Vermont Photo Hunting Rig

[WTITW]

Thats a good way to use the space. Going long range? Would love one of those for water but I think they’re a bit pricey for that.

How’s your wife doing?

 

[PoindAxster]

Thats a good way to use the space. Going long range? Would love one of those for water but I think they’re a bit pricey for that.

How’s your wife doing?

Thanks for asking about the wife. It turns out she has CNS Lymphoma (brain cancer). It took 4 months to figure that out, so her case is very advanced. However, as of last week, the doctors declared she has moved from survival mode to recovery mode. It has been a major relief. Sounds like she may be back home in February... yeah, that's still a really long time. May to February in the hospital

I've been a long-time diesel person. Really miss going 600 miles between fill-ups. 200 miles go by way too quickly. When I originally ordered the tank (Black Friday last year), I had lots of extended-range camping plans. I'm going to be limited to day trips for a while, so fewer trips to the gas station are the main reward now.

 

[WTITW]

Glad shes on the mend. Hang in there.

 

[r2m]

Something from down under is going down under...

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+some new rubber and a few DR KDSS things. Will be back to drop updates on those.
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Now I am officially jealous!
Biggest waste of time for me is getting gas...
I'd love to get to Tahoe on 1 tank, instead of 2 fill-ups (sometimes more).
Wait, I may have append that first statement. I think the biggest waste of time for me is not the gas stops, it's ALL the stops at restrooms for the girls!
Yeah, and now that I'm getting older, I too need some of those stops more often, especially after my morning 20 oz of coffee.

 

[knuckle47]

My Chevy diesel pickup reads 625-640 on the “mile to empty” display on the dash. I love that but, the Hydrochlorothiazide says otherwise

@PoindAxster have you figured out what kind of distance you can cover with that new fuel volume?

 

[PoindAxster]

My Chevy diesel pickup reads 625-640 on the “mile to empty” display on the dash. I love that but, the Hydrochlorothiazide says otherwise

@PoindAxster have you figured out what kind of distance you can cover with that new fuel volume?

The tank isn’t installed yet. It was late in the day yesterday when things were getting started. LRA says it is a 7 hour job.

But the main tank is near empty, so I should get the full blast of a $160 to $200 fill up. Due to how this tank works by pumping fuel into the main (OEM) tank by hitting a button, the computer will just think it is at a gas station. It won’t register the extra gallons on the trip computers’ fuel range estimator.

The LRA tank adds 24 gallons of capacity. What is the OEM tank? 22 gallons? I get 200 to 240 miles on a tank now, but I don’t run it dry. So… 400 to 500 total now??? Will report back with actuals in time.

 

[PoindAxster]

Got some time to myself to cut more trails in the backyard. The Vast Snowmobile trail rolls through the back side (many acres away from our house), but both our neighbors have denied access. So, I have a nicely cleared trail that requires a fun little river crossing to get to.

Some hills, a drastic incline/decline, a shallow river to drive in, some mud, boulders, and a shooting range. With the GX, I can practice my Chicago driving at the range

All in all, it is currently a 10-15 minute drive into the woods that I will eventually loop and build more obstacles. These photos were just from clearing a giant pine that fell, so that I can get a vehicle to the riverbed. The river is dry at the moment.

Some tractor articulation

 

[Cold Iron]

Love the I hugged it first sticker

Ran this sticker on my Taco for many years

I'm all for creating new wildlife habitat one tree at a time, in a controlled harvest method of course

Was going old school this day with a 16 ga. Ithaca 37

That was 7 years ago depending on aspen new growth stem density it might be worth a trip back there to check to see if any woodcock flights have landed there. Moose prefer that age growth for a food source as well. Ruff grouse in a few years will be using it as a nursery before the canopy drops in the fall.

 

[r2m]

Got some time to myself to cut more trails in the backyard. The Vast Snowmobile trail rolls through the back side (many acres away from our house), but both our neighbors have denied access. So, I have a nicely cleared trail that requires a fun little river crossing to get to.

Some hills, a drastic incline/decline, a shallow river to drive in, some mud, boulders, and a shooting range. With the GX, I can practice my Chicago driving at the range

All in all, it is currently a 10-15 minute drive into the woods that I will eventually loop and build more obstacles. These photos were just from clearing a giant pine that fell, so that I can get a vehicle to the riverbed. The river is dry at the moment.

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Some tractor articulation
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You guys with large properties, you have ALL the toys! Our last house lot size was 40' x 90'... If I wanted any tractors or anything I'd have to go Tonka. (but we are only 150' from the Pacific...)

