Builds I bought a Whale, now I gotta build it and use it (2 Viewers)

[wngrog]

The way to go once you get to Presidio is further west to Ruidosa TX then up to Marfa

This 45 mile gravel road takes you through the Palo Pinto Ranch and up in the high grass plains south of Marfa. Absolutely stunning drive.

Once you get to Marfa you pick up 170 again for another superb stretch of asphalt through Fort Davis out to Balmorhea.

Here is where scenic ends and the Permean Basin starts and the long slug home on I-20

 

[Tex68w]

Nice score on the 200. I love going to BB, we try to go twice a year but I haven't made it out there this year...yet. I don't think I could convince the misses or my buddies to battle the summer time heat out there this time of year so we keep our trips between October and early April. You got lucky with this milder weather we've had as of late, it's usually 105-115F out there in the summer which would have been absolutely brutal.

 

[wngrog]

Nice score on the 200. I love going to BB, we try to go twice a year but I haven't made it out there this year...yet. I don't think I could convince the misses or my buddies to battle the summer time heat out there this time of year so we keep our trips between October and early April. You got lucky with this milder weather we've had as of late, it's usually 105-115F out there in the summer which would have been absolutely brutal.

I agree. I planned on 120…..it was scary hot last time I did a summer trip.

Trade off though ….. you own 850,000 acres

 

[wngrog]

So yeah, equipment testing session was good.

The 200 series is a beast. No other way to describe it but you guys all know this.

Mods so far review….

FrontRunner. The most useful rack on earth. Tons of options for accessories. Great company.

On the 200. It’s loud. Ever since they went with the laser cut sides and moved it up for the table storage the small wind dam just does not cut the mustard. I ordered a fairing for it and it looks cheap/terrible. It works but it’s not the look I want.

Toyo AT3 285/65-18

Looks. A+
Traction A+ on and off road. Very impressed. I had them for a while on my TRD pro. Wanted another set for this truck.

They are loud. Between the tires with only 4000 miles on them and the roof rack it’s not the coffin silent 200 it was when I bought it. I may not keep these long.

Dobinsons Drawers.

A+
Great price. Easy install. I love how secure and quiet all my gear was on the trail. Highly recommend. Give @Ozark cruiser a shout for a set

National Luna 50L

Wow. I did not know how much I needed a freezer. Again. Ozark Overland Outfitters for your fridge needs.

More stuff coming based on this trip. Stay tuned.

 

[Tex68w]

Which tires are you going to try next?

 

[wngrog]

Which tires are you going to try next?

I’ve not decided to bail on them yet but the Nitto Ridge Grapplers that are on my 100 are basically silent

 

[Tex68w]

I’ve not decided to bail on them yet but the Nitto Ridge Grapplers that are on my 100 are basically silent

I've run a few sets of RG's and they were very quiet until they hit their half life then they got progressively louder.

 

[wngrog]

I've run a few sets of RG's and they were very quiet until they hit their half life then they got progressively louder.

Nitto has a new tread one step less aggressive than the Ridge Grappler that looks pretty promising. So far it’s only available 20-22” wheel. Maybe wait for an 18” and try that one……..

 

[boozewz]

Very cool trip and write up.

Looking forward to seeing where you go with this. Already regretting selling my 200, if only because it made getting to and from the trails a breeze, and ate everything that came its way with ease.

 

[Bomar]

Great write up....


Funny I have same noise issue with the 570.

 

[spazzyfry123]

*Writes E-mail to HR for 200 Series company car*

 

[wngrog]

I spend a lot of time out exploring solo so I needed a winch. I really don’t care for any of the bumpers. The 2016+ 200 series has a beautiful fat face that I did not want to cover up.

I ordered a @TRAIL TAILOR plate the week I bought the truck but just finally got all the parts in to install the plate.

Since he designed the plate around the Come Up winch I decided I Did not want to deal with any sunrises with a Warn so I purchased my first non-“warren Wench” ever from @Ozark cruiser

I also could not find any info on how to install a Hidden Winch plate so I took a few photos along the way

I had a hidden winch on my TRD Pro and I have one on my 80 so I kinda had an idea where this would go. The scary part is pulling the stock bumper off. Unplug washer hose. Unclip the one light plug that runs the fog lights. 2 screws for the camera. One plug above the camera then it’s all screws and clips.

Take off the foam and the aluminum channel as well as tge two spacers. Bolt the Trail Tailor plate on using the 8 M10 nuts the spacers used.

My winch would not clear this support so I cut out room for it.

 

[wngrog]

I did not know where the control box would fit until I test fit the bumper back on but this ended up being the spot. I used two big zip ties to attach it

The only thing I saw on the TT site was a you tube video of one of these installed by @Eric Sarjeant ’s dealer. They cut the bumper access hole a bit bigger than the fairlead and trimmed the space around it. When I saw the space was a bit too big to bolt the fairlead to the bumper to the plate I decided to bolt another aluminum fairlead between the TT plate and the bumper

I used some 3M strips I use for filling gaps in old cruisers to hold the fairlead in place then stuck the bumper back on

Here you can see the other fairlead sandwiched in there. This one was the thinnest fairlead I had in the pile. I would have had to take some material off the Come Uo fairlead had I not had this one.

