View Full Version : FJ Cruiser?
Dirty Harry
06-04-2007, 04:16 PM
Can anyone here tell me why there is SO much aftermarket support for the FJ Cruiser, but hardly anything out there in the way of suspension/armor/drivetrain for the H3? It seems to me that the H3 is just as capable on the trails, but they do not get nearly as much attention. Why is that?
smbisig
06-04-2007, 04:24 PM
The FJ is built on a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120 Chassis, where the H3 is built on a Chevy Colorado chassis. The Prado 120 has been used off road around the world since 2003, not sure how the long the Colorado chassis has been around.
Dirty Harry
06-04-2007, 04:38 PM
I understand that, but items like bumpers and sliders do not crossover from the Prado to the FJ. Suspension components do, but then again companies like All-Pro were not supporting the Prado and already have suspension components for the FJ Cruiser.
Do you think if there was a vendor making bumpers, sliders, and high quality suspension components for the H3 they would sell?
Westy
06-04-2007, 04:41 PM
I would assume it is safe to say because there always has been, and always will be a strong aftermarket for Toyota 4x4s. Mini's, 4runners, Tacomas, Cruisers (40s-80s) and now FJ Cruisers.
They are known to be a good, reliable and capable out of the box. This is even more evident in other countries. IE - OME, ARB, Outback...etc.
The aftermarket for NEWER Chevy's has never really existed in terms of outside of the box upgrades. And until recently they havent really entered into the Toyota and Jeep parts of the 4x4 market. They are always limited to your typical bracket lifts and some prerunner suspensions.
Great question, we've been asking it too.
My take on it is that GM wants in on the "Accessories" business in the worst way. But for whatever reason, can't make it fly.
At one point there was a joint venture between AMG and Starcraft called AMStar, to produce the "Wilderness H3" It never got off the ground.
Some company called "Boulder Accessories took it over, and now the parts are available only through the Hummer Dealer.
The worst part is, the pricing is ridiculous. Something that costs $50 for a Jeep or Toy, costs $200 for a Hummer.
In reality, those of us who wheel them, are just as broke as anyone else who wheels. I say reem the blingers and make me a set of extended shackles that don't cost $300.00 bucks!
After 2 years no one is making these types of parts. All my upgrades have been custom except for shocks and tires.
Anybody wanna help a girl out?:D
Alec W
06-06-2007, 07:38 PM
It’s more or less that same for H2s. IMHO it’s because a higher percentage of people who buy Hummers than say Jeeps will never try anything more radical than a speed bump at the mall. I’d exclude H1s from that stat, I think a higher percentage actually wheels them.
Mustard Dog
06-06-2007, 09:16 PM
Well Toyota has proven itself to be a durable, well designed vehicle for harsh envirorments.....Chevy, not so much:flipoff2:
:flipoff2: off :flipoff2: off :flipoff2: off
:D
Mustard Dog
06-06-2007, 10:02 PM
:flipoff2: off :flipoff2: off :flipoff2: off
:D
I'm sorry that the truth just hurts soooo much:D:D:laughing:
I have an FZJ80 too....but it's not wise to hurt the moderators feelers.....:flipoff2:
Mustard Dog
06-06-2007, 10:23 PM
You know....I really love H3's....especially yours beebs...it really rocks....get it .... hehe.....rocks????
I'm sure I can come up with something.......BRB:flipoff2:
Mustard Dog
06-11-2007, 07:01 PM
I'm sure I can come up with something.......BRB:flipoff2:
Well, so what have you come up with:confused:
Mustard Dog
06-11-2007, 09:23 PM
Howssat? :laughing:
Just don't show your face in the Tow Rig, F-Toy, or Johnson Valley Forums newb.:flipoff2:
woooody
06-13-2007, 03:42 PM
I know that when the FJ Cruiser was in the development stages (approx 12 months prior to release) Toyota sent invites to every after market manufacturer to come and take measurements. I also think that the Toytota trail teams "model" helped stimulate the after market guys. then you have companies like All Pro and ARB that have always been a Toyota supporter that have invested in creating FJ Cruiser specific products.
motomac3
06-13-2007, 03:47 PM
Can anyone here tell me why there is SO much aftermarket support for the FJ Cruiser, but hardly anything out there in the way of suspension/armor/drivetrain for the H3? It seems to me that the H3 is just as capable on the trails, but they do not get nearly as much attention. Why is that?
people have been wheelin landcruisers since the 60's..theres your answer. the h3 has been around for what? 2 years. the fj's have a huge following and wheeler base.
