Brush Guard / Skid Plate / Bike Rack

Finally had a chance to put on the brush guard and the skid plate.  I touched up the brush guard due to the damage it took from the totaled silver FJ.  I also had to hammer the driver side brackets back into place.

First was the brush guard since I needed to access the bolts from underneath the bumper.  This install was quite easy since I had already done it on the silver one.  I also printed the template correctly this time.  It seems that it is made for an 8.5x14 sized piece of paper.  I selected the option to print the actual size on the 8.5x11.  It worked great.  Everything lined up and I drilled through perfectly.

The skid went on next.  It took me a while to get the rear bolts on again since I hand made the spacers.  But it finally went on.

At this point I had the hood up still.  When I went to put it down, the bug shield that was on the FJ when I purchased it hit the brush guard.  Just when I thought I was finished.  It was easy enough to take off the bug shield but I didn't realize that there are plastic clips holding the metal screws.  Someone over torqued them and a couple were loose.  I had to use an adjustable wrench to hold the bolt inside the hood and finally take off the adapter that holds the bug guard.  Finally I was able to take it off and the hood went down.

I also took off the ski racks and put on the bike rack on top.  There is a hitch bike rack on the back as well.

So remember to take off the bug guard if you put on a brush guard.  Next up is the TRD intake once I find a missing part that I left on the old FJ.  Then the lights will be wired.  After that is rustproofing the underbody.

Pic shows brush guard.  The black skid isn't noticeable unless you are close up.

Light bar

My Tuffy light bar from my silver FJ was still around so I placed it up top.  Very easy to install, especially with the DO rails/steps.  I left all the wiring in tact so now all I have to do is run the wires to the battery and through the firewall for the switches.

The ski racks that came on the FJ were taken off prior to installing.  A bike rack took it's place up top.

It's looking like an off-road vehicle now.  Next will be the brush guard and the skid plate.  Once that is finished, the TRD intake is going in.   Then it's going up on a lift and the surface rust on the axle, frame  and shocks will be cleaned and then painted over.  

Demello Rock Rails

I decided to take off the stock rock rails and place on my Demello's that I bought for my silver one.  The kids were having a hard time getting in and out.  I placed them side by side and the stock ones have a larger diameter tube.  They also weighed much more than the Demello rails even though the Demello rails are much longer.  You can see the differences immediately.

Even though I liked the stock rails and the way they looked, they were not as functional as the Demello rails.  Not only did it help with getting in and out of the FJ, but they also helped in the next few items that I placed on roof rack.

Demello on the left.  Stock on the right.

Stock up front.  Demello in the back.  Notice the fins on the stock between the two rails.  Very thin compared to the thick chunks of steel between the Demello rails.

Stock bracket.  The stock rails seem to be quite nice.

Demello rail.

Stock rail.

Wndow Tint

I decided to tint my windows a little darker than usual to make this FJ match the rear windows a little better and make it uniform black all around.

Skid Plate

I decided to repaint the skid plate that I placed on my silver FJ.  First sanded down, washed and then sprayed with PlastiDip.