Builds GCRad1's 1992 ADV80 LAND CRUISER (1 Viewer)

[GCRad1]

continued:::::: April 22 2017 - Big Bear Double BDAY Daughter Father Exploring Trip

I like my little Saddleback Mountain - Santiago Peak - Santa Ana Mountains.

We are descending and light is falling faster!

Nice BDAY trip with my daughter for both our BDAY's!

 

[Copenhagen1]

Wow.....just wow! Love these reports and photos. Really appreciate the fact that you are keeping that beast in running condition AND actually using the 80 for what it was built for.

My daughter is 26 and my son 22. A wise man told me when they were young to “hunt with them now, or hunt for them later”. The fact that your 18 year old went with you on a camping trip for her birthday tells me you are a great dad and that she is well prepared for life. I know you are proud. Happy Birthday to you both!! (Just 6 months late...)

 

[GCRad1]

Hello Cpenhagen1,

Thank you for checking out the ADV80 thread! Thank you for the BDAY wishes, hehehe no worries on the six months later as I just got this posted with week, months later! heheh but it last all year!

With regards to my daughter, I have two (18 & 22), the younger one has been my trooper! But too, my older daughter is driving a 2003 Subaru Forester that we prepped with BFG All Terrain's, 2" SubiWorks Lift with skidplates.

Bought the rig in 2008 and we've been exploring the deserts and mountains as soon as we got it!

Wow.....just wow! Love these reports and photos. Really appreciate the fact that you are keeping that beast in running condition AND actually using the 80 for what it was built for.

My daughter is 26 and my son 22. A wise man told me when they were young to “hunt with them now, or hunt for them later”. The fact that your 18 year old went with you on a camping trip for her birthday tells me you are a great dad and that she is well prepared for life. I know you are proud. Happy Birthday to you both!! (Just 6 months late...)

 

[GCRad1]

OPERATION HOOD VENT LOUVERS

For all of you who drive the 3FE UNDERpowered 80-Series, you know these rigs make a lot
of heat under the hood! My first thought was to give the rear of the hood, the hotrod look, but
actually attempting to release the heat! The function is the fashion. Longer bolts and three thick
washers later, the ADV80 has been rolling like this for at least a couple of years(?).

I purchased some Pontiac GTX vents that sat the the garage...

I visiting a long time buddy who was into the whole rally thing with us and apart of our GravelCrew.
Seems as though we are all on the same wavelength as he now has a Land Rover and doing the dirt
course in slow speed too!

I finally got time to visit the louver maker:

I took some samples he had to start test fitting with. Yes, this is on backwards, but the overall
shape is what I was looking at.

We take a lot of measurements:

A few days later I receive an email with his proposed vent panel. Yes, I wanted a LOT OF VENTING!

A few days after that I receive a package of vents!

I remove my hood and take it into the garage.

Serious time! I use the panel to make some marks so I can have some guidance for cutting!

With the bolt holes marked, I draw a line inside as this will be my cut line.

CUTTING TIME!!!

 

[GCRad1]

continued: OPERATION HOOD VENT LOUVERS

First line cut! No turning back now!

The easy bake oven door is now cut!

The trick is to only cut the surface sheet and not the subframe below as best possible.

I file the edges... But that's no fun..
I NEED SPARKS!!!!

Laser beam sparks!

Measurement what size drill bit needed to sink the bolts through with a little safety allowance.

Now it's time to drill some bolt holes.

 

[GCRad1]

continued:: OPERATION HOOD VENT LOUVERS

That's a big hole! Better for me to dream about a diesel or LS swap with!
Lets do some side vents now!
Sorry, the whole motorsports side of me is coming out with these vents!

Just so I don't get messed up and cut the wrong shape in the hood on the wrong side...

The blue tape now comes into play as I use it for it's natural body line and guide for the
side vent plates.

Holes indicated and cut-lines drawn..

Underneath I take a photo of the remaining two stickers - never saw what the other sticker was...


BRAAAP!

One down and one more to go!

