Probably the most useful video I've ever watched on You Tube - I've got an FJ that I have just started modifying for road trips/camping.. long long way to go to get close to a set up anything like yours... but learn't loads just by watching.... Many thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for the great comment!! 😀 I still need to do a proper vid of the inside. If you have any questions, I’m very happy to help. Enjoy building your FJ!!
Thank you...... Have recently fitted drawers and picked up a clam shell tent and a fridge..so basics done - am doing a months road trip from Perth in Jan so lots to do !!! @@4xAdventures
I've spent countless hours watching these kinds of videos; some very good ones and a lots of not so good ones. This video sets the bar. It was so well done in every aspect. Can't praise enough.
This video is BRILLIANT. I can't wait to purchase a cruiser, and get out there. You have to have done a GVM increase with all that gear. Looking forward to more from you!
Hi Ross, Thanks very much!! 😀 I highly recommend getting a GVM upgrade as the FJ’s payload & factory GVM is fairly low. I’m actually not over GVM, believe it or not. I’ve kept everything as light as possible. Apart from the payload, the only other downside of the FJ is the lack of room, however if you are clever about how you design it, you can see that space is not really an issue. Enjoy your future FJ!! :)
Thank you so much for your fantastic build video - we also have a 2012 Red FJ Cruiser called "CHIEF" as it was an American fire Chief's vehicle brought to Australia & converted - I'd love to do a build like you have - but I have just started to save again after being off work for 6mths after cutting my fingers off with a circular saw. My next add on is a long range fuel tank, Drifta Drawers & 12Volt system + 2 spotties & a light Bar...this will take place over the next 2 years. we already have a red & chrome ARB bulbar & Rhino full length roof rack + newly added GME CB Radio for a our group 4WD trips....Thank you again for the great Video. Looking forward to more Videos from you!!! Darren
Thank you so much Darren! Good luck with the build. The FJ’s are awesome vehicles & I’m sure you will have heaps of fun in it. Thanks for watching. All the best!! 😀
Awesome setup and video! Thank you for sharing this! These vehicles are so fun, because of these modification reasons! I'm thinking of buying one soon!
You're a jet! Really like your personality and presentation. I too have an FJ. I dont have your skill set, but you have given me so much to consider. Thank you.
Greetings from Washington, USA. Just found you through this incredibly useful and informational video. Thank you for the level of detail and amount of time that was clearly put into it. My wife and I enjoyed every second!
Thank you so much Lakesha! I’m glad you found the video useful and enjoyable. Thanks very much for watching!! 😊 And, if you decide to subscribe, then welcome!!
Thanks for giving one of the best FJ Cruiser video I have watch so far. And One of the best and practical setup I have seen. I am planning to setup my FJ Cruiser and I learn a lot from this video
I’m so glad your on board with your very down to earth an informative video I’ve just started my project FJ and after watching your vid , I’m very inspired Thanks vey much
G’day Andrew! I’m glad you liked the video & hope you found it useful! If you have any questions, just drop me a line. I’d be happy to answer anything. Best of luck with your FJ build! 😊👍
This has been an inspiration! Should finish modifying my FJ in September. Taken bits and pieces from your video! Thanks. Hopefully we bump into you overlanding someday .
Very good build for overlanding. My 2016 was stock for first year then I started doing necessary mods. I have kept OEM size tires but switched to Nitto Terra Grappler G2s. I added a snorkel and TRD exhaust and did the ARB breather mod. I added TTUE Bilstein 6112/5165 to the suspension and most important, I added a Hayden 679 transmission cooler. Apart from that a Magnefine filter to keep the tranny clean and oil catch can to keep the intake tract clean as well. Added MCC nudge bar to accommodate a pair of PIAA LP570s. The transmission oil cooler is highly recommended for overlanding.
@@4xAdventures fully loaded climbing up steep hills behind slow traffic on hot day, 30c reduction in temps. There are some significant threads on fjcc.com.au and fjcruiserforums.com regarding the importance of transmission cooler and damage from heat on the A750 thats the standard auto in FJC. Usually most have experienced burnt oil under 50000 as well as other transmission damage if they regularly did hills, stop and go traffic as well as beaches and off roads. The built in cooler in the radiator doesn't suffice for the vehicle if its used regularly beyond call of its design.
It is very interesting to see just what you have done to make your outback and off road travelling both safe and comfortable. The ability to be able to respond to any situation quickly and with all tools to hand is most useful. Similarly the ability to quickly set up camp and prepare a hearty meal even in inclement weather at the end of a long day on the road.Congratulations on a very informative presentation.I am very interested in what you have achieved and would like to get in touch with you soon.Brian Smith
Thank you Brian. I haven’t covered everything... in fact, I’ve just thought of a bunch of things I missed, but the video is already too long. Maybe I’ll cover it in another video in the future.
Excellent video, and thanks for sharing your experience. Looking forward to setting up something similar in an FJ next year, and your choice of components and equipment gives lots of helpful pointers for a workable setup. In particular, I like your minimalist kitchen, as I think too many people focus on an “all the bells and whistles” approach that is both space consuming and heavy.
Thanks very much! I’m particularly happy with my kitchen setup. This basically evolved over a number of years through trial & error. Everything is designed to be quick & efficient & having now used this about 50 times, there is very little I would change with it. It does the job really well. Thanks for watching!! :)
Thank you so much for your lovely comments!! Really glad you enjoyed the video & found it inspiring. Hopefully you will get some ideas for your own build. All the best! 😀👍
@@4xAdventures The FJ Cruiser was certainly an acquired taste, but now I can't get enough of it. Full on car crush lol I have my sights on a 15k 2008 with 170k miles and it's burgundy, my favorite color on the land cruiser who are either too old or out of my budget. I love Jeep Wranglers, so the FJ sort of has that boxy feel plus with the legendary Toyota reliability a Jeep doesn't have. Whenever and if I get it, I will certainly do a walk around lol
I know what you mean. The first time I saw the FJ, it didn’t do anything for me. Then I saw the inside and I didn’t like it. But that was a few years before I got into 4WDing. Now, I love my FJ, and keep realising that it’s an amazingly capable vehicle. So far, I haven’t found its limits off-road... and that’s probably a good thing! :)
One of the best videos on an FJ build and ive seen a lot. Keep it up and keep releasing new content. Watching you from the middle east! Id like to request a long term review on the FJ with pros and cons.
I want an FJ so I can go out and adventure! you make it look like an awesome journey! and you have amazing mods! I hope to get one someday. Subscribed!
Legit answer: very comfortable. The FJ is a super comfy car anyway. The extra weight seems to make no difference handling-wise. I’ve been up & down 45 degree inclines and there are no stability issues at all. Re. wind noise, yes, there is wind noise, but it’s not too bad really. There is always the radio. But often I find myself driving in silence, lost in thought, and the wind noise doesn’t really bother me. It’s there, but easily gotten used to I think. From a fuel economy point of view, range is decreased a bit. The best I’ve ever gotten on a full tank was 1650km highway driving, but that was when the car was new & empty. These days, with a full load, I get about 1450 highway & ~1200 city driving. Hope that helps!! 😊
I paused the video at EPIRB and added one to my Amazon list. 😅 This is probably the best build I've seen so far. The awning is the winning stroke for me and the hot water shower system is brilliant. While I love the build, I think I'll still get a camper. Unfortunately, women have a little more to think about when it comes to being naked outside while traveling solo!
