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Looks good! Still good for tomorrow?
J
J
Builds indycole's 2016 200 Series Build and Retrospective
- Thread starter indycole
- Start date
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- Joined
- Jun 21, 2011
- Threads
- 233
- Messages
- 21,816
- Location
- Redding, California
- Website
- trail-tailor.com
Cole, not sure on an X3 how the trailer wheel width lines up with the cruiser? I installed 2" spacers and now it tracks almost exactly and went from 6 lug bolt pattern to 5 x 150, I now run matching wheels and tires.
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2011
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- Messages
- 21,816
- Location
- Redding, California
- Website
- trail-tailor.com
Good to see you today! Trailer is very nice. You and Miss B will love it.
J
J
TrekboxX
Supporting Vendor
Nice trailer Cole! FYI I have your padded cover laying around...
indycole
GOLD Star
- Thread starter
- #748
The one month countdown to LCDC has begun. We're out of town the first couple weeks of July but do have a short camping trip mid-month before final preparations for Colorado. The truck is currently at Valley Hybrids where the snorkel went on along with a bumper modification to re-locate the 7-pin trailer socket.
There are also a few final touches to finish on the trailer:
* Mount propane tank to front box
* Secure stove to pull-out
* Replace stock wheels/tires with a set that matches the truck along with the requisite spacers for the tracking
* Mount shower awning.
Garmin released a new GPS + Mapping + Offroad tools device at Expo West called the "Overlander." Initially, I couldn't contain a massive eye-roll at this device (mostly because of the branding) but now I kinda want it because it nicely integrates with some wireless cameras that would be real handy with the trailer.
There are also a few final touches to finish on the trailer:
* Mount propane tank to front box
* Secure stove to pull-out
* Replace stock wheels/tires with a set that matches the truck along with the requisite spacers for the tracking
* Mount shower awning.
Garmin released a new GPS + Mapping + Offroad tools device at Expo West called the "Overlander." Initially, I couldn't contain a massive eye-roll at this device (mostly because of the branding) but now I kinda want it because it nicely integrates with some wireless cameras that would be real handy with the trailer.
indycole, Love your truck and set up! You make me feel better about the mods that I have made so far. I must admit you are giving me some great ideas for further mods. I probably missed reading it but was is your favorite mod? Just wondering which one you don't regret purchasing because you get the most use out of. Glad to see you are enjoying it and are not afraid to get it dirty.
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Any idea if the trailer socket just reached that spot or did they have to extend the wiring harness?
Hmmm no more penny packer... what does this mean???
indycole
GOLD Star
- Thread starter
- #754
Just two weeks before LCDC and working through the punch list before heading east.
I decided to take the truck to the dealer for a 50k service and to look into a couple noises.
It turns out that several of the skid plates were bent and rubbing stuff resulting in a bit of the noise. More surprisingly, apparently most of the noise (and some alignment issues) were because the SPC UCAs are toast. The bushings and ball joints were completely shot. I decided to replace the arms with the @TRAIL TAILOR UCAs instead of replacing the SPC arms (or just getting new bushings and ball joints). As always, Jason responded in short order and overnighted a set of UCAs to Toyota in San Jose so the job can get finished up tomorrow.
In other news, we went on a nice 3-day camping trip along the coast (Santa Cruz mountains and then a couple nights in the Big Sur vicinity). This was the first trip with the trailer. Interestingly, I'm getting 14-15 mpg pulling the trailer. I guess that's the benefit of the truck weighing in at less than 8000 lbs now along with the snorkel and nothing at all of the roof. I got 16 mpg without the trailer running 70+ mph on the highway.
I do expect to put a full roof rack back on the truck but I'll keep it lightweight and will likely just store Maxtrax and perhaps a modest solar panel to help with keeping the batteries topped off.
It was a lot of fun camping with the XVenture trailer. We don't have stuff dialed in all the way, yet, but camp was definitely a bit more comfortable and easy to manage.
