Media GX460 / Prado150 pic thread

[r2m]

They were great crossing creeks. I'm always scared of having a fall on these solo excisions and these just gave me more confidence to maintain my pace over obstacles. An injury out there could be a life changing event. I hiked twenty three miles in two days and only ever saw one other person on a stretch of the PCT that I joined for about a mile. If I broke a leg up there, I'd be in a pretty bad way.

Yesterday was my 44th birthday, so I've just matured into my trekking pole phase. You don't have to be an old man to appreciate them, it just happened that way with me.

Here's another truck pic that shows the hill I climbed. I'd hoped to summit the peak, but the five miles of bushwhacking to and from the camp took the wind out of my sails (and I carried my poles under my arm most of that way). Next time, I'll camp at the trailhead and make the push.

First off, happy birthday K Dub!
I started using poles when I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2000 and have used them since.
But you're right that poles will bring up your pace a wee bit, especially on hills and climbs. Also burns a few extra calories using your arms!
Even walking on flats, I like using poles on account that it keeps my hands from swelling on long walks. Ever notice how they swell from just at your side hiking? Try taking your wedding ring off after a long hike with no poles....

 

[K Dub]

First off, happy birthday K Dub!
I started using poles when I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2000 and have used them since.
But you're right that poles will bring up your pace a wee bit, especially on hills and climbs. Also burns a few extra calories using your arms!
Even walking on flats, I like using poles on account that it keeps my hands from swelling on long walks. Ever notice how they swell from just at your side hiking? Try taking your wedding ring off after a long hike with no poles....

No joke. We call it sausage fingers.

I got the funniest little sunburn on the tops of my hands and my nose, because otherwise I was completely covered up. I applied a ton of sunscreen and DEET but still got burned and munched. I guess that's the price you pay for paradise.

 

[K Dub]

Here are a couple more keepers.

 

[K Dub]

I'm going to look into a slightly better compressor. I spent 45min in that meadow filling tires and the compressor got so hot I couldn't put it right away afterwards. I don't want on-board since I use this around the house and on the other car, but there's better options out there. At least I had a great view while I waited.

 

[r2m]

I'm going to look into a slightly better compressor. I spent 45min in that meadow filling tires and the compressor got so hot I couldn't put it right away afterwards. I don't want on-board since I use this around the house and on the other car, but there's better options out there. At least I had a great view while I waited.

Those ARB twins also come in a case for packing away. But they are quite a bit of cabbage, especially those new ones.
I love mine! Fills all 4 of my 35's from about 12 PSI to about 35 PSI in about 15 minutes with my 4-in-1 tire fill manifold I made. And since it's mounted in the engine bay, once I'm done, pack the hose I'm off.

 

[K Dub]

Those ARB twins also come in a case for packing away. But they are quite a bit of cabbage, especially those new ones.
I love mine! Fills all 4 of my 35's from about 12 PSI to about 35 PSI in about 15 minutes with my 4-in-1 tire fill manifold I made. And since it's mounted in the engine bay, once I'm done, pack the hose I'm off.

I was 12min per tire plus the cool down. I've had to stop mid job to cool it down when it's hotter out. I've heard decent things about the Harbor Freight unit for $150, which is ten times more than I paid for mine, but a bargain compared to the ARB.

 

[5space]

Bumper fab in progress. So stoked.

 

[Roody]

They were great crossing creeks. I'm always scared of having a fall on these solo excisions and these just gave me more confidence to maintain my pace over obstacles. An injury out there could be a life changing event. I hiked twenty three miles in two days and only ever saw one other person on a stretch of the PCT that I joined for about a mile. If I broke a leg up there, I'd be in a pretty bad way.

Yesterday was my 44th birthday, so I've just matured into my trekking pole phase. You don't have to be an old man to appreciate them, it just happened that way with me.

Here's another truck pic that shows the hill I climbed. I'd hoped to summit the peak, but the five miles of bushwhacking to and from the camp took the wind out of my sails (and I carried my poles under my arm most of that way). Next time, I'll camp at the trailhead and make the push.

Hey now, happy birthday!

 

[jdam]

I was 12min per tire plus the cool down. I've had to stop mid job to cool it down when it's hotter out. I've heard decent things about the Harbor Freight unit for $150, which is ten times more than I paid for mine, but a bargain compared to the ARB.

I have an older Harbor Freight one that worked great but honestly now I just use the Milwaukee M18 unit lol.

