INTRO WARNING - I take my new FJ Cruiser Off-Road

[Kyle Dreaden]

Hey everyone! The name is Kyle and I'm in Atlanta, GA. I was introduced to the site via my home forum, FJCruiserForums.com. As you'll see from my pictures, we're all big fans of Scratch X

I drive a 2007, Titanium Metallic Toyota FJ Cruiser. Building this thing up and taking it on some wild trails has become a hobby of mine since getting it but as soon as I saw the first "pinstripe" (the FJ enthusiast's euphemism for scratch from brush and tree branches) I knew I needed to learn something about keeping it in good shape. Here's a few photos of my big guy -




And one of the ATL FJC lineup.



Needless to say, what we do is the antithesis of detailing. However, I'm excited to learn as much as I can about taking care of my truck's looks and hopefully pass as much as I can onto my 'mates in the ATL FJC group.

I did my first (dare I say) detailing job on it this past weekend. I think I dropped something like $170 dollars on Meguiars stuff. I used Gold Class Shampoo, Scratch X, Color X, and NXT wax with all the recommended towels, microfiber cloths, and applicator pads. I also got the black plastic trim parts looking great with the Gold Class Vinyl/Rubber protecter spray.

I tried to find the claying kit at target but I think I'll have to order that one. My finish is VERY rough to the touch after all the mud and sand I've flung all over it since getting it December.

So, hello everyone! If you have any advice or suggestions for special care considerations given my activities off road, please share!

Kyle

[Murr1525]

Re: INTRO WARNING - I take my new FJ Cruiser Off-Road

ColorX will probably be a great product for you, since it is a good cleaner as well, and will speed up your details. Dont want to clean and wax for 8 hours then go back on the trails the next day...

[Mike Phillips]

Re: INTRO WARNING - I take my new FJ Cruiser Off-Road

Hi Kyle

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

You'll find lots of friendly and helpful people on this forum always willing to lend a cyber-hand!


There's usually something in the below for everyone!



List 'O Links

Many of the things we cover in our Saturday Classes are discussed and talked about in the threads found in the sub-forums of the Information Station


Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle
How To Remove Swirls By Hand
How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX
Using the G-100 to remove swirls with the Professional Line
Circles or Straight Lines?
Which LSP is Best for Light Colors
How to locate Meguiar's Professional & Detailer products in your hometown
How to tell when a Meguiar's wax is ready to remove - The Swipe Test
The Dual Action Counterweight "Controversy"
What are the Differences Between Meguiar's Waxes
What's the Deal with "Layering"?
Measuring Clear Coat Thickness
Rotary vs. PC vs. Regular Orbital Buffer
Glass Polishing...Deep Cleaning
NXT Tech Wax Cure Time
Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car
Colored Waxes - Do they really work?
PC + #83 not "Cutting" it! - The Limits of the Dual Action Polisher
What it Means to Remove a Scratch
Why Meguiar's Recommends Polishing Paint
A Lesson From White Paint
Each one, teach one... Ferrari Fiorano 355 F1 Spider

[Mike Phillips]

Re: INTRO WARNING - I take my new FJ Cruiser Off-Road

Just to note...

We have Hundreds of people that join our forum each month but never throw their hat in the ring for a chance to win a free dual action polisher?

We hold the drawing every month with a new thread for each new month...

Here's the link...


Enter to win Free Prizes in April, 2007! - Click here!


A dual action polisher would go a long ways towards making your maintenance faster and easier after a hard day in the brush.

[hoghead00]

Re: INTRO WARNING - I take my new FJ Cruiser Off-Road

Kyle - Nice looking FJ Cruiser! How does the IFS hold up off-road?

This is a good site. Ask away.... Lots of knowledgable people on here...

[Kyle Dreaden]

Re: INTRO WARNING - I take my new FJ Cruiser Off-Road

Thanks a lot for the welcome, everyone!

I'll definitely be entering the contest!

Kyle - Nice looking FJ Cruiser! How does the IFS hold up off-road?

This is a good site. Ask away.... Lots of knowledgable people on here...

Thanks a lot! I love my Cruiser!

The IFS is always a debate among us Landcruiser folks. A Solid Axle Swap is in development from one of our big aftermarket companies, but at this point I really don't think it's necessary.

I went ahead and did an Old Man Emu suspension upgrade with new shocks and springs that gave me a good 3" of added clearance which has helped quite a bit. We're always worried about our CV angles and such but it's almost like Toyota intended for these vehicles to be lifted and so the angles are almost horizontal from the factory.

Next month, the American Racing wheels and Toyo Open Country MTs go on followed by a full belly of skids and front bumper/winch upgrade.

The Benefits of Solid Front Axles are definitely known and understood among our group but with the proper equipment and knowledge of off-road driving, the IFS performs absolutely phenomenally. I've done a bunch of Green runs with mostly rutted out roads and big muddy hills as well as some moderate rock crawling and can't complain one bit.

As always, TREAD LIGHTLY!

But I'll stop rambling about gearhead stuff

[HagFan]

Re: INTRO WARNING - I take my new FJ Cruiser Off-Road

My next door neighbor has the same Cruiser, same color anyway. I dare say hers will never leave the pavement though. My wife's new Camry is the same color. My neihbor asked for her place in line -for the Cruiser-- last weekend when I was detailing the Camry. I passed it off, and told her when her husband returns from his extended vacation in Florida, I've got the product(s) for that silver-- meaning #21.
Welcome and enjoy!

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: INTRO WARNING - I take my new FJ Cruiser Off-Road

to mol. Your cruiser looks good. Welcome aboard.

[Brian Catalano]

Re: INTRO WARNING - I take my new FJ Cruiser Off-Road

Good to see another Toyota off-roader on here who isn't afraid to get his truck dirty. Mine has seen plenty of wheeling time, and I always manage to get it back to this:

[Kyle Dreaden]

Re: INTRO WARNING - I take my new FJ Cruiser Off-Road

My next door neighbor has the same Cruiser, same color anyway. I dare say hers will never leave the pavement though. My wife's new Camry is the same color. My neihbor asked for her place in line -for the Cruiser-- last weekend when I was detailing the Camry. I passed it off, and told her when her husband returns from his extended vacation in Florida, I've got the product(s) for that silver-- meaning #21.
Welcome and enjoy!

Sadly, this is the fate of most FJs sold. Such a shame.

Good to see another Toyota off-roader on here who isn't afraid to get his truck dirty. Mine has seen plenty of wheeling time, and I always manage to get it back to this:

I'm with you, brother. Whether it be a Taco, FJ (any of the variety), or otherwise, it's hard to argue with the quality and capability of our 'yotas.

I almost got the new Tacoma Crew Cab until the FJ caught my eye on the showroom floor. Practical? Absolutely not. Fun? Hell yes!

[kpagel]

Re: INTRO WARNING - I take my new FJ Cruiser Off-Road

I certainly don't envy you... I've been down the road of trying to keep my offroad truck clean, and that was years ago when I wasn't so picky and demanding. I beat the hell out of my old Taco, but still managed to keep it looking pretty darn good. My offroading days are over, though, at least for the time being, so my '06 Tacoma DCab is my DD/work vehicle and its staying pretty.

Welcome to the site. Great looking FJ, and nice color (my Taco is the same color).