Builds GX470 - Weekend Overland Build

[BlackUSK56]

Thanks, at first I really wanted an Ash Blue GX, but now I love the Blue Meridian Pearl. We ran trail 22, and then we went to the overlook. the next day we did trails 4 and 19. We only had from 1pm till dusk the first day, and then from 9am till lunch the second day. Next time I would like to get there on a Friday night and have more time to drive around.

 

[madtoy]

Thanks, at first I really wanted an Ash Blue GX, but now I love the Blue Meridian Pearl. We ran trail 22, and then we went to the overlook. the next day we did trails 4 and 19. We only had from 1pm till dusk the first day, and then from 9am till lunch the second day. Next time I would like to get there on a Friday night and have more time to drive around.

We usually go up either Thursday or Friday evening, do some glamping (ie. stay in hotel), then start off early Friday or Saturday to get a full day in. I haven't done Windrock in the GX yet, but hope to again soon - once I have the rest of the armor in place, and at least one locker. There are some real fun hill climbs in the 40x trails - but A-TRAC would certainly hurt more than help on a few of them.

 

[BlackUSK56]

 

[madtoy]

Nice - but did you guys skip out on the best part of trail 22 - the obstacles toward the end of it?

 

[GXO]

Did they grade T22? It was a lot harder when I was there last.

 

[madtoy]

Did they grade T22? It was a lot harder when I was there last.

That's what worries me. I'm thinking if any part of that trail is great for filming, it would be the end - but I don't see it on the video. It's like when they graded trail 3. It used to be a fairly difficult trail, even up to the rock garden area. Then after grading, you didn't know it was the same trail

 

[BlackUSK56]

Unfortunately we didn't get footage of the handful of difficult areas of 22. We had 2 GoPros recording on my GX, but the group we were with was quite large, and there was lots of drive for 30 seconds and then stop and wait, drive for 10 seconds and stop and wait. Cameras were getting turned off to save batteries and not getting turned back on. The first bit of 22 had several steep hill climbs covered in soupy mud with deep ruts in them. Then there were several rocky areas with mild off camber climbs. There was a bastard of a rock that my friend scratched the door moldings on and modified the passenger rocker panel. The camera actually hit the rock and fell off under the wagon. So all the good parts where tires started slipping and A-TRAC kicked in and clawed up and over didn't get filmed. Other than a handful of spots it wasn't very bad. I definitely wish I had rock sliders and didn't have 85 pounds of wheel and tire on the roof making extra body roll.

 

[BlackUSK56]

After scouring through footage from the rest of the group, this was the only other video I could find from 22. Nobody got any footage of the rock scraping into the door mouldings further down the trail. For the record my friend was driving this section, and it was his first time intentionally off pavement.

 

[freddydt]

Well after a camping trip a few weeks back, I found that the little group 34 battery wasn't going to cutting it. So, I was lucky enough that the store let me exchange it for a group 31 battery that has 5 times the amp hours. It took 15 feet of black and 17 feet of red 4 gauge wire to link the batteries together. I have a voltage sensitive relay controlling the connection between the batteries.

Did you mount the base plate via the existing holes where the floor tie downs bolt to? Hoping to get my drawers started soon. And, what kind of wood did you use? Thanks!

 

[BlackUSK56]

Did you mount the base plate via the existing holes where the floor tie downs bolt to? Hoping to get my drawers started soon. And, what kind of wood did you use? Thanks!

I removed the little tiny factory d-ring anchors, which are bolted to the floor. Then measured and drilled some 3/4" holes in the bottom of my wood box. At HD, I found some long metric machine thread screws and fender washers. This let me secure the entire box to the floor, so if i have an accident it shouldn't go anywhere. This box is built out of 3/4" Birch plywood. Birch, Oak, and Maple are all fairly close on the wood hardness scale. I bought the Birch because it was available in multiple thicknesses. When I build the drawers they will just be 1/2" plywood, and the fridge slide will be 3/4".

 

[BlackUSK56]

Well my driver's side headlight has been out since February, and through days of research and recommendations I ended up ordering some LED lights. These are some no name ebay lights, $40 shipped, 3 year warranty, my friend has had good luck with them on some of his cars.

Simple plug and play.

They are a major improvement over the stock halogen bulbs.

Overall, I am happy with them. I think I may order a set for the high beams.

 

[dnp]

Well my driver's side headlight has been out since February, and through days of research and recommendations I ended up ordering some LED lights. These are some no name ebay lights, $40 shipped, 3 year warranty, my friend has had good luck with them on some of his cars.

Simple plug and play.

They are a major improvement over the stock halogen bulbs.

Overall, I am happy with them. I think I may order a set for the high beams.

Glad you posted about these. I have been wondering how LED bulbs - generally not having a "front-firing" emitter - would work in a projector housing. Glad to see they work well......
By the way, i can't remember: what number are the low and high beam bulbs on a GX?

 

[BlackUSK56]

Headlights (High Beam):
Bulb No: 9005
Watts: 60
Type: HB3 Halogen

Headlights (Low Beam):
Bulb No: 9005
Watts: 55
Type: H11 Halogen

FogLamps:
Watts: 55
Type: H3 Halogen

 

[Bluetribal]

Well my driver's side headlight has been out since February, and through days of research and recommendations I ended up ordering some LED lights. These are some no name ebay lights, $40 shipped, 3 year warranty, my friend has had good luck with them on some of his cars.

Simple plug and play.

They are a major improvement over the stock halogen bulbs.

Overall, I am happy with them. I think I may order a set for the high beams.

Do you have a brand name or link to EBay seller?
I installed some upgraded Halogens that I had to trim the tabs but not really impressed.
Let us know if you get flashed by on coming traffic with these.

 

[TexasTundra]

Do you have a brand name or link to EBay seller?
I installed some upgraded Halogens that I had to trim the tabs but not really impressed.
Let us know if you get flashed by on coming traffic with these.

I ordered some similar looking ones back in November and they both failed in less than 7 months. Very interested in how these work out for you.

 

[lockd80]

Keep us updated, my experience with aftermarket LED and HID lights is that they are very bright but do not project as far down the road as upgraded stock style bulbs. Sometimes they work good for low beams as long as they don't blind oncoming drivers but I have yet to come across a high beam replacement that will out perform a good stock style bulb combined with an upgraded wiring harness.

 

[GXO]

I did my high beams with BPS LEDs and they are projecting as far as my halogens and have a wider spread (same horizon so I don't blind people).

Lows (OPT7) are still pending install due to them sending me 9005 plugs vs. H11 and not understanding these simple facts in email over the last few days.

 

[fstbll42]

I have had mine in for about a year and can tell that they are dimming and starting to flicker. These were Ebay products and were like $55. I have love the color and throw when they were new... just wish I could get a cleaner cut off like the new GX or BMW type projections.

 

[Bama4door]

@BlackUSK56 Just read through your thread and really like what you've done with your GX. I'm in Nashville just down the road from you if you ever want to meet up for a beer or maybe check out the dirt devil trails one weekend.

 

[BlackUSK56]

@Bama4door I was wanting to drive some more of the Dirt Devil at the end of the month when the leaves are changing. I definitely wouldn't mind having another vehicle with me, if you're interested.