Hi Alexis! Thank you so much for watching, and for your lovely comment :) I completely understand about the camper, in fact, my next build will be a camper, and I have plenty of ideas on making it a brilliant build. Stay safe, and enjoy travelling!! All the best! 🙂
@@4xAdventures I can't wait to see what you you do with the camper. I know you won't let the FJ down and will give it a worthy partner! 😅 I plan to pair the FJ Cruiser with an RPod 179 to start and then move up to a GeoPro 19FD once my desert home is done. The idea is to spend half the time at the desert home and the rest of the year living in the camper while traveling solo in the Great American Western deserts. We'll see if my plans survive COVID-19. I originally should have been leaving on Monday, but alas! Safe travels to you as well. :)
I’m definitely keeping the FJ. I’ve spent way too much time & effort on it, so it is definitely staying! Plus, the FJ is a brilliant 4WD!! Unfortunately towing a caravan into the remote outback is not really an option here in Australia. No sealed roads & the most shocking corrugations means that your standard caravan will simply be shaken to bits. So I’m definitely in favour of a self-contained vehicle like what I’ve built. I have plenty of trips coming up, so if your interested, stay tuned :) Your trips sound fascinating as well. Wish I could see that part of America. 🙂
@@4xAdventures I wish I could see your part of the world! Considered dropping in while I was in the Maldives last year, but the tickets were so pricey! Still on my list, but will need to be its own trip. The desert roads out west are probably as bad as Aussie haha. I got stuck out there last year. Took 3 hours to pull out the over-ambitious crossover I rented. Those 2 RVs have optional off-road kits, so hopefully I won't bottom out. I subscribed, so will definitely stay tuned to see what you have coming up next. ☺️
Thanks very much! I think the lack of space in the FJ forced me to be creative in order to get everything I wanted. But it’s worked out well. Thanks for watching!! 😊👍
Nice set-up - would be interesting to see the cost of all the gear, any labor paid out for any of the work done, the man hours spent on the "DIY" aspects of the build and the cost of the vehicle - As awesome as thins is anyone wanting to achieve this level of comfort and capability would need a small fortune to accomplish a similar build
Awesome setup, really like how you used little space to great effect, like a tardis. Great water systems, thanks, a list of major components? Also where did you film this clip, nice place.
G’day Mark! Thanks for the lovely comments! Check out the hot water & shower video. I explain it all there. This was filmed in the Blue Mountains about 90min north west of Sydney. Thanks for watching!! 😊👍
One of the most useful videos I have ever watched, actually I am just about to start modifying my FJ 2014 and this video helped a lot. Would you kindly mention the parts you added and the source so others can get in touch with them and order some of those parts. Thanks for sharing you experience. Wish you a great and safe coming trips and adventures.
G’day, I’ve just discovered and binge watched almost all of your videos. Great work and information. I’m am getting the Ali-cab roof top tent fitted to my Prado but I have the rhino rack flat platform on the backbone system. I’m in two minds as to whether I have the rhino rack platform removed and just have alu-cab cross bars fitted to the backbone or mount the RTT to the platform roof rack. How have you found the Alu-cab fitted to the heavy duty bars and backbone?
Thanks very much! And welcome to the channel! I highly recommend leaving the backbone in place, removing the platform tray and adding 3 x heavy duty load bars to support the tent. This is substantially lighter, and you want to reduce the weight on the roof as much as possible. In fact, if you get 3 x low profile load bars (the Frontrunner ones are the lightest), the tent will be as close to the roof as possible. That is the best result. The Ali-Cab tents are great - I love mine and would get it again. All the best! 😊👍
Hi! You inspired us to purchase a new to us Fj. So now we are the proud owners of a 2010 with relatively low mileage. We LOVE your build and we were wondering if you could clarify what you have the Alu-cab tent mounted on. If you have mentioned it in this video I apologize in advance. Thank you!!!
Hello! Wow, that is fantastic to hear! The FJ is a really great vehicle and I'm sure you will be really pleased with it! I have the Rhino Rack backbone system on the roof (Frontrunner also make a backbone system) with 3 x heavy duty load bars. If you can get low-profile load bars (Alu-Cab or FrontRunner both make these), your tent will sit a little lower. All the best!!
Great video, interesting to see a different setup. However, I don't like that kitchen setup, with the fridge on the back seat. I have mine in the back with all the kitchen gear. Rather than walking back and forth all the time. For weekend trips I use the drifta table, for longer trips of with the missus the brilliant frontrunner table that sits under the roof rack. Also that built in cooker with butan gas won't work in winter. Roof top tents are also not ideal for me. Great setup and quick pack-up. But too much weight on the roof for me. Prefer my swag, yes takes 5 min to setup, but who cares...When I did the simpson, I needed the space on the roof. Couldn't have done it with a roof top tent. Love the shower setup :-)
Hi Ralf, Thanks for your comments. There are SO many ways of building these things. Whatever works well for you, is the right setup for you! :) I started out with the fridge in the back but it took far too much space, plus I didn’t want to have the back filled to the ceiling. I want to be able to see out the back. I had no use for the back seat anyway. The fridge and cooking setup is working really well for me now. I can’t imagine going back to carrying 2 tables & setting up cooker etc. I like the quick & hassle free setup :) I travel mostly solo, so this works great for me, but yes, it may not be suitable for everyone. I did the Simpson a year ago with exactly this setup and it worked a treat. If you check out the Lake Mungo Part 3 video, you can see that I was camping in 4*C and the gas stove worked just fine. Mind you, it did take a little longer, but it still worked ok - I think partly because it was sheltered from the weather being down inside the drawer. I do like the idea of an alcohol stove though...might switch to that if I can track one down. I think Dometic make one. Anyway, thanks very much for watching & commenting. I might see you out on the tracks one day. All the best! 😊👍
Wow wow wow. Well done. I've watched 100's of overland build for the fj to get ideas for mines and can honestly say yours is definitly ther best. Extremely well thought out and meticulously built. Definitly beyond my diy capabilities. Excellent idea on the fridge. Mines is in the back but will def move it to the back seat. I also have bp51 but am not 100% satisfied with them. What are your settings. Did i miss it or don't you carry extra fuel in cans. Btw i have the bundutop rtt with the 360° awning. Excellent rtt too.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked the video and found it useful. I couldn't be happier with the shocks. I don't remember the exact settings, I can check and post it however, the settings on the shocks depends entirely on the weight you are carrying and the front/back weight distribution. Also, the terrain you are driving on is a factor that must be considered too. I have noticed that when the vehicle is fully packed for a trip, the shocks do their job really well, so I think they are setup for a bit of weight, but that said, I find them very comfortable around town too. In Australia, the FJ comes standard with a 159 litre fuel tank. That gets me around 1400-1500km, which is adequate for *most* places. I've thought about adding a rear wheel/jerrycan carrier, but that would add easily 100+kg to the vehicle, and I'm trying to keep it as light as possible. All the best!
@@4xAdventures thank you for the reply. That is what i dont like of the bp51, i keep on having to change the settings for diiferent roads, maybe ill master it one day🙂 I also have the same tank but I've never got more then a 1000km from it. You get 1400km 😯. What size tyres are you on? I was on 2857017 but have gone back to stock now.
Hello Sir, great Video! Would you be kind enough please to let me know if the old man emu suspension system has performed to your expectation & been trouble free? Thank you Have a nice day.
Hi Nico, yes, the OME BP-51’s have been excellent. I’ve had no issues and they have given me a much more comfortable ride over rough corrugations than friends who’s vehicles had different shocks. I’m definitely very happy with them. That said, they are expensive, and if you don’t need the ability to adjust your shocks, then there may be cheaper alternatives. I will definitely get these shocks in my next vehicle. 😊👍
Great vid tutorial ! Well done! I love the set up and will be using your ideas of set up. If ok? :) I have been wanting an FJ and came across your channel. I’m happy I did. I assume you have to fold back awning before you get into tent?
