ROTW: kevinmrowland

cfdlighthouse · 02-09-08, 08:26 PM

sounds great. i am also going to buy one either way, but if we can save a few $ together that would be cool.

Thanks for the info and thanks for checking on the group buy deal.
Dan

pismo62 · 02-10-08, 08:11 AM

Awsome build and a true inspiration. There are so many ideas I would love to implement.

The kitchen draw idea I have been toying with for about 2 months. I'm wondering if the tupperware ben is like a true sink, or is it a pull out. I've been trying to find a sink I could plum in, in a similar set-up.

Thanks for posting up the build.

sandcruiser · 02-10-08, 08:37 AM

I've got one on my 60. The company that sells them here is "Mul-T-Lok" and they are a premium-priced outfit. It would cost me about $175 to get another one installed on my 80. They won't sell it without installation.

I'd just as soon save $100+ and buy it through the guy in the USA.

The one advantage to buying it here is that the key setup they use here is bulletproof... but then, I just don't see someone taking a lot of time to pick the key lock on the shift lock. If they have that kind of time, they are going to get the truck one way or another!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

I thought it was your truck that I first saw the shift lock on?

kevinmrowland · 02-10-08, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woytovich

Turns out these guys, simjack, are just a few miles from my house. I am going to contact them on Monday regarding a group buy/dealer pricing. If I get anywhere I'll post back here and start a new group buy thread. Probably can't save much but $5 or $10 off is better than full price...

Jack Simian is a really nice guy, and was very helpful on the phone. His product was a great deal even at the full price.
Couple things to keep in mind, I installed mine in a rather unorthodox manner. I did not like where it would be if I bolted it to the trany tunnel. The normal place seems to be at the bottom of the shift pattern toward the console, since my console is gone and I use that space as a pass-through, that would have been in the way. Bolting on to the tunnel at the top of the shift pattern would get in the way of things I like to place there when on trips. So I mounted it to the dash. I do not know if that would work on a 62, on a 60 the metal dash structure is very strong there, and the two bolts that hold the shift lock on straddle one of the dash braces. I made sure that even if the the plastic part of the dash were broken/removed, that it would still be very difficult to get the nuts off the supplied carriage bolts. You can not get to them with a wrench or pliers, you actually need a short socket and a ratchet with a wobble. Then the last thing is that there is not much space between the dash and the shifter (remember that you can always bend the lower part of the shifter to put it wherever you want) so that made for a complicated bend on the mounting bracket, it also allowed the shifter to be moved out of first (the gear it is locked in) and into neutral. Not a big deal except when you are parked at a trail-head and someone breaks in to steal your truck, gets pissed that they can't, and decides to put it in neutral and push it off the cliff you are parked next to. Since I loved the mounting spot I just milled a block of nylon into a spacer and epoxied it in place. Now it is stuck in first gear. If you pull really hard you can just barley get it into neutral since the dash will flex a bit, but it will not stay in neutral on its own.
I am attaching pics of the spacer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandcruiser

The one advantage to buying it here is that the key setup they use here is bulletproof... but then, I just don't see someone taking a lot of time to pick the key lock on the shift lock. If they have that kind of time, they are going to get the truck one way or another!

I think this is the same key here, I can pick most locks and I would have a hard time with this one. Double set of tumblers come in from the sides rather than the top, kind of like a low tech version of a BMW key. I'll post a pic of the key.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pismo62

I'm wondering if the tupperware ben is like a true sink, or is it a pull out. I've been trying to find a sink I could plum in, in a similar set-up.

Just a rubber tub, nothing special. I like to have everything modular and easily moved/re-moved. The way I store water on trips (Scepter cans on edge behind the front seats) means that all I have to do is walk to the side door, crack open the jug and gravity does the rest.

woytovich · 02-10-08, 11:20 AM

You milled that insert!!!?? You truely are a talented and out-of-control individual!

Winter Swell · 02-10-08, 11:27 AM

That thing is redonkulous, nice work!!

How much is the rent, because, I would live there.

cfdlighthouse · 02-10-08, 03:33 PM

i like the location you selected and am planning to mount in the same place. can you duplicate that spacer?

sandcruiser · 02-11-08, 10:28 AM

not the same.... I'll snap a photo of mine later--- much, much more intricate. Great key. But not worth a bunch of extra $$ IMO.

kevinmrowland · 02-11-08, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winter Swell

How much is the rent, because, I would live there.