 

[Strata Garage]

Just scrolled through this thread and wanted to leave a comment! Nice job on the GX build, its turned out tasteful and capable
And nice job on clearing some fun trails in your back 40, we have a similar setup here on our farm in Oregon with trails and a shooting range

 

[PoindAxster]

Took the kids for a ride on the new trail in the backyard. They thought it was super cool to drive in the river, where this photo was taken (we are in a drought).

Got the Metal Tech jerry can holder for my bumper, but turned it into a place to hold my most-used recovery items.

Did a super simple hardwire install of the Uniden R7 radar detector. The toughest part was removing the rear-view cover.

The dash has turned into quite the command center. Things are out of driving view. If I wreck the car while messing with something, well, that's the day I will be that jackass

 

[PoindAxster]

Oh yeah, the Long Range America fuel tank needs some updating. First fill up:

Did a trip to Boston and back that put 450 miles on the odometer. I was rolling around 83 MPH for most of the drive, which puts my RPMs in the 3,000 territory. The trip odometer indicated that I averaged 13.8 MPG for the entire trip. When I engaged the auxiliary tank's pump, it didn't appear to be doing anything. The needle just sat. That was on the interstate.

While sitting in some hellacious Boston traffic, I tried the auxiliary tank again to see the needle rise. I need to try this a few more times in different driving conditions to refine my theories.

450 miles left me with half a tank. I'm still driving on that half tank with a short 4lo off-road run too. I estimate my range to be between 515 and 560 miles now.

If you have an aftermarket rear bumper and/or Magnaflow exhaust, modifications are needed. Things got creative! My exhaust now dumps out before my rear axle, which is very cool. The picture below shows the block before installing the downpipe to direct the hot exhaust downward.

 

[jdam]

That's awesome. Hope it works out long term - an LRA tank is on the list for me.

Side note, wishing the wife a speedy recovery!

 

[r2m]

Oh yeah, the Long Range America fuel tank needs some updating. First fill up:

View attachment 4000410
Did a trip to Boston and back that put 450 miles on the odometer. I was rolling around 83 MPH for most of the drive, which puts my RPMs in the 3,000 territory. The trip odometer indicated that I averaged 13.8 MPG for the entire trip. When I engaged the auxiliary tank's pump, it didn't appear to be doing anything. The needle just sat. That was on the interstate.

While sitting in some hellacious Boston traffic, I tried the auxiliary tank again to see the needle rise. I need to try this a few more times in different driving conditions to refine my theories.

450 miles left me with half a tank. I'm still driving on that half tank with a short 4lo off-road run too. I estimate my range to be between 515 and 560 miles now.

View attachment 4000415

If you have an aftermarket rear bumper and/or Magnaflow exhaust, modifications are needed. Things got creative! My exhaust now dumps out before my rear axle, which is very cool. The picture below shows the block before installing the downpipe to direct the hot exhaust downward.

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Another suggestion for tools/recovery gear, is an ammo can. I have one that's about the size of a jerry can, next to my water can.
Had to fab a new strap but has worked great for the last 7 years. The jerry on the right is for water and I've changed that out.

 

[PoindAxster]

Another suggestion for tools/recovery gear, is an ammo can. I have one that's about the size of a jerry can, next to my water can.
Had to fab a new strap but has worked great for the last 7 years. The jerry on the right is for water and I've changed that out.

Great idea! I was going to opt for a larger Pelican box (TX50), but I decided I didn't want to compromise any more of my rearview visibility... and Harbor Freight's $60 option compared to Pelican's $209 sounded more reasonable. At some point, I need to relocate that backup camera.

Have been eyeing a camera rearview - the Wolfbox 900 Pro. For some odd reason, I get dizzy looking through the camera backup in other cars. Maybe I'm getting old.

 

[r2m]

Great idea! I was going to opt for a larger Pelican box (TX50), but I decided I didn't want to compromise any more of my rearview visibility... and Harbor Freight's $60 option compared to Pelican's $209 sounded more reasonable. At some point, I need to relocate that backup camera.

Have been eyeing a camera rearview - the Wolfbox 900 Pro. For some odd reason, I get dizzy looking through the camera backup in other cars. Maybe I'm getting old.

In stead of purchasing a new camera, I lengthened the factory camera cable and mounted between on the jerry can rack, between the jerry's and spare tire as seen below.
On my build thread, Builds - R²M 2013 GX 460 Overland Build - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/r2m-2013-gx-460-overland-build.1104719/page-4#post-12544553 starting at Post #74, I show how I did it.
Although, an after market camera would have the nice little alignment lines when backup, that the factory camera doesn't come with, at least 2013 and earlier.

