Builds R²M 2013 GX 460 Overland Build (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter r2m
- Start date
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Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
Never had the issue but we are in the 4th year of a drought
Mudmoose
SILVER Star
r2m
Richard
- Thread starter
- #724
Yep, that's what I do also, just turn them off in the wet and rely on my rear camera when backing in.
Day after it dry's out, turn them back on. A little of an inconvenience, but easy work around. Considering I live in So. Cal. Usually, except the past 2 years, we don't get a lot of rain, so it's less of a hassle down here.
r2m
Richard
- Thread starter
- #725
Did some overlanding in Sedona with Jake McCurdy (Wasting Time in the Woods) and his family, then the Grand Canyon this last long weekend. I set it up as a "club" event for our 4x4 club and asked/invited Jake if he wouldn't mind showing us some of his stomping grounds for wheeling and camping where he lives. A total of seven rigs. Four JK 4 door Jeeps, Jake and I in our GX's and a buddy of Jake's in his early 4 Runner (not sure of the Gen).
In short, it was AMAZING! Oddly, my wife and I have lived in So. Cal. all our lives and as close as the Grand Canyon is, have never been there.
Jake was our "trail boss" and did an awesome job of pointing us down some beautiful trails, vistas and great camp sites.
For me it was a series of failures, nothing catastrophic that I couldn't eventually gotten out of myself, but annoying, and with some help was able get up and running faster. Here's what happened and what I learned:
Other than that it was an awesome trip! Following are a few pic's.
And again, Thanks to Jake and his family and Jake's friend Paul!
Found another use for my wife's phone charger!
Camp sites.
On a trail.
In short, it was AMAZING! Oddly, my wife and I have lived in So. Cal. all our lives and as close as the Grand Canyon is, have never been there.
Jake was our "trail boss" and did an awesome job of pointing us down some beautiful trails, vistas and great camp sites.
For me it was a series of failures, nothing catastrophic that I couldn't eventually gotten out of myself, but annoying, and with some help was able get up and running faster. Here's what happened and what I learned:
- First, some months ago our neighbors (home) fridge when out and it took a month for them to get parts to fix it, hence being the good neighbor, we lent them both our camping fridges to hold them over. Our large one as a fridge and our smaller one as a freezer. In short, they get their fridge fixed, we get both our camping fridges back, put them away in the garage, forget about it. Fast forward to this last weekend camping. We take the small fridge for the long weekend, drive all day, set up camp, yadda, yadda, till next morning. My wife goes to make coffee and the creamer is frozen solid! Everything is SOLID! I look at the temp and it's set to 17°C I go to try and start my rig and both batteries are dead! That fridge had been working ALL night long to keep everything frozen. Reset the thermostat to 4° C again. Good to go. Learned: Check thermostat temp before heading out or into the tent for the night.
- Second, I go to use my Li-Po battery starter which read 100%, hook it up, nothing... I look at it again and it's only reading 70% which is not enough to turn over a GX motor. Apparently it will usually read 100% when you first turn it on, till you use it. At lest I was able to USB charge it all day driving. I still had my jumper cables as backup but one of my buddies also had a Li-Po jumper for a quick jump. Learned: Top off the Li-Po, regardless.
- Next we're leaving one part of Sedona for some other trails and we'll be on pavement for a while so we all pull over to air up. From my 4 wheel (manifold) inflation system I attach the air chucks to all the tires, and then had to take care of something else for a couple minutes. When I came back, one of my tires it flat on the ground, zero PSI! I'm running and running my compressor, air seems to be by passing/leaking around the valve stem on a couple of the valve stems. Can't seem to get air in the flat tire. We're thinking it needs to be jacked off the ground so the rim isn't pinching the side wall. Learned: Make sure ALL Haltec valve chucks are clean AND clean the valve stems before attaching. Check for air leaks around the valve stem and chuck.
- Forth event... I pull out my HighLift and since I haven't used it in a long time, the moving parts are all froze! Can't use it without trying to bang and bump it up and down, so it's WAY more work then it should be, and again one of my buddies comes to the rescue. He has a little hydraulic jack that looks like a jack stand but with a hydraulic lift. We were able to get the tire off the ground. We then used his air tank to inflate, since it has a MUCH faster inflation rate than my compressor. and were able to go. Learned: Do annual maintenance on HighLifts. I've oiled several times before, but not often enough, I guess. May use grease instead since it won't wash off as easy. But again, grease collects dirt. Hummm.
