- Thread starter
- #21
Made up some DIY Trekpac organizing dividers for the drawer system they work great and can be reconfigured in seconds.
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Builds 2016 LC Build - DFW TX (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Kurosawa
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- Thread starter
- #22
Ok, getting pretty caught up now. Today was an install of the Victron on board charger w/bluetooth. I have a shore power plug on order that will clean up the attachment point to the vehicle but it works fantastic. Uses the same Victron App that the solar controller does, it's a treat to have one app for multiple devices.
Yeah, I still have the stock group 27 battery in there...we'll see how that goes. I suspect with sunny days I could be stationary indefinitely but if the clouds roll in I don't have much reserve power. There might be an upgrade there to come but I'm going to test it out for a while.
Yeah, I still have the stock group 27 battery in there...we'll see how that goes. I suspect with sunny days I could be stationary indefinitely but if the clouds roll in I don't have much reserve power. There might be an upgrade there to come but I'm going to test it out for a while.
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- #23
Last week I got out and actually used the thing for what it was made. Southern Cruiser Crawl out in Arkansas. 200 rigs and only 2 200 series, some of you guys are going to have to join me next year and represent.
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- #24
I got around to the quick and fun DIY 80/20 Factory Rack Mod, the only place I diverged from what @tbisaacs and others have done was to use the 1030 profile that is a wider three-slot version. I really like the way it looks in that as my daily it looks OEM to most anyone that isn't on this forum but when you are ready to gear up for a trip it has all sorts of expo attachment options both self-fabricated or off the shelf from Frontrunner etc. Wax your roof well when you have the factory crossbars off, there never be an easier time to do it!
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- #26
Thanks! I had this material gathering dust for the project and then @Overland Tailor beat me to it with a nice Trekpac DIY thread that finally pushed me to follow through with it. It's a fun and easy project that was really rewarding because of the quality of the outcome. If I remember correctly the only place we diverged in the build was I used a table saw and crosscut sled to cut up the material after laminating. The cost delta between doing this yourself and buying it is pretty large. Highly recommended.
I don't know how I missed your build thread, glad you bumped it. Currently waiting on my trekboxx so the timing is perfect! Awesome job! Thanks for the Trekpac links. Exactly what I had in mind, nice to see others have already done it. I like the idea of laminating a full sheet and running it through the table saw.
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- #28
You know how you sometimes have a project that you get 80% done and while it's not actually finished it functions perfectly as is? These unfinished but perfectly functional projects are the ones I find the easiest to procrastinate. Case in point the connection for my onboard charger has been a cord hanging from my grill for six months now.
Yesterday I finally got the weatherproof NOCO receptacle installed - Amazon product ASIN B07TJJQP1S
I had intended to install in the driverside lower air vent just to the left of the driver fog light in that small solid portion of the vent. It was going to require some modification of the vent plastic to create a flat area to mount and to the plug itself since the diameter was a little larger than the vent. I completely removed the bumper plastic, the grill and fog light in an effort to get the vent removed for modding before I realized I had a much easier and better location staring me in the face. The flat area for the front license plate has nothing immediately behind it and allows a perfectly flush install.
If anyone else would like to do this you can do so without removing anything but the plastic shroud in the engine bay to access behind the grill to run your wires. So much simpler than what I was attempting and a better result. I had hours invested in what can be done in ten minutes but I'm pleased I landed on this alternative and I think it works great.
Note- TX is a front license plate state but it's never really been my jam wherever I've lived and I've never been hassled about it. If you want to run one or I decide I need to in the future I think one can find a flip up/down plate bracket that would be pretty cool and conceal the plug behind the plate.
Yesterday I finally got the weatherproof NOCO receptacle installed - Amazon product ASIN B07TJJQP1S
I had intended to install in the driverside lower air vent just to the left of the driver fog light in that small solid portion of the vent. It was going to require some modification of the vent plastic to create a flat area to mount and to the plug itself since the diameter was a little larger than the vent. I completely removed the bumper plastic, the grill and fog light in an effort to get the vent removed for modding before I realized I had a much easier and better location staring me in the face. The flat area for the front license plate has nothing immediately behind it and allows a perfectly flush install.
If anyone else would like to do this you can do so without removing anything but the plastic shroud in the engine bay to access behind the grill to run your wires. So much simpler than what I was attempting and a better result. I had hours invested in what can be done in ten minutes but I'm pleased I landed on this alternative and I think it works great.
Note- TX is a front license plate state but it's never really been my jam wherever I've lived and I've never been hassled about it. If you want to run one or I decide I need to in the future I think one can find a flip up/down plate bracket that would be pretty cool and conceal the plug behind the plate.
Glad I'm not the only one who procrastinates like this. I believe you qualify as a plug-in hybrid now.
- Thread starter
- #30
Eight to eighty in only six hours.
