Media The MUD 100 series Photos thread (26 Viewers)

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One of the greatest features of our cruisers - the tailgate. My 9yo buddy liking the vantage point and kept me company while I put up halloween decorations last night.
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Thinking of adding recessed led pin lights on the upper split gate when it’s opened, something that is not overkill or too bright esp when it’s dark around when camping or maybe dimmable? Plan to wire it with a switch, please share your recommendations/actual action shots. Tia!

It's a pretty junk photo, but of a National Luna touch light (this one: Touch Light - https://www.equipt1.com/products/touch-light) that I put there years ago. Invaluable. It's just the single color amber with three (?...I think) levels of brightness.

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Here's a better one from the White Rim:
2021 White Rim - 032.webp
 
One of the greatest features of our cruisers - the tailgate. My 9yo buddy liking the vantage point and kept me company while I put up halloween decorations last night.
View attachment 4000596
Thinking of adding recessed led pin lights on the upper split gate when it’s opened, something that is not overkill or too bright esp when it’s dark around when camping or maybe dimmable? Plan to wire it with a switch, please share your recommendations/actual action shots. Tia!
No fancy colors like @saucebox, but the kingpin 40" bar fits perfectly at the bottom of the rear window on the upper split gate. Dimmable, rotatable, and plenty of light across the tailgate space. We usually run it with way less output than the test shot below:
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First desert trip of the season with the new pop-top and awning tucked in by the river.
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Newb. Picked up this 2000 LX470 in TX and heading back to NorCal the long way [NM, AZ, UT, CO, NV]

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Of course. The new details make for a much more compelling story and an even stronger recommendation. Here is the cleaned-up version, formatted to be clear and impactful for the forum.


Subject: Road Trip Save in Grand Junction, CO - Keith's Garage

Wanted to share a positive experience and a strong shop recommendation from the road. I'm on the final leg of a long-haul trip from Austin, TX to Berkeley, CA – taking the scenic route via NM, AZ, UT, CO, and NV – and stopped for the night in Grand Junction before a side trip up to Boulder.

This morning, the trip hit a snag. My belt gave a quick squeal, the battery light flipped on, and then the power steering went dead. Classic belt/tensioner failure.

I got the rig over to Keith's Garage, and the service has been incredible. He squeezed me in and immediately fixed the failed bearing and belt. Who does that on short notice?! While he was at it, he did a quick inspection and also caught a small coolant leak from the radiator. Knowing I still have the Rockies, the Nevada desert, and the Sierra Nevada passes ahead of me, getting it handled was a no-brainer.

Keith sourced a reputable replacement radiator and is getting it installed this afternoon. To find a mechanic who can get you back on the road the same day is just amazing.

Needless to say, Keith's Garage is fantastic. It's a great independent shop that truly understands Toyota/Lexus 4x4s. If you're ever in a bind while passing through Western Colorado, I can't recommend them enough. It's always great to find a good indie shop you can trust.

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Beautiful place! Have you already posted on your pass through pop top install? I would love to see it.
I haven't yet, but will start a build thread once I get going on the interior build. Anything in particular you'd like to see in the meantime?
 
I haven't yet, but will start a build thread once I get going on the interior build. Anything in particular you'd like to see in the meantime?
A build thread will be great - perhaps you can tag me when you start one?
I am curious, if you retained any of the cross barces in the roof, how did you seal the edges, is there any additional road/wind noise, any changes to the road manners because of additional weight up top.
 
A build thread will be great - perhaps you can tag me when you start one?
I am curious, if you retained any of the cross barces in the roof, how did you seal the edges, is there any additional road/wind noise, any changes to the road manners because of additional weight up top.
Will do!