- Fifth issue. The old Galaxy phone that I have mounted on the steering column with the OBDII app (for speed, temps, etc.), in front of the binnacle came loose from all the washboard roads as we traveled and was now flopping and unreadable. Fortunately, had some good duct tape. Fixed! At least till I get home and do it right. Learned: The double backed 3M tape was very old. Use new tape.
- Finally, and again due to the washboard roads, the ball for the socket of the wireless charger I designed and 3D printed for my wife's phone started cracking, hence I have to go back to the CAD drawing board and come up with a more robust design. Learned: Need thicker base and ribs in the design for more support on the base.
Other than that it was an awesome trip! Following are a few pic's.
And again, Thanks to Jake and his family and Jake's friend Paul!
Found another use for my wife's phone charger!
Camp sites.
On a trail.
Last edited:
Sounds like a great time. Also highlights what you have mentioned before, wheeling with mates is always more fun and also more helpful in case you run into trouble!
Looks like the trip of a lifetime! Congrats!
Looks like a good time was had by all, and a successful trip at that!
But then it attracted dog hair like a magnet and still had to clean it ~6 months which isn't bad as it is always a good idea to check them operationally periodically. No room in the GX for one so finally went back to a bottle jack. I still carry a small can of Triflow for emergencies, one of which used to be for the Hi Lift. More than once I've seen someone pour beer on one to clean it and the cries of alcohol abuse start
- Forth event... I pull out my HighLift and since I haven't used it, the moving parts are stuck! Can't use it without trying to bang and bump it up and down, but it's getting WAY more work and again one of my buddy's came to the rescue. He has a little hydraulic jack that looks like a jack stand but with a hydraulic lift. We were able to get the tire off the ground. We then used his air tank to inflate, since has a MUCH faster inflation rate than my compressor. and were able to go.
But then it attracted dog hair like a magnet and still had to clean it ~6 months which isn't bad as it is always a good idea to check them operationally periodically. No room in the GX for one so finally went back to a bottle jack. I still carry a small can of Triflow for emergencies, one of which used to be for the Hi Lift. More than once I've seen someone pour beer on one to clean it and the cries of alcohol abuse start
r2m
Richard
- Thread starter
- #733
Yeah, I'm going to have to figure something out. I know there are vinyl covers you can get, but they're not that dust and water proof.Looks like a good time was had by all, and a successful trip at that!
Hi Lifts do like to lock up and have to be kept lubed. And clean. If you keep it outside the vehicle and lubed it will attract dirt and grit which locks them up. With the Taco I built storage for mine under the dog platform you never want to leave them exposed to the elements.
- Forth event... I pull out my HighLift and since I haven't used it, the moving parts are stuck! Can't use it without trying to bang and bump it up and down, but it's getting WAY more work and again one of my buddy's came to the rescue. He has a little hydraulic jack that looks like a jack stand but with a hydraulic lift. We were able to get the tire off the ground. We then used his air tank to inflate, since has a MUCH faster inflation rate than my compressor. and were able to go.
But then it attracted dog hair like a magnet and still had to clean it ~6 months which isn't bad as it is always a good idea to check them operationally periodically. No room in the GX for one so finally went back to a bottle jack. I still carry a small can of Triflow for emergencies, one of which used to be for the Hi Lift. More than once I've seen someone pour beer on one to clean it and the cries of alcohol abuse start
r2m
Richard
- Thread starter
- #735
Jake was recording almost the entire time. His issue will be having enough time to put it together. He's been quite busy. In fact, we were supposed to have done this trip last fall, but couldn't squeeze it in. This needs to be done in either Fall or Spring, otherwise too hot or cold.
WTITW
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It was a great trip! Big thanks to you and your crew for being so kind to me and mine. Your crew was especially thoughtful with Alex who learned how to geocache from Todd, got stuffed with candy from Richard and Gina, got to ride shotgun on all the trails, and (shhhhh!) got to drive my GX for a few miles back to Flagstaff on Sunday : ) I'll try to make a video.... someday.
For many folks like me on the east coast we long for and dream of this type of trip. Exploration, fostering friendships old and new while experiencing new things and wonders of the natural world sounds like dream material for me. You are blessed to have so many experiences. Keep it up.
