Builds Well I gone and done it: 2018 Premium Build

[BigSwede]

Sounds like you're having a very Merry Christmas already!!
...(very jealous about your 2 post lift...)

Steel skids should slide over the rocks much nicer.

The shop building with room for a lift is a major reason why I moved a year ago. My old house had a one car unheated garage. Because I am now further out from the metro, it was about an even exchange money-wise.

 

[BigSwede]

Brought a new toy home, Texas to Minnesota. The GX towed it without trouble (other than at the gas pump). It is about 5000 pounds on the trailer, got 8-10 mpg depending on winds, at 65 mph.

 

[r2m]

Brought a new toy home, Texas to Minnesota. The GX towed it without trouble (other than at the gas pump). It is about 5000 pounds on the trailer, got 8-10 mpg depending on winds, at 65 mph.

View attachment 3825454

Ha-ha-ha!!! Now you just have to wait till the lakes thaw so you can put it in the water!
Seriously, very nice. What do you do like doing, diving, fishing, skiing, recreational boating?

 

[BigSwede]

Ha-ha-ha!!! Now you just have to wait till the lakes thaw so you can put it in the water!
Seriously, very nice. What do you do like doing, diving, fishing, skiing, recreational boating?

Initially I intend to explore Lake Superior. Long term, I might do the Great Loop. Sorta like overlanding on water.

 

[r2m]

Initially I intend to explore Lake Superior. Long term, I might do the Great Loop. Sorta like overlanding on water.

Where's the roof top tent gonna go???

 

[Cold Iron]

Initially I intend to explore Lake Superior. Long term, I might do the Great Loop. Sorta like overlanding on water.

Have fun! There is a land side Great Loop group on FB, although when I hit Canada I keep going North until I run out of logging and tote roads. 20 years in the Navy I have more sea time than Moby freaking Dick and no desire to spend more time on water yet landed in the land of 10,000(+) lakes.

Good friend who lives in Silver Bay fishes Gitche Gumee a lot when it isn't hard water, he doesn't get too far out from land. She can be an unpredictable and unforgiving wench even in a good sized boat.

 

[BigSwede]

Where's the roof top tent gonna go???

You jest, but I know of at least one family that mounted a RTT on their C-Dory.

 

[BigSwede]

Good friend who lives in Silver Bay fishes Gitche Gumee a lot when it isn't hard water, he doesn't get too far out from land. She can be an unpredictable and unforgiving wench even in a good sized boat.

Yeah, it has a get-me-home kicker, and radar etc. in case of fog. Definitely gotta watch the weather closely. A C-Dory can handle big waves but it isn't fun to do so.

I might dash across from Cornucopia WI to Isle Royale, but otherwise I have no reason to get too far from land.

 

[offroad47]

Brought a new toy home, Texas to Minnesota. The GX towed it without trouble (other than at the gas pump). It is about 5000 pounds on the trailer, got 8-10 mpg depending on winds, at 65 mph.

View attachment 3825454

Nice boat! What lake in Texas did you pick it up near? Love that I’m close cabin with windows.

 

[BigSwede]

Nice boat! What lake in Texas did you pick it up near? Love that I’m close cabin with windows.

Thanks, it is a C-Dory Venture 23. It has a sleeping berth, dinette, fridge, sink, stove, etc. It also has a "camper back" canvas that can be zipped onto the Bimini top, enclosing the rear cockpit. Not a lot of boats have all that and can be towed by a GX.

The seller lives in the vicinity of Jacksboro. He said he also has a lake place about an hour away, but I don't know where.

 

[BigSwede]

Today ditched my hodgepodge of beat up aluminum skids and installed Victory4x4 skid plates (engine, tranny, and t-case). I think they will do nicely on the rocks, they present a nice smooth underbelly with little to catch on stuff. I went with steel, since the GX isn't my daily driver and road salt isn't as much of a concern, and I don't like the way aluminum sticks on rocks.

 

[offroad47]

Today ditched my hodgepodge of beat up aluminum skids and installed Victory4x4 skid plates (engine, tranny, and t-case). I think they will do nicely on the rocks, they present a nice smooth underbelly with little to catch on stuff. I went with steel, since the GX isn't my daily driver and road salt isn't as much of a concern, and I don't like the way aluminum sticks on rocks.

Let me know when you do your first oil change if you have to take the engine plate off or are there access plates in the right place. I ended up getting a set of RCI plates for mine and the engine plate has to be removed each time. 3 or 4 oil changes into life and I now have a front bolt stripped out . I have new part number 51403-60030 on its way to fix this . Let me know if you can do an oil change without removing the pan. Thanks

 

[BigSwede]

Let me know when you do your first oil change if you have to take the engine plate off or are there access plates in the right place. I ended up getting a set of RCI plates for mine and the engine plate has to be removed each time. 3 or 4 oil changes into life and I now have a front bolt stripped out . I have new part number 51403-60030 on its way to fix this . Let me know if you can do an oil change without removing the pan. Thanks

Should be able to. There is a hole under the drain (I checked) and an access plate for the filter.