 

[GCRad1]

continued::: OPERATION HOOD VENT LOUVERS

Attitude Adjustment Device - that's an old sticker from my past...
As you can see, there is the sub-frame that will require some "going through" with the screws.

Take some measurements as to what will be needed to clear the socket installing the nuts.

Silver market indicates diameter needed to allow the socket to fit down into the thickness of the subframe.

Awww darn! No sparks for fancy photos...

They work great for working in the garage too!

LUNCH TIME!!!! And paint dry time.

Time to start putting in all the bolts! See, I read instructions!!!
PS: This is where I got the louvers from too!

I start with putting the side vents on first.

BOOM!!! RHYS MILLEN BETTER WATCH OUT!!!

 

[GCRad1]

continued:::: OPERATION HOOD VENT LOUVERS

THIS IS SO GOING TO WORK!!!

 

[GCRad1]

continued::::: OPERATION HOOD VENT LOUVERS

That will about do it...

 

[GCRad1]

BIG BEAR DAY RUN - August 2017

It's 101 degree's by the office in Mission Viejo...we are in need of a scratch cooler temps for today.

My buddy has been working on an XJ and we took our rigs out to Big Bear for the day for a little
shakedown test. We meet up at GREENSPOT on Mill Creek Rd in Mentone, CA.

We touch dirt at Warm Springs Truck Road off HWY38. It's a little warm today, but we luckily have
a nice breeze passing over so it was bearable.

He went for the Falken Wild Peak tires as well, but in the mud terrain pattern vs the all terrain's
that I run.

My rig is my daily driver and just getting to the dirt itself is an hour+ away so, I love
my "dual sport" all terrain's!

He went for the RodLouvers hood vents as well and told me the first thing he noticed was his feet
were cooler! RodLouvers actually started making louver vent kits for the XJ's. I found them through
my buddy who knows them and hopefully you guys like my setup with or without the side hood vents
for your own rigs.

Don't even know what to say here.... Sit and enjoy...
Snap out of it! Time to get some stuff done

Just doing our thing...

Lunch, refuel and I spy this little sticker.

 

[GCRad1]

continued: BIG BEAR DAY RUN - August 2017

Later that afternoon as the day cools and the mountain blocks some of the sun, we start our
decent down Radford Camp Road from the top of Snow Summit. This will drop us back down
onto HWY38.

Stoked to see this image make it onto Falken's Twitter page!

Can't help but admire the beauty of our backyard. We dream of going to exotic places, but we
can't wait on getting there, we have to take what little time we have and make them adventurous!

While we are airing up:

Our buddy is surveying the stars with his cool phone app!

And thats a wrap! We go our separate ways, mine being the long tarmac way home, but well worth
the extra transit time to get outside and up into our local mountains.

 

[GCRad1]

Kernville & Ojai - Sept 2017

Once upon a time, our families would all get together for a weekend of camping in Kernville at the Rivernook Campground. Kids, life and a assortment of reasons have prevented us from all gathering together for quite a few years. Somehow the stars alighed and while it was not a full blown 3-4 days of camping, we did manage to squeak in a quick trip with a bonus extended side trip home. It was be a tarmacfest weekend, but sometimes you have to tarmac it out for the good of the family.

It's blazing summer heat in southern California, but where I live we are west of the 405FWY and most everyone's homes and apartments do not have AC on the OC costal side of the freeway. There is a month or so each year of late that proves to desire air conditioned dwellings, so we may as well escape to the mountains, but the only way to the mountains is through the desert! Good thing the ADV80 is nicely equipped with a fully functionally frosty air conditioning system!

I don't like fighting Los Angeles traffic and the hills leading up to Palmdale are rather hilly for the UNDERpowered 3FE 80-Series!
So, I opt for the desert scenic view up HWY395. SO quick G-map inspection and I spot a couple of little routes to try out. Like coming down the mountain into Ridgecrest on HWY395 there is this big bend with a tiny side road called Brown Road. Lets just exit there and pop across to HWY14! I've never done that road, so why not!

Brown Road starring into the sun and headed towards Kernville. Brown road will kink right and look
more north, thus I opt for a left onto Bowman Road. I don't remember if I informed the wife that this
was a dirt road we would be traversing on... hehehe But it's in route to our location!

