Living with a 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser

Part 1: Top-dollar FJ
Part 2: Something borrowed, something new
Part 3: First big trip
Part 4: Bargain hunter

Part 1: Top-dollar FJ

I wanted to buy a 4x4 wagon because I’m struggling to fit myself, my wife Jess and our dog Chiquita in my much-loved single-cab Hilux camper. I remember writing just over a year ago that I’d never sell my Hilux and that it was perfect for me. And it was. I haven’t managed to gather the courage to put the Hilux up for sale yet, but it’s time for a new owner as I’ve just driven home with something we can all enjoy as a family. Talk about an expensive dog ...

I wanted to build up a modern and reliable 4x4 I could take on hard tracks close to home, then drive ten hours on the highway in comfort; let’s call it a tough tourer. So why an FJ Cruiser, or, as my mate’s love calling it, the less practical Prado? Honestly, I’d never really considered buying one. Ever. I’ve reviewed them in the past and thought they were capable yet cramped inside with terrible visibility. Those points still stand.

23

I’ve spent the last six months agonising over what to buy, a process that was consuming me mentally and emotionally. From dual-cab utes, to an 80 Series LandCruiser, a new Suzuki Jimny or the four-door Jeep Wrangler. One fine day, however, this bright orange FJ Cruiser popped up on FB Marketplace and something clicked. I personally know three people who own FJ Cruisers and they’ve raved about them. Editor Matt also enthusiastically suggested they are a good thing, so down the rabbit hole I went.

It was a two-hour trip down Wollongong way to look at the FJ, which I’ve since nicknamed Pinchy (Simpsons fans will get it) in stock standard condition, with full service history and a genuine reason for sale. I slapped down a deposit on the spot after a long test drive and friendly negotiation down to $34,000. Not a small amount of money for a used vehicle, but considering how crazy the market is, and the insane resale value FJ Cruisers are holding globally, I feel I’ve scored a bargain. Anyone want to buy my Hilux?

23

The 2013 FJ is in excellent condition and came with a full service history

For the same money as a new Suzuki Jimny, this 2013 FJ Cruiser has a rear diff lock, 159-litre fuel tank, CRAWL Control, ATRAC (active traction control – it’s awesome too) and a bulletproof 4.0-litre petrol motor with less than 160,000km on the clock. That’s a fair bit of kit from the showroom, saving me money in the process, while still allowing us to get out and use the thing in stock trim off-road. I’m not yet used to the enthusiastic FJ owner’s wave though, talk about an unexpected surprise ...

So, what’s next? Well, I’ve really been enjoying driving it around in stock form, finding its flaws (like the stupid factory roof rack) and developing ways to fix them. Make no mistake, this FJ will be modified, with the brief of keeping it light with products from as many Australian companies as possible.

23

Out in the bush, looking for flaws and ways to improve the stock FJ Cruiser

I’ll be taking you along for the ride as we modify Pinchy in to a capable and comfortable tourer. First up, I want to get it on a hoist and make sure everything is working as it should be, and then it’s game on.

Do I regret buying a used FJ Cruiser? Not in the slightest. Life is too short for boring cars, and let me tell you there’s nothing boring about driving an orange FJ Cruiser called Pinchy with a happy partner and dog by your side. RIP Hilux ...

TOTAL KILOMETRES: 159,281km
KM THIS MONTH: 835km
AVERAGE FUEL USE: 12.0L/100km

Part 2: Something borrowed, something new

You have to hand it to Toyota; it has a knack of developing one part and using it across as many different vehicles as possible. It makes perfect sense from an engineering and cost-saving point of view, and it also makes it easier for us four-wheel drivers to swap parts.

You see, before I build the courage to list my old Hilux for sale (selling stuff is the worst) I looked at what I could take from it to save me some money but not decrease its resale value. There were two items I deemed worthy of hanging on to, the throttle controller and UHF radio.

23

I have had an iDrive (Ultimate 9, as they are now known) in the Hilux for years, and loved how simple and effective it was. Guess what? It’s the same part number as the one used in the FJ Cruiser, so that’s a no-brainer to keep and fit. And talk about an easy installation, it took me about two minutes to disconnect the unit and have it installed in the FJ, connected to the throttle, with the unit mounted low on the driver’s side of the dash.

