October 2008

It doesn't matter if you're few hours or a few days from home, the ability to communicate with others can bring added enjoyment to your adventures and greatly increases safety. Radio communication while on the trail comes in many forms. In this article we will focus on the three most common types of radio communication available to you: the Family Radio Service (FRS), Citizen Band radio (CB), and Amateur Radio also known as HAM Radio. The first thing to understand is that each of these use the same basic technology as the AM / FM radio in your car. It’s all radio waves. What makes each type a little different is the power you can transmit with and the frequencies they use. As you dial up or down on your car radio you might use the term ‘radio stations’, but a radio station is simply transmitting on a particular frequency, for example 105.1 FM.
Here are a couple of other concepts to consider before we discuss each option in more detail. Radio waves travel at the speed of light, so there is virtually no delay in most situations. Radio waves also travel in 'line of sight'. This means the more obstacles between you and the one are communicating with, the more interference you will experience. Radio waves can penetrate objects, but different objects will require more or less power to penetrate. The type of radio wave also determines how well it will penetrate objects. The last thing to note is that antennas make a difference. There is a huge difference between transmitting using 5 watts of power with a cheap antenna and transmitting 5 watts of power with a great antenna.

Family Radio Service or FRS (also called two-way radios) is a simple solution for very basic communication needs. FRS radios generally cost from $50 to $200 and they do not require a license to operate. FRS radios transmit using .5 watts, which by radio standards is very low. This is why in real world scenarios you should only expect to be effective with FRS at ranges of a mile or two or less. The packaging might tell you the range is much more and in very good or perfect conditions it might be true, but don’t count on it. FRS radios are very common and have a limited set of 22 channels. Don’t be surprised if you hear others talking on the same channel you are using. One of you will simply need to move to another channel or enable the 'privacy' features on your radio. FRS radios use FM frequencies which are good. FM frequencies are clearer than AM frequencies (think AM radio stations vs. FM radio stations).

Citizen Band or CB Radio is a very common form of communication among truckers and off-roaders. CB radios generally cost from $80 to $200 and also do not require a license to operate. CB radios transmit using a maximum (legal) 4 watts of power, providing greater range than FRS radios. Generally speaking, one can expect about 3-5 miles of range using CB in good conditions. However, CB radios use AM frequencies which are more subject to interference. CB radios also use the concept of channels and most modern CBs offer 40 channels. CB is by far the most common form of radio communication in the off-road community.

Amateur Radio or HAM Radio is no longer for old men in basements with outdated technology. HAM radio has kept up with technological advancements and has a lot to offer. HAM radios generally cost from $120 to $1000 and do require a license to operate. Obtaining your license is now easier than ever. The test is 35 questions and is quite easy. You do not need to know Morse code to obtain your license. The fee for the test is about $15, and your license is good for 10 years.
HAM radios transmit using 5 watts up to 1000 watts depending on the radio you purchase. These radios can easily reach 40 miles or more. HAM radio does not use the concept of channels like FRS and CB radios do. Instead, HAM uses specific frequencies. So instead of tuning your radio to channel 12, like you would on FRS and CB, you tune your radio to a frequency like 147.555; this provides for greater flexibility and the ability to find a completely private channel. HAM radio can also use repeaters to make them even more useful. A repeater is an antenna that listens on a certain frequency and repeats what it hears on another. This greatly increases your range, in some cases up to several hundred miles. There are hundreds of repeaters across the United States. Repeaters can also be linked connecting one repeater to another. Using linked repeaters, HAM radios can communicate all across the country.

There are additional features available to HAM radio which we won’t go into in detail, but here are a few of the key ones: APRS – This is a feature that allows HAM operators to use the radio to include GPS information in the signal. Using this feature and GPS devices you are able to see on the where others are located. AutoPatch – This feature, which is available on some repeaters, allows the HAM radio to connect to the public telephone system and make a normal phone call. So you can be out in the backcountry, connect to an autopatch repeater and call your loved ones. Editor's Note: In times of emergency, HAM radios are almost always the only method of wireless communication that works. When cell phone networks become overloaded, HAM radios will still work fine. There is much more to HAM radio that can make for a lifetime hobby but we will save that for future articles.
In summary, consider what your needs are and get the radio equipment that will meet or exceed those needs. In best case scenarios, communication can greatly enhance the enjoyment of your adventures and in the worst case scenarios communication can be a life saver. Happy transmissions!

