several people that have powder coated them. As far as installation goes, I installed them myself with the stock toyota jack (it would have been much easier with a floor jack) and then removed and re-installed the transmission skid right before the summit to change fluids in the transfer case and tranny.
Jack - Just saw the posts about your pops. Certainly we will keep him and your family in our thoughts and prayers as well. Let us know if you need anything.
Bob - Go with the Buds. They are very well made and tough. I coated them with bed-liner from Duplicolor I got at Wally-world. It was about $45 and coated the bumper and the skids. Seems to hold up well. I would be happy to help install them. Not tough, just need a few extra hands and a floor jack...
Tomas - Glad to hear about the rig being back on the road. I agree, I kind of want my diff to fail so I don't have to worry about it anymore. I don't want to get stuck in the boonies. I wish Toyota would just admit the problem.
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'07 Sunfusion - Skyjacked - TRD Exhaust - Procomp 33' - aFe/CAI - DC1 black wheels - All Pro front/rear bumper - XRC winch - MPAC Storage Racks - Bud Built Skids - Swiss-light - All Pro Air Dam & Ultimate Links - Manik Light Guards - Demello sliders - ladder - Sirius.
'73 FJ40 Basket Case Project
TLCA #17145/High Desert Cruisers "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." -- Roger Karas
Bob - Go with the Buds. They are very well made and tough. I coated them with bed-liner from Duplicolor I got at Wally-world. It was about $45 and coated the bumper and the skids. Seems to hold up well. I would be happy to help install them. Not tough, just need a few extra hands and a floor jack...
I am not trying to start anything here, but what has your experience been as far as bed-liner material getting scratched? The reason I am asking is because, I think we ran Cali and Corkscrew together and I was telling you how I liked the linexed FJ and you showed me your bumper. Well, later that day, I was talking to Jason Demello and mentioned how I should have linexed my rock rails instead of powder-coating them, and he said that linex doesn't chip and that it peels. What has your experience been?
I am not trying to start anything here, but what has your experience been as far as bed-liner material getting scratched? The reason I am asking is because, I think we ran Cali and Corkscrew together and I was telling you how I liked the linexed FJ and you showed me your bumper. Well, later that day, I was talking to Jason Demello and mentioned how I should have linexed my rock rails instead of powder-coating them, and he said that linex doesn't chip and that it peels. What has your experience been?
It does peel. But I haven't had any issues with it. Of course, I haven't taken a close look at my skids in a while - so they may be peeled like a bad banana. But, the bumper has held up real well even through some pretty rough stuff. I plan on using the spray stuff for my new sliders so I can touch them up as needed. I just figured that with rattle can - I'd be under there all of the time touching it up. Just my $0.02
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'07 Sunfusion - Skyjacked - TRD Exhaust - Procomp 33' - aFe/CAI - DC1 black wheels - All Pro front/rear bumper - XRC winch - MPAC Storage Racks - Bud Built Skids - Swiss-light - All Pro Air Dam & Ultimate Links - Manik Light Guards - Demello sliders - ladder - Sirius.
'73 FJ40 Basket Case Project
TLCA #17145/High Desert Cruisers "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." -- Roger Karas
It does peel. But I haven't had any issues with it. Of course, I haven't taken a close look at my skids in a while - so they may be peeled like a bad banana. But, the bumper has held up real well even through some pretty rough stuff. I plan on using the spray stuff for my new sliders so I can touch them up as needed. I just figured that with rattle can - I'd be under there all of the time touching it up. Just my $0.02
Yup, I agree. Like I said, I am still trying to figure the whole linex thing out. I would definitely use it on my bumper and I guess if it hasn't peeled on your skids, then I'd be inclined to use it on skids and rock-rails as well. Please do update us when you get a chance to look at your skids.
By the way, it was awesome running that trail with you guys.
Yup, I agree. Like I said, I am still trying to figure the whole linex thing out. I would definitely use it on my bumper and I guess if it hasn't peeled on your skids, then I'd be inclined to use it on skids and rock-rails as well. Please do update us when you get a chance to look at your skids.
By the way, it was awesome running that trail with you guys.
And, FatBob - shots?
X2 - The Saturday run was great. You did a fantastic job leading us on those unmarked trails - we found some nice areas. I will keep you updated on the liner paint and see how it goes - my plans are to crawl under the FJC this weekend.
Take care.
You and Fatbob
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'07 Sunfusion - Skyjacked - TRD Exhaust - Procomp 33' - aFe/CAI - DC1 black wheels - All Pro front/rear bumper - XRC winch - MPAC Storage Racks - Bud Built Skids - Swiss-light - All Pro Air Dam & Ultimate Links - Manik Light Guards - Demello sliders - ladder - Sirius.
'73 FJ40 Basket Case Project
TLCA #17145/High Desert Cruisers "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." -- Roger Karas
Thanks for all the input. I think I'm going to go with the Powder Coat because I want to have my skids done in red. They shouldn't get to scratched up driving around the mall.... and I'll look really cool.
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#%%$#$@ just saw a TT FJ in Santa Fe with a Zia Symbol painted exactly where mine is!! A thousand ways to customize your vehicle and this mall crawler copies me.
ARRGHH!!
BTW - For those who attended the Summit and ran Black Bear I have a couple of Black Bear Pass oval stickers I am willing to give away since I didn't get a chance to run it Sat. due to my broken diff. First to PM me gets em.
I agree, I kind of want my diff to fail so I don't have to worry about it anymore. I don't want to get stuck in the boonies. I wish Toyota would just admit the problem.
Fatbob
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