Builds Stretched 1-Ton FJ40 (4 Viewers)

[Mike Shull]

Oh yea, my blind squirrel has a broken clock! Or something.

My understanding, as someone who has their general license but has never “gotten into” it, is that dual band refers to 70m 200cm, or vhf/uhf. Or uhf/fm. I think. Every single time I ask a ham who’s “into it” a simple question my eyes glaze over.
“Me push button you hear” is kinda my speed and it always gets too complicated for me after that.
Also my understanding, is that the Baeofengs and what not are so unregulated that they are capable of being programmed with everything from FRS to GMRS and all the Ham general frequencies. The new baeofengs might not be able to do this.
Any reputable manufacturer does not allow their radio to cross bands like that, I was told.

I’d like a radio that doesn’t need chirp to program. GMRS looks pretty simple though.

Chirps not hard if you need it, I mean I did it.

I hear that. I wanted to plug something in and hit the road but I had to go the complicated route and get a radio that needs to be programmed. I don’t know anyone around here with another GMRS radio to test my frequencies against. It looks simple enough to add a few dozen channels but that mentality has taken me down rabbit holes throughout this entire project and it is most definitely why I am not done. Ha.

 

[Ditcherman]

I hear that. I wanted to plug something in and hit the road but I had to go the complicated route and get a radio that needs to be programmed. I don’t know anyone around here with another GMRS radio to test my frequencies against. It looks simple enough to add a few dozen channels but that mentality has taken me down rabbit holes throughout this entire project and it is most definitely why I am not done. Ha.

A $36 Baeofeng could solve your testing problem - but - it has to be programmed.

If you did get what you have programmed maybe it’s possible to hit a repeater and check it that way?

 

[Mike Shull]

A $36 Baeofeng could solve your testing problem - but - it has to be programmed.

If you did get what you have programmed maybe it’s possible to hit a repeater and check it that way?

You want me to program a second radio to see if I have programmed the first radio correctly? That is asking a lot from me. Lol.

 

[Ditcherman]

You want me to program a second radio to see if I have programmed the first radio correctly? That is asking a lot from me. Lol.

Haha I hear ya. My shooting buddies heard I programmed my radio and they immediately dropped theirs off for me to program.
Not sure if that was during the last administration or the one before that.
So much for being prepared.

 

[Mike Shull]

The Radio and Alamosa Antenna are working well! I don’t know how well I did at programming but I at least got a few channels correct.

We took the Cruiser up to the Middle St. Vrain trail last weekend and it did extremely well. I am super impressed. I tweaked a few more things on it when we got back and sent it over to the upholstery shop on Monday. He will have it for 2 weeks while he makes the top and I will bring it back to him later for the rest.

I have about 3” of preload on the rear springs and I am hoping that they don’t settle any more. This thing drives impressively well through the canyons and it has amazing flex and comfort off road. I have maxed the flex out on the front but I am still looking for something tall enough to max the rear but everything seems to work right. The clearances are tight but it all seems to clear.

 

[kbahus]

Great trail, I remember taking my 80 through that water crossing and biting my nails the whole time waiting for the bottom to drop out.

 

[Mike Shull]

Great trail, I remember taking my 80 through that water crossing and biting my nails the whole time waiting for the bottom to drop out.

It was pretty deep! I’d estimate that it was 30-35” deep. I forgot to unplug the fans but they seemed fine. I bet that they were only under water for a brief moment as I entered the water. I love this trail.

 

[Mike Shull]

My new air compressor arrived today. The Viair finally bit the dust after 25 years. This thing is tiny.

 

[peesalot]

that'll do.

 

[Mike Shull]

I was spying on Manny at the upholstery shop…

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[Mike Shull]

Manny from Est. 28 Upholstery sent me a message this morning. The roof panel is almost done and he plans to start working on the windows this afternoon! I just might stay dry and dust free while I’m at the Cabin and Ouray in a few weeks.

 

[clrussell]

I’m excited to see this result

 

[Mike Shull]

Progress on the soft top is being made! The roof and side windows are mocked into place. The complete sides and back window will be removable so that I can have a full bikini top, or the windows will roll up for a little more coverage.

Manny at Est. 28 Upholstery is killing it!

 

[Ditcherman]

Progress on the soft top is being made! The roof and side windows are mocked into place. The complete sides and back window will be removable so that I can have a full bikini top, or the windows will roll up for a little more coverage.

Manny at Est. 28 Upholstery is killing it!

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After driving with no top and no doors for a bit, and then putting it all on, I gotta say I’m a little jealous….

 

[clrussell]

Topis looking incredible

 

[Mike Shull]

After driving with no top and no doors for a bit, and then putting it all on, I gotta say I’m a little jealous….

I am pretty excited. I love to have the sides off but I also enjoy having it on for highway driving and for dusty trails.

Topis looking incredible

Thanks!

 

[Mike Shull]

We hit a bit of a snag with the soft top. The material received had defects and new material was special ordered. I stopped by the shop yesterday to have a look and it looks even better up close. He almost had enough material to finish.

Manny made templates out of the damaged material and he is confident that he will be able to finish next week. I can’t wait to see it once the windows and zippers are sewn in place.

I couldn’t sleep last night as I was processing how I was going to finish the rest of my list in one day before hitting the road for the Cabin in a few weeks. I suppose that I expected the possibility of wrenching and packing at the last second before leaving in the middle of the night.

 

[clrussell]

We hit a bit of a snag with the soft top. The material received had defects and new material was special ordered. I stopped by the shop yesterday to have a look and it looks even better up close. He almost had enough material to finish.

Manny made templates out of the damaged material and he is confident that he will be able to finish next week. I can’t wait to see it once the windows and zippers are sewn in place.

I couldn’t sleep last night as I was processing how I was going to finish the rest of my list in one day before hitting the road for the Cabin in a few weeks. I suppose that I expected the possibility of wrenching and packing at the last second before leaving in the middle of the night.

Can you take some of the little projects along to tackle at the cabin?

 

[Mike Shull]

Can you take some of the little projects along to tackle at the cabin?

I might have to but I think that I can knock most of it out in a day. The cabin is about a 3-hour round trip to the nearest parts store and I haven’t had very good luck with finding what I need at these places. The local parts stores near my house, Napa included, didn’t even have high pressure hydraulic hose and the Parker Store was out. I’ve also had to order power steering fluid and items that I’d think should have been stocked on the shelf, like high and low pressure push lock fuel hose.

I’m done ranting. Ha. Here is my list. It’s really not that bad.

 

[matzell]

We hit a bit of a snag with the soft top. The material received had defects and new material was special ordered. I stopped by the shop yesterday to have a look and it looks even better up close. He almost had enough material to finish.

Manny made templates out of the damaged material and he is confident that he will be able to finish next week. I can’t wait to see it once the windows and zippers are sewn in place.

I couldn’t sleep last night as I was processing how I was going to finish the rest of my list in one day before hitting the road for the Cabin in a few weeks. I suppose that I expected the possibility of wrenching and packing at the last second before leaving in the middle of the night.

Tell him to make patterns of it all, I think we both stretched them 14".