 

[Rednexus]

I was 12min per tire plus the cool down. I've had to stop mid job to cool it down when it's hotter out. I've heard decent things about the Harbor Freight unit for $150, which is ten times more than I paid for mine, but a bargain compared to the ARB.

A Milwaukee M18 inflator is about half as fast as my ARB twin but would be a big upgrade over what you have now. If you don't already have M18 batteries you'd need to invest in those and a charger.

The Harbor Freight compressor is the same as the Smittybilt, Ironman, and many other brands. They are pretty cheap inside (mechanically and electrically) and out but are fine for occasional use (I had one hardmounted and finally threw in the towel and got a ARB Twin). If you are willing to invest in the batteries I'd steer you to a M18 inflator over the Smittybilt/HF compressors as M18 stuff is built well and you won't have to mess with plugging it in.

Hard-mounted ARB twin is still the gold standard, but crazy expensive. My ARB twin cost more than my 29 gallon shop compressor!

 

[5space]

 

[Rednexus]

Nice bumper! Totally DIY design/construction? Not many out there that are mostly tube construction like that!

 

[5space]

Nice bumper! Totally DIY design/construction? Not many out there that are mostly tube construction like that!

Custom! Lil bs was the closest that matched what I wanted but juts out from the bumper in front more than I wanted. A friend referred me to someone that does cool tube work!

 

[5space]

Final product! Unfortunately I have to wait a few days to pick'er up.

 

[5space]

I'm going to look into a slightly better compressor. I spent 45min in that meadow filling tires and the compressor got so hot I couldn't put it right away afterwards. I don't want on-board since I use this around the house and on the other car, but there's better options out there. At least I had a great view while I waited.

I got a viair. I really like it.

 

[K Dub]

I got a viair. I really like it.

Yeah, I'm looking at those too. There's an option for the little one to power off the trailer harness that I'm curious about, and their midsize is a substantial upgrade over my little soda can compressor. I loved the accessory pulley driven kits for the 80 series back when I had one, but never pulled the trigger.

 

[Rednexus]

Yeah, I'm looking at those too. There's an option for the little one to power off the trailer harness that I'm curious about, and their midsize is a substantial upgrade over my little soda can compressor. I loved the accessory pulley driven kits for the 80 series back when I had one, but never pulled the trigger.

The trailer harness is pretty small gage wire, maybe 16 ga or so, and it is a long run of wire between the alternator/battery and the trailer plug. Wire that small won't move enough current for inflating tires very fast, or you may get the wire quite hot and possibly blow fuses.

If you want a quick-plug 12V compressor as opposed to using alligator clips on the battery, you'd need to wire a dedicated circuit directly off of the battery (ideally with a circuit breaker sized for the compressor). I use something similar for powering the fridge in our camper when towing - 10 ga wire behind a circuit breaker, then a Anderson connector with weatherproof boots for quick connect/disconnect at the back of the rig. It's not hard to wire something like this up, including cutting the leads off of the compressor and replacing them with an Anderson connector. 10 ga should handle 30-40 amps over a short run (i.e., compressor at the front of the rig), which should be fine for most smaller 12V compressors. I do run my ARB twin off of 6 gauge though, as I had my Smittybilt on 10 ga and it would get the wiring a bit warm when running.

 

[Cold Iron]

Yeah, I'm looking at those too. There's an option for the little one to power off the trailer harness that I'm curious about, and their midsize is a substantial upgrade over my little soda can compressor. I loved the accessory pulley driven kits for the 80 series back when I had one, but never pulled the trigger.

I've had my VIAIR 88P since 2015 it still works. Got extra length air hoses for it and use the direct to battery connection jumpers.

My battery powered tools are Home Depot Rigid, and I have lots of their tools and batteries. So picked up the Rigid air inflator a few years ago. Liked it so much I picked up a second and carry one in the Polaris Ranger and the original in the GX. Haven't used the VIAR since the air inflators, they are just as fast and easier to use.

 

[Roody]

I've had my Viair 88P since late 2020 and it just won't die. Gets good and hot, but never fails. Waiting to do onboard air until it does, which could be years at this rate.

 

[r2m]

View attachment 4163083

Nice to have the space and equipment for DIY projects like that.
I have a plasma cutter, TIG, MIG and stick welders and tube bender (JD Squared), but not the juice (220 VAC) to do it nor do I have the space.
I designed built the entire rack that's over the shell and cab, designing it in CAD then scratching it out in full scale on the garage floor in our last house. BTY, my first overland build...