The install was done at CampTeq (a reasonable drive for me, cutting the roof off is daunting, wrestling a pop-top on w/ friends seems sketchy, time vs. stress vs. $), and just the windshield and tailgate header braces were likely retained. The frame (bottom portion of the pop-top) utilizes the roof rack mounting holes and seems to provide plenty of bracing, the platform is quite solid as well, and I haven't noticed any change in lateral stiffness/stability on windy mountain roads or off-camber off-road. The edges are sealed to the roof and windshield with Sikaflex (also used for emu wings, etc.), a marine sealant that is well-proven and robust to weather/UV.

There is minimal additional in road/wind noise with the mattress up top. I play music at vol 11 now vs 9/10 earlier, although the rear carpet and 2nd row seats are currently removed. No noticeable difference in handling manners on/off-road, although the overall weight addition is relatively minimal at ~75 lbs (150 lbs pop-top +25? lbs mattress - 100 lbs sunroof and metal). Much less noticeable than the my previous setup with a dissent roofrack (~65 lbs) and OVS 270 awning (~75 lbs), although the awning weight on passenger side with high-rise mounts likely exaggerated this.
 
Of course. The new details make for a much more compelling story and an even stronger recommendation. Here is the cleaned-up version, formatted to be clear and impactful for the forum.


Subject: Road Trip Save in Grand Junction, CO - Keith's Garage

Wanted to share a positive experience and a strong shop recommendation from the road. I'm on the final leg of a long-haul trip from Austin, TX to Berkeley, CA – taking the scenic route via NM, AZ, UT, CO, and NV – and stopped for the night in Grand Junction before a side trip up to Boulder.

This morning, the trip hit a snag. My belt gave a quick squeal, the battery light flipped on, and then the power steering went dead. Classic belt/tensioner failure.

I got the rig over to Keith's Garage, and the service has been incredible. He squeezed me in and immediately fixed the failed bearing and belt. Who does that on short notice?! While he was at it, he did a quick inspection and also caught a small coolant leak from the radiator. Knowing I still have the Rockies, the Nevada desert, and the Sierra Nevada passes ahead of me, getting it handled was a no-brainer.

Keith sourced a reputable replacement radiator and is getting it installed this afternoon. To find a mechanic who can get you back on the road the same day is just amazing.

Needless to say, Keith's Garage is fantastic. It's a great independent shop that truly understands Toyota/Lexus 4x4s. If you're ever in a bind while passing through Western Colorado, I can't recommend them enough. It's always great to find a good indie shop you can trust.

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Wow! Good to know. Thanks for the reference.
 
Of course. The new details make for a much more compelling story and an even stronger recommendation. Here is the cleaned-up version, formatted to be clear and impactful for the forum.


Subject: Road Trip Save in Grand Junction, CO - Keith's Garage

Wanted to share a positive experience and a strong shop recommendation from the road. I'm on the final leg of a long-haul trip from Austin, TX to Berkeley, CA – taking the scenic route via NM, AZ, UT, CO, and NV – and stopped for the night in Grand Junction before a side trip up to Boulder.

This morning, the trip hit a snag. My belt gave a quick squeal, the battery light flipped on, and then the power steering went dead. Classic belt/tensioner failure.

I got the rig over to Keith's Garage, and the service has been incredible. He squeezed me in and immediately fixed the failed bearing and belt. Who does that on short notice?! While he was at it, he did a quick inspection and also caught a small coolant leak from the radiator. Knowing I still have the Rockies, the Nevada desert, and the Sierra Nevada passes ahead of me, getting it handled was a no-brainer.

Keith sourced a reputable replacement radiator and is getting it installed this afternoon. To find a mechanic who can get you back on the road the same day is just amazing.

Needless to say, Keith's Garage is fantastic. It's a great independent shop that truly understands Toyota/Lexus 4x4s. If you're ever in a bind while passing through Western Colorado, I can't recommend them enough. It's always great to find a good indie shop you can trust.

View attachment 4001794

View attachment 4001795
I live in Vacaville. Work in Oakland. Always looking for people to roll out for quick trips. Keep rolling hard back to Cali!
 

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