So far, I’ve found the Ultimate 3 setting to be the best for daily driving, and it has really woken up the FJ’s throttle response. Plus, as my wife is learning how to drive, I can put it in to Economy mode to dull the throttle response down for, let’s say … less spirited acceleration.

My next job was to pull the old Uniden UHF out of the Hilux, which was a simple affair. I’ve had it for four years or so, and it still works fine, so I saw no need to sell it with the Hilux. I also have the twin-antenna pack, so I swapped out the whip for a shorter one, and decided I wanted to mount that on the back of the FJ for something a little different.

23

I did some Googling and found a few options for mounting a UHF antenna on the back door, one called a Bandy Mount and the other from Kaon, which is an Australian company that designs and manufactures in Australia. Safe to say I went with the Aussie-made Kaon mount. I also spent an extra few bucks and optioned it to have a bottle opener incorporated in to the UHF aerial mount. I’m not sure if I’ll ever use it, but the one day that it comes in handy it will have paid for itself.

For a pretty small item, the Kaon mount wasn’t what I’d call cheap, but at the same time it’s a really well thought-out and well-made mount, and for the $115 delivered, it was money well-spent.

Installing the Kaon mount was honestly too easy; you simply remove the plastic trim surround on the rear door hinge, slide the mount in to place, and secure it with one supplied bolt and a nyloc nut. Running the cabling for the antenna was a little bit more involved, but not too hard thanks to the Lego-like design of the FJ’s interior.

23

A small hole was cut in to the rubber boot on the back door (and sealed up with automotive silicon), trim panels in the way were pulled back, and then I ran the cable down the vehicle, hidden all the way to the centre console.

I hid the actual UHF unit beneath the centre console and cable-tied it up and out of the way, and then ran the remote handpiece up to the dash, where it is held in place on the old mount borrowed from the Hilux with double-sided tape ... for now. We’ll see how long that lasts.

23

To power the UHF, I tapped in to the factory fuse panel using a device called a fuse tap, with a 10amp fuse, which makes for a really neat factory finish. No twist and tape here, it’s like I’ve learnt a thing or two over the years of doing dodgy modifications on my own four-wheel drives. Not this time around, the FJ will get the love it deserves.

With those bits of left-over gear installed, it’s now time to tackle the rest of the build, with the brief of incorporating and showcasing as many Aussie-made products as possible. It’s going to be one hell of a ride.

TOTAL KILOMETRES: 160,691km
KM THIS MONTH: 1410km
AVERAGE FUEL USE: 12.0L/100km

Part 3: First big trip

I sadly had to do a bit of a quick run from my home in the Blue Mountains, up to Maryborough, Qld, to attend my grandmother’s funeral recently. Last-minute plane tickets were insanely expensive, so I made the decision to drive solo, just me and my FJ Cruiser (and a wicked Spotify playlist) the 2500km there-and-back over three days. With fuel prices being what they are, and a V6 petrol engine to feed, I fearfully did some quick maths and calculated a budget.

Spoiler alert, this FJ is a bloody winner, using an average of only 11L/100km loaded up with my camping gear. With 159l of fuel on board, I made it to Maryborough and back to Gympie before needing to fill up, and that refill got me all the way back home with a quarter tank left in reserve. It’s safe to say I’m totally chuffed with this vehicle so far, but there’s something that I’m absolutely hating about it too, and it’s all my fault.

23

So, if we backtrack a bit, I made it to Brisbane the first night, and set up camp at a swanky caravan park, in a very unswanky bat-infested unpowered site right near the highway. Curse my self-imposed frugal budget. I rolled out my swag in the last remaining light and cracked a beer from my Esky … which after 10 hours on the road was leaking water faster than it could chill my beverages.

I really hate not having a fridge in the FJ. At that moment, I decided I’ll never travel this way again, and started looking online for a suitable fridge that would fit the FJ Cruiser’s petite cargo area (I’ve since bought it, but you’ll have to wait for the next issue to see what it is).

I was also really hating how messy the vehicle had become in such a short period of time, even though I’d chucked in a storage tub there was crap everywhere that I needed to bring but didn’t yet have a proper home. I’m not sure if I want the added weight and expense of storage drawers, but something has to be done to improve the FJ’s storage, and it’s on me to come up with the best call.

23

I’m thinking more storage tubs, and some smaller storage bags, so everything has a home, but there are some brilliant Australian-made storage drawers on the market too, which would make for a really neat set-up. Hmm, decisions, decisions.

