Builds DRANGED's GX470 build/ownership thread

[DRANGED]

I bought these: Amazon Air Springs
They were low cost. Factory air springs lasted 14 years, if these last half that I'll be happy, and if they go out then I'll replace with coils, by that time it should be my primary vehicle not the Mrs.

Fedex tracking is worthless, ETA is Wednesday, last update was three days ago.....!?!!?

I love this descriptor:

• Provide a smooth, constant ride quality, evenly distributed impact force in the head and chest, greatly reducing the possibility of injury

But yeah, for a hundo, if you get a few years out of these, you're psyched!!

 

[DRANGED]

Great trip! thanks for posting all the pics! Ever since we did our Maze and Needles trip we have been wanting to go back and do some more expo and side hikes.

Kind of surprised you only got a few scratches on the rear bumper, I would have expected you have more damage on stock height. Must be a good driver!

Thanks! Yeah, this is some great country, and now with a truly capable rig I'm glad we're finally getting out to see some of it!
Than ks, yeah I try to be really cognizant of my lines. This still is and will be for some time, the family truckster, road tripper, weekend camping rig, and my DD (when it's not walking/biking season. So I try to be careful with my wheeling. I got about as much (let rear bumper, aft of mudflap on eparture angle) from SOB hill in the needles. I'm just super impressed at the capability of the GX in the off-the-floor configuration. In time I hope to do a similar 2" ish lift (yours looks pretty damn dialed), but I'm not yet ready to lose the functional auto-leveling rear suspension and I do like the AVS (variable dampening shocks).

I could use an engine skid, but even with the puck leveler, I hardly touch that skin now, so losing the gained clearance would be self-fulfilling for the skid. Sliders are on the list too. i was sold on white knuckle but I really like the looks of hefty's. When the time comes, I'll approach them for a DIY kit as you did.

Ciao for now, and drop a line when you head this way again.

 

[runningdrew]

I love this descriptor:

• Provide a smooth, constant ride quality, evenly distributed impact force in the head and chest, greatly reducing the possibility of injury

But yeah, for a hundo, if you get a few years out of these, you're psyched!!

Yeah, didn't even read that, LOL, I don't know about chest, but my stomach bouncing was making me sea sick, and with a UT trip planned over Christmas my daughter that gets car sick just going to the grocery store would have been a mess . Ask me how I know

 

[DRANGED]

Yeah, didn't even read that, LOL, I don't know about chest, but my stomach bouncing was making me sea sick, and with a UT trip planned over Christmas my daughter that gets car sick just going to the grocery store would have been a mess . Ask me how I know

lol, cross-posting descriptions for SRS airbags. Poor editing and proofing on someone's end

 

[DRANGED]

so, since my lock-out on elk ridge on a 3 day weekend.. (3 hour drive-home for the spare)...
I now have a half-programmed valet key that needs a home. I originally wanted to tuck it in the hitch tube by the exhaust, but this hide-a-key doesn't fit... that spot OR the key

But keen friends here on mud gave me the KISS solution

 

[DRANGED]

This is a little personal and a bit of a personal glimpse into our lives)
So... Over Thanksgiving week in The Maze, my younger son lost his beloved puppy at The Maze Overlook campground.

This is not just a stuffy, puppy's been with him for 4 years and helped him through MANY procedures during that time.

So, with that. I had to make a real effort to search for puppy. . . . .

 

[DRANGED]

Yesterday I did a rocket-run to the Maze Overlook (to look for beloved puppy) from Moab.
Chevron breakfast burrito run from Stu's Deli:

depart moab, sun glow behind the La Sals @ 6.54

UFO clouds over the Abajo @ 7.23:

sunrise 7.39

Comb Ridge road-cut:

The Henrys:

Mooo

CO river bridge by Hite Marina

Road into the maze by 9.30

Rally time! 2.5 hours from Moab to southern entrance tot he maze!

 

[DRANGED]

The Doll House intersection @ 10.43

virgin trail-blazing from dollhouse intersection past Orange Cliffs to Happy Canyon CG:

Flint Trail intersection @ 11.13:

Actual NP boundary by noon:

Maze Overlook CG by 12

poser timer shot:

Count it. Moab to Maze Overlook via Hite 5.10!!
recalling loaded for a 6-day trip last month, in caravan form, lolligagging and hauling 1,300# of gear, via the northern route, it took us 8.5 hours.