ARB has told us they are going to supply products for the H3. GM would not give/sell them one until the South African plant started producing. Now they have to wait until the H3 lands in Australia before they can get to work on it.
So we should be seeing the Aussie stuff soon!!!:D
Dirty Harry
06-13-2007, 04:02 PM
people have been wheelin landcruisers since the 60's..theres your answer. the h3 has been around for what? 2 years. the fj's have a huge following and wheeler base.
The FJ Cruiser has nothing in common with any Land Cruiser though, save the 120 series Prado that is sold overseas. By that rationale there should be plenty of parts for the H3 since people have been wheeling Blazers for forty years.
I don't think that the stock FJ is any more capable than a stock H3, I guess that it just comes down to marketing.
motomac3
06-13-2007, 04:47 PM
The FJ Cruiser has nothing in common with any Land Cruiser though, save the 120 series Prado that is sold overseas. By that rationale there should be plenty of parts for the H3 since people have been wheeling Blazers for forty years.
I don't think that the stock FJ is any more capable than a stock H3, I guess that it just comes down to marketing.
i didnt say it was a land cruiser but it is supposed to be the modern fj. it is just the next step in line of the fj series. the h3 is a new concept that has been around for 2 years. the fj's have been around for almost 50 years.
im sorry but a blazer and an h3 are like comparing a yugo and corvette. come on now
Dirty Harry
06-13-2007, 04:51 PM
im sorry but a blazer and an h3 are like comparing a yugo and corvette. come on now
I think that the H3 has as much in common with the Blazer as the FJ Cruiser has in common with the FJ40.
I can understand the crossover products from the Prado like OME suspension and Bull Bars, but there is still a ton of new armor/suspension/skidplate products for the FJ that has nothing to do with any Land Cruiser. I am just surprised why that has not been the case for the H3. Interesting input from everyone.
motomac3
06-13-2007, 05:04 PM
I think that the H3 has as much in common with the Blazer as the FJ Cruiser has in common with the FJ40.
I can understand the crossover products from the Prado like OME suspension and Bull Bars, but there is still a ton of new armor/suspension/skidplate products for the FJ that has nothing to do with any Land Cruiser. I am just surprised why that has not been the case for the H3. Interesting input from everyone.
you are missing my point, i am not saying that the fj is a land cruiser. however with the huge following of th fj crowd over the last 50 years. then they are going to have parts and lots of them available very quickly for the new fj as they know that crowd will buy them and start modifying. the h3 is brand new. the h2 before it was mainly a mall cruiser suv..so when the h3 came out it was not a high priority for parts because chances are, most people buying them arent buying them to wheel.
AddictedOffroad
06-13-2007, 10:21 PM
I understand that, but items like bumpers and sliders do not crossover from the Prado to the FJ. Suspension components do, but then again companies like All-Pro were not supporting the Prado and already have suspension components for the FJ Cruiser.
Do you think if there was a vendor making bumpers, sliders, and high quality suspension components for the H3 they would sell?
It may be the Prado Chassis, but the suspension is almost identical to the 4th gen 4runner and 05+ Tacoma. That is why All-Pro went after it. That and when a new Landcruiser comes out, and you are yota parts source, you jump on the bandwagon.
Too bad it looks like an Igloo cooler with the white top...............
Coinsidence?......I think not:
http://carsmedia.ign.com/cars/image/article/587/587498/fj-cruiser-20050214053713603.jpg
http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/p2756558reg.jpg
mynameisaric
06-14-2007, 08:27 AM
BLAH BLAH BLAH.... Stop being little yuppie mall cruisers, and fab something for your hummers instead of trying to buy and bolt. You can make something 10X better than you can bolt on and it will cost half the price. There is a lift for my explorer that costs 2k, but i'd still have the same stock diffs and torsion bars hanging down..... So i decided to invest twice as much and stick 1 tons under my explorer. I'm sure i'll be much happier with the final product than any drop bracket lift would do for me.