Isabella Walker Pass / CA-178 is rather scenic! In typical offroad fashion, I am looking for any and
all dirt turn offs! I see little dirt roads going in all kinds of directions and am thinking to myself I need
to come back up and just explore this whole area. I think I say that to myself about every place that I wonder into!

It's cooled down enough to roll the windows down and enjoy the desert air and the sunlight is showing off
its natural lighting tricks. Note the daughter in the backseat (feet out the window) and I'm just waiting for a big bug to perfectly haphazardly smack a toe.

Final light before we hit Lake Isabella and the lower spine of the Sierra's is making for a dramatic backdrop.

 

[GCRad1]

continued: Kernville & Ojai - Sept 2017

We get over to the lake with just enough dramatic summer lighting!

Looks as though some much needed rain could be heading our way!

We arrive at camp after the sun has gone down. We get everything setup.

Our camp is right next to the water and its flowing more than I've ever seen it. Not much I can
do with a cell phone image... sorry, but hopefully you get the flavor of it all...

Next morning:

Looks like its going to rain...
and it does....

 

[GCRad1]

continued:: Kernville & Ojai - Sept 2017

We did our "fam-thang" at Kernville, but our explore-wheels are ready to roll!
Next morning we choose a different route, the most different route home than we've ever chosen.

Our route plan; HWY-178 to Bakersfield, HWY 58 to Calders Corner,

down Elk Hills Rd to Taft,

33 to 166 Maricopa,

 

[GCRad1]

continued::: Kernville & Ojai - Sept 2017

Carrying on down the country road:

to HWY-33 (Maricopa Hwy). Once on HWY-33 into Los Padres, the mountains kick in the the 3FE has to dig deep to get us up the hills!
Slow equals scenic view!

The spine of the mountain as we cross over to the costal side.

 

[GCRad1]

continued:::: Kernville & Ojai - Sept 2017

Still on HWY-33 (Maricopa Hwy) Los Padres National Forest:

You can see the fog rolling up onto the cost and we know cooler temp's will be down there. Yet,
the weather up at higher elevation is nice. The varied weather conditions between the Sierra's, inland valley, costal mountains and the beach, what a wide range difference! All in one day!

Down we go:

And through a couple of tunnels as well.

We take the forest route all the way into Ojai, CA.
Why? We've never been there before and we got to cut through Los Padres National Forest
of which I've never been through or to before.

Once into Ojai, we are looking for a place to eat and we spy this little pop up shop making use of a military tent. This is enid and edgar vintage shop. I live in a house of women, even my dog is a girl, so when you see these kinds of things, you just roll with it. When there is something of interest that you can delve into, bonus. I liked the tent and floor with wood and gravel. I need a main office hut like this for my AXIALFEST event!

Now its time to start our trip home and sneak back behind the "ORANGE CURTAIN" of Orange County.
Each trip has its own character, but for the ADV80, no matter the trip, its up for the task!

It just keeps clicking off the miles!

 

[GCRad1]

MOJAVE TRAIL PLANNING

How does a great adventure start? With a great story!

This is an awesome book of more than just a map, guide book with GPS coordinates. This book gives us a great deal of history on how the Mojave developed from an Indian foot path into a major wagon-wheeled thorofare to the West. Its a great read just as a book alone and makes you want to pack up right away and head out onto the trail, but before I do that I have some preparation to do before I just head off into the desert!

Ordered it from desertUSA: http://www.desertusa.com/web_cart/db/pages/5094.html

Back in 2011 (in post #141) my daughter and I simi-sorta' planned on doing part of the trail as part of her first solo-drive trip...

But time passes and I've been teased with parts of the trail with our Yotamasters / BB500 trips as we would run on parts of the trail, always saying I want to come back and check this out and check that out, all while not knowing where anything is to even see!

Only one thing to do!

It's taken a bunch of nights....

But I now have each and every #GPScoordinate listed from the book, loaded into my #GoogleMaps, noting every point listed in the #MojaveRoadGuide book!!! Thank you Dennis G. Casebier! I've been intrigued with this trail since the day I heard about it!

