- Thread starter
- #281
I haven't yet, they are still wire-tied up. The DRL module is right behind the passenger headlight, or could just tap any ignition switched 12v source.
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I haven't yet, they are still wire-tied up. The DRL module is right behind the passenger headlight, or could just tap any ignition switched 12v source.
Dobinson's Drawers
- Thread starter
- #282
One of the sad casualties of bumping around Moab was my DIY drawers in the back. The bumping around fully loaded with a fridge and dog on top finally did them in. Not a huge surprise given it was a big box with butt-joints. The bottom of the side pieces split and the outer box became an parallelogram:
My kids are pretty attached to them - so we decided to say goodby and save the drawer faces as a memento. Today after 6 weeks of waiting, I replaced them with a set of Dobinson's drawers with a roller-top. Other than being unable to avoid scratching interior plastic - installation was uneventful and straightforward. The fit is very good, but very tight.
Here's the last pic of them free of German Shepard hair:
I also moved my bluesea panel to the right side of the truck given that a) it would have been obscured by the wing and b) there is tons of room on passenger side because my truck does not have the ML subwoofer.
Also very happy that both my ARB fridge and Goal Zero will fit on the slide:
One fitment note, I used a multi-tool to notch out the cargo net hooks so that its easier to snug down the wings:
This install is permanent - such so that I cut the seatbelts and scrapped my third row seats. Here to stay!
My kids are pretty attached to them - so we decided to say goodby and save the drawer faces as a memento. Today after 6 weeks of waiting, I replaced them with a set of Dobinson's drawers with a roller-top. Other than being unable to avoid scratching interior plastic - installation was uneventful and straightforward. The fit is very good, but very tight.
Here's the last pic of them free of German Shepard hair:
I also moved my bluesea panel to the right side of the truck given that a) it would have been obscured by the wing and b) there is tons of room on passenger side because my truck does not have the ML subwoofer.
Also very happy that both my ARB fridge and Goal Zero will fit on the slide:
One fitment note, I used a multi-tool to notch out the cargo net hooks so that its easier to snug down the wings:
This install is permanent - such so that I cut the seatbelts and scrapped my third row seats. Here to stay!
1world1love
SILVER Star
Bummer. Your drawers inspired me to build my own. Cool that you saved the fronts though, which are awesome.
The new drawers look great though and the blue sea panel install looks slick. What was the install like?
- Thread starter
- #284
Me too! If I were to do it over again would have done rabbit joints and maybe some sort of gusset inside the main box to tie it all together side-to-side.
Not sure which install, but if you are talking about blue sea it’s very easy. I ran some two conductor wire (10 or 12 gauge, can’t remember) from my under hood fuse block through firewall gland, ran along door sill and to cargo area.
In back, the rear panels are super easy to pop out. You unscrew the kick plate in back door and the cargo net hooks, then start popping clips. I made a small cut it the panel behind the plastic to run wiring to the cubby behind the panel.
For the panel itself if I just cut a clean hole with a multi-tool.
1world1love
SILVER Star
Thanks, yeah exactly what I was curious about. It looks great and I like the subtle look of it.
New drawers look good! When empty, do they make noise/rattle at all?
- Thread starter
- #287
Nope, not at all. Very happy with them so far.
very cool, from which vendor did you source the drawers, Exit Offroad?
- Thread starter
- #289
Dobinsons Direct but apparently I missed out on a mud members discount.
if you are ordering, beware that freight sucks right now. My pallet got to Miami quickly but the rail company sent it to ATL instead of Seattle. After I tracked it down, they sat in the train car for two weeks due to rail congestion. And then, finally when they got to the Seattle terminal, the trailer broke down and had to wait another weekend.
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networkhobo
SILVER Star
Great thread! I have Made so many bookmarks. Which spacers did you use when you went to the 18s? I have been going back and forth on whether to stick with my stock 20s or switch to 18s. I think I may make the change, but want to be sure I am sure what additional pieces I would need. Thanks for documenting all of this!
- Thread starter
- #291
Hey thanks! I’ve ran a 1” spacer most of the time but currently running 1.25”. Very happy with both.
Thanks for the thread link.EDIT: Here is the truck as of October 2020:
View attachment 2485323
View attachment 2485328
Read on to see how I got here!
Hi everyone! I picked up an '08 LX a few months ago and started poking around here but haven't started a thread yet.
I came from a 2004 Suburban (build) that I used to drag kids, wife, and dog all over WA:
Aside from a full set of Weathertechs, My LX is totally stock. It appears to have never left the pavement in its 94k miles.
So first thing is first:
I didn't have a lot of confidence in the 275/55 Bridgestone Duelers but they did great. I'll likely move up to a D or E rated LT tire in the next year or so.
I was totally blown away with this thing even in stock form. I love love love AHC off road. It's amazing how much articulation it has while remaining smooth and quiet.
Other than tires, my next focus will be replacing the AHC shocks. One has a small leak and the other 3 are starting so show seepage. The dealer cost is astronomical - so I may DIY.
More to come!
you are going to laugh your butt off….we have a 2004 Tahoe Z71 right now and I have spent a lot of time on your thread on EP LOL. We lucked into it at the local Acura dealership about 2 years ago. 1 owner, legitimate old man truck with 80k. Every single little option on it. 102k miles on it now. We’d be crazy to ever get rid of it.