Taft Babbit is a technology professional and avid blogger. He's very active on FJCruiserForums.com and can be found online at http://mountainthinking.blogspot.com/

In the past few Off Road 101 articles, we’ve discussed what we feel are the most important first modifications for your FJ Cruiser. First, you should know how everything on your truck works and what its capabilities are. Second, consider upgrading tires and possibly wheels. Most recently, we talked about trail armor and why it’s so important. Now that we have this great foundation, the time has come to touch on one of the most popular upgrades for your FJ: your suspension.

We use the term ‘upgrades’ because we’re not just talking about lift kits. Many owners choose not to lift their truck, but maybe add spacers only to just level it. Let’s discuss some of the more common upgrades for the FJ Cruiser.

“Leveling” Kits
These kits usually include a spacer that is placed above the front coils. This provides approximately 1” of lift to the front of the truck and decreases or eliminates the ‘rake’ or forward leaning stance of a stock FJ. This is a very popular first step in the suspension upgrade arena and typically costs around $100 plus installation.

2” – 6” Lift Kits
There are several lift kit options for FJ Cruisers:
The most economical kits include springs for the front of the truck along with a spacer (similar to a leveling spacer), and taller springs for the rear. There are also different spring rates available, which affects the stiffness of your ride. It’s common to go with stiffer springs when adding heavy bumpers and winches to minimize sagging in the rear and diving in the front.  While it is possible to install some kits with stock shocks, most owners choose to upgrade their shocks as well. This is where special edition FJ owners have an advantage, since the Bilstein shocks that come on TRD & Trail Teams models do not necessarily need to be upgraded.

As you move up in quality of components, the pricing of lift kits can increase dramatically. Eliminating the spacer and using a taller spring in the front improves ride quality and opens up more options. Adding longer shocks will provide excellent wheel travel & articulation and will affect the way your truck rides both on and off road. Many of the high end kits now include remote reservoir shocks. This is very beneficial for higher speed (rally style) driving where the suspension cycles quickly for long periods of time.

Most 6” kits include shocks, springs, differential drop brackets, and other relocation hardware to extensively modify your FJ. Some even include extended steering knuckles, upper control arms (UCA’s) and new lower crossmembers. These systems are significantly more difficult to install than basic 3” lift kits, but they raise your FJ enough to put 35” (or larger) tires on. These systems may also put more strain on other stock components so, research all the options and requirements before you go this route.

Adjustable Lift Kits
A relatively new option for lifting your truck are adjustable kits. These usually range from 1” to 3” of total lift, depending on the kit. These are great for many owners because you can adjust the lift as you add components. If you get a new front bumper and your front end sags a little, just dial the lift up another inch or so until you get the look you want. Raising or lowering your truck is as easy as removing the tires and turning the adjuster. Note that adjustable kits are usually for the front end only, most manufacturers don’t offer an adjustable rear suspension. For details on the Toytec 3” adjustable kit, see “Toytec Lift Upgrade” on page ??

I hope this brief discussion of lift options helps you decide what is best for you. The great thing about the FJ Cruiser is that it’s very capable with no lift at all. Adding an extra couple of inches of clearance and enhancing articulation are a great and relatively inexpensive way to get you to more places safely. For more information and to find the kit that’s right for you, check out the vendors directory at www.fjc-mag.com.

We were hoping to include a full test drive review of the 2009 FJ Cruiser. Unfortunately, as of October 1st, there are still no ’09 FJ’s in Colorado (or anywhere else). The 2009’s are available to configure on the Toyota.com website, so we parsed through every option available so we could give everyone this first look.

The main updates for 2009 are in the colors available. The silver ‘Titanium Metallic’ color has been dropped in favor of a ‘Silver Fresco Metallic’. We’re not exactly sure what the difference is since we haven’t seen one in person, but the consensus seems be that it will be a somewhat darker silver. The Iceberg color is now also available, but only in the 2WD “Prerunner” version with the TRD Package. ‘Black Diamond’ is now called ‘Black’, again we’re not sure what the difference is.

We’ve been talking with Corey Tando for quite a few months now, and finally got some great info and pics to include his Ti as October’s Featured Rig. Corey is the admin over at www.yotatech.com, which he started in May of 2002. He’s a tech guy all the way, and has the mods to prove it.
Corey’s FJ is built as a true expedition ready rig. He’s setup to go anywhere and stay clean and comfortable all along the way. There’s not much left for Corey to do, but we’re sure he’ll think of something.