Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

Although I would be nervous mounting externally, I love my ARB Fridge/Freeze. I have it hard mounted with a slider where the passenger side rear seat was. Dual batt system. Great for much more than camping.

 

It's mounted in the bed area which is covered by a Softopper. The pic posted is with the Softopper moved forward for cargo access.

 

Paul, ever thought about making a build thread? When you did your 4.56 gears did you do ECGS diff swap? I recall you swapped solo in your driveway? Did you do front and rear that way? I know it's been a long time ago. I'm gonna do gears next year and was thinking about yours. Thanks

 

No build thread. I should, but would rather wheel the web.

Any how, yes, I would highly recommend ECGS. One of the most stand-up guys in this world. He used to send out built thirds with no core deposit until someone hear hosed him for two cores. Sad. Anyway, he is a great guy and stands behind his work. He replaced 2 or 3 of my elocker's under warranty before I opted to install a 8.4 with an ARB. So much stronger. My issue with the elocker is it's lack of rigidity. I like to go out for 2 weeks at a time and like to bring everything I would need in case I have a failure. Case in point, my last trip out was to Mexico. I still have a full contingent of parts in the truck including a spare alt, starter, cv axle, slide hammer (for pulling axles), etc. Anyway, the design of the 8.4 with it's iron truss, IMO maintains the backlash (clearance between the ring gear and the pinion) FAR better than the elocker. Remember that axle was really designed for a much lighter truck and its basic design has been around for decades. That is why the 'new' taco comes with a revised (larger) third member. I am confident the new ones will do the job but have no confidence in the earlier elocker.

Bottom line with gears and such, I live in So Cal and would do it all over again with Chase's company, ECGS. He deserves all the success he has been blessed with since he treats his customers like kings.

Yes, I did do it in my driveway and all except for 5 minutes of help from the best thing in the world, more commonly known as my better half, I did it myself. For me, just have patience, breathe and take your time. There are some good write-ups here on how to do it, or just post questions here - peeps will help you.

Regarding a second battery, I don't have any fancy stuff. I would love a controller but I am 4 years into my Die Hard Platinum (largest I could squeeze into the stock location) and another Die Hard Platinum (I forget what size) stuffed in the storage area behind the rear, driver's side passenger seat. They are connected with a 00 welding cable (way overkill but I was shooting for less than about a 3% voltage drop from the alternator. 150 or 200 amp circut breakers - one on each end and a 200 amp relay like this - http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/231719847358?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82. It is 'excited' by the ignition switch.

I'd love to have solar but I don't mind 5-10 minutes from my alternator.

With this setup, I have had ZERO issues with either battery. I typically can get about a day and a half out of the fridge - of course dependent upon ambient temperature and temperature setting.

 

I hear you. I have another friend that has one there and he opens it up on a semi-regular basis to clean out the dust. I am sure mine has it's fair share of dust too.

 

Thanks for the detailed reply. I will do biz with Chase for sure.

For me it was only this year I started a retro build thread and have added a lot to it. I had a number of requests which prompted me to start one. It's been a lot of fun looking back over the years at what I've done with the truck, and where I've gone (lotsa trips).

Give it some thought. I've always been a fan of your build and your great accomplishments. I'm sure a helluva lot of folks would learn from reading what you've done. Kinda like Logan's project Apocalypto build thread, created after it was built, same with Wyatt's, Beast build. Yours is right up there, IMO.

 

Thank you for your kind words. We do get a lot of enjoyment from the thing.

 

I can carry 19 gallons of extra fuel in my aux tank. It's still only 75% finished. I'm really looking forward to long trips where I don't need to carry gas cans or go out of my way to get gas. I'm going to Baja over Christmas and this thing should come in extra handy there.

 

I just grazed over your first post in your build thread. - NICE and some good stuff. One little tip that you might like - my air down tool that I miss the most right now are the OEM valve stems. If you pull the valve stem and listen for the first audible octave (coyotes may hear a few before one that I am talking about) - by the time you put the valve stem back in, you should be right around 19 PSI. If you wait for the second, you are somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 PSI. I may be wrong and find out that it was the physical configuration of the BFG KM2s and the TRD fakelocks combined with the TPMS valve stems- but I hope it is just the TPMS valve stems. I miss that audible clue. I've used the brass deflators (still have to adjust one) and the ARB valve core extractor, but I absolutely love the simplicity of the audible method. I lost a sidewall on one of my beadlocked KM2's so I will find out soon since I plan on putting a spare TPMS into that rim and see what happens.

 

F150 tank?

 

This is great advice, I start on the rear driver tire by removing the valve stem core. Then I casually walk up to front driver side and remove it's core. After a few moments the valve stems will start to whistle, once that happens I bust out my 3 dollar tire pressure gauge and start checking the actaul pressures checking the rear first. As soon as the rear is where it needs to be I reinstall the core then I do the front just the same. Then I do the same on the passenger side. 9 times out of ten I'm aired down to 10 psi faster then most with their fancy expensive deflators

 

Great thread! How I missed it, I don't know.

Been to DV a few times. Really like the place around the November time frame as the days are nice and nights pretty cold.

I found this site the other day. Kinda cool-talks about quite a few of the less visited spots.

 

Do you have the stock TPMS valve stems? Just curios 'cause the ones on my beadlock wheels don't talk to me. :/

 

Yup, still have em. They sound like Piccolo Petes on the 4th of July at around 13-14 PSI

 

Oh yeah. I use these as caps so I have a valve stem remover all the time. About $3 at any parts store.

Good to know. Need to put a set of those 'skin' flutes in my new rims.

 

Erocker has a full set sitting in his tool box from his old FJC....

 

Thanks for the tip!

 

A few more pics from our recent trip...

My wife enjoying the ride at The Racetrack



Camping at Homestake...chill-E!



My LEO buddy illuminating one of the mines at Lippincott



Sign of the times at Teakettle Junction



Group shot coming off of Hunter Mountain and heading into Saline Valley



Desert repairs (blown CV joint/axle removal) at Saline Valley Hot Springs





Interesting "human" rock formations at SVHS



Road conditions from 11/10/15



Final fuel up in Big Pine just off the 395



Where prices were a bit more reasonable...



My wife and I spent an extra day exploring the areas in and around Lone Pine...definitely going back!

 

1990 F150 to be exact...out of this truck.

 

Great info everyone, I have a dual battery setup and 200 amp alt. Ready for a winch and fridge. It's my wife that I need to convince about the fridge.

I spent too much money on deflators before I found how much faster the core removers are.

Great info on lockers, it should have been the first upgrade but cost is a factor, bigger tires, gears, compressors, lift, dual battery system all came first. East Coast has always been the go to place for gears.