April 2009

Our thanks to Daniel From the Northeast FJ’s crew for forwarding this account of the FJ Northeasters Lobster Run:

Well it was another successful and eventful trail run for the Northeasters! 

After much work and last minute scrambling Eric, Daniel, and John managed to put together a great event complete with lobster dinners and some exiting wheeling. Between the raindrops we ran through some of Maine’s finest fall foliage on scenic logging roads and muddy boulder infested inclines.

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From the TV news to the radio talk shows and even the guys at the bar, everyone says times are tough and the economy is in the tank. Well, from the expedition travel standpoint things are as good as they have been in a long time, and they just keep getting better. Simply put: for a family of four, overlanding is a great way to save money while packing in a tremendous amount of history, scenery and experiences.

Before you go anywhere the savings start by going to the library for your research and surfing the web for sites and trip reports. History comes alive when you see it for yourself, and borrowing a few books on the areas you plan to visit will give a unique historical perspective. You can also engage your kids since the stories of gold mines, gunfights, battlefields and more can turn a pile of rocks into a king’s castle with a little imagination.

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This method of install will take about six to eight hours to complete, so make sure you have plenty of time. You will need basic tools and help from the feminine persuasion if available (I’ll explain that detail later). Wear hospital type gloves when working around the headliner to keep it clean. As each component is removed, use painters tape to wrap the threads to secure the bolt or screw to the component (Fig 1). If you’re going to paint the radio mounting bracket, it’s best to do that several days before you start the install.

Read all instructions before you start!