Builds CO_Hunter’s GX470 build

[CO_Hunter]

I really liked the attic rack I had in my 80 so I fabricated some brackets and mounted one in the GX. This bolts into the grab handle factory holes, very secure. Really handy for hats, gloves and other smaller items you want easy access to and not get lost when the rig is packed.

Also wired up a rear 12V and rear center console always hot power port. Now I have power for the fridge. Used some scrap aluminum to bend a bracket and mount in place of the rear stereo jack panel.

Changed out the nasty cabin filter.

 

[CO_Hunter]

Got the Kenwood D710 mounted in the GX. I made an antenna mount for the fender out of 14ga Aluminium. It does wobble a bit with the 5/8 wave antenna so will likely just run 1/4 wave until I get a stainless steel mount.

Made a wooden wedge to help the angle for mounting the head unit. It is okay for no, but I will stay and find a stubby ram mount or similar

I will also do a remote speaker mount but the built in Kenowwd speaker is actually quite impressive.

Using a Gramin to get the GPS signal to the radio for APRS. Ran the wires up through the defrost vents. About as clean an install I could think of with these carryover parts from the 80.

 

[CO_Hunter]

Decide to go with a circuit breaker upstream of the fuse block, maybe overkill but...

Also got the wiring figured out for the VSC off and ATRAC disable switching. Currently using a jumper wire but I just need to get a switch and wire it up.

 

[GXMac]

Wow! That is the filthiest cabin air filter I have ever seen- it looks worse than my shop-vac filter!

 

[CO_Hunter]

Got a few more things done and got some playtime in as well.

Got my VSC / Nanny switch installed and documented here:
Snow and Ice Performance/VSC Disable

I didn’t like the flush mount on the HAM radio head unit so I experimented with a cheap Mini ball head. I had some 1/8’ aluminum and made a backing plate then drilled and tapped a 1/4” hole for the ball head. I tried it out on a recent road trip and it held up well except on the roughtest of roads with speed at which point it would droop down. It worked well enough so I installed one a bit larger and better quality and I seriously doubt this new one will move. It works really well and I get to adjust it for much better viewing angles.

Some highlights from the week long test trip in parts of CO and WY.

High mountain CO Cutthroat, 12,000’
My wife and I use HAM radio HTs to stay in contact while fishing.

Camp spot in WY

My better half enjoying her fishing time in WY.

We have an old small tent trailer we got a while ago so I took the awning with us and strapped to the side of the roof rack. On our only rainy camp spot I experimented with moving it to the rear and it worked really well. I am seriously considering getting a 6 ‘ARB awning and making quick release mounts so I can easily move it to either side or the rear. Seems like that would be quite handy.

 

[ArBrnSnpr]

Great looking rig!

I bought some nylon fabric and I'm toying with a triangular design rain cover that would attach to the roof rack and the rear hatch to cover the opening. A rear sun shade is a much better idea and gives much better coverage!

I might do a roll up design off the rear cross bar of my roof rack similar to what you have pictured.

 

[Rock Taco]

What OME springs did you go with front and rear? Nice build so far.

 

[Miker27]

Great looking rig! Also curious about the OME setup and how you're liking it. The guys at Slee tend to be right and generally dig OME but I was originally planning on keeping my rig a little closer to the ground than the 2.5 OME kit. Do you feel like you still have enough power going up i70 with the 285s? Any guess how much of a hit has your mpg taken with the current setup

 

[CO_Hunter]

Great looking rig!

I bought some nylon fabric and I'm toying with a triangular design rain cover that would attach to the roof rack and the rear hatch to cover the opening. A rear sun shade is a much better idea and gives much better coverage!

I might do a roll up design off the rear cross bar of my roof rack similar to what you have pictured.

Thanks. That sounds like a great idea, I thought about it but in the end thought it might be too much effort to make something that refined myself. Post what you come up with!

What OME springs did you go with front and rear? Nice build so far.