Honestly, the Budbuilt install video that @Taco2Cruiser posted recently made it quite straightforward, if it hadn't also required the relocation of my rear Icon remote reservoirs it would have been under four. Nothing difficult about this install if you have some patience a floor jack and a couple of tools. I'm very happy with the quality of the fabrication, they are built for the hardest of use and they look amazing. Thanks Budbuilt!
Honestly, the Budbuilt install video that @Taco2Cruiser posted recently made it quite straightforward, if it hadn't also required the relocation of my rear Icon remote reservoirs it would have been under four. Nothing difficult about this install if you have some patience a floor jack and a couple of tools. I'm very happy with the quality of the fabrication, they are built for the hardest of use and they look amazing. Thanks Budbuilt!
I have the same BudBuilt sliders I am getting ready to install and will also have to deal with relocating my rear Icon remote reservoirs. Would you mind posting a few pictures showing where you relocated them and any tips for that part of the job? Thanks!
I am so stealing that idea for the drawer dividers. Now that I've had my drawers for a couple of years, I can decide what needs to go where, and what I really need to pack. Very cool and simple solution. And it so cheap that it's no big deal if you want to change it later.
Are the landscaping staples stronger than just bending up some coat hangers?
Are the landscaping staples stronger than just bending up some coat hangers?
- Thread starter
- #33
I relocated mine to the body from the frame in same area under the rear doors where they were before. It was a PITA because you have at least three different slider bolts there to deal with and once you attach the RR you can’t remove the bolts without removing the RR. This doesn’t make sense to you now but when you are doing it it will because some of the bolts have to go in and come back out for additional washers once you have sucked the slider up close enough to fit them. There is zero extra room there with the RR taking all the available space and with the big stiff hose the whole slider has to be virtually taken off to move the RR out of the way.
I got it done so it’s not impossible by any means but honestly if I hadn’t got so far down the line I would likely have looked into relocating to the rear wheel arch frame and may still do that if I see others have success with that location. Good luck, and if you have different RRs than I do the hose length may dictate a better location than mine did.
Thanks for the details. Greatly appreciated! I have seen a couple people relocate the reservoirs on the frame, behind the rear wheel. SDHQ, a shop in Gilbert, AZ, did that with a 200-series they installed the Icon lift and sliders on. Rear wheel arch frame certainly seems like an option as well. My tires are narrow enough that I don't feel they would rub the reservoirs under heavy articulation, but would have to make sure.
Found the pic of where SDHQ, a shop in AZ, installed the rear remote Icon reservoirs on a 200-series build they did. Mounted on the frame, behind the rear wheel.
- Thread starter
- #37
Found the pic of where SDHQ, a shop in AZ, installed the rear remote Icon reservoirs on a 200-series build they did. Mounted on the frame, behind the rear wheel.
That is a great spot, thanks for the picture. I didn't think of pushing it back that far but if I get a chance I'd put mine there too.
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- #38
We just returned last week from doing the NM portions of the Enchanted Rockies Trail (route available online by Lifestyle Overland) over 9 nights, it was fantastic. Here are a couple of notes:
We altered the route West on the first segment of the ERT to two travel days in order to stay in the National Forest as much as possible and include Cloudcroft and Ruidoso two mountain towns I wanted to see. Obviously I haven't done the more easterly route as laid out in the official ERT but I suspect our detour was a more offroad and wilderness experience so could be worthwhile if that's what you are after. We liked this route so much we stayed at one campsite for two nights just to hang out.
Segment two was great but I would say a little too long for our taste, I would recommend spending a night along the part of the trail that cuts through the Capitan Wilderness. You will see some amazing rock formations at one point that I'm sure are popular with rock climbers, stop there and camp even though you haven't made many miles from Baca you've still put in some hours. If you push on you'll have about 6 hours of rough road in one day and then you will still have a couple of hours to get to camp from there. I think doing a shorter day and stoping here was what we should have done because quality campsites are few and far between for the rest of this leg.
Segment three. The previously closed route through the obstinant ranch owner's property as you enter the Santa Fe National Forest is OPEN now! It's slow going and a very long day so if we were to do this section again (and it's worth doing) I would stop early and not try to complete the day as planned in the ERT. This rough part comes at the end of an already long day on the road and would be more fun starting off on it in the morning when you are fresh.
Segment four, we wanted to get to the top of Barillas Peak but the road to the fire tower is gated and closed due to Covid. The road once you get to the cut off to the peak is super easy on the way to Santa Fe and you can make a lot of miles this day. Be aware you have another slow road at the end of this day to get to camp and it would be fun to camp for two nights on this rough section so that is what I would do the second time around. Camp at the end of this leg was epic.
That was the end of our trip, it was just a death march 13hr drive to Fort Worth after that.