As I’d not had much time to prepare for the trip, the FJ was well due for a service by the time I’d made it back home. My good mates at Advanced Installation Service made time for me after hours (thanks again), and we went through the FJ, changing the oils, as well as the cabin and air filter.

I’d been so impressed with the Bendix Ultimate brake upgrade we’d recently installed in the front, which was tested regularly in the horrible Brisbane afternoon traffic, so decided to give the rear brakes the same treatment while the car was on the hoist with upgraded pads and rotors. We’d already upgraded the rear brake lines to Bendix braided ones, so it was an easy job for mechanic Shannon.

23

The FJ is now running spot on, and the brakes are amazing. I’m confident that when I add more weight and larger tyres, the Bendix gear will be more than up to the task.

The vehicle is exceeding my expectations, but I’m letting it down with my sub-par camping set-up. Never again will I travel this way. It’s time to get organised, and I’m actually looking forward to doing the research in a weird sort of way.

So, anyone want an Esky? Only used once and in near-new condition, free to a good home.

TOTAL KILOMETRES: 165,100km
KM THIS MONTH: 3000km
AVERAGE FUEL USE: 11.0L/100km

Part 4: Bargain hunter

Something I love about owning an FJ Cruiser is there aren’t that many of them getting around. That means if you are selling something used online, there’s fewer potential buyers. Which is why I’m a bit of a shark when it comes to shopping for used parts online. You can basically name your buy price, something I did a little too much of this past weekend.

First of all, I spotted an Aussie-made Kaon cargo barrier and shelf I’ve wanted for ages to help neaten up the cargo area, but I was put off by the $600 retail price (it’s worth the money). Marketplace to the rescue, and I managed to nab a basically brand-new unit from a couple who lived close by, for the bargain price of $350.

23

It’s a ripper too, and was super easy to install. I can put my gas cooker and small camp chairs up on the shelf, and you can even fold down the passenger-side rear seat for moving around longer items under the cargo barrier. Something I had to do a few days later, as it turns out.

You see, I have a problem. I’m borderline addicted to Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree (thanks for listening). I can’t help myself, and when a set of factory Toyota rock sliders and heavy-duty Bushskins-branded bash plates popped up two hours from home, I felt that familiar tingle in my bank account.

I tried to ignore it, left it a day or two, then made the mistake of sending a link to an FJ Cruiser-owning mate, who naturally played the role of enabler and declared the purchase a bargain.

23

Old mate wanted $500 for the pair, which is reasonable … naturally I offered $300. With some back and forth, I was able to use my favourite line when negotiating, “can you meet me in the middle?” Some $400 later, I now had some solid protection for my FJ for way less than half the price these parts would cost new. And everything is in great condition, with all nuts and bolts included.

Buying used is a risk, and I’d avoid buying anything that didn’t come supplied with a fitting kit; make sure you go through everything to avoid a headache down the track. History dictates incomplete bargains, usually cost you more in the long run – I was lucky this time around.

I wasted no time fitting up the rock sliders, and what an absolute shocker of a job that turned out to be. I read up online about the best method of bolting them to the chassis (6 bolts a side), which seemed easy enough, but tightening the three top bolts per side was an awful experience thanks to a lack of access space. I tried using extensions with universal joint fitting, I tried an impact gun, and I certainly tried swearing which didn’t help.

23

The solution was to put a spanner (for leverage) on to a ratchet spanner, and take my time – not that I had a choice in the matter. This was certainly not ideal for my poor ratchet spanner, but I got there in the end with nothing more than a few grazed knuckles and sore muscles I never knew existed.

I’ll wait to borrow a hoist to fit the bash plates up; with stock tyres and suspension still on the FJ Cruiser, it’s a tad too tight to do the job on the ground. Doable, but why make things harder than they need to be.

All in all, I’m stoked with my new additions and direction the FJ is heading in. I’m not sure what the next update will be, but future plans include ditching the factory roof rack for a new roof platform, and to look at a bullbar before upgrading suspension and tyres.

For now, it’s time to avoid Marketplace and Gumtree. It’s too tempting and, clearly, I’m weak.

TOTAL KILOMETRES: 166,200km
KM THIS MONTH: 1200km
AVERAGE FUEL USE: 11.0L/100km