No thanks, I don't want a room mate in my dog house with me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfdlighthouse

i like the location you selected and am planning to mount in the same place. can you duplicate that spacer?

Uhh, maybe? If you have a 4 speed shifter they tend to tip down more than the 5, you may not even need a spacer. Or if you are willing to bend the shifter a bit (you do this below the boot, can't see the bend, Toyota makes them that way) you could make it sit wherever you want.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandcruiser

not the same.... I'll snap a photo of mine later--- much, much more intricate.

Yeah, well, mine only cost $55.

cfdlighthouse · 02-11-08, 05:12 PM

okay, i have the 4 speed. i will try it alone.
thanks

overhanger · 02-11-08, 05:20 PM

Kevin,
Got the weatherstripping today and just made a road test on the bumpiest street in the 'hood after installing it. SWEET!! For the first time in the nine years I've had Bart, his back doors don't rattle like mad and that makes me happy. Install, with the aid of a small rubber faced mallet, was as easy as pie - I did have to readjust the door latches to get things just right. I think you should order a BIG roll as anybody that is bothered by rattles and or less than airtight doors on their 60 series will want some of this weatherstripping and I think you should start a new thread about this stuff. The rolled rubber is soft enough that removing the masking tape - Kevin even cut it to the right length for each door and labled each roll!!! - did abraid it a teeny bit. No problem for me but a fussier customer might complain - I'm certainly not about to bitch about this stuff. It rocks!!
Thanks Kevin and I can't wait to test out your storage door products. My truck just gets better every day with the help and inspiration you provide.

sandcruiser · 02-12-08, 07:37 AM

Which is exactly why I prefer to get one of yours vs. another one of mine!!

Here is a pic of my key:

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Yeah, well, mine only cost $55.

kevinmrowland · 02-12-08, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandcruiser

Here is a pic of my key:

That is a crazy key, I couldn't pick that one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by overhanger

The rolled rubber is soft enough that removing the masking tape - Kevin even cut it to the right length for each door and labled each roll!!! - did abraid it a teeny bit.

Glad I could help Bart out! Guess I shouldn't have used the industrial strength masking tape though.

I am sorry about that one, I was concerned about the rubber pulling apart when it got frozen to the door (one of the reasons I sat on the roll for so long), but that has not been a problem, (and we just did a winter trip to BC) I'm surprised the tape messed it up.

wyomingben · 02-12-08, 11:34 PM

Any pics with your sleeping curtains down? Have you thought of a way to heat your sleeping nest for winter camping?

Thanks
-Wyo

kevinmrowland · 02-13-08, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyomingben

Any pics with your sleeping curtains down? Have you thought of a way to heat your sleeping nest for winter camping?

Thanks
-Wyo

I have a couple of outdated pics from when the curtain was brandy new that I will post.
And I just like a good sleeping bag for cold weather camping, cant get much simpler than that.
The curtains help to keep the truck warmer, and now that the windows are limo tinted we primarily only use the curtain when it is cold. When the truck was first rebuilt I put a layer of reflective foil bubble insulation and a layer of wool carpet batting in the roof, that moderates the temperatures a lot, we are not sleeping right on the metal floor, the upholstery and air space in the drawers insulates us from the cold.
But, the BEST cold weather mod I have done is 3 of those folding foil windshield protectors that I took and cut to the profile of the back windows. I put a strip of adhesive backed velcro at the top and bottom of each window and we press the foil against the inside of the back 3 windows when winter camping. This is simply great because it keeps it much warmer in there, and most importantly, negates the condensation issue because there is no cold surface for the condensation to collect on. On our last trip this January we drove across the top of the county to BC and back, camping the whole way and we were comfortable the whole time, some nights I did not even zip up my sleeping bag.

wyomingben · 02-13-08, 09:45 AM

whew nice, don't tell me you sewed that yourself.. If you had a tent & awning place sew that what did it run you?

Thanks
-Wyo

Michael.lee · 02-13-08, 10:09 AM

I love the FrankenCruiser. I wish I had the mad skills you have clearly displayed with all of your mods.

kevinmrowland · 02-13-08, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyomingben

whew nice, don't tell me you sewed that yourself.. If you had a tent & awning place sew that what did it run you?

