Zam15's Adventure Build

Just ordered that same setup for mine....like $13. I was wondering on the length of those switchbacks too. Guess you have to mod a little to get them to fit.

 

Ya having only one bulb is nice, keeps it clean and in the stock location. Only had to shave a little off to fit in in.

Dang wish I found that deal, think these ran me around $20, still not bad. Just keep the cut out tight and they wedge in there nicely.
Just add some plastic weld and they are there for good! Hopefully the LEDs last forever because it would be a pain to remove one.
These are almost too bright, wanted to stay low key lol but I guess I'll have to wait and see how they look on the truck.

Note** the load resistors get freakin hot! Don't run power through them full time or something will burn.

 

I was just going to cut those resistors out. I already have big resistors in my tail light wells that slows my blink down plenty. Already had LEDs up front but wanted the switchback capability in the corner lamp. Appreciate the heads up on the heat......

 

So my current PA speaker has had a rough life, not even sure if it still works or if will even fit where I had it installed on the previous bumper with the new LED Pods taking up more space on the bumper now.

May not be able to fit another cone style PA speaker.

Obviously I've been on an upgrade cycle over the years.

Now I'm looking at this guy. Any thoughts?



Where I've had them mounted previously:

 

So not bullshiting when it comes to the skid plate. I think it turned out amazing, its pretty much a hybrid between full prerunner design and the more traditional heavy duty skid plates.

After talking about all the options and first hand experience with other designs we decided to go with a lightly more gradual approach angle, while it does not have as much initial clearance it will better protect/defect against anything that I would encounter. Especially during high desert or expedition style travel, while still being beefy enough and having enough clearance for any rocky trail.

They did any awesome job and I gave them the ok to finish it up! I feel it does an amazing job tying everything together. There is nothing on the market that could better fit the truck.

One of my biggest fears when far away from civilization has always been damaging the radiator, it hangs low and up front on these trucks making an easy target. Stock skid did an ok job but this is going to be light-years ahead.

Next week will hopefully the front end going back together and rear coil buckets going in.

 

Do you have them tying into the massive crossmember mount the OEM skid used to use? It's an essential mounting point IMO that some skid companies neglect using.

 

The OEM crossmember is long gone, and I'm not using the one provided with the ARB, I've bent three different crossmembers as they were all flimsy as show shown below, I'm actually giving this one to a buddy who bent his as well. The current mock up rest on the custom cross member between the LCA mounts and to the ARB itself, it also rests on the entire length of the frame horns, the lower section ties directly into the upper. Even without tying directly into the new cross member is significantly stronger than any of my previous skids.
Frame horn crossmember

LCA crossmember

Super thin skid plate cross member.

Previous attempts at beefing it up

 

I was actually referring to the LCA crossmember but it looks like now you have that reinforcement tube blocking access to it.

 

Just took a 2nd looks at everything. The top skid plate layer ties directly into the LCA frame where the stock skid does, actually uses the stock bolts holes as well. The 2nd bolts into the top layer, the reinforcing tube, and the rear stock mounting location.

Skid is mostly finished, welded up, painted, and flush bolts used.
Perfect match for the ARB




First cut in the bed made, this is as painful to see as when I drilled the hole for my old ARB snorkel. But its all for a good cause.
Should hopefully see some progress soon...

 

I'm still trying to get the nerve up to cut into my glass fender to do a similar snorkel to yours.

 

Pretty sure I was the first crazy one to go that route. Several others have now gone that same route and the all turned out clean.
May revise mine in the future with larger dia pipe all the way to the air box to match the intake size on the pre-filer so I dont have to use an adapter, also will try to bring it in a little closer to the a-pillar. But it works great as is.

 

I have a LandCruiser dust separator that I'm hoping to plumb into the line underneath the fender for just a little more added insurance. I'll do it and I'll keep the larger diameter pipe in mind too. I'm still just a little scared.

 

Alright, so I went ahead and ordered an aux fuel tank for the truck, a Ford F-150 under-bed tank with a capacity of around 18 gallons. Essentially doubling my capacity/range.

It'll likely be a while before I get it installed and hooked up put its a perfect match for these trucks. Several other builds have gone with this setup and turned out amazing. Some just using this single tank and ditching the stock tanks.

I'll use both, I like the redundancy it will add, say should the fuel pump in the main tank go out it would just require a small amount of work to switch over to the aux tank and be up and running where otherwise you would be stranded.

Clean install :Wow1:

 

Got a link to the tank? OR junk yard?

Was going to do the same using the extra Tacoma tank/sending unit I have and a DTDP switch with the stock gauge to check the levels in both tanks.

 

Amazon it your friend!

Wheels are on the ground! Well half of them anyways... Still going slow, but the truck finally has eyes again.
When mocking up the shocks it was determined that the frame will have to be notched slightly to fit everything at full stuff. But I knew that was likely from the start. Can't wait until all four wheel are on the ground!

 

What about full articulation ? Did they droop the opposite side out to check that too ?

 

Looks like potential for significant spring rub once articulated. It's all about testing and retesting. Progress is always good man. Keep the updates coming.

 

Yea they've been cycling the thing for months, about the only thing that they did for a while... But now that they have all the pieces together (shocks, bedsides, links) they can finally fine tune everything. I trust they'll make sure it cycles through the whole range. Planning on 315s so I'll likely grab new rims with better backspacing when I do.

 

Does anyone else have a problem with this thread always loading toward the top of the page ?

 

Happens to me every time. Seems like the only thread that it happens.