Yep, no extension needed.
Hah, the jokesters at Valley Hybrids wrote "Thee 200" on the keychain a couple times and the wife thought it was funny and ordered a different plate. Maybe I'll recycle Pennypacker for the trailer.
I decided to take the truck to the dealer for a 50k service and to look into a couple noises.
It turns out that several of the skid plates were bent and rubbing stuff resulting in a bit of the noise. More surprisingly, apparently most of the noise (and some alignment issues) were because the SPC UCAs are toast. The bushings and ball joints were completely shot. I decided to replace the arms with the @TRAIL TAILOR UCAs instead of replacing the SPC arms (or just getting new bushings and ball joints). As always, Jason responded in short order and overnighted a set of UCAs to Toyota in San Jose so the job can get finished up tomorrow.
In other news, we went on a nice 3-day camping trip along the coast (Santa Cruz mountains and then a couple nights in the Big Sur vicinity). This was the first trip with the trailer. Interestingly, I'm getting 14-15 mpg pulling the trailer. I guess that's the benefit of the truck weighing in at less than 8000 lbs now along with the snorkel and nothing at all of the roof. I got 16 mpg without the trailer running 70+ mph on the highway.
I do expect to put a full roof rack back on the truck but I'll keep it lightweight and will likely just store Maxtrax and perhaps a modest solar panel to help with keeping the batteries topped off.
It was a lot of fun camping with the XVenture trailer. We don't have stuff dialed in all the way, yet, but camp was definitely a bit more comfortable and easy to manage.
Yep, no extension needed.
Hah, the jokesters at Valley Hybrids wrote "Thee 200" on the keychain a couple times and the wife thought it was funny and ordered a different plate. Maybe I'll recycle Pennypacker for the trailer.
Not sure how much the trailer weighs but I assume it's fairly light. I'm not shocked at it not affecting your mileage too much - aside from the RTT (which is pretty thin) it's also low so pretty aerodynamic.
FWIW towing my 3 ton brick wall I got about 8MPG last weekend...
FWIW towing my 3 ton brick wall I got about 8MPG last weekend...
FYI I added a one-way valve as a drain for my airbox over the weekend, as I've found I get a lot of water in it when driving through really heavy rains.
Amazon product ASIN B07NTY936C
When installing it I noticed the hose connecting my snorkel to the airbox had slipped off at the bottom where the opening isn't round. I reattached and re-clamped, but probably worth pulling your air filter and double-checking your hose it still on tight before the LCDC. This is the second time mine has slipped off in 2 years, and I made the clamp very tight last time, so I suspect it's due to vibration and the slightly odd shape.
Amazon product ASIN B07NTY936C
When installing it I noticed the hose connecting my snorkel to the airbox had slipped off at the bottom where the opening isn't round. I reattached and re-clamped, but probably worth pulling your air filter and double-checking your hose it still on tight before the LCDC. This is the second time mine has slipped off in 2 years, and I made the clamp very tight last time, so I suspect it's due to vibration and the slightly odd shape.
If they did seal it up, installing the fitting was easy if you choose to do it. You have to seal up the original hole with RTV because the fitting is too long to use it. Drill a 1/4" hole in the bottom side and the fitting will press right in. A bit of RTV to seal it up and it's good.
I tried blowing stupidly hard through the wrong side and it definitely seals up tight. My only concern is long term whether the plastic and/or valve will deteriorate, but I'll keep an eye on it and report back.
FWIW if they didn't seal it up, I'd recommend sealing it with some RTV. Otherwise it's just a small hole that your engine can use to suck water into the intake.
indycole
GOLD Star
- Thread starter
- #760
Yes! They're the Outer Banks chair from Blue Ridge Chairworks (Blue Ridge Chair Works | High Quality Outdoor Furniture) with dual cupholders. They're still pretty huge when they break down so we only take them when we have the trailer or when I'm solo. We use them at home for patio duty as well.