Thanks
-Wyo

I have an old industrial sewing machine at work, and the curtain is just made out of cheap canvas from a local boat fabric supply. The plastic D rings have long since been cut off, now I just use a short length of accessory cord to tie the rolled curtain to the eye hook.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael.lee

I love the FrankenCruiser. I wish I had the mad skills you have clearly displayed with all of your mods.

Thanks man, but it's not mad skilz, it is just the willingness to make a lot of mistakes and learn from them. Anybody can do that if they want.

wyomingben · 02-13-08, 11:20 AM

I was afraid you would say you sewed it yourself, man you have ambition like no other. I like the idea, it seems kinda bulky when rolled up, but I bet it does keep it nice and warm in there. You have me thinking to have some of those fold up foil windshield sun shades. Wonder if a guy cuts them to fit each window and stores them up in the net when not in use would work pretty well. I'm like you, I'd like to be able to decide to sleep anywhere anytime time and not have to rearange the world to do it.

Thanks again for all the tips!

-Wyo

woytovich · 02-15-08, 03:11 PM

Regarding the potential GROUP BUY for the Shift Locks... I spoke with them today and they offered $5 off if I could take delivery of a number of them (20) at my location (local to them). The problem is that I would then need to ship them and I can't do that for under $5... So no group buy this time... I am going to buy one very soon anyway at regular price... If you get one there is no harm in mentioning that you heard about them on ih8mud... it might even do us some good someday!

Sorry I couldn't make a better deal for us all...

cfdlighthouse · 02-15-08, 07:07 PM

thanks for trying, I am ordering mine tomorrow.

woytovich · 02-15-08, 07:29 PM

Tell him I sent ya!

cfdlighthouse · 02-15-08, 08:05 PM

i will

cfdlighthouse · 02-16-08, 10:48 AM

just ordered my shift lock. jack was awesome to deal with even got it shipped today fedex and should be in virginia by wed. gave mud props and is looking forward to helping anyone else who wants one.

woytovich · 02-22-08, 03:22 PM

Weatherstrip update:
My client/potential supplier for a version of the WS that Kevin used cannot do what we need. His facility does not make the WS with the rigid "grip" part...
Sorry kids.

overhanger · 02-22-08, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woytovich

Weatherstrip update:
My client/potential supplier for a version of the WS that Kevin used cannot do what we need. His facility does not make the WS with the rigid "grip" part...
Sorry kids.

Kevin? Can you get more of the weatherstrip that you sent me? Not to exaggerate too much, but the truck is almost eerily quiet going down the highway with no rattles on bumpy city streets of which there are plenty of in Denver right now. It's so quiet that I can hear previously unheard buzzes from behind the dash and window rattles now and they are driving me crazy. Thanks Kevin!

Rob Faucett · 02-22-08, 07:32 PM

Dare I suggest that we start a new thread re: Rowland Weatherstrip Source?

Ducks · 02-22-08, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Now, no more weather strip talk in my ROTW thread.

euclid · 02-22-08, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Faucett

Dare I suggest that we start a new thread re: Rowland Weatherstrip Source?

Yes, and somebody post some pics of what the hell weatherstrip it is we are talking about. I don't understand unless somebody posts pics.

kevinmrowland · 02-22-08, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducks

Now now, I like weatherstrip just fine.

I'm bummed that Marks stuff didn't work out, I was hoping for a cheap source.
Let me look into the TrimLoc I bought, maybe I can get a better rate for a larger roll.
I need to make sure I can cover my but with this stuff before I order another roll, although there certainly seems to be enough interest.
It sucks a bit though since shipping the roll to my shop, then covering the shipping to everybody (flat rate USPS seems best) then making sure I can cover the paypal fees for all the payments.......you get the picture, every step ads more cost to the little rubber strips.
I am pretty sure I lost money on the last of that stuff I distributed, but that was fine since I needed to spend the cash to get it myself.
When I am back in the office tomorrow I will look into it closely, I will also start a new thread.

Oh, and read the thread Greg! There are pictures on the first page, and a link to my web a few posts up.

Did you see the plastic update in the tailgate thread? Let me know when you want me to send you a new lid.