G’day Jason! Thanks very much for your comments & for watching!! The ladder can be placed on either side or the rear of the tent. I use my ladder on the opposite side of the awning. Oh, and yes, feel free to use whatever ideas you like :)
Hi men, this is Alex; I'll have to say first thank you for all the brilliant things you showed to us. Then i decided to become an fj cruiser traveler; then, I'm looking for buying an fj. My question is: which year made fj, and what millage do you think is suitable for a budget under $ 20K? Thanks for your help in advance.
Hi Alex! Which country are you in? I only know the market in Australia. Over here, you can get a 2012 model with 200-250,000 on the clock for about AU$24k. The trouble is, FJ’s hold their value really well, so it’s hard to find one for much less. If you’re in the US and that $20K was US dollars, you could probably pick up a much newer model with far fewer mileage. Good luck!! 😊👍
Awesome video - definitely one of the best out there. Just wondering how high your rig is with the alucab on top? Considering doing something similar to my FJ but worried about the carport clearance 😬
Thanks very much!! My rig is 1960 high - that’s just the car with a 2” lift, the rhino rack backbone side rails, 3 x rhino rack heavy duty unistrut load bars and the tent itself. You can knock off another 250mm if you use low profile load bars (I recommend the Frontrunner ones). That will then be 1935mm. (Assuming you also have a 2” lift). Hope that helps! 😊👍
Hi Kevin, thanks very much!! I don’t have a separate video on that, however I do explain & show how it works in a bit more detail in my “Exploring Lake Mungo - Part 3” video. There’s a tad more to it than what I talk about in the above video, so I might do a separate video on all of the details soon. All the best!
@@4xAdventures Thank you for the reply! You have done a great job on the FJ. Wish we could have gotten the 2015 and 2016 here in the states. I look forward to maybe seeing a video on the system!
Really loving your films Attila ! I have a 2014 FJ with a vinyl wrap and absolutely love it. Stock suspension at the moment. Was wondering though with a 2 inch lift and the old man Emu shocks does it make the ride around town harsh and jarring ? Most of my driving is on tarmac and I don’t want to lose comfort around town. Maybe there’s a compromise? I have the Ko2 BFs and love them. Keep up the great work 👍🏼
Thank you so much Lee!! The OME BP51’s are amazing! I have the shocks set to around the mid point for both compression & rebound. I’ve found this to be a pretty good setting for both on & off road. The ride around town is very comfortable - not harsh by any measure. Corrugations are also pretty good, but of course, they are easily adjustable if required. I can highly recommend these shocks. I’d be happy to get the same in my next vehicle. Oh, the 2” lift doesn’t make too much difference as far as I can tell. The car sits a bit higher, but no noticeable performance impact. Thank you so much for watching! All the best! 😊👍
4xAdventures Thanks so much Attila. Really appreciate your comments and very envious of your adventures. Doing these myself is on my bucket list and would love to catch up with you on the trails one day. Can’t wait for your next film ! You’re a great presenter and they’re always so beautifully and professionally filmed. 👏🏼
Thank you so much for the lovely comments Lee! 😀 I’d love to release videos more often, but they take ages to film and edit, especially when I’m doing it all by myself. Luckily, I love travelling & making these videos. There are some amazing trips planned! Hopefully I’ll see you out there one day! All the best & thanks for watching! 😀👍
Hi mate great vid love your set up. What fridge are you using and which way does it open up? Are the hinges at the back or on the sides of the fridge ?
Thank you kindly! The fridge is a 55L Waeco CFX55. The lid is hinged on both edges (i.e. along the front & back edge) so you can open up either way. I have the lid hinged along the back edge that’s closest to the cargo barrier. This way accessibility is great. There is plenty of height to open the lid fully.
By far one of the best UA-cam videos I have seen. Describing your vehicle as the "Fj Build Bar" is an understatement. However, I wish you provided links for the products you used, would be more than happy to use it. Also, I tried to find your ain't and couldn't. Do you have an insta account? Would love to get in touch for my future FJ Build
Thank you so much! That’s very kind of you to say so! Instagram is 4xadventures_australia Good idea about the links to products used. I will add it to the description soon. Thanks for watching!! 😊👍
Best FJ video I have seen yet! Subscribed and did you do any suspension mods to handle the weight or was the stock spring weight sufficient? Very very nice set up.
Thanks very much! Yes, suspension was changed. I mentioned in the video I did a 2” lift, with heavy duty springs and BP-51 shocks. Both by OME. I’m very happy with both. Thanks very much for watching!! 😊👍
Wish I could get away with plumbing a shower here in the Midwest, everything would just freeze and I’d have a giant mess, I wouldn’t trust the pex fittings in sub zero weather, but for your application it’s perfect. If you really want to get nuts...add a slotted stand for gray water drainage from the shower and recycle it thru means of a secondary pump. Just a thought.
Yes, I’ve had exactly that thought. I need to work out how I can clean & recycle grey water so I can perhaps keep using it over & over without it going to waste. Time for some more research. That would then be perfect. 😊
4xAdventures Cut in a backflow device in the potable water supply pipe, this will eliminate any grey water contamination. after that, Install a tee fitting. On the branch of the tee fitting run piping to the inlet of a circulation pump along with piping from its outlet to your grey water basin inlet, and piping from the basins outlet, back to the run of the tee fitting. Endless tempered water.
I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but in my latest vid, Exploring Lake Mungo - Part 3, I talk about the shower system in a bit more detail. I already have a non-return valve, which is something I forgot to mention. The recirculating part is straightforward enough, but cleaning the water from soap/dirt etc. is what I need to work out next. I guess some sort of filter... but it needs to be compact & lightweight.
Hey man, how did you route the coax cable to the rear antenna through the door hinge area? I've just installed mine but not happy with how the cable runs through. There is a split second in your vid where I can see it, just not how you got it to route with out pulling / rubbing. Cheers, Dave.
G’day Dave. Back in that video, I had it going under the rubber seal, which is not the best way of doing it. Since then I’ve re/done it a better way. You can see it more clearly in the FJ rebuild series (can’t remember which episode… 2 or 3 I think). Essentially there is an existing rubber grommet that has power going to the rear door demister. You can push the coax wire through this grommet. This comes out just near the rear tail light. Hope that helps! 😊👍
Absolutely! They are awesome! They are extremely capable off-road and super comfortable on and off road. I’m glad I got one. Not only do they hold their value very well,, they have gone up in value, so that’s always a bonus. 😊👍
@@4xAdventures thats really great to know! I live in the philippines, i have to order and wait for like 3-6 months for it. The wait will make it sweeter once i get my hands on one :)
Hey mate, awesome video, this is simply one of the most informative, easy to understand videos of a touring build, big props on that. I have a question about the roof load rating and the amount your carrying up top. A lot of information from forums to guidelines point towards an 80kg roof load capacity for the fj, with the alucab being approx 80kg + bedding + solar panels + trax, are you concerned about the roof load doing any damage? I’ve got the front runner slim line II installed and looking to use a soft shell (d’arche panorama 2 1400, around 60kg) for an up coming trip. Which by my calculations will put my roof load at around 110kg, looking for your input on whether it’s okay to do this. Cheers!
Thankyou so much! Yes, I couldn’t find any info from Toyota themselves, but I suspect it would be somewhere around 80kgs. The golden rule - keep the weight as low down as possible is good to stick with. That said, I have more than 110kg on the roof (not much choice on the market when I built mine) but I haven’t had any issues at all with it. There are 2 roof load limits to consider - static weight and dynamic weight. Once the car has stopped moving, you should have no problems with 2 people in a rooftop tent + awning etc. But when you’re moving, you need to ensure all that weight is fixed to the roof as security as possible. I recommend using frontrunner or rhino side rails - like I have, and 3 x heavy duty load bars, then get the lightest tent you feel comfortable in. All the best!! 😊👍
Hi Artie, there does your Awning cover ,the back door property, I have a Darche would you or any of your followers have an idea of how to make something to cover so rain doesn't get in thankyou.The space between it a.d the roof rack is 11inch and goes out to 14 inch.
