Kyitty's Humble Build Thread

Made it to Moab last night!



Amazingly the truck got 17.3, 17.4, and then 19.4 mpg on my three fill ups for the 10 hour drive. No idea how I got 19.4mpg on this beast between Price and Moab but I'll take it!



Couple of us had dinner at the Blue Pig. They apparently have foot long Mazzarella Sticks...



I think we are taking it easy today and hiking Arches to kick things off.

 

Awesome!!! Is that @Lars

Finally spotted you bud

 

how do you like that K&N

 

whose the other taco in the first pic?

 

If you like noise they are good. Otherwise they're really isn't much pro for them.

 

That is (Kevin) @Colorado Pacific but I can't find him to tag.

 

First day in Moab. Went into Arches and drove a 4x4 trail. Not sure if it had a name!

 

He isn't active on here huh

 

I just left Moab, UT after attending the Rock Therapy event put on by Tacoma & Company and Area BFE. Holy cow I'm at a lack for words. I've never been to Moab before. I've never wheeled rock trails like these. And I've not had the kind of experience I had with the people there before. It's a different kind of bond I think! Even if they did all keep me awake all night with drinking and loud noise!

First off I want to thank @Pelfreybilt for hosting a group of us and inviting us to come down with them. The #Pelfreybiltfamily is not just a concept - it is a very real thing! These are some fantastic people who are very welcoming and willing to share everything.

If you've never been to BFE I'd like to suggest one single piece of advice... DEET (bug spray). Some kind of sand flea that leaves the itchiest bite marks. The photo below is 5-6 days after being bitten.


Since this was my first trip I decided I wasn't going to go crazy. This year was all about getting my 'white belt' so to speak. A chance to learn the ropes, determine what my truck is capable of, and what I'm capable of. More than anything to get over the fear of "breaking something". Thankfully I didn't... break... anything but I do have a few good battle scars!

Battle Scars:

RCI Steel Skid plates under the DCLB (aka Trail Limo)


Bent Pelfreybilt steel bumper.


Scarred Method NV wheel


Body scratch beneath headlamp from bumper flex.


Anyhow, I had a fantastic time. Met some really cool folks I'd never have run into otherwise. Learned quite a bit through experience. Slept very little if at all. It was all worth the 10 hour drive from home though. Looking forward to next year and figuring out how to make that happen again.

Photos from trail rides:

Poison Spider Mesa (1:53:05 min unedited)







Fins N Things








Top of the World



Compiling video.... check back later.





Rotopax Fail:

Oh - Also, I hate my Rotopax. The day before the trip one water pack leaked (new out of the box). Had to mount it upside down. After a couple days one of my gas packs leaked over night onto the truck bed. I can't find an actual hole. The following day the remaining 'good' gas pack began spewing gasoline out of the cap while riding Poison Spider Mesa. I've been venting the Rotopax 2-3 times per day and it wasn't helping a bit. Seriously unimpressed with Rotopax. All of my packs were brand new and never used before this trip. Also, my Rotopax bed rail mount actually fell OFF the bedrail during Top of the World. I only found out because I had to get my Hi-Lift for someone who needed to replace a punctured tire. Found the Rotopax still attached to the mount lying in the bed. But the mount was no longer attached to the bed rail.

 

So badass man! I'm forsure going next year. No way I can miss this kinda environment. The pics and videos were great and that was good to hear about the rotopax. I was looking at them but think jerry cans are tried and true.

 

Great looking rig man, truck looks awesome white the white bumpers!

 

Night brother!!!

 

Finally got my Baja Designs Fog Lights installed. These are the Squadron Pro Driving/Combo Lights I got from @Pelfreybilt.


Fog Lights Only

Factory Headlights Only

 

Okay, I've been putting this off since my return from Moab. I've finally sent contact to the folks at #Rotopax. I'm extremely frustrated with their product and I'm hoping they'll do something to stand behind it. Here's what I just sent them by email. Keep in mind the contact form on their website is broken - which simply led to further frustration on my part since I had to write the letter more than a couple times due to their site failing.

I guess we'll see how they respond. I truly feel like I've taken cash money and thrown it into the fireplace at this point. I'd have been better off using that money for many other things - or simply giving it away.

 

Please keep us posted as to the outcome. When I do eventually end up with a rear bumper, I thought I was set on Rotopax due to their slim profile but it's hard to go against the older "tried & true" NATO style...especially after hearing your experience.

I realize you may have just ended up with some from a bad batch or something so now it's about their customer service...

Good luck with it and I hope to hear positive results from your negative experience.

 

Thanks!!

I will say I wheel'd with a couple guys with NATO can holders on their bumper gates. At steep angles they can become a problem (they drag on rocks, etc). So keep that in mind. There's pros and cons to everything.

Ideally, I'd really love to somehow make something like Rotopax work so I can get a bed rack system and mount them on the sides of a rack so they are out of the way. But if they are going to leak everywhere there's no point. And guys with NATO cans tell me they never have to vent them either - which would sure be nice. Even at 89F (and many places are much hotter right now) the Rotopax cans swell a LOT.

 

@dan0mite

Rotopax emailed me first thing this morning. I didn't expect such a quick response!

I asked him how their warranty process worked and told him I didn't have their original shipping boxes. They replied:

I drilled 3/8" holes in the bottom of each can and sent photos. They emailed back and advised they'll ship out new ones today.

 

So far that sounds like excellent customer service. Doesn't seem to happen all that often anymore.

 

This truck rocks my socks off!!!!!!!!!