Thanks. The OME part number are front coil 2887, front shock N90000S, rear coil 2896 rear shock N60004S. There are so many options it is not like the 80 with medium or heavies. Told Ben my intended uses and he set me up.

Great looking rig! Also curious about the OME setup and how you're liking it. The guys at Slee tend to be right and generally dig OME but I was originally planning on keeping my rig a little closer to the ground than the 2.5 OME kit. Do you feel like you still have enough power going up i70 with the 285s? Any guess how much of a hit has your mpg taken with the current setup

Thanks. I like the setup a lot, not a plush ride it is firm but not harsh in my opioin and my wife’s. It is much smoother on washboards than the 80 with OME heavy front/med rear. I think it comes from the coil overs and IFS. I haven’t tested it on any real challenge trails yet, especially with the weight up top. Again, coming from an 80 the V8 power is really sweet . I don’t have to wait for a long downhill tail wind to pass people. I haven’t done Vail or Eisenhower yet, being south of Denver I don’t drive those routes much. But our other passes are quite pleasant to drive and I am no longer “that guy” on the uphills.. I put the new suspension and tires on as soon as I got it home. Driving back from Tulsa I think we got in the mid 17s and now we can get in low to mid 15s on a loaded road trip, not bad at all in my opinion.

But the way, I should have added to my above post that we had two frameless pontoon boats, (Outcast Stealth Pro and Fish Cat) Oars, waders, 45q fridge, all camping grear, food, etc. for a week and it all fit without feeling really cramped. I did take our second row seats as well. It really didn’t pack too much differenty than my 80.

 

[CO_Hunter]

I had read about people breaking their cargo door handles while barely pulling on them and I thought, yeah right. Then it happed to me the the other day! I saw people had used paracord handles so I made one from some nylon webbing, grommets we had left over from another project, and bulk paracord from HD. Color is a little funky but it’s different and kinda cool looking.

 

[LaserNomad]

That is a pretty fish! Cant say as I would blame you for eating it or letting it go.

 

[Miker27]

Thanks for the info, I'm glad to hear MPG didn't go entirely down the drain. My GX also acts as the primary skimobile, so up and down i70 is a bigger priority than I'd like. Lot's of good inspiration in this thread, thanks for positing it all

 

[CO_Hunter]

After looking around and thinking about how I wanted to do the awning I settled on a receiver style, similar to Gamaviti. I made these up using 14 ga for the stinger and all else was 1/8, just stuff I had laying around. My plan is to now make a set of receivers for the rear so I can move it easily. The rear spoiler will have to go away and I was wanting to do that anyway. I really like the awning, clever design and easy to set up.

The awning sits more forward, this was just a test fit. It’s actually tucked under the RTT nicely.

 

[BobinBend]

great build thread...lots of good detail to help us all with our own modification lists ...and love the fact you are using it to get out and do some fly fishing

 

[CO_Hunter]

Thanks, glad people are finding some of this useful.

As for the fish, it was released. Certainly the prettiest Cutt I have ever caught.

 

[exigex]

How did you attach that paracord handle?

 

[CO_Hunter]

See this post. I did not have to trim the bolts but had to trim the back washers to make them fit.

GX Cargo Door Projects

 

[CO_Hunter]

This is a better pic of how the awning tucks under the RTT.

I got the rear awing receivers fabed and mounted. I really like have the exra width off the back and it doesn’t take too long to swap locations.

Also got some quick fist clamps mounted up. No more shovel inside the rig during trips.

 

[alia176]

Nice job on the awning relocation project, simple and very effective.

 

[CO_Hunter]

Thanks, it is pretty tight reaching the pins, but doable if you don’t have big hands...haha.

Got my 30” light bar installed just in time for our annual Yellowstone trip. We drive most if not all at night and some roads are riddled with mule deer. I had HID reflectors on my 80, so I knew this project needed to get done.

I routed the wires around and down the roof rack tower. I was able to tuck the wires into the windshield molding then into the engine compartment. I used a relay to my fuse panel and the interior switch closes the ground to the relay trigger.