Hi Suzy, lovely to hear from you :) My awning is the Alu-cab 270 shadow awn. The name is a bit misleading because it’s more like 269 degrees. It is exactly like yours - there’s a gap above the rear door which widens a little as you go across the vehicle. I know you can buy a “rain gutter” for the alu-cab awning - not sure if it would be suitable for other awnings. But I’ve heard of people making their own, and I may make my own as well one day. Essentially, all you need is a long piece of canvas that is a bit wider than the gap and longer than the width of the car. I would then Velcro one edge to the awning frame and the other edge to the roof top tent (or roof rack if you don’t have a roof top tent). Allow a bit of slack so it forms a shallow U-shaped gutter & allows the rain to drain off beyond your door hinge. That’s my idea anyway... there’s no reason it won’t work. 😊👍
Great video! Would you be able to let me know where you got the wind/rain deflectors? I’m after a pair for my FJ I purchased recently. I’m based in Syd too, hopefully see you out some time after lockdown! 👍
G’day Ian. Thanks very much! I got mine from Toyota when I purchased the car. I’m sure you could get aftermarket ones from somewhere, but I haven’t really looked. Toyota spare parts should still be able to get them for you. Thanks for watching! 😊👍
Hi thanks for the great vid! We are looking at an FJ for similar use. What kind of fuel consumption and range do you average in standard form and now with that setup? Cheers.
G’day Dylan! Thanks for watching :) The best I ever got with the FJ was 1650km on a full tank (159L tank). That was when the car was new, highway driving, and was most definitely on fumes for the last 100km I think. Typically I would get about 1500km Highway/1100km city. Now that I have it all set up for touring, I get about 1400km highway and 900-1000km city. It’s not too bad & depending on how heavy your right foot is, you could get better/worse. Hope that helps!! All the best! 😀👍
4xAdventures Thanks for your reply. So helpful to get some real world fuel consumption figures! Looking forward to watching your upcoming vids! Cheers.
Just wanting to understand the heat exchanger - do you have the engine running whilst you shower or does it heat water whilst you drive ready for when you get to camp ?
Hi Chris, check out the Hot Water system FAQ video - it may answer some questions. But basically, all the heat exchanger does is allow you to pass cold water from your water tank or external source through the heat exchanger, where it is heated up on the fly because the plumbing inside the heat exchanger bring it into close proximity to the hot coolant that has just circulated through your engine. Note: they never mix - they just pass close enough to each other for the heat to be transferred to the cold water pipe. If you keep your engine idling, you have an unlimited source of hot water. If you turn the engine off, you still have residual heat from the engine block to heat water for a period of time. The FAQ video should be able to answer any more questions. All the best! 😊👍
Great video 👍🏻 that car is exactly what we need for our road trip…Perth to uluru. Awesome job on the car mods 👍🏻 can you hire these Toyota fj,s in Perth ?
Thanks very much! I doubt FJ Cruisers would be an option for hire, however you would probably be able to hire a Toyota LandCruiser Troopcarrier, or similar. Best of luck!! 😊👍
Probably the most useful video I've ever watched on You Tube - I've got an FJ that I have just started modifying for road trips/camping.. long long way to go to get close to a set up anything like yours... but learn't loads just by watching.... Many thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for the great comment!! 😀
I still need to do a proper vid of the inside. If you have any questions, I’m very happy to help.
Enjoy building your FJ!!
Thank you...... Have recently fitted drawers and picked up a clam shell tent and a fridge..so basics done - am doing a months road trip from Perth in Jan so lots to do !!! @@4xAdventures
Sounds awesome! Good luck!!
I've spent countless hours watching these kinds of videos; some very good ones and a lots of not so good ones. This video sets the bar. It was so well done in every aspect. Can't praise enough.
Thank you so much!! ☺️
Now this is how you make a build video. A+
Thank you kindly! :) Glad you enjoyed it.
This is such an awesome video. I wish I had bought an FJ Cruiser before they stopped making them.
Thanks very much!! 😊 it’s not too late to buy a good 2nd hand one.
That is a serious, well designed overland vehicle. This video was a joy to watch. Great work mate
Thanks very much! 😊👍
Dude, this is an Einstein level FJ build, awesome!
Hahahaha awesome comment! 😂
Glad you like it 😊👍
What a FANTASTIC video.
REALLY Enjoyed it.
INTERESTING and Captivating. NO 'krapp'!!!
VERY WELL done.
GREAT job.
THANK You.
Thanks very much Terry! Glad you enjoyed it & hopefully found it useful.
😊👍
Great build. It's making me rethink my weight distribution and thanks for the tip about the dif breather - that hadn't made its way onto my radar yet
Thankyou! Glad you found the video useful! 😊👍
Clean and neat setup... simple yet very practical... love it.
This is one of the best review of a vehicle I have ever seen.
Thank very much! I’m glad you like it ☺️👍
This video is BRILLIANT. I can't wait to purchase a cruiser, and get out there. You have to have done a GVM increase with all that gear. Looking forward to more from you!
Hi Ross, Thanks very much!! 😀
I highly recommend getting a GVM upgrade as the FJ’s payload & factory GVM is fairly low.
I’m actually not over GVM, believe it or not. I’ve kept everything as light as possible. Apart from the payload, the only other downside of the FJ is the lack of room, however if you are clever about how you design it, you can see that space is not really an issue.
Enjoy your future FJ!! :)
Thank you so much for your fantastic build video - we also have a 2012 Red FJ Cruiser called "CHIEF" as it was an American fire Chief's vehicle brought to Australia & converted - I'd love to do a build like you have - but I have just started to save again after being off work for 6mths after cutting my fingers off with a circular saw. My next add on is a long range fuel tank, Drifta Drawers & 12Volt system + 2 spotties & a light Bar...this will take place over the next 2 years. we already have a red & chrome ARB bulbar & Rhino full length roof rack + newly added GME CB Radio for a our group 4WD trips....Thank you again for the great Video. Looking forward to more Videos from you!!! Darren
Thank you so much Darren! Good luck with the build. The FJ’s are awesome vehicles & I’m sure you will have heaps of fun in it. Thanks for watching. All the best!! 😀
This channel deserves much more love
Thankyou! Tell your friends! We need more subs :) 😀👍
Thanks mate 👍 Great set up love the heat exchange mod, very clever
Thankyou kindly! 🙂👍
Great video. Well done. The nighttime sky shots were very impressive! I like how you thought about your setup instead of just buying gear.
Thanks very much! As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. I don’t have too much space in the FJ, so I had to be creative. 😊👍
Awesome setup and video! Thank you for sharing this! These vehicles are so fun, because of these modification reasons! I'm thinking of buying one soon!
Thanks very much! Yes, I’m having heaps of fun building it :)
Best of luck with yours when you get it!!
You're a jet! Really like your personality and presentation. I too have an FJ. I dont have your skill set, but you have given me so much to consider. Thank you.
Thankyou kindly! I’m glad you have found some inspiration in my videos! 😊👍
Greetings from Washington, USA. Just found you through this incredibly useful and informational video. Thank you for the level of detail and amount of time that was clearly put into it. My wife and I enjoyed every second!
Thank you so much Lakesha! I’m glad you found the video useful and enjoyable. Thanks very much for watching!! 😊 And, if you decide to subscribe, then welcome!!
