Vermont Photo Hunting Rig (3 Viewers)

[PoindAxster]

Longtime IH8Mud lurker, first time caller. Was hunting for a LX570 or GX460 that fit the bill for over 10 months. I was searching for a 2008-2014 with zero rust and less than 150,000 miles. That "no rust" feature was a tall ask! My morning routine was to hit Autotempest, Facebook, etc. trying to find the right unicorn. I'm in the car business and detailed the experience for fellow metal slingers on DealerRefresh (linked for anyone who is curious).

After coming across a post on Reddit's GXOR (later found the same post on Facebook's GXOR group) asking if something was a good buy, I ended up buying that rig. A 2020 GX460 with 95,000 miles.

Purpose: 4 season light chaser. I love photography. Landscape and wildlife are my favorites genres. Vermont is a fun place to be a photographer because the seasons are so drastically different. I also like to shoot from a kayak. Finally, I have a family of five and aspirations to get them into the deeper backcountry camping.

My History: I also love a V8 and will do my best to keep these power houses alive! My former offroader was a bulletproofed 2005 F350 on 35's with a 6 inch lift. It was a bit too long for many places in Vermont. And something was up with the electrical system that made it a tough-to-run winter vehicle. I love cars in general. Have had too many to list and spent too much to remember. Fortunately, I married a woman who appreciates them too.

Build Phases:

1. Able to handle some of the side roads in winter
2. Able to handle the boulderous ditches known as Class 4 roads in Vermont
3. Able to spend a comfortable winter night in
4. Able to spend a night in with my 8 year old son
5. Able to spend a night in with the wife and two younger kids (no 15 year old)
6. Able to take the whole family for a few nights of camping (trailer required)

Fortunately for me, the truck I found was a rust-free Arkansas build that was mostly serviced at the dealership I bought from. Not only was the salesperson great, but it seems the prior owner was too. And, aside from the Metal Tech rear bumper (although I really like it in person now), had done essentially what I would have done for build phase 1.

Bits of phase 1, 2 and 3 are being delivered this week. It includes:

• Full inspection by my trusted shop (happening right now)
• Upgraded navigation with Garmin Tread Overlander 8"
• Ohana Rig Supply dash kit + Ram Mounts for phone and nav unit
• ARB on-board air + Indeflate 2 tire hose + SDHQ mount
• 20" Baja Designs S8 amber bar to go between CBI bumper and grill + ridiculously expensive wire harness that will be cut
• Pair Squadron Pros in amber for ditch lights + SDHQ mounts
• SDHQ battery terminals
• Blue Sea Bus bar
• Bison Gear Battery Bar
• Garmin Power Switch
• Bison Gear Interior molle panels + overhead storage tray
• Bison Gear fold down table for rear door
• Serious undercoating (scheduled for November 21st)

Phase 2 will be completed with underside armor.

 

[PoindAxster]

A little more clarification on what I'm thinking for these phases.

• PHASE 1 - Able to handle some of the side roads in winter
  • able to light up the dark twisty dirt roads in blizzard conditions. This includes the roads to my house and my quarter mile driveway.
• PHASE 2 - Able to handle the boulderous ditches known as Class 4 roads in Vermont
  • able to take a boulder bash and self rescue if I get stuck.
• PHASE 3 - Able to spend a comfortable winter night in
  • drawer system via 3rd row removal and decent sleep system. Ability to make a killer cup of coffee is critical!
• PHASE 4 - Able to spend a night in with my 8 year old son
  • haven't really figured this one out yet.
• PHASE 5 - Able to spend a night in with the wife and two younger kids (no 15 year old)
  • potentially the removal of phase 4, but more than likely a rooftop tent.
• PHASE 6 - Able to take the whole family for a few nights of camping (trailer required)
  • I've got my eye on the Mammoth Trailer HD.

 

[PoindAxster]

My photography on Flickr if you're interested.

Will try to keep this thread focused on the adventures in the GX, but here are a few from Vermont just for fun.

Fall above it all by Alex Snyder, on Flickr

Northern Lake Champlain Breakwater Lighthouse by Alex Snyder, on Flickr

Golden driveway by Alex Snyder, on Flickr

 

[r2m]

Welcome (officially) to the forum!
Wow! Some nice photos! There's a few shutter-bugs on this forum for you swap talk with.
For camping, we love our roof top tent, iKamper. Easily large enough for a family of 4 with wall-to-wall mattress. Our iKamper is very warm and comfortable in 30°F that my wife and I have been in. Haven't done any snow camping because my wife doesn't like making and drinking coffee in the snow.
But if you're planning on a camping trailer, then that would cover it all.
Your GX should get you to anywhere you want, just be prepared, e.g.: DON'T go on difficult trails by yourself, get good recovery gear, straps, pulley, shovel, Maxtrax. If you're going remote, get a HAM radio and a cell phone booster.

