Builds ATC Fleet Ops: RhinoRide60, RMR60, PlowPig55

[AdventureToolCompany]

The rear bumper now has the 12v. utility light, a LED third brake light and the safety pin.


I also started on my "hatch cover" compartment. Behind the hatch cover will be my AC converter, 12 volt plugs, rechargeable flashlight and rear fuse panel.

 

[wyomingben]

I have that same radio in mine. It was the only one I found that looks like it should be there other then the stock one and I modified the stock front plate to fit it. I'm not much into car audio and as long as sound comes out of the speakers I'm good. The problem with mine is it's hard to tune into one station, it's like two stations are always overlapping. Do you have this problem too?

 

[ProwlerDriver]

Im looking forward to seeing how the hatch system works. Im doing something very similar in mine so please spare no detail! Also where did you get that hatch?
Thanks!

 

[NQCruiser]

X2 on where the hatch came from. Also, what is the red thing between the utility light and the mounting bracket? Is that some sort of shock absorbtion for the light?

I only ask because I was wondering if mine needs something similar...

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

I have that same radio in mine. It was the only one I found that looks like it should be there other then the stock one and I modified the stock front plate to fit it. I'm not much into car audio and as long as sound comes out of the speakers I'm good. The problem with mine is it's hard to tune into one station, it's like two stations are always overlapping. Do you have this problem too?

I'm not much of a radio guy, but I do like my music. This radio "looks" like it should be in the 60 and it sounds ok. Most of the time I just plug my Ipod in and go. It seems to tune in ok, sorry to hear about yours.

Good luck

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

Im looking forward to seeing how the hatch system works. Im doing something very similar in mine so please spare no detail! Also where did you get that hatch?
Thanks!

The hatch is a "Bomar" marine grade inspection hatch (7x11 BOM-8711-B). If you google them you'll find a ton, but I got it from Hamilton Marine (Hamilton Marine Supplies). They come in black and white and almost any size you can think of. You can get them with cam-locks, slam-locks, locking cam-locks and different styles of doors. Since they are designed for a boat and to be water proof they are really overbuilt.

My plan is to build a storage pod inside the fender well. The pod will be accessible via the hatch cover and have (3) AC plugs, (2) DC plugs, (1) Streamlight Stinger rechargeable flashlight and a fuse block.

Just one more thing to get done in 28 days!!!

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

X2 on where the hatch came from. Also, what is the red thing between the utility light and the mounting bracket? Is that some sort of shock absorbtion for the light?

I only ask because I was wondering if mine needs something similar...

The red item is the "LED brake light". It's mounted on a tab just under the utility light, but I'm really curious about the shock absorber point. Have you had vibration problems with your light?

Thanks!

 

[NQCruiser]

The red item is the "LED brake light". It's mounted on a tab just under the utility light, but I'm really curious about the shock absorber point. Have you had vibration problems with your light?

Thanks!

I haven't had problems so far, but once I get my new springs, shocks and rims it will start doing some proper travel off road and on some corrugated gravel tracks around the place. I can see the light out of the corner of my eye in the mirror and see it being shaken back and forth a bit, even on the bitumen. I was thinking that on the corrugations that this would be 10x worse again.

I'm sure I've seen a Kaymar type setup that has some sort of damper/spring in the length of the pole - it could have been for adjusting the light angle too I suppose, I just thought at the time that a shock/vibration absorber would have made sense. I guess a spring may also just make it shake more if it wasn't a certain tension/rigidity/lack of springiness...

Really rate that whole rear bar set-up by the way, one of the best looking ones on this site!!

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

I haven't had problems so far, but once I get my new springs, shocks and rims it will start doing some proper travel off road and on some corrugated gravel tracks around the place. I can see the light out of the corner of my eye in the mirror and see it being shaken back and forth a bit, even on the bitumen. I was thinking that on the corrugations that this would be 10x worse again.

I'm sure I've seen a Kaymar type setup that has some sort of damper/spring in the length of the pole - it could have been for adjusting the light angle too I suppose, I just thought at the time that a shock/vibration absorber would have made sense. I guess a spring may also just make it shake more if it wasn't a certain tension/rigidity/lack of springiness...

