[uphill]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

Are your walkers evans polished?

The WE are NOT polished. The beadlock ring is. IMO polishing them is not really necessary for appearance, expecially if you're going with a wide ring.

 

[uphill]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

N-FAB LIGHT BAR RACKS (FRONT AND REAR)​

I saw the N-FAB light bar racks mounted to the Skyjacker FJ Cruiser at the Pomona auto show and immediately liked them. They were a logical extension to the OEM rack, an easy fit and did not have the high profile factor that I wanted to avoid. The Skyjacker reps on site weren't sure who made the light bars so I called Skyjacker in Monroe, LA. They put me on to N-Fab in Texas and N-Fab put me in touch with a vendor that handles their products.

The installation of front and back bars took about 25 minutes and simply bolts into the OEM rack hardpoints. I gooped the holes with silicone before threading in the N-Fab bolts and then I was in business.

Rear N-Fab Light Bar

Front N-Fab Light Bar

Closer view of the Front N-Fab Light Bar

Details:

There are six hard points for lights on the front, four on the rear. The price of each light bar was $230. I didn't have to pay shipping because I picked them up from a vendor locally.

Recent mileage checks with an expedition load-out topside made me feel that an air damn wasn't necessary. The lights that I'm going to install will be very low profile and the drag should be minimal. In any event it's nowhere near the drago from 2 Jerry Cans mounted on their side, a Pelican Case and a Power Tank mounted on the roof.

 

[uphill]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

ALL PHASE OFF ROAD LOCKING SHOVEL/AXE HOLDER

I bought this locking dual axe/shovel hoder from All Phase Off Road. It was based on a prototype designed by another Forum member so it's not part of their regular production equipment - so yes, I paid more for it than I should have. I felt I needed a locking solution and still think that's important.

I installed this modification on Thursday. Today (Monday) I felt that I needed to move it from the side of the OEM rack to the rear because of other modifications underway on the SCORPION.

After having been on the FJ for all of five days, note the rusted hardware/bolts (close-up below):

I went to a local hardware store and bought stainless steel bolts and installed them, greasing the threads with silicone to keep the steel threading (unpainted) from rusting.

The cost of the 6 stainless steel bolts was $3.10. I thought that the original bolts were black annodized metal and not just rough steel. When I put the mount on, I was in a hurry to get down the road and test out my expedition load-out. In any event, the problem was fixed, but maybe the mount shouldn't have gone out the door with substandard hardware on it.

 

[TCao]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

Looks like the Scorpion is ready for our trip next month. Counting the days ...

 

[Shadow-Warrior]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

Larry Looks great, I like the mount for the shovel and axe. I have the same axe, I bought the Fiskers shovel too, mounted mine to the rear door. The Scorpion is looking good buddy

 

[MERCWORC]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

That thing is crazy. Thanks for the complete list of mods nice for us to review.

 

[uphill]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

That thing is crazy. Thanks for the complete list of mods nice for us to review.

The SICK part is that I still have a remarkably long list of must-haves. The snorkel is coming in late November. I've been PM'ing STEVE-O at Man-A-Fre about the extended range fuel tank that may be ready for my expedition with the East Coast Toyota Trail Teams (and TCAO of course) at Kokopelli Trail. Then I need overhead lights and I would like to get a 40" LED light bar (very bright, never burns out, low power draw - but $1,500 front and $1000 rear). I'm working on a mod based on a part being developed by a vendor that nobody has yet and I'm excited about (I haven't pinged Jason Demello about fab needs but will soon). And then there the whole REAR BUMPER + swinging arm issue. Several are either out or are due out by the first of the year and that's going to be a tough decision.

Maybe I'll find a gold mine somewhere along the Mojave Trail expedition we're making this coming weekend. If that happens:

I may be the only one to emerge at Afton Canyon after we cross the trackless desert (driving AIR2AIR's FJ).

Does anyone remember what happened in this classic movie?

I really need to find GOLD to pay for the mods!

If not the Treasure of Sierra Madre, perhaps Ali Baba's cave. We're too far from Arizona to stumble on the Lost Dutchman's Mine -- however it is "lost" and who knows but what it's on the Mojave Trail?

 

[TCao]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

Badges!? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinking badges!!

 

[uphill]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

Precisely!

 

[uphill]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

Odessa Canyon/The Doran Loop

MIR207 led a few FJ's into Odessa Canyon on the Doran Loop, a notoriously rough and nasty stretch of trail as icing on the cake. Odessa Canyon is adjacent to the Calico Ghost Town near Barstow, CA.