Thanks for giving one of the best FJ Cruiser video I have watch so far. And One of the best and practical setup I have seen.
I am planning to setup my FJ Cruiser and I learn a lot from this video
Thanks for the lovely comment, and for watching!! I’m glad you found it useful. 😊👍
You’ve got it all covered.
Next project is to make it lighter! :)
I’m so glad your on board with your very down to earth an informative video
I’ve just started my project FJ and after watching your vid , I’m very inspired
Thanks vey much
G’day Andrew! I’m glad you liked the video & hope you found it useful! If you have any questions, just drop me a line. I’d be happy to answer anything. Best of luck with your FJ build!
😊👍
Both educational and entertaining. Brilliant setup 👍👍👍
Thank you kindly!! 😀👍
This has been an inspiration!
Should finish modifying my FJ in September.
Taken bits and pieces from your video! Thanks.
Hopefully we bump into you overlanding someday .
Thankyou kindly! Best of luck with your build. All the best! ☺️👍
Amazing setup turning the FJ into an expedition vehicle, and very well presented!
Thanks very much!! The setup works amazingly well and makes for a completely hassle-free camping experience. Thanks for watching 😀👍
Very good build for overlanding. My 2016 was stock for first year then I started doing necessary mods. I have kept OEM size tires but switched to Nitto Terra Grappler G2s. I added a snorkel and TRD exhaust and did the ARB breather mod. I added TTUE Bilstein 6112/5165 to the suspension and most important, I added a Hayden 679 transmission cooler. Apart from that a Magnefine filter to keep the tranny clean and oil catch can to keep the intake tract clean as well. Added MCC nudge bar to accommodate a pair of PIAA LP570s. The transmission oil cooler is highly recommended for overlanding.
Hi Arup! Sounds like you have a great setup! Transmission cooler is something I haven’t thought about. Have you noticed much difference?
@@4xAdventures fully loaded climbing up steep hills behind slow traffic on hot day, 30c reduction in temps. There are some significant threads on fjcc.com.au and fjcruiserforums.com regarding the importance of transmission cooler and damage from heat on the A750 thats the standard auto in FJC. Usually most have experienced burnt oil under 50000 as well as other transmission damage if they regularly did hills, stop and go traffic as well as beaches and off roads. The built in cooler in the radiator doesn't suffice for the vehicle if its used regularly beyond call of its design.
Incredible build and great walk through!
Thanks very much!! 😊👍
Brilliant! That tent is sick!! I want one.
Awesome build! Love the unique touches and I will certainly use some of these tips on my GX build.
Thank you kindly! 😊👍
YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD SET UP FOR TRAVELING..... 10/10 👍👍👍
Thank you very much!! 😊👍
This guy should take care of my FJ. great video.
Ha! Thanks very much 😊👍
You are giving me so many ideas for my all original 2014
Haha... well, that’s the idea I guess!!
I’m glad you found the video useful. Good luck with your build! 😊👍
4xAdventures you gained a subscriber!
Oh, Thankyou kind sir!! I appreciate your support very much! 😊👍
It is very interesting to see just what you have done to make your outback and off road travelling both safe and comfortable. The ability to be able to respond to any situation quickly and with all tools to hand is most useful. Similarly the ability to quickly set up camp and prepare a hearty meal even in inclement weather at the end of a long day on the road.Congratulations on a very informative presentation.I am very interested in what you have achieved and would like to get in touch with you soon.Brian Smith
Thank you Brian. I haven’t covered everything... in fact, I’ve just thought of a bunch of things I missed, but the video is already too long. Maybe I’ll cover it in another video in the future.
Best build video I’ve seen. We’ll done!
Thanks very much!! 😊👍
Omg that awning too!! Lol
Excellent video, and thanks for sharing your experience. Looking forward to setting up something similar in an FJ next year, and your choice of components and equipment gives lots of helpful pointers for a workable setup. In particular, I like your minimalist kitchen, as I think too many people focus on an “all the bells and whistles” approach that is both space consuming and heavy.
Thanks very much! I’m particularly happy with my kitchen setup. This basically evolved over a number of years through trial & error. Everything is designed to be quick & efficient & having now used this about 50 times, there is very little I would change with it. It does the job really well.
Thanks for watching!! :)
Very well thought out nice rig,id like to put a fridge in the back seat but id have to get rid of one of the kids
Thanks very much!!
Beer or kids... tough choice! ;) 👍😊
Amazing video, well filmed, produced and informative. Love your setup and it's incredibly inspiring 🙏
Thank you so much for your lovely comments!! Really glad you enjoyed the video & found it inspiring. Hopefully you will get some ideas for your own build. All the best! 😀👍
@@4xAdventures The FJ Cruiser was certainly an acquired taste, but now I can't get enough of it. Full on car crush lol
I have my sights on a 15k 2008 with 170k miles and it's burgundy, my favorite color on the land cruiser who are either too old or out of my budget.
I love Jeep Wranglers, so the FJ sort of has that boxy feel plus with the legendary Toyota reliability a Jeep doesn't have.
Whenever and if I get it, I will certainly do a walk around lol
I know what you mean. The first time I saw the FJ, it didn’t do anything for me. Then I saw the inside and I didn’t like it. But that was a few years before I got into 4WDing. Now, I love my FJ, and keep realising that it’s an amazingly capable vehicle. So far, I haven’t found its limits off-road... and that’s probably a good thing! :)
One of the best videos on an FJ build and ive seen a lot.
Keep it up and keep releasing new content. Watching you from the middle east!
Id like to request a long term review on the FJ with pros and cons.
Thanks very much! That is definitely on the list of upcoming videos. All the best! 😊👍
Thanks, well-made and useful...
Thankyou!
Great presentation of a fantastic build.
Thank you kindly!! 😊☺️
Great organization man. Hellacious rig too.
Thank you kindly!! 😊👍
Waooooooo first class, I like what you did,
Thanks very much!! :)
It looks fab. I wish I had an FJ
Thank you!! :)
I want an FJ so I can go out and adventure! you make it look like an awesome journey! and you have amazing mods! I hope to get one someday.
Subscribed!
Thank you so much!! :) FJ’s are awesome! I hope you get your FJ one day soon! Thanks for watching 😃👍
@@4xAdventures Thanks! :D
I really like your truck.
Thank you!! :) Do you have an FJ too?
very nice editing, great job mate! love the color of that fj!
Thanks very much!! Yellow is the best colour for the FJ I think! 😀👍
@@4xAdventures For sure! Btw what size of tyre u put on? 33?
Tyres are 265/70 17 BFGoodrich T/A KO2.
Marvelous build mate. Very well done.
Legitimate question for you, how does it drive on the highway? I am curious at speeds of 100-125km. With the tent and extra weight etc.
Thanks very much!! 😊👍
Legit answer: very comfortable. The FJ is a super comfy car anyway. The extra weight seems to make no difference handling-wise. I’ve been up & down 45 degree inclines and there are no stability issues at all.
Re. wind noise, yes, there is wind noise, but it’s not too bad really. There is always the radio. But often I find myself driving in silence, lost in thought, and the wind noise doesn’t really bother me. It’s there, but easily gotten used to I think.
From a fuel economy point of view, range is decreased a bit. The best I’ve ever gotten on a full tank was 1650km highway driving, but that was when the car was new & empty. These days, with a full load, I get about 1450 highway & ~1200 city driving.
Hope that helps!! 😊
Really a very nice challenging video! Thank you
Thanks very much!! 😊👍
That was hell of a video
Thx a lot sir
Keep going you are so great
Regards
Thankyou kind sir! 😀👍
I paused the video at EPIRB and added one to my Amazon list. 😅 This is probably the best build I've seen so far. The awning is the winning stroke for me and the hot water shower system is brilliant. While I love the build, I think I'll still get a camper. Unfortunately, women have a little more to think about when it comes to being naked outside while traveling solo!
