Post edited 4:14 am – November 3, 2009 by chrisngrod

Hello everyone… Being the webmaster of Bundy Hill Off Road, naturally I was looking at the server logs and saw there was some talk on this forum.  My off roading isn't limited to one place so the more forums I get on the better my travels will probably be.

The FJ has been two places in Houston (General Sam's and Spring Creek), one place in Ocala FL (A Pit), a few times in NC (Uwharrie), and two places in Michigan (Rocks and Valleys and Bundy Hill).

Probably would have traveled more if I wasn't gone for 15 months during the 39 months of ownership. 

I'll copy my post  from Silver Lake Dunes Forum post which is a partial copy of my GL4×4 post…

I'm going to copy my first GL4×4 post, but since then things have been on the up and up in the off road community for me.  One of the concerns about coming to Michigan (where my wife is from) after leaving the service was that there wouldn't be a place for me to off road.  Well I'm not too concerned about that now.  One day I'll head out to Drummond Island (visited Mackinac Island once… not enough time to go any further), already been to Rocks and Valleys (loved it.. rained all weekend… only people camping that night), and now I'm the webmaster of Bundy Hill Offroad.  I haven't been out to the dunes yet but plan to visit.  Already met some people that go there at least once a year.  The UP expeditions look cool also….

[quote]Hate to put this disclaimer first, but if you have anything negative to say about me driving a Japanese rig I don't want to hear about it.  I've already gotten a BB shot at my vehicle since arriving in MI.

Just got off of Active duty (little under 7 years) as an Airborne Infantryman.  Served in the 82d and 3ID.  Will be a Reservist (Psyop) out of Grand Rapids.  I feel as if I've made my contribution. 

It's strange up here that there are more dirty looks and comments about my vehicle vs none that I received while in the service.

I hope to meet some of you and figure out where I can go offroading.  Some of the things I was worried about pertaining to moving up here excluding the vandalism were finding a place of offroad and the winter season causing extreme amounts of rust.

Before this winter season I plan to line the bottom of the vehicle with something.

No I don't have fender bulges (just trying to get past some of the comments I've seen in other threads).  Main problem I've had with the FJ is the throwout bearing in the manual transmission.  It needs to go in for warranty service on that (2nd time), but we're headed up to Mackinac Island this weekend. 

Last picture is older, but in the same place.  I have an M416 expedition trailer that is a work in progress.  The FJ was purchased in Aug 06 prior to my last 15 month deployment.  It's my first off road vehicle.  Prior vehicles were 02 Lexus SC400, 03 Cadillac Eldorado. 02 Heavily Modified 2zz Motor Swapped Spyder, 04 Durango (still have) , 07 Subaru Legacy GT, 08 Scion TC (still have), and a couple I might have missed.  Well I have to run!  Take care everyone.[/quote]

Durango is sold now…

Another post
[quote]

I'm currently driving (yes I have a computer mounted inside the rig with inline signal booster… MI seems to have a lot of dead zones).

We had a lot of discussions about domestic vehicles and the cash for clunkers on fjcruiserforums.  There seems to be a good amount of parts and some labor being outsourced from different countries.

The FJ was 100% Japanese parts and labor I believe.  My aftermarket parts are all American except for the Sony GPS and this Acer Aspire One I believe.  At least that money goes to small offroad shops for the most part.  My wife has a couple of family members who work for GM.

I purchased this vehicle for a few reasons…

1. Toyota reliability (owned 3….Lexus SC400, MR2 Spyder, Scion TC)
2. Unique design (would like an FJ40 also… saw a good number of them in Iraq)
3. Everyone on post and the general population for that matter has a Jeep.

I've offroaded with 3 Jeeps and don't care what vehicle you have.  Just care that you enjoy the same hobby as myself.  You'll never see me with a Calvin pissing on some brand name or calling my rig a Hummer recovery vehicle or whatever.

Specs (whatever I can remember while on the road)…

Metaltech front bumper
M8000 Warn Winch
2 Optima Yellow Tops
2 PIAA 520 (I think that's the model…) Driving Lights
2 PIAA 520 Fog Lights
2 PIAA backup lights for the sides
1 PIAA backup light
VisionX Rock Lights
Budbuilt Full Skids (4 total)
Budbuilt Beefy Sliders
Total Chaos Upper Control Arms
Donahoe Racing (now known as ICON) Front Coilovers
ICON Piggyback Reservoir Rear Shocks
OME Heavy Rear Springs
Cobra 29 WX NW ST CB
Sony GPS
Acer Aspire One w/ GPS (TopoUSA, MS Streets, Google Maps, Delorme Street Atlas)
BFG MTs
Roof Basket

I think that's it… More to come of course… [/quote]