[spressomon]

Spent 6-months about 3-years ago lurking, reading and getting great input about which LC to get. Ended up purchasing my current 100 in January '05. It's from the northeast...complete with the rust package offered for that part of the country . Gotta say I probably won't do that again...but all the rusted/corroded bolts that I have needed to remove, have been drilled and tapped...with typical low humidity here in Northern Nevada the rust seems abated!

It, like other's rigs, has been a work in progress. The first thing I did, getting it ready for desert and mountain travel for exploring, hunting, camping, etc., was to install Goodyear MT/R 285R75-16 tires. Then I built a set of quick and relatively easy sliders...which some day will get replaced with a different design; but for now keep the body from being damaged on some trail runs.

Next was an OME lift from Slee Offroad and a set of African Outback drawers. A Slee rear bumper followed by a TJM T3 Classique steel front bumper made it all work fairly well for my uses for about a year.

Couldn't buy a t-case skid plate...so I made one out of 6061T6 plate and a custom bracket that I welded up. So far, even though it's not the ideal design, it has saved many a rock from smacking the t-case. The factory tin plate is a real POS...barely enough to keep road trash from smacking the t-case...let alone what you find on a typical off-road trail!

A second battery and rear circuit was added next. I thought long and hard about the next accessory...and thanks to all the input here I pulled trigger on the Waeco 50 fridge/freezer. As you all said: "It would be my favorite accessory"...and that's been 100% accurate.

I added the Helton Hot Water Heat Exchanger...with a bracket I welded up to mount out of the way on the PS fender. This has worked as advertised...a great accessory!

Then the Warn 9.5XP winch with X-Line was added...had to make a couple new mounting brackets as the TJM is designed for a smaller winch...but it all fit just fine. And along the way I just couldn't get past the goofy OEM frame mounted hooks. And since the bolt spacing is atypical...and no after market recovery hooks available I, along with a couple buddies...you know who you are!...designed the Frame Recovery Brackets for a small production run. The TJM hoop was removed earlier this year...and I sliced up some thick plate I had in the garage and welded the current recovery points to the front bumper...

The winch has come in handy several times: Pulling a Rubicon off a high centered lump in a trail; pulling aside a large downed pine tree that was blocking the trail; coaxing the rig up Steven's Loop (with the help from my homies that proved they are great spotters and rock stackers...again: You know who you are ) and the last time, that saved our butts since we were out exploring on our own, I used to right the Horizon after I layed it on its side!

Thanks to the Norcal 80 guys and Rusty for getting some of us off our arse...I was able to pass the HAM test and install the 2m Icom 208H...now like others that are 2m friendly I can't wait until the CB never gets turned back on!

A little over a year ago I installed the ARB front air locker along with completely rebuilding all axle/hub bearings, new OEM CV shaft assemblies, 4.88 gears, 315R75-16 MT/R's and ART cryo'd rotors with Porterfield kevlar and carbon pads and custom stainless steel brake lines throughout.

As most of you know...and others will soon learn...it takes LOTS of time to get all the little details done. But I keep plugging away. The next project to be completed this month will be Fox 2" remote reservoir shocks at each corner. The OME's are just not up to keeping this extra heavily laden rig under control.

No regrets on purchasing this rig...and no regrets with respect to any of the mods so far.

More to come as I recollect...

...and a big thanks to all that have offered assistance on this board!


The first three pics were taken right after I purchased it and right after I installed the 285R75-16 MT/R's...

[spressomon]

The sliders were the first project I built...and then on to the OME lift.

[spressomon]

Nice, clean and new African Outback drawers and the Waeco 50 fridge/freeze.

Dual battery and Powergate...

Had to build a sub cabinet to fit between the seat and the Waeco.

[spressomon]

Recovery gear kit in stow.

Pics with the 33" MT/R's

[spressomon]

Helton Heat exchanger and home brew fender bracket.

Do what it and I do best: Exploring!

[spressomon]

More exploring pics...and a shot of the custom dog box for my huntin' buddy Sieg!

[spressomon]

The Warn 9.5XP install...

Home brew remote solenoid bracket mount for fender...

[spressomon]

The 4.88, ARB locker, etc., etc., 6-week down and missed some cool runs project.

A couple nice 40's from a run with the homies before the 4.88 tear down...

[spressomon]

Rear diff...before the 4.88's were installed...

Front diff...and the problem solver ARB locker fitting...

Switches...no factory look for me...

[spressomon]

Custom Frame Recovery Bracket.

Shot of the mini ARB air compressor and the shower line plug-ins...

[spressomon]

Rear power circuit...

Measuring to get just the right amount of lift.