Hi Alexis! Thank you so much for watching, and for your lovely comment :) I completely understand about the camper, in fact, my next build will be a camper, and I have plenty of ideas on making it a brilliant build. Stay safe, and enjoy travelling!!
All the best! 🙂
@@4xAdventures I can't wait to see what you you do with the camper. I know you won't let the FJ down and will give it a worthy partner! 😅 I plan to pair the FJ Cruiser with an RPod 179 to start and then move up to a GeoPro 19FD once my desert home is done. The idea is to spend half the time at the desert home and the rest of the year living in the camper while traveling solo in the Great American Western deserts. We'll see if my plans survive COVID-19. I originally should have been leaving on Monday, but alas! Safe travels to you as well. :)
I’m definitely keeping the FJ. I’ve spent way too much time & effort on it, so it is definitely staying! Plus, the FJ is a brilliant 4WD!!
Unfortunately towing a caravan into the remote outback is not really an option here in Australia. No sealed roads & the most shocking corrugations means that your standard caravan will simply be shaken to bits. So I’m definitely in favour of a self-contained vehicle like what I’ve built.
I have plenty of trips coming up, so if your interested, stay tuned :)
Your trips sound fascinating as well. Wish I could see that part of America. 🙂
@@4xAdventures I wish I could see your part of the world! Considered dropping in while I was in the Maldives last year, but the tickets were so pricey! Still on my list, but will need to be its own trip. The desert roads out west are probably as bad as Aussie haha. I got stuck out there last year. Took 3 hours to pull out the over-ambitious crossover I rented. Those 2 RVs have optional off-road kits, so hopefully I won't bottom out. I subscribed, so will definitely stay tuned to see what you have coming up next. ☺️
This is such a great video. Thanks!
Thanks very much Daniel! I hope you found it useful. Thanks for watching!!
😊👍
Great minds think alike! My Fj is pretty similar, shower and all. Only mines an old dog. Nice build!
Awesome!! Thanks very much !! :)
How’s the FJ holding up after all these years?
Thank-you, very informative. Would have liked to have seen more in the cabin eg. navigation set-up etc.
Thank you! Excellent idea! Keep an eye out for a follow up video on all the things I missed in the first one!
Great setup!
Thankyou kindly!! 🙂👍
Well done 👍 such a professional video big A
Thanks very much!! ☺️👍
Great presentation of a build,, very well thought out for an FJ, imagine you would do a LC200 wonders.
Thanks very much! I think the lack of space in the FJ forced me to be creative in order to get everything I wanted. But it’s worked out well. Thanks for watching!! 😊👍
Awesome
God job champion
Thanks very much!! 😊👍
Nice set-up - would be interesting to see the cost of all the gear, any labor paid out for any of the work done, the man hours spent on the "DIY" aspects of the build and the cost of the vehicle - As awesome as thins is anyone wanting to achieve this level of comfort and capability would need a small fortune to accomplish a similar build
Nice rig mate . Do install that hot water system in other vehicles, I’m interested to get it in my Fj
Awesome rig! 👍🏼
Thank you kindly!! 😀👍
Nice video, thanks for sharing ✌
Awesome setup, really like how you used little space to great effect, like a tardis. Great water systems, thanks, a list of major components? Also where did you film this clip, nice place.
G’day Mark! Thanks for the lovely comments! Check out the hot water & shower video. I explain it all there. This was filmed in the Blue Mountains about 90min north west of Sydney.
Thanks for watching!! 😊👍
Thanks for your feedback.
Nice build!
Thanks very much! 😊👍
@1:27 oooohy mate, ya got a dead Boomer on top of your dash....lol
Very cooool amazing time tools
Thanks very much!! :)
GREAT CONTENT! LOVE THIS!
New fan.. Just looking to buy a FJ and your video is so helpful. Surely you have had to do a GVM upgrade? Looking forward to more from you!
Thank so much!! I have some AMAZING trips planned - places no one is going to. So stay tuned! 😊👍
One of the most useful videos I have ever watched, actually I am just about to start modifying my FJ 2014 and this video helped a lot. Would you kindly mention the parts you added and the source so others can get in touch with them and order some of those parts. Thanks for sharing you experience. Wish you a great and safe coming trips and adventures.
Thanks very much!! I’m glad the video was useful to you. I will update the description in the next few days.
All the best! 😊👍
4xAdventures Most appreciated, will look forward for your coming videos. Wish you all the best 🙏🏼
The only thing I would change is the tent and get the box one, so u don’t have to put the awning away to get it
Great video mate!
Thankyou kindly! 😊👍
Subscribed!
Welcome! Thankyou kindly for subscribing. I hope you enjoy the content. All the best! 😊👍
G’day, I’ve just discovered and binge watched almost all of your videos. Great work and information. I’m am getting the Ali-cab roof top tent fitted to my Prado but I have the rhino rack flat platform on the backbone system. I’m in two minds as to whether I have the rhino rack platform removed and just have alu-cab cross bars fitted to the backbone or mount the RTT to the platform roof rack. How have you found the Alu-cab fitted to the heavy duty bars and backbone?
Thanks very much! And welcome to the channel!
I highly recommend leaving the backbone in place, removing the platform tray and adding 3 x heavy duty load bars to support the tent. This is substantially lighter, and you want to reduce the weight on the roof as much as possible. In fact, if you get 3 x low profile load bars (the Frontrunner ones are the lightest), the tent will be as close to the roof as possible. That is the best result.
The Ali-Cab tents are great - I love mine and would get it again.
All the best! 😊👍
Hi! You inspired us to purchase a new to us Fj. So now we are the proud owners of a 2010 with relatively low mileage. We LOVE your build and we were wondering if you could clarify what you have the Alu-cab tent mounted on. If you have mentioned it in this video I apologize in advance. Thank you!!!
Hello! Wow, that is fantastic to hear! The FJ is a really great vehicle and I'm sure you will be really pleased with it! I have the Rhino Rack backbone system on the roof (Frontrunner also make a backbone system) with 3 x heavy duty load bars. If you can get low-profile load bars (Alu-Cab or FrontRunner both make these), your tent will sit a little lower. All the best!!
4xAdventures Thank you thank you for the super quick response! Looking forward to more videos :)
No problems at all! If you have any questions on anything, I’ll do my best to answer them.
Congratulations on the new car!! :)
(What colour?)
Great video, interesting to see a different setup. However, I don't like that kitchen setup, with the fridge on the back seat. I have mine in the back with all the kitchen gear. Rather than walking back and forth all the time. For weekend trips I use the drifta table, for longer trips of with the missus the brilliant frontrunner table that sits under the roof rack. Also that built in cooker with butan gas won't work in winter.
Roof top tents are also not ideal for me. Great setup and quick pack-up. But too much weight on the roof for me. Prefer my swag, yes takes 5 min to setup, but who cares...When I did the simpson, I needed the space on the roof. Couldn't have done it with a roof top tent.
Love the shower setup :-)
Hi Ralf,
Thanks for your comments. There are SO many ways of building these things. Whatever works well for you, is the right setup for you! :)
I started out with the fridge in the back but it took far too much space, plus I didn’t want to have the back filled to the ceiling. I want to be able to see out the back. I had no use for the back seat anyway. The fridge and cooking setup is working really well for me now. I can’t imagine going back to carrying 2 tables & setting up cooker etc. I like the quick & hassle free setup :) I travel mostly solo, so this works great for me, but yes, it may not be suitable for everyone.
