OT, kind of: Utah BDR & 4x4's for Photographers

First, for those of you who are interested in this kind of thing, I leave on Friday morning to ride the Utah Backcountry Discovery Route on my motorcycle. It's a 900 mile route from Arizona to Idaho that follows dirt roads through some of Utah's most spectacular scenery. I'm going to try to post daily updates on my blog with a couple photos from the day's ride as well as a brief description of the adventure. I'll also be writing an article for Overland Journal magazine although I'm not sure when they plan to publish it.

Second, my FJ Cruiser is just beginning a transformation into the Ultimate Off-Road Vehicle for Outdoor Photographers. Over the next few months I'm outfitting it for overland travel with a focus on the specific needs of folks like us (that is, outdoor photographers). I'm detailing the entire build process on my blog, starting today with a post introducing the project's goals.

That's it. I know not everyone will find this interesting but there seems to be enough folks on the forum who get fired up by this kind of stuff. Enjoy!

Cant wait to see the pix from the trip and to see how the FJ "evolves". Stay safe out there!

Brett, I did the same OME suspension, ARB bumpers (which rubbed a hole in my windshield wiper reservoir within 2 months -- the fix kit just arrived after 2 1/2 months) & sliders. Also a roll-top console cover insert & iPod bracket from panbrak -- tired of the vibration hitting the controls of my Touch) for frou-frou mods. Curious to see what you do. And can't wait for the pics!

I will be watchin' for sure.
Joe Rogers

Cool! I will be watching, but keep us updated, too If in the San Diego area, you are always welcome to park out in front of my place!

Thanks for the comments and for following along on the adventure!

Monika: You must have a newer FJ if you ran into issues w/ the wiper fluid reservoir. In my model year it's in a different location and not affected by aftermarket bumpers. I think in 2009 they changed the location and you have to buy a re-location kit to prevent damage. Sounds like you've got a sweet FJ. Where can we see a pic of it?!

Jimmy: You've got a deal, man. Funny thing is I've actually been dying to get to SD to do some trail running and mountain biking. Oh yeah, and photography. Let me know if you ever make it to Moab. We've got a big ol' empty parking lot at our condo for friends to crash in.

I'll definitely be monitoring your progression, Bret. I've got a '99 Toyota 4Runner and I'm always looking for tips and tricks (like new bumpers) to improve an already excellent off road machine. Thanks for your time and effort in documenting and sharing your transformation info.

Bret, yes, mine is a '10, which is the year they relocated the reservoir. ARB has plates that cover the impact possibilities (the common problem is rocks being thrown up & cracking open the bottom of the reservoir), but the rubbing of the bumper on the side of the reservoir, while common is Australia, is rare in the USA (mine is only the 2nd). It's fairly dirty now (as usual), but I can take some pics when you can see something besides dirt. I may be replacing the rack this fall with a lower profile one, but no RTT as long as I'm traveling with a dog. That heavier suspension (soft in the rear, medium in front) sure makes washboards a lot easier!

That's awesome, Monika! Which rack are you looking at? I like the Baja Designs low profile rack. I've not seen one that sits as low as it does while maintaining so much functionality.

Bret, I like the Baja racks, too for the same reason. The guys who do my mods http://www.sleeoffroad.com/ have Front Runners & Rhino Racks, but they cost a good chunk more than the Baja Rack. But the struts are wide & flat, so if I ever decide to shoot from the roof again, it'll be easier & less vibration. The Foxwing awning has been an interesting idea, since when I park somewhere, the sun is in a different place than when I come back. A drawer system would be nice for gear if I didn't sleep in my FJ. Being short sometimes has it's advantages! And disadvantages e.g. no way would I mount my Hi-Lift jack on the roof rack -- if I could even get it up there, I'm sure I'd ding the roof or sides pretty good on the way up or down

Slee Off Road does great work. They installed the lift on my Tacoma back in 2002 after I moved from Phoenix to Denver. Great work, reasonable rates and good service. I also like that they're Toyota experts.

I'll be adding a small drawer system to my FJ. Haven't settled on a specific one yet but it's on the agenda. I've also been thinking about an awning. They aren't that expensive but they offer a ton of extra shade.

I've seen a few rigs w/ Hi-Lift jacks mounted vertically in front of the spare tire. Not sure how they're doing it but it might be a good option for you? I know some of the rear bumpers w/ swing out tire carriers have the ability to mount gerry cans, jacks, shovels and all kinds of stuff.