Trust me... I feel your pain with the IFS up front. I dont know how the H1's can deal with IFS and IRS. I'm a fullsize hummer fan though. the H2's i dont care for. I kind of like watching videos and seeing things go "snap", but do happen to like the H3, i just think the windows are too small and the motor sucks.
calamaridog
06-16-2007, 05:41 AM
Harry,
Most of the H3's I see are being driven by middle aged women. In a few years, when they are given to teenage sons, you may start seeing more stuff:D
Harry,
Most of the H3's I see are being wheeled by middle aged women. In a few years, when they are given to teenage sons, you may start seeing more mods so that mom can go hardcore
fixed:flipoff2:
calamaridog
06-17-2007, 06:41 AM
fixed:flipoff2:
Trust me, I'm teasing. You should see my mall rated Land Cruiser:) In it's previous life, it served soccer mom duty, and served well.
Dirty Harry
06-17-2007, 08:13 AM
Harry,
Most of the H3's I see are being driven by middle aged women. In a few years, when they are given to teenage sons, you may start seeing more stuff:D
I think that you are probably right, just like what happened with 80s series (and 100 series) Cruisers. FJ Cruisers have had parts right from the beginning though and considering the costs and capabilities between the FJ and H3 are so close when they are stock, I am just wondering why the aftermarket embraced one and ignored the other.
mynameisaric
06-17-2007, 02:30 PM
the fj is based on the toyota truck platform that was already popular for lifts in the aftermarket. all companies have to do is replace the sticker that says toyota trucker and put FJ cruiser. I think they are super ugly. They look like a honda element on crack.
awsumdc
06-17-2007, 06:13 PM
Harry,
Most of the H3's I see are being driven by middle aged women. In a few years, when they are given to teenage sons, you may start seeing more stuff:D
Thats what they said about the H2's, but I still don't see too many on the trails. It's sad that about 85% of them will never see dirt because of the people who buy them. The Hummers are marketed to those who will never use them for off road use. Now the FJ's were marketed to do exactly what they're doing now. running around the trails. There is just a larger percent of people buying them for one and larger amount of those people using them off road. Simple mathematics and business sense. Not enough customers with H2's or H3's for the serious off road companies to look at.
They just need to get someone in their group to start making some stuff. Kinda like what we did with the Tacoma's:D
calamaridog
06-18-2007, 03:42 AM
I think that you are probably right, just like what happened with 80s series (and 100 series) Cruisers. FJ Cruisers have had parts right from the beginning though and considering the costs and capabilities between the FJ and H3 are so close when they are stock, I am just wondering why the aftermarket embraced one and ignored the other.
Honestly Harry, the FJ is marketed in a way that appeals to a younger crowd, plus you have tons of people who have owned and wheeled Mini's, Tacoma's, and 4runners buying them. Toyota is also selling tons of them. I have no idea what the production number for the H3's are.
Thats what they said about the H2's, but I still don't see too many on the trails. It's sad that about 85% of them will never see dirt because of the people who buy them. The Hummers are marketed to those who will never use them for off road use. Now the FJ's were marketed to do exactly what they're doing now. running around the trails. There is just a larger percent of people buying them for one and larger amount of those people using them off road. Simple mathematics and business sense. Not enough customers with H2's or H3's for the serious off road companies to look at.
They just need to get someone in their group to start making some stuff. Kinda like what we did with the Tacoma's:D
I agree Wyatt. As soon as some of the people in this Hummer section start building and fabbing their own shit, one of them may start doing it full time. The good thing however, is that there will be plenty of these rigs in the used market soon for people who do want to wheel them.
Now if GM would put the little V8 or the new V8 diesel in the H3... Then I may be tempted:eek:
woooody
06-18-2007, 09:28 AM
Now if GM would put the little V8 or the new V8 diesel in the H3... Then I may be tempted:eek:
gas v-8 already scheduled for 2008.
g-wizz
06-18-2007, 02:17 PM
The FJ Cruiser has nothing in common with any Land Cruiser though, save the 120 series Prado that is sold overseas. By that rationale there should be plenty of parts for the H3 since people have been wheeling Blazers for forty years.
