I have been holding onto the parts for the re-gear of our Toyota FJ Cruiser for some time. I purchased the gears from Nitro Gear and Axle which is the only company currently offering 4.56 gears for the 2010 FJ Cruiser. I also purchased a front ARB locker. Installing a locker adds very little additional…
Modifications
Extended Range Auxiliary Fuel Tank
by tomas •
I have grown very tired of the small fuel tank in the Toyota FJ Cruiser. Man-A-Fre offers a solution to this problem with there FJ auxiliary fuel tank. The fuel tank is constructed of aluminum and bolts in right in using existing bolt holes. With this being the only solution for the FJ cruiser I…
Electronics, Electronics, Ham Radio, Ham Radio
HF Radio Install – Part 2
by tomas •
I completed the install of my new Icom IC-7000 in our Toyota FJ Cruiser today. With the wiring completed all I had to finish was the mounting of the radio, MODEM, antenna controller and the radio head. I mounted the radio and MODEM on the installed mounting platform. The antenna controller is mounted to the…
Electronics, Ham Radio, Ham Radio
HF Radio Install – Part 1
by tomas •
I started the install of my new HF Radio in the Toyota FJ Cruiser. The install includes the following items: Icom IC-7000 All Band Radio SCS PTC-IIusb Pactor-II HF Radio Modem Turbo-Tuner Screwdriver Antenna Controller RIGtalk USB Rig CV-I rig control interface Little Tarheel II Screwdriver Antenna Associated cables Icom remote speaker The install involves…
Expedition Travel
Spring / Summer 2011 Trip Plans
by tomas •
I have been spending lots of time planning what trip we will be doing this spring and summer. Here is a short list of where you will be able to find My FJ Cruiser this springs and summer: March – Spring Vacation will take us to south east Utah where we will be exploring Comb…
How Tos, Mechanical
Rear Differential Breather Relocation
by tomas •
All of the gear boxes on the FJ Cruiser have breather caps on them. The breather cap allows the gear box to release pressure and prevent pressure from being applied to the seals. The breathers can present a problem when submerged. When a gear box is cooled quickly by water the pressure drops and it…
Ham Radio
Ham Radio License Upgrade
by tomas •
So I passed my General class Ham Radio license test a few weeks ago. The General license expands my privileges into the HF bands. When you hear about people talking to the other side of the world using their radio, it is on HF that they did it. I passed my General so I would…
Hot Springs
Saline Valley Hot Springs – Death Valley
by tomas •
An oasis in the desert, that’s what we found Saline Valley Hot (Warm) Springs to be. Located in the remote reaches of Death Valley the springs take some work to get to. There are four routes to the springs. Two that are high clearance 4wd and two that are graded dirt roads. We drove Lippincott…