- Thread starter
- #293
Hah! The internet isn’t so big after all. I love the GMT 800 platform, felt like an end of an era with GM. My dad has an 04 avalanche with a zillion miles on it and it’s still so solid.
- Thread starter
- #294
When I first relocated my camera I stuck it in the pocket for the Jack point because I didn’t really see a better option.
Over time I grew to hate it because it 1) was dorky 2) put the camera at greater risk for damage 3) was off center. This camera is stupid expensive so damaging another would be no bueno.
Well…I set aside a stainless steel bracket from a new range because I couldn’t unsee that it looked like the perfect camera relocation bracket. So I prototyped it up, and by prototyped I mean sat it where I thought should go:
Perfect spot. To hard mount it I drilled some holes though the back of the bumper to hold the bracket, and some rivnuts to mount the camera to the bracket:
Perfect fit! It’s not perfectly centered yet but luckily the holes in the bracket are slotted.
Washington state does require a front plate, so there’s that. I will likely make a magnetic mount that sits below the camera and covers the fairlead. Although not super worried, it’s a secondary offense here…
Over time I grew to hate it because it 1) was dorky 2) put the camera at greater risk for damage 3) was off center. This camera is stupid expensive so damaging another would be no bueno.
Well…I set aside a stainless steel bracket from a new range because I couldn’t unsee that it looked like the perfect camera relocation bracket. So I prototyped it up, and by prototyped I mean sat it where I thought should go:
Perfect spot. To hard mount it I drilled some holes though the back of the bumper to hold the bracket, and some rivnuts to mount the camera to the bracket:
Perfect fit! It’s not perfectly centered yet but luckily the holes in the bracket are slotted.
Washington state does require a front plate, so there’s that. I will likely make a magnetic mount that sits below the camera and covers the fairlead. Although not super worried, it’s a secondary offense here…
Is that stove attachment the only thing you used? You didn't have a camera location kit correct? I need to do something similar but I'm in Texas and I need a front plate.
- Thread starter
- #296
I have the ARB camera relocation kit too. It’s a flat bracket and an extra long cable. But for this I only used the cable.
raincityrider
Go'n Fast and Take'n Chances Since the 70's
I haven’t had a front plate for like 13 years. I got one parking ticket and that’s it. Well worth the cost. I think it looks way better without
- Thread starter
- #298
Thanks, enabler!
Ditto on the no-front-plate looking better! Previous owner of mine never installed one... "sorry officer, I don't have any mounting holes in my bumper...".
- Thread starter
- #300
Been a busy few months!
During a routine oil change I confirmed what I suspected was a leaking valve cover gasket because I smell it every time the truck gets warm. Passenger side, back corner. I'm going to take it to my independent shop to get new gaskets along with plugs while they are in there.
Looking from underside:
Looking from top, it's been leaking a while:
Had a great snow day with @lawsklsux and some friends a couple of weeks ago. Our easy trip up turned sketchy on the way down as our fresh tracks froze over and the nose heavy LX just wanted to slide and plow down a rather steep (10% or more) grade. I called it quits after multiple emergency shoving the truck in reverse to break my slide.
First we tried laying down some maxtrax (and put the kids to work):
This worked well but as you can imagine, doing this for 3 or 4 miles is not ideal. Thank goodness @lawsklsux had a second set of tire chains that fit a 35x12.50 (and shame on me, I hadn't replaced mine since going to 295s). I put them on the rear because putting them on the front made me super nervous but honestly this wasn't effective. So we put one on the front, one on the back:
And to my surprise they fit but barely. No issues clearing the UCA but they would definitely clip body mount if I turned sharp enough. This setup got me down the mountain without any more drama. I immediately picked up a set of low-profile z-chains for the next trip out:
And to end on a high note, in today's used car market, I flipped my LS430 for a handsome profit to a local buyer and picked up a new daily driver to offset the 10mpg of the LX:
Cheers!
During a routine oil change I confirmed what I suspected was a leaking valve cover gasket because I smell it every time the truck gets warm. Passenger side, back corner. I'm going to take it to my independent shop to get new gaskets along with plugs while they are in there.
Looking from underside:
Looking from top, it's been leaking a while:
Had a great snow day with @lawsklsux and some friends a couple of weeks ago. Our easy trip up turned sketchy on the way down as our fresh tracks froze over and the nose heavy LX just wanted to slide and plow down a rather steep (10% or more) grade. I called it quits after multiple emergency shoving the truck in reverse to break my slide.
First we tried laying down some maxtrax (and put the kids to work):
This worked well but as you can imagine, doing this for 3 or 4 miles is not ideal. Thank goodness @lawsklsux had a second set of tire chains that fit a 35x12.50 (and shame on me, I hadn't replaced mine since going to 295s). I put them on the rear because putting them on the front made me super nervous but honestly this wasn't effective. So we put one on the front, one on the back:
And to my surprise they fit but barely. No issues clearing the UCA but they would definitely clip body mount if I turned sharp enough. This setup got me down the mountain without any more drama. I immediately picked up a set of low-profile z-chains for the next trip out:
And to end on a high note, in today's used car market, I flipped my LS430 for a handsome profit to a local buyer and picked up a new daily driver to offset the 10mpg of the LX:
Cheers!
