OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #41
This was a couple weeks ago. Forgot to post them when we got back.
🛠️ Member Build Kevin's 2025 1958 build, "Runt"
- Thread starter ovʀʟxnᴅ
- Start date
Member Build
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #43
We hit the beach again yesterday to celebrate my sister's birthday.
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #44
We had another great trip last weekend. 3 days in the mountains. It was busy on the trails, being Memorial Day weekend, but traffic wasn't bad getting around between home and there. Day 1 we drove out, ran to Flagpole Knob from Switzer Lake, and camped at elevation. We picked the spot because it had a great view. As night came in, the wind got crazy and the fire was hard to enjoy, so we turned in early.
Day 2 was some additional exploring, thanks to a wrong turn, then we headed into Nellysford, VA to sample a few libations and camp at a friend's place off the same stretch of road.
It rained all night after we went to sleep, but stopped by daylight. We had a slow morning of reading and watching the deer before fueling up, grabbing a sausage biscuit, and heading home.
Day 2 was some additional exploring, thanks to a wrong turn, then we headed into Nellysford, VA to sample a few libations and camp at a friend's place off the same stretch of road.
It rained all night after we went to sleep, but stopped by daylight. We had a slow morning of reading and watching the deer before fueling up, grabbing a sausage biscuit, and heading home.
Last edited:
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #45
I thought I might post about a couple of my more unusual "mods" that I haven't seen others discuss yet.
The second day of ownership, I already hated how the headrest made contact with the back of my head. I like to sit up fairly straight when driving, and the headrest has been bothersome to me on numerous vehicles. In my LC, I took them out and installed them backward. I find this far more comfortable, especially when reclined. Oddly, the raper suggests this may be an intended option. They now look more like headrests from the classic cruisers.
The other is a fresnel lens that helps to see traffic lights. This is one I've used for the last decade, now across 3 vehicles. I got it from LightInSight.com The FJ and the LC have notoriously flat windshields, prone to breakage sometimes hard to see above. Where I live, most of our main roads pre-date modern traffic controls. Efforts to shoehorn them in haven't necessarily made them as visible as they should be. Often the stopping line places the traffic light above my field of vision. This is extremely handy for not having to crouch and crane your neck at every intersection.
The second day of ownership, I already hated how the headrest made contact with the back of my head. I like to sit up fairly straight when driving, and the headrest has been bothersome to me on numerous vehicles. In my LC, I took them out and installed them backward. I find this far more comfortable, especially when reclined. Oddly, the raper suggests this may be an intended option. They now look more like headrests from the classic cruisers.
The other is a fresnel lens that helps to see traffic lights. This is one I've used for the last decade, now across 3 vehicles. I got it from LightInSight.com The FJ and the LC have notoriously flat windshields, prone to breakage sometimes hard to see above. Where I live, most of our main roads pre-date modern traffic controls. Efforts to shoehorn them in haven't necessarily made them as visible as they should be. Often the stopping line places the traffic light above my field of vision. This is extremely handy for not having to crouch and crane your neck at every intersection.
Wish I'd had that in my FJ!
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #47
Another beach day yesterday with family and friends. It was a great day!
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #48
My AluCab setup was brought over from my GX470. I seldom went to the beach with it, and the way the back door swung open, the driver side 270° awning made the most sense.
As you can see from some of the beach pics, it provides little shade in the morning and early afternoon. Now that I'm going to the beach regularly, I've been thinking of solutions for more shade. Parking facing the water, parking parallel to the water, getting a passenger side awning instead... Then I remembered I still had an 8x6 awning in the garage.
Last night I adjusted the brackets on the awning, added a couple bolts to the slots under the AluCab cross bars, and now I will be good to go on the beach, backed in like normal.
As you can see from some of the beach pics, it provides little shade in the morning and early afternoon. Now that I'm going to the beach regularly, I've been thinking of solutions for more shade. Parking facing the water, parking parallel to the water, getting a passenger side awning instead... Then I remembered I still had an 8x6 awning in the garage.
Last night I adjusted the brackets on the awning, added a couple bolts to the slots under the AluCab cross bars, and now I will be good to go on the beach, backed in like normal.
Just a note about this, during one of my internships with Toyota, I worked in seat evaluation and helped a colleague with a study on headrest usage. In general, the centerline of the headrest needs to be adjusted to level or slightly higher than an imaginary line between your ears. This prevents your head from going over the top of the headrest.
Second, the headrest is most effective when it is in contact (or nearly as possible) with your head in a resting seated position. I'd recommend trying to get used to it or adjusting the recline slightly to see if that helps. But ultimately, it's your car and your life, so you do you!
I just see this comment a lot in modern cars, and I think most people are unaware of the safety implications of flipping the headrests around.
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #50
Yeah, I'm way more worried about being comfortable than I am about being safe. I'm older than headrests in vehicles. 
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #51
How do you find those settings?
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #53
Car diagnostics and coding made simple | Carista OBD2 & App
Unlock the potential of your car. Diagnose & reset fault codes. Enable hidden features. Perform service procedures. Track parameters in real time.
carista.com
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #54
This received a big response on Facebook, so... You ever watch some YouTube? 
Very cool "build thread" with interesting mods and nice looking LC, not to mention we live in the same city. I will have to look for that plate.
Did you feel much of a loss of power with the 285/75/18's? How about MPG's - was it a big hit? I am debating the same size. Back and forth between those and 285/70/18.
Did you feel much of a loss of power with the 285/75/18's? How about MPG's - was it a big hit? I am debating the same size. Back and forth between those and 285/70/18.
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #56
Thank you for the kind words! I'm actually in Portsmouth, but nobody knows where that is, so I tend to use the more recognizable city for reference.
Power still feels fantastic on the larger tires. Loading up on all the overland gear, the larger tires, the rooftop tent, etc. has knocked about 3 mpg off. That said, I tend to abide the speed limit and live on cruise control. 21 mpg highway under 60 mph in the flatland, maybe 18 mpg traveling I-64 to the mountains. For the size and power, I feel like this mileage is really tough to beat.
Power still feels fantastic on the larger tires. Loading up on all the overland gear, the larger tires, the rooftop tent, etc. has knocked about 3 mpg off. That said, I tend to abide the speed limit and live on cruise control. 21 mpg highway under 60 mph in the flatland, maybe 18 mpg traveling I-64 to the mountains. For the size and power, I feel like this mileage is really tough to beat.
This is great information. 35's and overland gear as well and only 3mpg reduction. Really good news and I should not be shocked because that seems to be the consensus. Surprise in how little power is lost and how the mileage is only slightly diminished. Yes I think I am going to go the same - 285/75/18. It just looks too good that way!
Thank you for your feedback!
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #58
Around 2017 or so, I dreamed up a simple table for the back door of my FJ Cruiser. Just something light duty for making a cup of coffee or a sandwich. The aluminum plate was some scrap I picked up somewhere. The hinge I found in my dad’s garage. It worked great, and began a collection of stickers from my travels. After the FJ was totaled, I moved it to the GX where it saw more use than ever. Today, inspiration hit. I’ve got to re-engineer what holds it flat, but the old FJ table is making yet another move!
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #59
[placeholder]
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #60
Dammit, got peppered with gravel on the way home. Multiple small chips. Repairs are scheduled for tomorrow.
![[SOLD] 84mm TRD wheel center cap x4 (black/red)](https://www.landcruiserforum.com/data/files/featured_images/47/featuredimages_514638bd28e700a7.webp)