I just changed the oil yesterday, so it will be a while to confirm....

 

[offroad47]

Should be able to. There is a hole under the drain (I checked) and an access plate for the filter.

I just changed the oil yesterday, so it will be a while to confirm....

 

[BigSwede]

I forgot to mention, one small problem with the Victory4x4 skids is I had to trim the transmission skid to fit around the KDSS skid plate. This wasn't difficult with a cutoff wheel, but a little annoying.

 

[r2m]

I forgot to mention, one small problem with the Victory4x4 skids is I had to trim the transmission skid to fit around the KDSS skid plate. This wasn't difficult with a cutoff wheel, but a little annoying.

Did you take some before and after photos and send them to Victory?

 

[BigSwede]

Did you take some before and after photos and send them to Victory?

Not yet, but I plan to.

It is possible that the trimming wouldn't have been necessary with the Victory KDSS skid plate, instead of the factory one, I don't know. I thought their version was meant for use with their sliders.

 

[BigSwede]

After watching a video including many water crossings, I finally pulled the trigger on a snorkel. Given the mods to my vehicle, especially the front bumper, I can reach up in the front wheel well over the fender liner and touch the intake, so it just seems prudent. I don't plan on being all that adventurous with water crossings, but the peace of mind of an elevated intake will be nice. And maybe some cleaner air for dust intake, though I'm not convinced this is a big deal.

I ordered a Lenzdesign Travel2

Lenzdesignshop.com | Lenzdesign

LENZDESIGN BODYKITS & SNORKELS Design, Manufacture & Sales

www.lenzdesignshop.com

I like the sleeker aerodynamics and lack of a big "hook" to catch on tree branches, that traditional snorkels have.

I had heard stories about lengthy shipping times (turns out they are in Israel), but I did receive a shipping notification email within a couple of days, so we'll see. The current 25% off sale basically offsets the shipping cost.

 

[Rednexus]

After watching a video including many water crossings, I finally pulled the trigger on a snorkel. Given the mods to my vehicle, especially the front bumper, I can reach up in the front wheel well over the fender liner and touch the intake, so it just seems prudent. I don't plan on being all that adventurous with water crossings, but the peace of mind of an elevated intake will be nice. And maybe some cleaner air for dust intake, though I'm not convinced this is a big deal.

I ordered a Lenzdesign Travel2

Lenzdesignshop.com | Lenzdesign

LENZDESIGN BODYKITS & SNORKELS Design, Manufacture & Sales

www.lenzdesignshop.com

I like the sleeker aerodynamics and lack of a big "hook" to catch on tree branches, that traditional snorkels have.

I had heard stories about lengthy shipping times (turns out they are in Israel), but I did receive a shipping notification email within a couple of days, so we'll see. The current 25% off sale basically offsets the shipping cost.

See my post here (for my GX470). The Lenz snorkel will amount to your 1UR having to breathe through a straw. On my 470 it's at least a 40% reduction in cross-section area in one spot and a 25% reduction through the A-pillar neck (relative to the OEM air intake tube cross-sectional area). On top of that, it's super rough on the inside. Unless the Lenz somehow defies the laws of physics, it's going to provide a significant air flow and likely power restriction.

Mine will be going on eBay and I'll be getting a 4" stainless tube snorkel from Australia instead.

 

[r2m]

After watching a video including many water crossings, I finally pulled the trigger on a snorkel. Given the mods to my vehicle, especially the front bumper, I can reach up in the front wheel well over the fender liner and touch the intake, so it just seems prudent. I don't plan on being all that adventurous with water crossings, but the peace of mind of an elevated intake will be nice. And maybe some cleaner air for dust intake, though I'm not convinced this is a big deal.

I ordered a Lenzdesign Travel2

Lenzdesignshop.com | Lenzdesign

LENZDESIGN BODYKITS & SNORKELS Design, Manufacture & Sales

www.lenzdesignshop.com

I like the sleeker aerodynamics and lack of a big "hook" to catch on tree branches, that traditional snorkels have.

I had heard stories about lengthy shipping times (turns out they are in Israel), but I did receive a shipping notification email within a couple of days, so we'll see. The current 25% off sale basically offsets the shipping cost.

I know my snorkel has saved my arse with all the torrential rains we get down here in So. CA!
Seriously, couples of the reasons I like it, and you may also, in really hot climates, you get a ram air effect with much cooler air than what you're sucking up 100° F air under your hood into your intake. Also, if you're on dusty trails, you're not sucking up as much dust, again 'cuz you're pulling cleaner air from much higher.
Also, do a before and after on your MPG and see if it improves at all.