Fifty feet from me sits a vehicle I'm more excited about than any I've ever owned before, a 2007 Ti Silver Toyota FJC. I spend more time than I care to admit, pouring over any information I can find about my FJ and each modification (mods) I'd like to do. I grew up playing in the dirt and rocks, using anything from dirt bikes and ATVs to Jeeps and trucks. It is an obsession I hope to never be free of. I have seen these mighty FJs in magazines and on the net with $10,000 in mods and find myself daydreaming about the ultimate FJ. I wake up to the realization that I will be building my FJ over time and on a budget.
The reality is that I bought my FJ for various reasons. I want to go off-roading, camping for the weekend, and also use my FJ as a daily driver. Several times a year, on business, I also drive to Key West (950 miles one way). So, obviously I need my FJ to be road worthy, since every journey takes me far from home (Western NC).
Every off-roader dreams of going to the mecca of 4-wheeling, Moab, UT. My dream is no different. Question is, how am I to get my rig ready to handle Moab and still have the cash to enjoy life's necessities such as food and shelter?
So here I sit, pondering where I am going to pull $10,000 from to build my rig. My financial situation is such that I am paying rent, a mortgage and using out-of-pocket cash for a remodel. The budgeting plan I formulated is to build my rig one step at a time and make my trip to Moab in the Summer of 2009. In the mean time, I can take my rig out on local trails that I am comfortable with. Did I mention that I am 2 hours from Tellico?
I am sure many of you are thinking “I know how you feel pal, I was all set to lift my FJ and then I find out little Mary need braces”. Below, you will find a list of the mods and equipment I plan to put on my FJ before I head West. Over the course of the next 18 months, you can join me in the buildup of my FJ. I'll document each step and explain the reasoning behind the parts I choose. I am sure there will be changes along the way to my original list and I am hoping that some of those changes stem from you, the reader. I openly invite your input and opinions. Understandably, we all have our preferences and I want to hear what you guys and gals think.
I plan to do as much of the electrical work as possible in the first stage of the project. First on the list is a stand alone fuse block. If you intend to do anything to your rig that involves adding electrical mods, I strongly advise this addition in particular. Isolating after market electrical items from the OEM electrical system is a very cheap (under $100) insurance policy. Our vehicles have a rather complex electrical system with more computers and sensors than I can count. A stand alone fuse block separates any chance that a mod you install will damage that system and possibly void your warranty.
So sit back, put your feet up and follow along with my buildup of Bullet (as in Silver Bullet). Hopefully we’ll learn a lot about our FJ's together.