I don't think that the stock FJ is any more capable than a stock H3, I guess that it just comes down to marketing.
what shit is really avaliable to blazers... lifts not to many bumpers... i can only think of one company that makes a modern bumper for them and that would be ord. only two people make coilover conversions for them the new ord one and blitzkreig motorsports. honestly if people want shit done just do it your self. usually tools cost about the same as the lifts and kits cost anyways so fuck it buy tools and buy metal and learn somthing. if it breaks you made it so it can be fixed as long as your not dead haha
g-wizz
06-18-2007, 02:19 PM
the fj is based on the toyota truck platform that was already popular for lifts in the aftermarket. all companies have to do is replace the sticker that says toyota trucker and put FJ cruiser. I think they are super ugly. They look like a honda element on crack.
the spawn of a honda element on crack.
gas v-8 already scheduled for 2008.
It's already available to order, or put your deposit down.
I saw the option sheets. Just so you know there won't be any, (options that is) most dealers are going to load them up, so I hope you can take one with "everything".
In addition to the V-8, they have included an upgraded front differential (cast iron this time like they should have done in the first place) 4:10's with rear locker, an upgraded payload and 4:1 transfer case (standard on all adventure packages to date).
Lots of bling and 2 new colors. A deep metallic orange and a gunmetal grey.
Most dealers are saying they are only getting 30% allocation, which means they will be hard to find, and that some dealers may try to add a mark-up. Typically Hummer of Sacramento does not, they go straight MSRP.
Rob MSHXC
06-19-2007, 06:08 AM
4:10's
Only 4:10s.. Wonder what the final drive is... Guess with the larger motor they can gear up some...
indulf
06-20-2007, 12:09 PM
BLAH BLAH BLAH.... Stop being little yuppie mall cruisers, and fab something for your hummers instead of trying to buy and bolt. You can make something 10X better than you can bolt on and it will cost half the price. There is a lift for my explorer that costs 2k, but i'd still have the same stock diffs and torsion bars hanging down..... So i decided to invest twice as much and stick 1 tons under my explorer. I'm sure i'll be much happier with the final product than any drop bracket lift would do for me.
Trust me... I feel your pain with the IFS up front. I dont know how the H1's can deal with IFS and IRS. I'm a fullsize hummer fan though. the H2's i dont care for. I kind of like watching videos and seeing things go "snap", but do happen to like the H3, i just think the windows are too small and the motor sucks.
hmm. the irony is thick.
i thought you could make it "10x better than bolt on" and "half the price".
but then you spend "twice as much" on one tons... not half the price, but twice the price. and is it really 10x better??? :rolleyes:
AtlantaK-5er
07-17-2007, 12:01 AM
I just drove the V8 H3 Alpha. Its much improved over the I-5. It with an adventure Package will be one hell of a wheeler right out of the box.
samvoiceman
07-18-2007, 02:55 PM
I have been to the demographics meetings with Hummer Marketing in the past. As the price of the new trucks goes down (jeep range) the off-raod goodies will flow. They did the research and there is no money in it yet so it will be little companies making the stuff. The H4 will be the Hummer you will be able to get tons of products for. H3 stuff is getting better all the time. When you 100k trucks burning gas then you have a market.
:mr-t:I pitty the fool that underestimates the Hummer!
Toyota Alec
07-30-2008, 06:33 PM
Because H3's are busy going over speedbumps at the mall
Because H3's are busy going over speedbumps at the mall
riiiiight.:flipoff2:
Sillyneck
07-30-2008, 07:25 PM
you want aftermarket? I hooked up the 2nd fj cruiser w/ a solid axle ever.
Drop off that H3 and be one of the first.
$20k =
sas hp44
geared/locked (price goes up for alloys and ctms)
37-40's beadlocked
rear end either swapped or taken care of depending on what it is
bumpers front and rear
sliders
Linked and coiled all around.
I'd like to be the first to get a sik one out there... but nobody wants to pony up the money.
Dood, I got a quote at Inchworm for 10K :laughing:
Do ya think we're that dum?:flipoff2:
I might give you mine, but I already have bumpers, sliders, 4:56's, locked in the rear, and a 4:1.
Warranty up in 4K miles.
Make me a silly deal:D
The Architexan
07-30-2008, 11:21 PM
...I spent about 15 minutes reading this thread just to find out it's a year old......waste!
Who cares about after market products anyway :laughing:........a stock Hummer is all good!!!!
vBulletin® v3.7.3, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.