 

[DRANGED]

There was much searching:

Every fallen rock from the upper layer looks like puppy

Oh yeah, there's standing rock where we camped on nights 2 and 3.

After about 4.5 hours of searching and a snack... sadly the truth is realized. No Puppy

 

[DRANGED]

The sun tucked behind the rocks @ 4.15 not to be seen again until 7.15 Am or so. So that's a LONG time. I'd brought gear to bivy...

but.. i thought, well maybe I'll move to the Flint trail junction and sleep in the GX then tackle the flint trail when cold and frozen....in the dark
So I left the Maze Overlook CG @ 5.10, arriving @ Flint trail intersection by 6.20

.

So.. hell, it was 31 degrees, and climbing the flint trail in the dark and snow at 6.20 AM or PM, what's the difference, So I went for it...
Ranger had said 4 chains required to hit the flint trail this time of year and convinced me approaching via Hite would negate time needed to deal with donning and doffing chains, so that's the reason I came in via the southern route.


But, 4lo, aired down, traction control and... a GX, so I went for the climb out the flint trail, in the dark, covered in snow.

 

[DRANGED]

No footage, sadly. But traction control burped 3-4 times, I hit some drifting that had covered the previous Happy Canyon camper's out and back tracks, so i started to auger in then backed up and re-approached through that spot. There were 2 spots where the trail is VERY steep (YouTube will show you those spots on the Flint trail ascent) and was a luittle chundered from other vehicle. Chains would have helped, no doubt (and I did have one pair), but I feared the trail damage trail would encur, and was able to climbe through those sections with some traction control triple-timing and steering for traction. I think the spinning was inevitable but layed down much less trail damage than chains would have done.

Then up on top, there's some fast easy-going from the Flint switchbacks to the Hans Flat ranger station.. I rolled passed there @ 7.22:

Made Horseshoe junction kiosks by 7.51 where I aired up:

and made pavement on Hwy 24 @ 8.33:

i was back home with the same gas (I took the Sceptor but did not empty it into the GX) from refueling at Hwy 191 - 95 intersection (just south of Blanding) by 10!!

Round trip from Moab to Maze Overlook via Hite returning via Flint trail, solo, light, Superu (callback to my previous rig) rally-style (aka White rim car, pavement to pavement in under 5 hours) in 364 miles and 15 hours, 289 miles on the Blanding gas.

Ergo, 4.50 hours Maze Overlook to Moab, whereas when loaded and caravan style via Dirt road from Green River it took 8.5 hours last month.

 

[DRANGED]

Just got a pair of Treaty Oak front recovery points in the mail.

These are awesome. 0.5" steel, CAD cut, unfinished for $90 shipped FOR THE PAIR WITH GRADE 8 METRIC HARDWARE.
Other's I've seen are at the $80 for one - no hardware price point.

Available from a Mud member:
120 series front recovery points
direct URL --> Recovery Points

 

[CO_Hunter]

Wow, what an epic trip, solo as well! Glad you made it out and back safely. Hope you find the puppy behind the couch, I am sure you looked there before the trip . I pray your little guy is all better. Our son was a preemie, so I can relate a little bit.

 

[DRANGED]

adding recovery bits. Opinions, thoughts, comments, experiences?

 

[GXO]

They work. You will need to unbolt and shift the radiator to get to the hardware to mount them easily.

 

[DRANGED]

They work. You will need to unbolt and shift the radiator to get to the hardware to mount them easily.

Copy that. Thanks.
I got the install beta on file for install from another brand and was wondering though, could the nut be put in-board vs. the bolt head, so no need to loosen/shift radiator....?

 

[James C]

I have the trail tailor version, and the nut was too thick to fit in between the radiator and the frame horn. Even if it wasn't, you wouldn't have much if any extra thread past the nylon nut lock which always makes me a bit nervous. It's just a few extra wrench turns to loosen the radiator!

 

[DRANGED]

I have the trail tailor version, and the nut was too thick to fit in between the radiator and the frame horn. Even if it wasn't, you wouldn't have much if any extra thread past the nylon nut lock which always makes me a bit nervous. It's just a few extra wrench turns to loosen the radiator!

Did you have to remove your factory tie-down? TT suggests '06+ may have shackle interference with tow loop.

 

[James C]

I didn't, but I have an '04. But are the treaty oak the same dimensions? Only one way to find out

 

[DRANGED]

I didn't, but I have an '04. But are the treaty oak the same dimensions? Only one way to find out

Yeah, same mounting, slightly different top cut. Today could be the day