I did the Simpson a year ago with exactly this setup and it worked a treat.
If you check out the Lake Mungo Part 3 video, you can see that I was camping in 4*C and the gas stove worked just fine. Mind you, it did take a little longer, but it still worked ok - I think partly because it was sheltered from the weather being down inside the drawer. I do like the idea of an alcohol stove though...might switch to that if I can track one down. I think Dometic make one.
Anyway, thanks very much for watching & commenting. I might see you out on the tracks one day. All the best! 😊👍
Wow wow wow. Well done. I've watched 100's of overland build for the fj to get ideas for mines and can honestly say yours is definitly ther best. Extremely well thought out and meticulously built. Definitly beyond my diy capabilities. Excellent idea on the fridge. Mines is in the back but will def move it to the back seat. I also have bp51 but am not 100% satisfied with them. What are your settings. Did i miss it or don't you carry extra fuel in cans. Btw i have the bundutop rtt with the 360° awning. Excellent rtt too.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked the video and found it useful. I couldn't be happier with the shocks. I don't remember the exact settings, I can check and post it however, the settings on the shocks depends entirely on the weight you are carrying and the front/back weight distribution. Also, the terrain you are driving on is a factor that must be considered too. I have noticed that when the vehicle is fully packed for a trip, the shocks do their job really well, so I think they are setup for a bit of weight, but that said, I find them very comfortable around town too.
In Australia, the FJ comes standard with a 159 litre fuel tank. That gets me around 1400-1500km, which is adequate for *most* places. I've thought about adding a rear wheel/jerrycan carrier, but that would add easily 100+kg to the vehicle, and I'm trying to keep it as light as possible. All the best!
@@4xAdventures thank you for the reply. That is what i dont like of the bp51, i keep on having to change the settings for diiferent roads, maybe ill master it one day🙂
I also have the same tank but I've never got more then a 1000km from it. You get 1400km 😯. What size tyres are you on? I was on 2857017 but have gone back to stock now.
@@ahmedbhana8301 Tyres are BFGoodrich T/A KO2 265/70 17. The 1400-1500km is highway driving. City driving is about 1000km.
@@4xAdventures thanks. Enjoy your travels. Will await your vidoes
Vader. 👏
Hello Sir, great Video! Would you be kind enough please to let me know if the old man emu suspension system has performed to your expectation & been trouble free?
Thank you
Have a nice day.
Hi Nico, yes, the OME BP-51’s have been excellent. I’ve had no issues and they have given me a much more comfortable ride over rough corrugations than friends who’s vehicles had different shocks. I’m definitely very happy with them. That said, they are expensive, and if you don’t need the ability to adjust your shocks, then there may be cheaper alternatives. I will definitely get these shocks in my next vehicle. 😊👍
@@4xAdventures Thank you Sir! Have a great day.
Great vid tutorial ! Well done! I love the set up and will be using your ideas of set up. If ok? :) I have been wanting an FJ and came across your channel. I’m happy I did.
I assume you have to fold back awning before you get into tent?
G’day Jason! Thanks very much for your comments & for watching!!
The ladder can be placed on either side or the rear of the tent.
I use my ladder on the opposite side of the awning.
Oh, and yes, feel free to use whatever ideas you like :)
Hi men, this is Alex; I'll have to say first thank you for all the brilliant things you showed to us. Then i decided to become an fj cruiser traveler; then, I'm looking for buying an fj. My question is: which year made fj, and what millage do you think is suitable for a budget under $ 20K? Thanks for your help in advance.
Hi Alex! Which country are you in? I only know the market in Australia. Over here, you can get a 2012 model with 200-250,000 on the clock for about AU$24k. The trouble is, FJ’s hold their value really well, so it’s hard to find one for much less. If you’re in the US and that $20K was US dollars, you could probably pick up a much newer model with far fewer mileage. Good luck!! 😊👍
Good onya mate.
😊👍
Awesome video - definitely one of the best out there. Just wondering how high your rig is with the alucab on top? Considering doing something similar to my FJ but worried about the carport clearance 😬
Thanks very much!! My rig is 1960 high - that’s just the car with a 2” lift, the rhino rack backbone side rails, 3 x rhino rack heavy duty unistrut load bars and the tent itself. You can knock off another 250mm if you use low profile load bars (I recommend the Frontrunner ones). That will then be 1935mm. (Assuming you also have a 2” lift).
Hope that helps! 😊👍
Great video and mods! do you have a video on how you installed the showering system?
Hi Kevin, thanks very much!! I don’t have a separate video on that, however I do explain & show how it works in a bit more detail in my “Exploring Lake Mungo - Part 3” video.
There’s a tad more to it than what I talk about in the above video, so I might do a separate video on all of the details soon.
All the best!
@@4xAdventures Thank you for the reply! You have done a great job on the FJ. Wish we could have gotten the 2015 and 2016 here in the states. I look forward to maybe seeing a video on the system!
Thanks. I’ll make a detailed video then. Keep an eye out for it.
4xAdventures still looking out for that video! 😁
@@docdysan Hi Kevin, Yes, I've been meaning to get around to that. Will definitely do it in the next few weeks!!
Really loving your films Attila ! I have a 2014 FJ with a vinyl wrap and absolutely love it. Stock suspension at the moment. Was wondering though with a 2 inch lift and the old man Emu shocks does it make the ride around town harsh and jarring ? Most of my driving is on tarmac and I don’t want to lose comfort around town. Maybe there’s a compromise? I have the Ko2 BFs and love them. Keep up the great work 👍🏼
Thank you so much Lee!!
The OME BP51’s are amazing! I have the shocks set to around the mid point for both compression & rebound. I’ve found this to be a pretty good setting for both on & off road. The ride around town is very comfortable - not harsh by any measure. Corrugations are also pretty good, but of course, they are easily adjustable if required. I can highly recommend these shocks. I’d be happy to get the same in my next vehicle.
Oh, the 2” lift doesn’t make too much difference as far as I can tell. The car sits a bit higher, but no noticeable performance impact.
Thank you so much for watching!
All the best! 😊👍
4xAdventures Thanks so much Attila. Really appreciate your comments and very envious of your adventures. Doing these myself is on my bucket list and would love to catch up with you on the trails one day. Can’t wait for your next film ! You’re a great presenter and they’re always so beautifully and professionally filmed. 👏🏼
Thank you so much for the lovely comments Lee! 😀 I’d love to release videos more often, but they take ages to film and edit, especially when I’m doing it all by myself. Luckily, I love travelling & making these videos. There are some amazing trips planned!
Hopefully I’ll see you out there one day!
All the best & thanks for watching!
😀👍
What pumps are you using for your water tanks? Do you know if they are self priming and how's the noise level on them?
Hi mate great vid love your set up. What fridge are you using and which way does it open up? Are the hinges at the back or on the sides of the fridge ?
Thank you kindly! The fridge is a 55L Waeco CFX55. The lid is hinged on both edges (i.e. along the front & back edge) so you can open up either way. I have the lid hinged along the back edge that’s closest to the cargo barrier. This way accessibility is great. There is plenty of height to open the lid fully.
By far one of the best UA-cam videos I have seen. Describing your vehicle as the "Fj Build Bar" is an understatement. However, I wish you provided links for the products you used, would be more than happy to use it.
Also, I tried to find your ain't and couldn't. Do you have an insta account? Would love to get in touch for my future FJ Build
Thank you so much! That’s very kind of you to say so!
Instagram is 4xadventures_australia
Good idea about the links to products used. I will add it to the description soon.
Thanks for watching!!
😊👍
Best FJ video I have seen yet! Subscribed and did you do any suspension mods to handle the weight or was the stock spring weight sufficient? Very very nice set up.