Really rate that whole rear bar set-up by the way, one of the best looking ones on this site!!

Thanks!

BTW- I like the look of your truck in your Avatar, can you post up some pics? I really like the color combo.

Good luck on your build!

 

[mwalls54]

looking good captain. I am going to start back on both of my cruisers now the weather has broke.

 

[NQCruiser]

Thanks!

BTW- I like the look of your truck in your Avatar, can you post up some pics? I really like the color combo.

Good luck on your build!

Thanks Mate, actually it is up here already in the 60 Section. I haven't done much more to it since then because my bloody wheels haven't turned up yet. Once the wheels arrive I'll order the OME Heavy/Heavy kit and the OME Sport shocks that have just been released for the 60. Going to be an awesome couple of weekends once I've got everything together..

As for the colour combo, at this stage the new wheels will be black so it will change from the photo in the avatar a bit. Those white steelies are off a Patrol wagon and the offset is way wrong for the front - about 1/4 inch of rub on the TRE's, hence the change.

Build thread here :https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-...ers-chief-blackening.html?highlight=NQCruiser

Don't judge me too harshly yet!!!

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

NQ-

Great truck! Thanks for putting up the link.

Good luck on your build.

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

Storage compartment

I got the Bomar hatch door mounted in the rear panel and bent up some left over ABS for construct a storage compartment behind the hatch door.

The compartment is riveted to an aluminum frame. The frame will be riveted to the compartment sill. I choose rivets instead of bolts because they're low profile and wouldn't cause the panel to stickout.

Inside the compartment will be (2) 12 v plugs, and AC converter and a small rechargeable flashlight and fuseblock.

Here's the semi-finished product.......

 

[Acadia]

looks great!
how did you bend the ABS? heat?

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

looks great!
how did you bend the ABS? heat?

I used a heat gun to soften the ABS and clamped the edge with some flat stock and c-clamps and bent it to a 90 degree angle. very easy!

 

[shotgun12321]

That looks excellent.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

What do you plan on storing in there? Looks about big enough for a pack of bungee cords.

Why not just leave back side open so you have the whole quarter as a storage area?

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

What do you plan on storing in there? Looks about big enough for a pack of bungee cords.

Why not just leave back side open so you have the whole quarter as a storage area?

Good question-

The compartment is a mounting surface for the 12v plugs, rechargable flashlight, fuse block and AC converter, plus some loose items.

I didn't like the idea of leaving items loose in the fender panel for several reasons:
-All the stuff falls/settles to the bottom of the fender well and you have to dig it out to use it.
-It may dent the outer body panel as heavier items shift or gets compressed.
-A small amount of dust and condensation normally enters that panel (eg: from the upper vent and drain holes in the bottom of the panel) and any gear (tow straps, rags, gloves, fluid bottles, etc..) you may have stuffed in the panel will retain mosture and may cause rusting inside the panel (right now my rig is realatively rust free).

I hope this helps explain my thought process.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Good question-

The compartment is a mounting surface for the 12v plugs, rechargable flashlight, fuse block and AC converter, plus some loose items.

I didn't like the idea of leaving items loose in the fender panel for several reasons:
-All the stuff falls/settles to the bottom of the fender well and you have to dig it out to use it.
-It may dent the outer body panel as heavier items shift or gets compressed.
-A small amount of dust and condensation normally enters that panel (eg: from the upper vent and drain holes in the bottom of the panel) and any gear (tow straps, rags, gloves, fluid bottles, etc..) you may have stuffed in the panel will retain mosture and may cause rusting inside the panel (right now my rig is realatively rust free).

I hope this helps explain my thought process.

Absolutely. I definitely like the hatch and using it as a "power station" is a great idea to clean up the rear compartment.

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

Absolutely. I definitely like the hatch and using it as a "power station" is a great idea to clean up the rear compartment.

Cheers!

RIT ---- "Engineers world rule the world if they weren't so busy figuring things out"...That's what my (MIT) says! Got to love her!