Looking forward to your build!

 

[Roody]

Welcome and nice GX! Good to have another Northeastern member on here. We should connect to wheel sometime.

 

[PoindAxster]

Thanks guys - yes, recovery gear is high on the list! That's part of Phase 2. @Roody I'm hoping to be trail ready by spring.

Looking forward to a few things:

1. Black Friday sales
2. A friend is planning to pickup Prinsu/CBI as her next franchise
3. Just discovered a local outfitter works with YotaWerx, so will explore some custom tuning

 

[Roody]

Thanks guys - yes, recovery gear is high on the list! That's part of Phase 2. @Roody I'm hoping to be trail ready by spring.

Looking forward to a few things:

1. Black Friday sales
2. A friend is planning to pickup Prinsu/CBI as her next franchise
3. Just discovered a local outfitter works with YotaWerx, so will explore some custom tuning

Give me a shout when you're ready, @JDUB fab and I would love to have another GX with us on the trail

 

[PoindAxster]

Had a few minutes between meetings today, so I got the ground work started on the baseline electrical upgrades.

Clean the battery:

Getting it all ready.

Next meeting was canceled, so threw on the Garmin Power Switch while it was all apart.

When it is time to replace this battery, I think a 27F is the next size. That battery tray is too big for this 24F. If time permits tomorrow, will get a bit further on this project.

 

[snowGX460]

Welcome and nice GX! Good to have another Northeastern member on here. We should connect to wheel sometime.

Agreed, great to see another northeasterner. Your rigs are more advanced than mine, but it would be great to get out with folks at some point.

 

[PoindAxster]

Working from home and having a handful of meetings you only need to listen-in on can be quite productive. Got the lights done this morning.

These are running through the Garmin Powerswitch on my phone and the Tread. Once the Ohana Rig Supply mount arrives, I'll show that setup off. Plenty of access to adjust tonight when I can see how much they light things up.

Why these lights and positioning?
Done enough fog and snow driving to know headlights + OEM fog lights don't cut through on the unlit roads I live on. And winter nights are loooong! One of my lighting goals was to keep the law off my back as much as possible in New York and Massachusetts. Even though Vermont and New Hampshire are pretty relaxed on accessory lights, our neighbors have some strict laws against them. We also spend time in Virginia Beach (where I'm originally from) and those troopers on the Eastern Shore are always looking for a reason to put funds in their small towns. Probably going to need to invest in light covers.

What lights and mounts?

• Baja Designs 20" amber light bar - had to drill a second set of holes in the supplied mounts to lower the position of the bar under the grill reinforcement.
• Baja Designs Squadron Pros in amber
• Baja Designs anti-theft hardware
• SDHQ ditch light mounts

 

[Arailt]

Welcome! Nice rig and even nicer pictures!

 

[Littlehouse]

Man, that’s a heck of a start. Well done. I have the Ohana dash mount and it’s awesome.

 

[PoindAxster]

It was another morning of listen-in only meetings, so I got all the Bison Gear installed.

• Rear door table
• Molle Shelf
• Both Rear window molle panels
• Battery accessory holder

Will clean up the wires in the engine bay soon. A few more things to run to the Garmin Power Switch.

 

[r2m]

It was another morning of listen-in only meetings, so I got all the Bison Gear installed.

• Rear door table
• Molle Shelf
• Both Rear window molle panels
• Battery accessory holder

View attachment 3772547
View attachment 3772548

View attachment 3772553View attachment 3772554View attachment 3772555

Will clean up the wires in the engine bay soon. A few more things to run to the Garmin Power Switch.

Love that red interior!

 

[Cold Iron]

It was another morning of listen-in only meetings, so I got all the Bison Gear installed.

• Rear door table
• Molle Shelf
• Both Rear window molle panels
• Battery accessory holder

View attachment 3772547
View attachment 3772548

View attachment 3772553View attachment 3772554View attachment 3772555

Will clean up the wires in the engine bay soon. A few more things to run to the Garmin Power Switch.

Love the Shart Survival Kit LOL. In my Bison gear attic rack I carry paper towels, dude wipes, and mountain money (toilet paper). Because you can't outrun the runs. At my age you never trust a fart, just saying...

 

[Roody]

Love that red interior!

Ditto, if anyone in the Northeast wants to swap red for tan I'm happy to brighten up my interior haha

 

[PoindAxster]

Threw the Ohana Rig Supply dash mount in yesterday.

Ran the Garmin Tread wire from the interior fuse panel and pushed it straight up the middle of the HVAC blowers. No trimming needed anywhere. Also discovered the O'Reillys license plate hardware fits the Ram mounts and ORS holes perfectly. I had to do a little sanding on the screws for the phone holder to get it all to fit together, but super easy!