 

[Cold Iron]

Jealous of that LRA tank! Over the next 3 weeks will be getting my gas at different lodges snowmobile and boat launch pumps at twice the cost of fuel in the rest of the State. But at least it will be 91 ethanol free. The only choice which works perfectly for me.

And I too wish the wife well. Cancer is why I ended up where I am after my father died of it. Head hunter called me at the right time and I moved from Asheville, NC to Mn. to support one of the places that might find an actual cure for cancer. A few years ago my youngest son ended up with advanced stage IVb they didn't give him much chance of making it and I watched Mayo Clinic save his life at least 4 times over 2 years. He is now in remission. I went through radiation treatment a year ago and am in remission currently. Scan last month gave them some concern so I'm on the every 3 month scan plan still. Cancer sucks, it is not just a saying, it really does.

Great idea! I was going to opt for a larger Pelican box (TX50), but I decided I didn't want to compromise any more of my rearview visibility... and Harbor Freight's $60 option compared to Pelican's $209 sounded more reasonable. At some point, I need to relocate that backup camera.

Have been eyeing a camera rearview - the Wolfbox 900 Pro. For some odd reason, I get dizzy looking through the camera backup in other cars. Maybe I'm getting old.

IIRC you have a Garmin Tread Overlander, I still run a Garmin Nuvi. I had a Garmin BC40 backup camera on my old Polaris Northstar when I got the Trail Boss with backup camera I no longer needed it with Ride Command a night vision backup camera so moved it to the GX with 3M mounting tape. It connects by Bluetooth to the GPS. And night and day better than the factory camera and screen with Diode Dynamics XPR backup lights

Compared to factory

The Garmin BC50 has a model with night vision available and will connect to your Tread Overlander. The backup camera on the Trail Boss has infrared night vision and I really like it, a lot. I had to use a cable extension and relocated the camera to the tailgate when I installed the Thumper Fab bumper with winch on the rear. Works great and a big fan of the night vision cameras now

Just another option.

 

[PoindAxster]

And I too wish the wife well. Cancer is why I ended up where I am after my father died of it. Head hunter called me at the right time and I moved from Asheville, NC to Mn. to support one of the places that might find an actual cure for cancer. A few years ago my youngest son ended up with advanced stage IVb they didn't give him much chance of making it and I watched Mayo Clinic save his life at least 4 times over 2 years. He is now in remission. I went through radiation treatment a year ago and am in remission currently. Scan last month gave them some concern so I'm on the every 3 month scan plan still. Cancer sucks, it is not just a saying, it really does.

Thank you. Cancer doesn't just suck - it is the worst MFer ever! Sorry you've had so much of it in your life. Glad to hear you've gotten extra time for yourself and your son. I don't know what I'd do if I had to watch one of my kids go through this. Here's to remission being a constant!!!

IIRC you have a Garmin Tread Overlander, I still run a Garmin Nuvi. I had a Garmin BC40 backup camera on my old Polaris Northstar when I got the Trail Boss with backup camera I no longer needed it with Ride Command a night vision backup camera so moved it to the GX with 3M mounting tape. It connects by Bluetooth to the GPS. And night and day better than the factory camera and screen with Diode Dynamics XPR backup lights

The Garmin BC50 has a model with night vision available and will connect to your Tread Overlander. The backup camera on the Trail Boss has infrared night vision and I really like it, a lot. I had to use a cable extension and relocated the camera to the tailgate when I installed the Thumper Fab bumper with winch on the rear. Works great and a big fan of the night vision cameras now

I do. This is absolutely my favorite option over relocating the factory camera. What I haven't figured out is how to have it come on automatically when shifting into reverse.

 

[PoindAxster]

Got tired of the Altezza tail lights. eBay black option is now on and looks better. Fitment isn't as filling as the OEM ones, but I'm the only one who will notice and the black is so much better.

Up Next: wireless CarPlay, Garmin backup camera, KDSS disconnnect switch, Baja Designs fog lights via Ronin, and Dirt King 2.0 shocks. Plus a broken rear Dobinsons spring is being replaced under warranty. Then, I need to decide how to deal with the rust spots beginning to form on both bumpers - so annoying! Will probably do some touch up for the winter and then something like RaptorLiner when things warm back up.

Black left, right white.

 

[knuckle47]

My sister in laws husband ( they live in Swanton) has been a body shop guy for 6 decades, worked at the Cadillac dealer in Burlington for quite a while. He still maintains used motor oil is the best rust deterrent. He’s been squirting used oil into his fender wells and doors for decades…no rust. I solved my rust problem…sold my FJ40when it was getting out of control