[BrewsterII]

I bought one of the so called "Mall Crawlers" back in August. During the search for the perfect FJ I looked at quite a few that were on the market. I also came to realize that a good, clean, low mileage "Mall Crawler" generally commanded a premium price over the modified and most of the time "well used" FJ's I looked at. I feel the premium is justified.

I think it is fair to say the FJ is a very capable vehicle as it left the factory. Many people that purchase them are sportsman that use them for hunting, fishing, camping .......... me, being one. I use my FJ to get in and out of places that are remote and otherwise not accessible to a 2WD vehicle. The truck is a tool (and a good one) to enhance my sporting activities. It gets used, but I will say that I'll always take the easy line, or the less muddy line. I prefer to leave the forest or desert in the forest or desert. Unlike rock crawlers, my objective is to get in and out of a given location. Its just the "other side" of owning a 4x4. Nothing is wrong with either, just different objectives.

As I read through the many postings on this forum I see comments that I find rather silly ......
like, "if its a stock FJ (Mall Crawler) I won't wave." Really ... well ok, I'll still wave! And the many references to the "Mall Crawlers" that are washed, waxed and appear to be used as a daily driver............. looks can be deceiving folks. The washed and waxed FJ you see at the grocery store on Tuesday night could be mine, and most probably ....... come the weekend it will be out on some forest or desert trail doing its thing. Cleaning and caring for a somewhat expensive (in my opinion) 4x4 is nothing to be ashamed of, lest criticized for. In all probability it will be the quicker to sell to a new FJ owner, and longer lasting. In my opinion it shows pride of ownership!

Now, with all that being said, I LOVE modified FJ's, if they are built to the REAL needs of the owner. After using my FJ for several months I think a small lift done properly (no spacers) could be beneficial and some good skids are mandatory. Beyond that (at this point) anything else would not be of any benefit to me.

Anyway, no flame war intended, just my thoughts. :smile

 

[Winterpeg]

It's typically said in good fun around here... you are now an FJ-BROTHER! Whether you put your FJ into 4wd or not.

I don't see a lot of non-modified FJ's with a sense of FJ community and I think that's what the guys were saying when they say they don't wave at "mall crawlers" as they would rarely or never get a wave back.
I still wave anyway No skin off my back if I don't get a wave back.

Welcome to the forum!
:cheers:

 

[rotorhed1]

I have nothing against a stock FJ. They are very capable. I use the term mall crawler to describe a FJ that has chrome all over or other cosmetic mods and has never been used for its purpose. Maybe never even been put in 4WD.

 

[Papa Dragon]

Ive always held to the belief the a stock FJ is the finest "out of the box" off road vehicle ever made. Make me sad to see ones that have never been off road.

 

[architect]

My FJ is still stock, but when I drove by a matching stock model today, I said to my fiance: "that's my buddy!". I get the mall crawler thing but we're still part of the community and I feel welcome. I am looking forward to putting on my 5100s when its a bit warmer out though...

 

[floppyD]

What's that short knob next to the shifter?

 

[BrewsterII]

What's that short knob next to the shifter?

Thank you, I rest my case! :smile

 

[Inglorious]

I don't wave at stock ones anymore because they don't wave back around here. Then again I rarely even see them looking at mine as I drive past, even though I'm always checking out theirs. I don't necessarily consider stock a mall crawler though, I've seen stock rigs perform quite well on various trails. If it only has useless mods or if they have things like light bars before any more practical mods then that's what makes it a mall crawler status.

 

[NW FJC]

How does "crawler of the mall" sound? >

 

[BrewsterII]

How does "crawler of the mall" sound? >

Or "Mall Mauler" or "Pavement Pounder". The choices are unlimited!:grin

 

[equalme]

I don't really see it as offensive.

When I think of a "mall crawler" it is an FJ that is loaded up i.e. Steel bumpers, sliders, skids, winch, lift, 33-37, bushwackers, gas cans, etc. that has never been off-roaded with no real intentions to do so. More so, mods just for aesthetics.

 

[Iconic_]

I don't really see it as offensive.

When I think of a "mall crawler" it is an FJ that is loaded up i.e. Steel bumpers, sliders, skids, winch, lift, 33-37, bushwackers, gas cans, etc. that has never been off-roaded with no real intentions to do so. More so, mods just for aesthetics.

Hear Hear!

My FJ was a mall crawler. It was nicely modded by the previous owner but never offroaded, my parents bought it and it was then quite literally driven to the mall where my mom worked. :lol:

Then I bought it and now use it for what it was truly meant for.

 

[monflores11]

I don't really see it as offensive.

When I think of a "mall crawler" it is an FJ that is loaded up i.e. Steel bumpers, sliders, skids, winch, lift, 33-37, bushwackers, gas cans, etc. that has never been off-roaded with no real intentions to do so. More so, mods just for aesthetics.

I completely agree. I don't consider a stock FJ a mall crawler, since we can't judge the owner's intention why they drive it. A 'moded' FJ without going off road to me is in essence a mall crawler.

 

[285201]

 

[crazysanman]

Mall crawlers aren't stock 4x4's. They are 4x4's that are modded for looks and never get off the pavement. Think "Chrome don't get you home".

 

[COMtnFJ]

This is what I consider a mall crawler too. You see a bunch of these types on instagram and they are typically in parking lots.

I don't really see it as offensive.

When I think of a "mall crawler" it is an FJ that is loaded up i.e. Steel bumpers, sliders, skids, winch, lift, 33-37, bushwackers, gas cans, etc. that has never been off-roaded with no real intentions to do so. More so, mods just for aesthetics.

 

[Eggs]

Its all in the paint!

Modded trucks without pin stripes are mall crawlers.

 

[Inglorious]

its all in the paint!

Modded trucks without pin stripes are mall crawlers.

 

[Winterpeg]

.
>:d
>

 

[amaclach]

I drove mine 100% stock apart from a matte black engine skid for the first year. It had a lot of adventures in that year!
I have since done suspension, tires, lights (actually done before the year was up), an OEM style hitch receiver, some electronic hacks, onboard air (also before the first year was up). Recently, I've started blacking out the silver plastic, but still stock bumpers with no intention to change them despite cable ties holding the front plastic cover on. I also removed the remaining rear mudflap after I lost one offroad, and also the stock step rail (it just collected mud etc and cleaned itself on my trousers).
My mods are mostly practical and for the most part invisible. I've seen highly modified mall crawlers comment that mine is basically just stock and isn't as capable as theirs (except they can't drive offroad, and likely don't have the same hacks as mine, and the full length steel skids, steel bumpers both ends, gas cans, etc really weigh it down, and on sand, weight is a major disadvantage, and full length skids won't protect you from anything in the dunes...