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If you have a built 4×4, there is a good chance you have thought about how you would use your rig during a zombie apocalypse. I am guilty of this. We know that if something of the sort were to unfold, us 4×4 guys and gals would just be a big step ahead of everyone else. Joe (Joeisip811) probably thinks the same, with his apocalypse-ready FJ Cruiser.

Named Dapurak- the Filipino word for “aphrodisiac” (according to this very reliable online dictionary)- this rig includes all the items that you would want with you in case of such emergencies. Even Twinkies! if you want to see Joe’s full thread, follow this link here.

Below is a breakdown of only a few of the items you can find in the build for this superb FJ Cruiser.

Wheels and Tires

The wheels and tires are a funny thing in this build. The reason for that is, this rig changed setups so many times. There is a count tallied along the thread, and you will see at least 15 wheel setup changes.

To avoid listing the whole progression, here we just show the latest and greatest. And like so, the current wheel setup on this FJ Cruiser is below.

Dapurak – 2007 FJ Cruiser

Dapurak – 2007 FJ Cruiser

It was pointed out that Joe swapped wheels and tires so often and with such ease, that he should open his very own tire shop.

Suspension

Fitting 37″ tires on a FJ Cruiser is not very common among the guys that keep the IFS. That’s because every little inch of space has to be squeezed efficiently to avoid rubbing. On top of that, there is a lot of hammering and cutting that has to happen.

That’s why in addition to a very varied wheel setup, This FJ Cruiser also has a notably non-stock suspension. You can name most any component of an IFS/4-link system, and you can be sure this rig has modified all of those components.

You may contact Califab directly to inquire about a remake of Dapurak’s custom pan-hard bar for your rig, and their lower trailing arm kit.

FJ Cruiser Suspension









Nothing like pictures of nice and clean suspension components. They look almost as good as when they are covered in mud or dirt from the trail.

Armor

Once you have your wheel and tire setup resting under a nice lifted suspension, you have to start thinking how everything will be protected. Blindly slapping steel on your rig could mean unnecessary weight and loss of economy, but in Joe’s case and how he uses his rig, he needed all the steel he could find.

The local terrain that you will see more commonly should weigh heavily on how far you should take the armor on your rig. For Joe, it seems like it is a lot of boulders and loose rock terrain. This is why the following armor list is so extensive.



FJ Cruiser Armor













With the extent of steel protection on this rig, i bet it feels like a tank when driving down the street. I assume it is as fast and gets similar mileage as well.

Electrical

Offroad lights can make or break a build. Some rigs look good with some LED cubes and light bars, but others look killer with a full set of round lights. This FJ Cruiser is the latter. The roof lights in particular give it a very safari look. Dapurak has the lights listed below.

The custom projector headlights are made by a guy named Nestah. He also does many other cool mods for the FJ Cruiser community. Contact him on the link above to get some parts for your rig!

For interior and dash lights, SuperBrightLEDs is a great option! they have the added perk of being local to me here in St Louis!

FJ Cruiser Electrical







If you end up having to deal with the kind of zombie that hates light during your apocalypse scenario, with the lights listed above you should be safe for a good while.

Mechanical and Body

Besides affecting your mpg’s, the huge tires and heavy bumpers affect the dynamics and reliability of your rig, too. Your brakes will have a harder time stopping the extra rolling mass of those mud terrains. Your drivetrain components will have a lot more strain from all the extra steel from bumpers, racks, skids, etc.

Which is why you should always budget in a good amount for upgrades to your brake system, as well as for your drivetrain and steering components. This FJ Cruiser has had the mechanical upgrades listed below.

Make sure you get the right size CV Boot clamps. This link will take you to a step by step on how to fix your leaky CV joints, and the correct sizes to use.

You can find more information regarding to the body mount chop in this link. There are several threads on the FJ forum about doing this mod to increase the usable space in your wheel wells.

One cool “little” addition Joe did on his FJ that you don’t commonly see anywhere else, is a hoist for his spare. He is running 37’s which are pretty heavy; that in addition to the tall lift is a recipe for a bad back.

FJ Cruiser Spare Hoist

Not here though! with this ingenious design he can drop and raise his spare tire without grunting once!

And there are a bunch of other things in this FJ Cruiser that i just don’t have time to go into. Storage solutions, survival equipment, and the Twinkies too. You will just have to look at Joe’s Build to get the full breakdown!

In Use

What good is a zombie-apocalypse-ready FJ Cruiser if it doesn’t get used? This rig has seen several of the toughest trails in the US. Here are some pictures of it.









FJ Cruiser Offroad













In addition to sweet pictures, he also is featured in some good videos! you can check them out on this part of his build.

Dapurak is also, quite literally, a trophy truck! Joe has won the awards shown in the picture below, and many more. He is regularly entering contests and shows where as you probably guessed, he always has the coolest rig.

FJ Cruiser Trophies

Want to Mod for Less? Get 10% off ANY of the items featured on this build at 4WheelParts.com by following this link! 4WD10LESS19

Thanks for reading! if you have any questions about this Post, leave a comment below or contact me here!