Now you bolt all the bumper stuff back on. I left the foam off. Not sure if it would still fit. I doubt it.

 

[Tex68w]

I spend a lot of time out exploring solo so I needed a winch. I really don’t care for any of the bumpers. The 2016+ 200 series has a beautiful fat face that I did not want to cover up.

I ordered a @TRAIL TAILOR plate the week I bought the truck but just finally got all the parts in to install the plate.

Since he designed the plate around the Come Up winch I decided I Did not want to deal with any sunrises with a Warn so I purchased my first non-“warren Wench” ever from @Ozark cruiser
View attachment 2728305
I also could not find any info on how to install a Hidden Winch plate so I took a few photos along the way
View attachment 2728306
I had a hidden winch on my TRD Pro and I have one on my 80 so I kinda had an idea where this would go. The scary part is pulling the stock bumper off. Unplug washer hose. Unclip the one light plug that runs the fog lights. 2 screws for the camera. One plug above the camera then it’s all screws and clips.
View attachment 2728307
Take off the foam and the aluminum channel as well as tge two spacers. Bolt the Trail Tailor plate on using the 8 M10 nuts the spacers used.
View attachment 2728308
My winch would not clear this support so I cut out room for it.
View attachment 2728309

Any pointers on cutting the plastic for the fairlead?

 

[wngrog]

Add a Factor 55 fairlead and pimp hook and it’s all nice and tidy. The TT plate weighs the same as the aluminum bar or less so the only weight added was the winch.

 

[CharlieS]

Cut the bumper around the outside of the hawse fairlead. The way you did it with the sandwiched bumper, you have a lot of abrasion potential and that is the enemy of synthetic winch line. Zip ties are a hack for holding that solenoid box. Fyi, the Warn vr evo 12s fit the TT HWM without any trimming. Factor55 1.5" fairlead is the way to go.

 

[CharlieS]

Any pointers on cutting the plastic for the fairlead?

I posted a thread about it with pics and details earlier this spring.

Yet Another Hidden Winch Mount Install (2016 Land Cruiser)

This has been posted before, but I thought I'd try to add to the collective. This is a Trail Tailor Hidden Winch Mount (HWM) for '16+ Land Cruiser. Trail Tailor calls this 2nd gen. I debated about which winch to use, and ended up getting a Warn VR Evo 12-S. Mostly for warranty, reputation...

forum.ih8mud.com

Does anyone ever search anymore?

 

[wngrog]

Any pointers on cutting the plastic for the fairlead?

Put the fairlead dead center and mark the holes with it and I used a air body saw.

With the other fairlead behind the bumper you can make adjustments as needed once the bumper is bolted back on. I had to open my fairlead bolt holes up a bit. For that I used a carbide bit on my die grinder

You will want to have some 90 MM M10 1.5 bolts to make it through both fairleads

Also, if you don’t buy a winch with a wireless remote you will have to cut a hand hole in the plastic piece you remove from the top in the engine bay to be able to reach in there to plug in remote and free spool. That or plan on popping the fasteners off and removing it completely to use

 

[wngrog]

Cut the bumper around the outside of the hawse fairlead. The way you did it with the sandwiched bumper, you have a lot of abrasion potential and that is the enemy of synthetic winch line. Zip ties are a hack for holding that solenoid box. Fyi, the Warn vr evo 12s fit the TT HWM without any trimming. Factor55 1.5" fairlead is the way to go.

I disagree totally on the fairlead being any type of friction point.

Why are zip ties a hack? Just because it’s easy does not make it hard.

 

[Tex68w]

I posted a thread about it with pics and details earlier this spring.

Yet Another Hidden Winch Mount Install (2016 Land Cruiser)

This has been posted before, but I thought I'd try to add to the collective. This is a Trail Tailor Hidden Winch Mount (HWM) for '16+ Land Cruiser. Trail Tailor calls this 2nd gen. I debated about which winch to use, and ended up getting a Warn VR Evo 12-S. Mostly for warranty, reputation...

forum.ih8mud.com

Does anyone ever search anymore?

Thanks for the link! It was a question in the heat of conversation in an active thread, it doesn't really warrant a search IMHO.

Put the fairlead dead center and mark the holes with it and I used a air body saw.
View attachment 2728358
With the other fairlead behind the bumper you can make adjustments as needed once the bumper is bolted back on. I had to open my fairlead bolt holes up a bit. For that I used a carbide bit on my die grinder

View attachment 2728359
You will want to have some 90 MM M10 1.5 bolts to make it through both fairleads

Also, if you don’t buy a winch with a wireless remote you will have to cut a hand hole in the plastic piece you remove from the top in the engine bay to be able to reach in there to plug in remote and free spool. That or plan on popping the fasteners off and removing it completely to use

Good pointers, thanks!