OME 863's compared to custom Slee/ATS4x4 springs...

[spressomon]

Coyote Flats Horizon break in run...

The 2nd Coyote Flats trip September '06 with the Norcal 80 folks.

My home brew manual throttle...for winching and dialing in the perfect shower temp!

[spressomon]

Getting to put all the mods to work for my favorite off-road pass time: Chasing the elusive Chukar birds.

One of my hunt'n homies.

Late afternoon after a phenomenal day hunting on the mountain...love'n that near full moon!

[spressomon]

Did the 90k this year...and decided to replace the starter for peace of mind.

90k tools required.

Another quality run in the middle of Nevada this spring.

[Morty]

Spress- very nice rig. Your rig and buildup has provided a lot of ideas for my own rig over the past year (and I suspect for many others as well). Love those custom recovery brackets. Have you ever posted details about how you put together the manual throttle control?

[spressomon]

Another great spring run from this year...this is why I built the rig the way I did. It really goes anywhere I need it too...in comfort too!

[spressomon]

More fun runs.

And the ICOM 208H...

[spressomon]

Another interesting trip on Memorial Day weekend '07.

Just had to see if I could lay the Horizon on its side...sure enough I can!!!

[spressomon]

A custom little bracket to secure and keep the winch line out of harm's way.

My second favorite accessory...ha ha...

And another little weld on support to keep the shovel blade centered.

God I love having a welder!

[spressomon]

In it's current...well almost current shape (pre Tomales Bay).

Front bumper shot with the new welded on recovery points...

[spressomon]

The interior view.

Setting off for another great run.

The most recent trip into a beautiful trail in Northern Nevada.

[1loudLX]

swizzeeet! I want those custom recovery points up front!

[LandCruiserPhil]

Nice build!
Where did you pick up the hot water feed for the Helton? What pump do you use?

[lasalsa]

What do you HUNT and what type of dog is it that fits in there?

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by LandCruiserPhil

Nice build!
Where did you pick up the hot water feed for the Helton? What pump do you use?

The couplers are from our local hydraulic/pneumatic shop...they're stainless steel...and then I epoxied the hollow portion of a couple air connectior nipples with a cord to retain them when the shower lines are plugged in for use. I also swapped out the hot water feed tubing for some higher temp tubing...the factory tubing gets hot...and when it's draped over the shower tent window it wanted to collapse: Problem solved!

I just use the 12V pump that came with the Helton kit (got it from Kurt at Cruiser Outfitters). Installed, as you can see, a 12V marine outlet up front for the pump connect.

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by lasalsa

What do you HUNT and what type of dog is it that fits in there?

Grew up hunting ducks, geese, pheasant, bob white, sharptails and prairie chickens in Nebraska. Out here I hunt chukar mainly...but also like huns, blue and sage grouse, quail...and occasionally I get down to District 10 to hunt ducks with some huntin' buddies...those rice fed central valley ducks are unbelievably tasty!

He's Sieg my 3 1/2 year old GWP out of Bill Kennedy's Smoke Creek Kennels (Bennett Colorado). Great animal and a great hunter (in and out of the water).

[spressomon]

I also modified Slee's pin stop on the rear bumper. When I pull the trailer it made getting into the back kind of a hassle...you have to release the pin on the PS side...then hop over the tongue, etc. So I welded the hole that kept the factory pin in the locked position when closed (thanks hoser for that idea!!!)...and then installed a new pin that I bought from Christo on the DS side...it's a lot more convenient when pulling the trailer and no real downside when not pulling the trailer and accessing the rear cargo space.

The other little mod I did was move the rubber bumper from the DS side of the bumper to the PS side of the bumper so that when I swing the tire carrier over the tongue of the trailer it doesn't bottom out/scrape across the trailer's tongue.

It's the little things...

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by Morty

Spress- very nice rig. Your rig and buildup has provided a lot of ideas for my own rig over the past year (and I suspect for many others as well). Love those custom recovery brackets. Have you ever posted details about how you put together the manual throttle control?

Honestly I can't remember...but I'll look and if I didn't I will. It was pretty straight forward...just need a bandsaw to cut the steel pieces and a welder to tack it all together. The throttle control is from Aircraft Spruce...airplane supply company.

[spressomon]

Future projects:
Fox shocks...this month.
Custom homebrew skid plate & belly pan
Different sliders
A little mod to keep the AO drawers locked when open...it must be perfectly flat in Africa where the drawers are from .
Temp guage for the Waeco...ala hoser's.
Cut the front bumper back 2.5" ala Snook's ARB job

??? There will always be a list you know!

[Bloodhound]

Just one word ~ Sweet, Creative, tough, nice workmanship.