If you have a CB as well, think about running two separate antennas.
LX470 Family Adventure Rig
- Thread starter Bretthn
- Start date
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If you have a CB as well, think about running two separate antennas.
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- #103
Awesome. thanks
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- #104
Here are some better pictures of the antenna in daylight. Still not wired up but it faired well on the commute back and forth from work today.
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- #106
Puddle lights
So I ordered my rock lights. The each pod has 4 leds mounted to a metal plate that completely sealed and waterproof. I have 24 pods total. I have wired 4 of them into the factory puddle light harness, (two on each side) that was leftover when I removed the running boards. I will leave these independent of the rest so they only function when unlocking or opening the doors the same as the factory ones did. I will probably use 16 of them as rock lights on a separate circuit controlled by a constant power switch so they can be used as rock lights or camp lights. I am amazed at how bright they are.
I soldered them to the factory harness and sealed all connections with heat shrink. I also added some split loom for more protection.
I am going to look like a spaceship on the trail once the rest are wired in. I will probably wait until I get my sliders on though for placement.
So I ordered my rock lights. The each pod has 4 leds mounted to a metal plate that completely sealed and waterproof. I have 24 pods total. I have wired 4 of them into the factory puddle light harness, (two on each side) that was leftover when I removed the running boards. I will leave these independent of the rest so they only function when unlocking or opening the doors the same as the factory ones did. I will probably use 16 of them as rock lights on a separate circuit controlled by a constant power switch so they can be used as rock lights or camp lights. I am amazed at how bright they are.
I soldered them to the factory harness and sealed all connections with heat shrink. I also added some split loom for more protection.
I am going to look like a spaceship on the trail once the rest are wired in. I will probably wait until I get my sliders on though for placement.
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- #109
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- #110
out of date
I just realized that I have not updated a few things in here with the current progress and most recent trips. I am just copying the posts from my original build thread on another site. Please excuse any dates or timeframes that might not be relevant.
I think I have a lot of wiring ahead of me. I really like things to look as factory as possible, and to be cheap. I had been looking at the sPod for quite a while but couldn't justify the money they cost for my needs. I have yet to order any of my offroad lights yet. Well I stumbled across this and couldn't pass up on the price. It is made by Cooper Bussmann and is completely sealed. It has 5 relays and 10 fuses. I plan to create my own switch harness for 5 different relayed circuits and will still have 4 fuses to spare.
I will post some more pictures once I start wiring it up.
I just realized that I have not updated a few things in here with the current progress and most recent trips. I am just copying the posts from my original build thread on another site. Please excuse any dates or timeframes that might not be relevant.
I think I have a lot of wiring ahead of me. I really like things to look as factory as possible, and to be cheap. I had been looking at the sPod for quite a while but couldn't justify the money they cost for my needs. I have yet to order any of my offroad lights yet. Well I stumbled across this and couldn't pass up on the price. It is made by Cooper Bussmann and is completely sealed. It has 5 relays and 10 fuses. I plan to create my own switch harness for 5 different relayed circuits and will still have 4 fuses to spare.
I will post some more pictures once I start wiring it up.
- Thread starter
- #111
The backside of the fuse/relay box looks like this. It uses waterproof connections and can be custom wired for your needs.
I also bought one of these. I am a little disappointed that the white area does not light up or at least have a power led to indicate when powered but it was a third of the price of a Blue Sea unit and is still built well.
I also bought one of these. I am a little disappointed that the white area does not light up or at least have a power led to indicate when powered but it was a third of the price of a Blue Sea unit and is still built well.
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- #112
I got a little wiring done on the relay box. I need to get a few waterproof connections. One 7 pin going to the interior for the switches and one 10 pin for the remaining wiring that will stay under the hood or go to the accessories.
I soldered and crimped all the open barrel connections.
I soldered and crimped all the open barrel connections.