I've had a few buddies offer me the KML files, but too, I would not have known what to do with it... Maybe I could have loaded it into the GPSkit app. But I read every point in the book, marked them in my map with little notes and such and feel more comfortable about it as I spent many nights reading and loading point by point. It was worth the effort for this worthwhile trail!


Now to just find someone with horses and an old covered wagon! If not, I guess the ol' 1992 80-Series Land Cruiser will have to do...
In the mean time, go read about Mr. Dennis G. Casebier over on DesertUSA: https://www.desertusa.com/desert-trails/dennis-casebier.html

 

[GCRad1]

Mojave Trail Prep - Navigational Booster Buggy Whip!

I've placed an order for one of these Dual Electronics XGPS160 SkyPro Bluetooth GPS Receivers.
I want to be one of the cool kids, just like all my friends! Yea, it's that simple, my buddies have
them and swear by them... I hope I don't swear at it and them!

WHAT THEIR WEBSITE SAYS:
The Dual XGPS160 SkyPro brings GPS capability to your Apple iPad/iPod touch/iPhone, Android phones and tablets, Blackberry phones, Windows devices and laptops running Windows, OS X or Linux. If you have several phones/tablets/laptops in your household, and you’re looking for one GPS to work with them all, the XGPS160 is an excellent choice. The Dual XGPS160 works with popular electronic flight bag apps including EFB, ForeFlight, WingX Pro, and many others.

The Dual XGPS160 is very easy to use. Once you have paired via Bluetooth, the Dual GPS Receiver will automatically connect to the device it was last paired with and you will be able to use it with hundreds of apps that require GPS location information. The XGPS160 also comes with a useful GPS Status Tool app that is available free on the iTunes store and will show your location, the number of satellites you are connected to, the battery level, and more.

The XGPS160 includes a non-slip pad for use in your airplane, car or boat.

My iPad / iPhone already has a GPS - why do I need this?
The iPhone and the 3G models of the iPad include an internal GPS, however the internal GPS is made for use on the ground and is not very reliable in the air. You will find that you experience intermittent outages from the internal GPS while flying. The Dual XGPS160 is a WAAS-enabled, GLONASS capable, super reliable and accurate, GPS receiver that you can count on both on the ground and in the air.


More Info: http://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/sep/9473

 

[retrofive]

I have the older model. Seemed to work fine. I can't remember which I struggled with connecting, the Apple or Droid stuff, one gave me a headache. I'm sure they fixed some of that.

 

[GCRad1]

NOT MOJAVE PREP - But moto-transpo prep!

This is one of those items that was "IMPOSSIBLE" to find previously on the SLEE Offroad page as
it was buried in some instructional thread or in some lost corner of the "internight webula" Never the less,
I found it and bought it as the hitch mount is how I get my motos around.
Slee updated the page to make it easier to find as well!


So let's get this receiver party going!

I really like the design of the receiver with it's additional supports.

I go visit Kenny The Fabricator at his secret undisclosed location.

Lets take this spare tire carrier cross member out. It's not getting any use
anyhow with these 34" Falken Wild Peaks.

Craigslist Listing: Honda Civic DTM rear wing. Chain drive adjustable height.

There is some official Toyota metal we have to go through back here in order to install the SLEE receiver
hitch mount. I like the fact that the hitch will not be hanging under the bumper like it use to with the
factory bumper.

1, 2, 3,...

It all came together super easy!

Here is what you really want to see, how it all connects underneath. And the fact that it uses the
factory bolt holes from the spare tire cross member is a nice touch! And yes, I am still loving my Slee
rear bumper carrier! Its a work of art and it does its job very very well!

All for this!

Funny, through motos is how I found out about the IH8MUD forum though the ADVrider forum, but now
I am on this little TW200 forum kick!

OF COURSE I HAVE A THREAD THERE: Escapades of the GCRAD1 Yamaha TW200
http://tw200forum.com/forum/general-discussion/46265-escapades-gcrad1-yamaha-tw200.html