SCORPION in Odessa Canyon.

SCORPION tries to crest the rock... but can't quite make it.

--Photo by FJDAVE--

The first trail carnage of the trip from (careless) backing up!

But wait! It's a tail-light guard SAVE!

Only slight damage to the skin of the beast and a chip off the plastic lens.

 

[TCao]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

...

Only slight damage to the skin of the beast and a chip off the plastic lens.

Dual spare tire carriers would have given you more protection. I was in a LR Defender 110 with dual spare tires and we were rear-ended by a Toyota LC75 in Tanzania last year and the only damage was a couple of scratches on the steel rim and the ARB bull bar on the LC75 (besides my soiled shorts since I was sitting in the third row seat ).

 

[uphill]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

TCAO: Do you know whether nor not the Kaymar dual swinging arm bumper accomodate two TG 305/70R17 tires on the back such that motorists can still see the tail lights?

I have been thinking about that very option but need to run a measuring tape to see if it will work.

 

[TCao]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

TCAO: Do you know whether nor not the Kaymar dual swinging arm bumper accomodate two TG 305/70R17 tires on the back such that motorists can still see the tail lights?

I have been thinking about that very option but need to run a measuring tape to see if it will work.

I already measured the width from taillight to taillight and it's 52 inches. A single back-up light will be more effective that the factory lights. If Kaymar offers built-in parking and turn signal lights like the other FJ series, two spares can be mounted on the rear bumper (and they will block the taillights).

edit: I have emailed Kaymar/Australia already about the dual spare tyres and awaiting answer from Jenny.

edit 2: just received email from Jenny/Kaymar-Australia and she confirmed that the rear bar (Aussie speak for bumper) for the FJC will accommodate two spare tires carriers (not sure on the max tire size). May be Man-a-fre can measure the distance from left carrier spindle to right carrier spindle centerline on the prototype bumper and the distance from the spindle centerline to the tire mounting centerline on the swing-out carrier to determine the max tire size.

 

[uphill]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

I already measured the width from taillight to taillight and it's 52 inches. A single back-up light will be more effective that the factory lights. If Kaymar offers built-in parking and turn signal lights like the other FJ series, two spares can be mounted on the rear bumper (and they will block the taillights).

edit: I have emailed Kaymar/Australia already about the dual spare tyres and awaiting answer from Jenny.

edit 2: just received email from Jenny/Kaymar-Australia and she confirmed that the rear bar (Aussie speak for bumper) for the FJC will accommodate two spare tires carriers (not sure on the max tire size). May be Man-a-fre can measure the distance from left carrier spindle to right carrier spindle centerline on the prototype bumper and the distance from the spindle centerline to the tire mounting centerline on the swing-out carrier to determine the max tire size.

I am leaning toward that solution. When MAF gets them in, I'll wheel over and check out that option. I've been speaking with SHADOW-WARRIOR about this for a couple of weeks now. Two tires (on long runs, not around town) also balances the weight better, whereas a tire on one side and a jerry can on the other does not. I was hoping to have the Kaymar bumper and the aux/extended range fuel tank installed at MAF at the same time if all works out. It's a lot more weight on the back of the rig, but I won't run two tires or necessarily run two full tanks of fuel around town. For runs like Kokopelli or other long range expedition style projects, two spare tires and more fuel is prudent and having it off the roof lowers the C-O-G.

 

[uphill]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

FOSSILIZED FJ CRUISER TRACKS?

It's science, it's here for the reading. An FJ Cruiser must have roamed the seashore in Scotland 300 million years ago.

SCIENTIFIC PROOF QUOTED HERE AS WELL. The 2007 FJ Cruiser was not the first giant scorpion.

 

[Shadow-Warrior]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

That is Scary..a 5 Ft Water SCORPION!...330 Million years ago walking around. Cool, It really does fit you Larry

 

[frogeye]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

Damn you guys have lots of mods. I just had chance to browse your thread Larry and your rig is truely unique. Great job. I need to put up a thread for my rig. Great job documenting everything.

 

[MudLovingFJ]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

i like your flag on the cb antenna. where did you ever get that idea

 

[thugasaur]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

i gotta ask why run it so low on the pole shouldnt it be at the top?

 

[MudLovingFJ]

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

if you run it up high it practically bends your antenna to a 90 degree angle when you are going past 20 mph