Parts shown:
Peak Designs non-charging phone holder (works with my Peak Designs case) in 20mm

• RAM Mounts Diamond Ball Base - B Size
• RAM Mounts Double Socket Arm - B Size Medium
• RAM Mounts Round Plate with Ball RAM-202U with C Size 1.5" Ball
• RAM Mounts Double Socket Arm RAM-201U Medium Arm Compatible with RAM C Size 1.5"
• Garmin High-current Power Cable
• Garmin Tread Overland 8"

ORS is sending the radio mic mount out when they get more. I'll probably have to rearrange things when that shows up. Maybe invest in some longer Ram arms too.

 

[Cold Iron]

Threw the Ohana Rig Supply dash mount in yesterday.
View attachment 3775788
View attachment 3775789
View attachment 3775790
Ran the Garmin Tread wire from the interior fuse panel and pushed it straight up the middle of the HVAC blowers. No trimming needed anywhere. Also discovered the O'Reillys license plate hardware fits the Ram mounts and ORS holes perfectly. I had to do a little sanding on the screws for the phone holder to get it all to fit together, but super easy!

Parts shown:
Peak Designs non-charging phone holder (works with my Peak Designs case) in 20mm

• RAM Mounts Diamond Ball Base - B Size
• RAM Mounts Double Socket Arm - B Size Medium
• RAM Mounts Round Plate with Ball RAM-202U with C Size 1.5" Ball
• RAM Mounts Double Socket Arm RAM-201U Medium Arm Compatible with RAM C Size 1.5"
• Garmin High-current Power Cable
• Garmin Tread Overland 8"

ORS is sending the radio mic mount out when they get more. I'll probably have to rearrange things when that shows up. Maybe invest in some longer Ram arms too.

I have an embarrassing number of RAM arms and mounts collected over the years but no regrets. I went with the Gamiviti dashboard accessory mount plate that replaces the front speaker panel. It is a solid piece of kit and is the first generation which required drilling and running a 1/4x20 tap which isn't a big deal for me. Transferred my mounts and arms including X grip holders over from my Taco.

The phone charger is the RAM modified JB Weld Tozo wireless hack, and then it died after a couple months. Figured it was time to go back to magnetic mounts so went with Peak Designs.

Tried 2 PD cases for my S23 Ultra phone but neither case fit the phone correctly. Ended up using the universal mount on my otterbox case for the charging mount. But after a couple of weeks it stopped working, it would get extremely hot and shutdown. Switched out cables, etc. no joy. So manually plug in the phone with the cable. Will try again once I upgrade my phone with the new Samsung release this Spring if PD has a case for it. Or maybe start over again... Once I have a final configuration that I am happy with will run the cables up inside the console to the Gamiviti plate which you can use grommets for, in the meantime I'm using a loom for cable management. It is a lot of cable LOL.

The phone in the static mount is for OBD Fusion and stays in the mount all year. The mount has those springs in 4 corners and on washboards and rough roads bounces around like crazy making it impossible to view. At some point will break out the JB Weld and make it a solid mount. I have mixed feelings about Peak Designs but they are the only game in town for android wireless charging and RAM mounts that I know of.

I leave the Garmin wired and in the truck all year in addition to the phone for OBD Fusion. In theory you shouldn't leave power to them below freezing but have abused this Garmin for at least 6 years now down to the twenties below zero. When it gets down to ~zero the display on both will freeze solid and not work but they eventually warm up and start to work again. If had the more expensive units I would bring them in the house at night. Then again I park outside my garage is heated and I don't need a catalyst for road salt and steel to start frame rusting.

I started with the first inReach then when it died went with inReach mini. Last year that took a bath in the Boundary Waters and didn't survive. I switched to Zoleo and like it better over the inReach. And am a big fan of Garmin even the dogs wear Garmin collars for the Alpha and my dashcam is a Garmin. But one reason I avoid too much convergence is vendor lock in.

Nice build and setup!

 

[llm]

that looks nice. I wish that was available when I installed my mount system. I went with expedition essentials.

 

[PoindAxster]

Nice @Cold Iron! Do you find the above the dash screens distracting? I got my phone down, but the Garmin still sits a little high. This is why I'm thinking about adding another "joint" to the Ram arm. Other than climate and audio, the stock system rarely gets touched, so moving the Garmin lower shouldn't be an issue for me.

Garmin Tread Overland 8"

Some bad news on my Tread - I just exchanged it back at Best Buy. It stopped connecting to satellites yesterday and Garmin confirmed I had a defective unit. Because I was still in the Best Buy return window, it was easier to return it there. A new one is on the way. Hoping for better luck because the unit is incredible!