The Platform
Project Fuji is my third overland build, but with a new twist—rather than taking a stock vehicle and modifying it from the ground up, I decided to get a vehicle that was already built and tune it for my needs, or even un-modify it in some areas.
The Story Begins
This story actually goes back to December of 2012, when my buddy took his Ford Ranger and I drove my Subaru STI into the snow-covered Gifford Pinchot National Forest for some camping. We didn’t get far—both of us ended up in ditches at separate points in the journey—but one moment stood out above it all. Saving the Ford Ranger from the ditch was a solo black Toyota FJ Cruiser equipped with a winch. The driver ran the winch off a snatch block from a tree and carefully recovered the Ranger out of the snowy ditch. That was my first great memory of the FJ Cruiser. The second encounter with an FJ Cruiser was in February of 2019, when a group of us went snow wheeling, and one guy brought a straight-axle swapped FJ on 40″ Goodyear MTRs. The thing was a beast and provided inspiration on what was possible with the FJ Cruiser.
Why the FJ Cruiser?
Like the Jeep Cherokee XJ, Toyota’s FJ Cruiser platform (based on the Land Cruiser Prado) has an extensive history and strong community support. The legacy of Toyota as a brand in the off-road world is, without a doubt, legendary worldwide. You can’t discuss off-road adventuring without at least considering Toyota’s contributions—from the original 4×4 Hilux/pickup to the Land Cruiser series, and the latest 4Runner, Tacoma, and Tundra models.
I could go on and on about the FJ Cruiser’s retro styling reminiscent of the original FJ40, the body on frame construction, the factory electronic rear-locking differential, the bullet proof 1GR-FE V6 motor, etc. etc… but the top reasons are as follows:
1) Durability – Even with heavy modification the engine, transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, differentials, and axles all hold up under pressure. Breakages are reported usually when the driver does something extreme. While there are concerns about frame rust, with the right maintenance this issue is eliminated.
2) Comfort – There are quite a few components that make the FJ Cruiser a comfortable ride both on and off road. Toyota’s tried and true independent front suspension and rear straight axle layout balances drivability, but they went even further with the FJ Cruiser by designing a high-mounted, double wishbone, stabilized front suspension paired to a 4-link rear suspension with stabilized lateral rod and coil springs – no leafs! 4 piston front disc brakes and 2 piston rear disc brakes for adequate stopping power. A V6 motor with exactly the right amount of power and gearing – not too much and not too little. Interior noise is minimal and the vehicle can be steered with a single finger while retaining road feel. The overall balance of the FJ Cruiser package is spot on.
3) Capability – The 6-speed manual transmission, paired with a 2-speed transfer case, combined with an electronic rear locking differential plus A-TRAC and significant suspension travel allows for smooth, controlled crawling over most obstacles.
4) Parts accessibility and cross-platform compatibility – The 120-series Land Cruiser Prado, Tacoma, 4Runner, Tundra, and Hilux share a lot of the same parts as the FJ Cruiser meaning availability of replacement and maintenance parts across the globe is unmatched by most other car manufacturers.
Existing Modifications
The previous owner bought it from a person who had the suspension modifications done at a shop in Oregon.
- 4.88 gears
- Stage 2 clutch
- 6 inch lift with Fabtech front differential drop, Fabtech struts, and Total Chaos upper control arms
- Rear differential armor
- Resz Front and Rear bumpers
- Warn 8k winch
- CB Radio
- Pioneer Touchscreen head unit
- TRD shift knob
- TRD exhaust
- Aftermarket subwoofer
- HID headlights with LED halo
- 18″ ProComp wheels wrapped in 35″ BFGoodrich KO2 tires + a 35″ KM2 spare
- Viair air compressor and tank (mounted behind rear bumper)
- Shovel and axe mounts
- Rock sliders (not attached)
In my opinion, it was not bad for a rust-free 109k mile 2007 Fj Cruiser with a 6-speed manual transmission under $20k. No wobbles and no shakes. There were a few things I needed to adjust for my needs:
- Re-mounted and re-wired the air compressor and tank inside the rear hatch on the driver’s side.
- Replaced the OEM roof rack with Prinsu modular rack
- 16″ Method Race wheels 701 matte black
- BFGoodrich All-terrain T/A KO3 LT315/75R16/E tires
- Subthump flush mounted subwoofer box on passenger side
More details and photos coming soon!