Lifestyle Overland has done a superb job of working out a route that inspired us to go check out a state we hadn't spent much time in before and we loved it. I think lessons learned for us were don't be afraid to alter the route as I feel like we were rewarded for doing so and don't feel you have to start and stop where someone else did but rather take it at your own pace. We hope to do the Colorado portion in a few weeks on the way to LCDC #6.
We used Paintsheild 5720 for paint protection on this trip and I posted a review here: Paintshield 5720 to prevent desert pinstripes? Update: It works! DIY & Review
I also installed a Frontrunner 10gal water tank to the roof rack with a quick release fitting and a washing machine hose then spray nozzle. It was so nice, I mean so nice to have lots of water and not to have to pour it out of jugs but rather have it running on demand. I'm in love with this mod and it's a snap to take off in-between trips.
We altered the route West on the first segment of the ERT to two travel days in order to stay in the National Forest as much as possible and include Cloudcroft and Ruidoso two mountain towns I wanted to see. Obviously I haven't done the more easterly route as laid out in the official ERT but I suspect our detour was a more offroad and wilderness experience so could be worthwhile if that's what you are after. We liked this route so much we stayed at one campsite for two nights just to hang out.
Segment two was great but I would say a little too long for our taste, I would recommend spending a night along the part of the trail that cuts through the Capitan Wilderness. You will see some amazing rock formations at one point that I'm sure are popular with rock climbers, stop there and camp even though you haven't made many miles from Baca you've still put in some hours. If you push on you'll have about 6 hours of rough road in one day and then you will still have a couple of hours to get to camp from there. I think doing a shorter day and stoping here was what we should have done because quality campsites are few and far between for the rest of this leg.
Segment three. The previously closed route through the obstinant ranch owner's property as you enter the Santa Fe National Forest is OPEN now! It's slow going and a very long day so if we were to do this section again (and it's worth doing) I would stop early and not try to complete the day as planned in the ERT. This rough part comes at the end of an already long day on the road and would be more fun starting off on it in the morning when you are fresh.
Segment four, we wanted to get to the top of Barillas Peak but the road to the fire tower is gated and closed due to Covid. The road once you get to the cut off to the peak is super easy on the way to Santa Fe and you can make a lot of miles this day. Be aware you have another slow road at the end of this day to get to camp and it would be fun to camp for two nights on this rough section so that is what I would do the second time around. Camp at the end of this leg was epic.
That was the end of our trip, it was just a death march 13hr drive to Fort Worth after that.
Lifestyle Overland has done a superb job of working out a route that inspired us to go check out a state we hadn't spent much time in before and we loved it. I think lessons learned for us were don't be afraid to alter the route as I feel like we were rewarded for doing so and don't feel you have to start and stop where someone else did but rather take it at your own pace. We hope to do the Colorado portion in a few weeks on the way to LCDC #6.
We used Paintsheild 5720 for paint protection on this trip and I posted a review here: Paintshield 5720 to prevent desert pinstripes? Update: It works! DIY & Review
I also installed a Frontrunner 10gal water tank to the roof rack with a quick release fitting and a washing machine hose then spray nozzle. It was so nice, I mean so nice to have lots of water and not to have to pour it out of jugs but rather have it running on demand. I'm in love with this mod and it's a snap to take off in-between trips.
- Thread starter
- #39
2nd Row storage mock up in progress.
I want to add some more secure storage and improve the sleeping comfort when on solo trips by the elimination of the 40% portion of the second row. there are three of us and on family trips I think this would be ideal for our needs while keeping the larger side and maximum space for the rear passenger. I saw @indycole had a new deck installed recently and I thought I'd throw up my pre-production ideas for feedback from him or others before I go to my workshop and make dust. @Markuson I think you have done something similar too? Anyway, if there are practical ideas that might be worked into this I'm open ears.
We place a big emphasis on trying to travel pretty light and everything having it's place, I also like to see out the back window when on the highway so we keep everything down below the height of the fridge when packed presently and this will make that even easier. The two compartments will each have a hatch access from the top with lever compression latches to secure them. It will also be removable without much effort.
What do you guys think?
I want to add some more secure storage and improve the sleeping comfort when on solo trips by the elimination of the 40% portion of the second row. there are three of us and on family trips I think this would be ideal for our needs while keeping the larger side and maximum space for the rear passenger. I saw @indycole had a new deck installed recently and I thought I'd throw up my pre-production ideas for feedback from him or others before I go to my workshop and make dust. @Markuson I think you have done something similar too? Anyway, if there are practical ideas that might be worked into this I'm open ears.
We place a big emphasis on trying to travel pretty light and everything having it's place, I also like to see out the back window when on the highway so we keep everything down below the height of the fridge when packed presently and this will make that even easier. The two compartments will each have a hatch access from the top with lever compression latches to secure them. It will also be removable without much effort.
What do you guys think?
- Thread starter
- #40
A few more process pics of the effort to build my second-row storage before our adventure to LCDC.