Clean up that FJ so we can get a look at it! If our FJ's ever meet I won't be surprised if they drive around in circles sniffing eachother's tail pipes.

Right now, I keep the Hi -Lift jack behind the front seat. Keeps it from getting filthy, easy to get to if I need it, but it's out of the way. A couple of posts in various places caution about locking up a High-Lift jack if it's on the exterior of the vehicle. Oh, and I've removed the rear seat cushions so the seat back lies flat. Made a cushion for the lower part of the cargo area to bring it up to the same level as the rear seat backs when flattened so it's comfy to sleep. And I have Max Trax for those solo forays into areas with deep sand (or snow, getting home in winter)

It will be fun to watch your progress.

I know you are already sold on Goal Zero, but for those who are not familiar with their products, here's the setup that I've been using for the last two years to provide my power needs for extended trips.

Shot from camp in Porphry Basin last summer:
- Goal Zero 350 Power Pack + Inverter
- Two Boulder 30 solar panels (sitting on carrying case)

If you are driving a lot, the power pack can be charged from the car.
The two solar panels are for extended stays at one location.

This will be fun to watch, Bret. I might have to borrow some of your ideas for my rig.

Just so I don't feel left out....I'm pimping out my 82 VW Vanagon. Well, so far I've removed the fridge (which never worked that well), I replaced the rotten canvas on the pop-top with new, and installed a better water faucet.

It handles rough roads pretty well, but obviously not 4X4 roads. The value to me is that I can pop the top anywhere I want, and make coffee on the stove. Lots of storage.

Specific photography benefit: I can climb on top of the cab, set up a tripod, and shoot over fences and hedges.

Bret -

If you are hunting for San Diego area offroading, you might want to check out Outdoor Adventure USA ( http://www.oausa.net ). They hold BorregoFest in the Anza-Borrego desert every year - this year October 19-21, usually basing on the desert side near Julian (Apple Pie Capitol). Plus they have some very well built FJ rigs in the group. I've run with them many times and they are a good bunch - however they are Ham Radio-centric for comms.

Monika: Be very careful keeping things like tripods and Hi-Lift jacks loose inside your vehicle. I've got a law enforcement background and one of the fatal crashes I responded to was only fatal because a tripod flew from the back of the vehicle to the front, hitting the driver in the head, killing him. Ever since then I make sure my stuff is well secured.

Bill: That's a sweet set-up. I worked w/ a photographer who used that Goal Zero battery pack to power an LED hot light on a shoot. Worked great!

Jon: That's a sweet Cherokee! Those suckers are tough rigs. I've got two buddies with Cherokees and they run some crazy trails around Moab in them.

Tom: Vanagon's rock. Properly equipped they'll go places you might never imagine. I saw a big group of them on Hell's Revenge once! Impressive, indeed. I really wish VW would bring them back into production.

Karl: No plans to do any wheeling in SD. I want to get over there to do some trail running (like, with my feet) and mountain biking, though.

It looks like I'm a little late to this party but I'll add my two cents. I've got an 07 FJ and have added aftermarket front and rear steel bumpers, OME 3" lift, rock rails, and 33" tires. I use a Warn PowerPlant winch that is a combination 9500lb winch and air compressor. Compressor is nice to re-inflate tires if you air down to go off trail, fill air mattresses, inflatable kayaks, etc. I added a second battery that provides backup to the main battery but also is directly wired to 2 12v outlets I had installed in the front console which enables you to charge batteries, phones, GPS, etc. while the FJ is off. Works really well, especially for batteries as you can charge batteries while out on a hike/shoot or overnight. I moved the regular plug outlet that was in the back to the front console on the passenger side. This way I have 4 "outlets" to plug things into, great if you are traveling with other people. I put a 12v outlet in place of the regular outlet in the back to plug a refrigerator into. In the cargo area I have a locking drawer system, bought from Slee, it was a prototype they were working on but never went to market. It has two drawers, both with locks, and is bolted to the FJ from inside the drawers so it is almost impossible to remove. In one drawer I have a bunch of recovery gear and in the other I custom made a foam insert from a Pelican case to hold bodies and lenses. This way I can take only the equipment I want on a specific hike and leave the rest secure in the vehicle. I have a All-Pro roof rack that has a rail system on both sides of the rack that provides movable tie-down points depending on the load. I am going to build a platform to place in the backseat area that is level with the drawers in back that will provide a platform for an air mattress with concealed storage below. My last purchase was a cell phone signal booster that seems to add a good degree of extra range when out in the boonies. Happy Travels!