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- #113
Since the last group ride went so well and we still had some roads to explore that we did not finish the last time, we decided to do another trip. We had 9 vehicles this time ranging from almost stock to heavily modified. My wife was even pointing out how cool some of the others vehicles looked and saying things like "why don't we have that?" Win!:wings:
The vehicles and their drivers because we all know the true spirit of exploring is posing in a parking lot and taking pictures.
The kids got to do some mountain climbing and got extremely dirty. Yes, it is as steep as it looks and the wives were not freaking out.
Bushhead came out with his Excursion and showed us all up. He added a 2.5 inch lift since I last rode with him and it made a hell of a difference. He worked that thing through some tight trail with the same ease as the guys in the 2 door Jeeps.
continued
The vehicles and their drivers because we all know the true spirit of exploring is posing in a parking lot and taking pictures.
The kids got to do some mountain climbing and got extremely dirty. Yes, it is as steep as it looks and the wives were not freaking out.
Bushhead came out with his Excursion and showed us all up. He added a 2.5 inch lift since I last rode with him and it made a hell of a difference. He worked that thing through some tight trail with the same ease as the guys in the 2 door Jeeps.
continued
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- #114
I tried my damndest to lift a tire for a nice picture but could not get the LX to do it.
Once again we came to this infamous tree that I cannot make it under. We will bring a chainsaw and make firewood of this thing on one of these trips.
The Excursion and this picture make the Lexus look tiny.
I have had a lot of people ask about the flex of these tires. Well this is at 18psi. When I saw this I thought I might have a flat or my digital tire pressure gauge might be wrong.
We made quite a good pace fore having such a large group of vehicles.
This is the culvert that stopped a JK Rubicon dead in it's tracks last time. He cleared it with no problems this time.
The spray paint tagging is new.. Unfortunately we came across a lot of it and empty beer cans. We are talking about making a trash run soon.
continued below
Once again we came to this infamous tree that I cannot make it under. We will bring a chainsaw and make firewood of this thing on one of these trips.
The Excursion and this picture make the Lexus look tiny.
I have had a lot of people ask about the flex of these tires. Well this is at 18psi. When I saw this I thought I might have a flat or my digital tire pressure gauge might be wrong.
We made quite a good pace fore having such a large group of vehicles.
This is the culvert that stopped a JK Rubicon dead in it's tracks last time. He cleared it with no problems this time.
The spray paint tagging is new.. Unfortunately we came across a lot of it and empty beer cans. We are talking about making a trash run soon.
continued below
- Thread starter
- #115
There were a few creek crossings.
After the technical trails were over part of the group split ways and the remainder of us hopped on the Blue Ridge Parkway and headed out to Old NC105 for a night of camping.
I love driving across the Viaduct.
Continued below
After the technical trails were over part of the group split ways and the remainder of us hopped on the Blue Ridge Parkway and headed out to Old NC105 for a night of camping.
I love driving across the Viaduct.
Continued below
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- #116
After a night of camping and good company we were woken up early by my 5 year old daughter and took the opportunity to try to catch the sunrise coming up over Table Rock. The sunrise was beautiful... my pictures, not so much. I am getting better though.
We had an awesome campsite.
After a good healthy breakfast we packed up and rode another 20 or so miles of dirt up to Table Rock. My daughter was a little cranky at this point so we had to put the hike to the top off until next time.
The Lexus had a good coating of dust at this point.
We had some awesome weather on the drive home too.
We had a great time making new friends and seeing others again. My family cannot wait until the next one.
We had an awesome campsite.
After a good healthy breakfast we packed up and rode another 20 or so miles of dirt up to Table Rock. My daughter was a little cranky at this point so we had to put the hike to the top off until next time.
The Lexus had a good coating of dust at this point.
We had some awesome weather on the drive home too.
We had a great time making new friends and seeing others again. My family cannot wait until the next one.
Who did you get the bussman fuse and relay case from?
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- #118
Great story! Enjoying it very much!
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- #120
Thanks, hopefully I will get some time to do some more work soon and make another trip. Looking forward to some snow runs this winter.