Thanks very much! Yes, suspension was changed. I mentioned in the video I did a 2” lift, with heavy duty springs and BP-51 shocks. Both by OME. I’m very happy with both. Thanks very much for watching!! 😊👍
Wish I could get away with plumbing a shower here in the Midwest, everything would just freeze and I’d have a giant mess, I wouldn’t trust the pex fittings in sub zero weather, but for your application it’s perfect. If you really want to get nuts...add a slotted stand for gray water drainage from the shower and recycle it thru means of a secondary pump. Just a thought.
Yes, I’ve had exactly that thought. I need to work out how I can clean & recycle grey water so I can perhaps keep using it over & over without it going to waste. Time for some more research. That would then be perfect. 😊
4xAdventures
Cut in a backflow device in the potable water supply pipe, this will eliminate any grey water contamination. after that, Install a tee fitting. On the branch of the tee fitting run piping to the inlet of a circulation pump along with piping from its outlet to your grey water basin inlet, and piping from the basins outlet, back to the run of the tee fitting. Endless tempered water.
I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but in my latest vid, Exploring Lake Mungo - Part 3, I talk about the shower system in a bit more detail. I already have a non-return valve, which is something I forgot to mention.
The recirculating part is straightforward enough, but cleaning the water from soap/dirt etc. is what I need to work out next. I guess some sort of filter... but it needs to be compact & lightweight.
4xAdventures
Good luck, very interesting channel
Finn Rockefeller Thanks! I’ll post a vid of just the shower system in detail at some point.
All the best! 👍😊
I am 13 I have a fj cruiser hotwheels and i wanna travel in a fj cruiser when i grow up
I hope you get your FJ when you’re older! Good luck!! 😊👍
@@4xAdventures Thank you :)
very nice! but..what tire size are you running? forgot to mention it..;)
Thank you!! 265/70/17.
Hey man, how did you route the coax cable to the rear antenna through the door hinge area? I've just installed mine but not happy with how the cable runs through. There is a split second in your vid where I can see it, just not how you got it to route with out pulling / rubbing.
Cheers, Dave.
G’day Dave. Back in that video, I had it going under the rubber seal, which is not the best way of doing it. Since then I’ve re/done it a better way. You can see it more clearly in the FJ rebuild series (can’t remember which episode… 2 or 3 I think). Essentially there is an existing rubber grommet that has power going to the rear door demister. You can push the coax wire through this grommet. This comes out just near the rear tail light. Hope that helps! 😊👍
Been watching your fj videos! cant wait to get my hands on one. do u recommend it?
Absolutely! They are awesome! They are extremely capable off-road and super comfortable on and off road. I’m glad I got one. Not only do they hold their value very well,, they have gone up in value, so that’s always a bonus. 😊👍
@@4xAdventures thats really great to know! I live in the philippines, i have to order and wait for like 3-6 months for it. The wait will make it sweeter once i get my hands on one :)
Hey mate, awesome video, this is simply one of the most informative, easy to understand videos of a touring build, big props on that. I have a question about the roof load rating and the amount your carrying up top. A lot of information from forums to guidelines point towards an 80kg roof load capacity for the fj, with the alucab being approx 80kg + bedding + solar panels + trax, are you concerned about the roof load doing any damage? I’ve got the front runner slim line II installed and looking to use a soft shell (d’arche panorama 2 1400, around 60kg) for an up coming trip. Which by my calculations will put my roof load at around 110kg, looking for your input on whether it’s okay to do this.
Cheers!
Thankyou so much!
Yes, I couldn’t find any info from Toyota themselves, but I suspect it would be somewhere around 80kgs. The golden rule - keep the weight as low down as possible is good to stick with. That said, I have more than 110kg on the roof (not much choice on the market when I built mine) but I haven’t had any issues at all with it. There are 2 roof load limits to consider - static weight and dynamic weight. Once the car has stopped moving, you should have no problems with 2 people in a rooftop tent + awning etc. But when you’re moving, you need to ensure all that weight is fixed to the roof as security as possible. I recommend using frontrunner or rhino side rails - like I have, and 3 x heavy duty load bars, then get the lightest tent you feel comfortable in.
All the best!! 😊👍
Hi Artie, there does your Awning cover ,the back door property, I have a Darche would you or any of your followers have an idea of how to make something to cover so rain doesn't get in thankyou.The space between it a.d the roof rack is 11inch and goes out to 14 inch.
Hi Suzy, lovely to hear from you :) My awning is the Alu-cab 270 shadow awn. The name is a bit misleading because it’s more like 269 degrees. It is exactly like yours - there’s a gap above the rear door which widens a little as you go across the vehicle. I know you can buy a “rain gutter” for the alu-cab awning - not sure if it would be suitable for other awnings. But I’ve heard of people making their own, and I may make my own as well one day. Essentially, all you need is a long piece of canvas that is a bit wider than the gap and longer than the width of the car. I would then Velcro one edge to the awning frame and the other edge to the roof top tent (or roof rack if you don’t have a roof top tent). Allow a bit of slack so it forms a shallow U-shaped gutter & allows the rain to drain off beyond your door hinge. That’s my idea anyway... there’s no reason it won’t work. 😊👍
@@4xAdventures Artie I like how you think, thankyou so much I'll try to do that.Take care.
Good luck with it!! ☺️
Great video! Would you be able to let me know where you got the wind/rain deflectors? I’m after a pair for my FJ I purchased recently. I’m based in Syd too, hopefully see you out some time after lockdown! 👍
G’day Ian. Thanks very much! I got mine from Toyota when I purchased the car. I’m sure you could get aftermarket ones from somewhere, but I haven’t really looked. Toyota spare parts should still be able to get them for you. Thanks for watching! 😊👍
"I don't have a lot of recovery gear....here's my winch"
Hi thanks for the great vid! We are looking at an FJ for similar use. What kind of fuel consumption and range do you average in standard form and now with that setup? Cheers.
G’day Dylan! Thanks for watching :)
The best I ever got with the FJ was 1650km on a full tank (159L tank). That was when the car was new, highway driving, and was most definitely on fumes for the last 100km I think. Typically I would get about 1500km Highway/1100km city. Now that I have it all set up for touring, I get about 1400km highway and 900-1000km city. It’s not too bad & depending on how heavy your right foot is, you could get better/worse.
Hope that helps!! All the best! 😀👍
4xAdventures Thanks for your reply. So helpful to get some real world fuel consumption figures! Looking forward to watching your upcoming vids! Cheers.
Just wanting to understand the heat exchanger - do you have the engine running whilst you shower or does it heat water whilst you drive ready for when you get to camp ?
Hi Chris, check out the Hot Water system FAQ video - it may answer some questions. But basically, all the heat exchanger does is allow you to pass cold water from your water tank or external source through the heat exchanger, where it is heated up on the fly because the plumbing inside the heat exchanger bring it into close proximity to the hot coolant that has just circulated through your engine. Note: they never mix - they just pass close enough to each other for the heat to be transferred to the cold water pipe.
If you keep your engine idling, you have an unlimited source of hot water. If you turn the engine off, you still have residual heat from the engine block to heat water for a period of time. The FAQ video should be able to answer any more questions.
All the best! 😊👍
Great video 👍🏻 that car is exactly what we need for our road trip…Perth to uluru. Awesome job on the car mods 👍🏻 can you hire these Toyota fj,s in Perth ?
Thanks very much! I doubt FJ Cruisers would be an option for hire, however you would probably be able to hire a Toyota LandCruiser Troopcarrier, or similar. Best of luck!! 😊👍
@@4xAdventures thank you very much! Shame about the fj there awesome looking trucks like yours 👍🏻 and thank you for the info on what to hire 👍🏻