Lambo's Daily Driver --> Trail Hunter Build (dbc trd) - Now I need a new daily...

Yeah definitely.

Mine looks factory. It has the provisions for the cover but it's missing, unfortunately... I'm really happy I have it, it adds some "airiness" to the cabin.

 

I agree. Every time I got into my friends 2001 Xtracab, it felt cramped even though the front seat head/hip/leg room is the same.

 

Pro tip: count the number of turns you unscrew the TRE. Then screw the new one in the same number. Repeat for other side. Should be damn close to spec. You need an alignments after this springs so wait to get one till everything is wrapped up.

 

Yeah mine’s a bit different

 

Between moving, family stuff, and work shit I haven't had much time to mess with the truck or hit any trails...

But, I did pick up a softopper. I like how it looks and I like how I can now haul stuff and keep it dry. It's gonna be so nice for camping trips. It's also nice how easy it is to remove when I need to lug the bike around.

Next purchase is definitely gonna be a winch. I need to get that before the end of August...





Disregard the Nisstec sticker... I got the topper from my former-Frontier friend



One of my tailgate cables also finally gave way... Guess I'll have to replace those.

 

Got the new tailgate cables in today so I replaced those with some fresh boys.





I also ordered a winch last night along with some other maintenance parts. So I’ve got some work to do before the Ouray trip I’m taking at the end of the month...

 

What kind of beer is that?

 

Kona Gold Cliff IPA

 

08/08/2018 -- Outer Tie Rods Replaced and Alignment -- 152,578

Finally got around to getting the outer tie rods replaced and obviously an alignment. Before the alignment, my steering wheel was slightly clocked to the left. Now it isn't, so that's nice. Unfortunately it appears I'm getting the notorious pull to the right from the Cooper S/T Maxx's. It's only noticeable at highway speeds so whatever. I'm ok with it. It pulls way less than it used to, though.

I also greased the driveshaft. I have no idea when it was done last but I was starting to notice some driveline clunks/shudders. Hopefully the driveshaft is still fine... we'll see. I need to do more research into whether or not a single piece driveshaft is a worthy upgrade, or if I should just get the stock, multi-piece one rebuilt... if it's borked, that is.

Anyways, I took the truck to Baker Garage here in Denver for the tie rods (I got lazy...) and the alignment. They technically specialize in Volvo's but they started catering to all makes and models. They're a great group of dudes that do good work. I'll definitely be bringing the truck there for any general work that I'm too lazy to do.





Here's how the alignment specs ended up:



The winch showed up this week too. Just in time.



Getting close to being ready for the wheeling trip I'm going on at the end of the month... hoping to get a lot of the rest knocked out this weekend.

 

Well I got a bit of work done today. I got the oil changed. While I was changing the oil, I replaced the drain plug with a Fumoto valve. Now I don't have to remove the skid plates to do an oil change... thank god.



I also started on installing the winch. I expected to have it all buttoned up today... but I ran into an issue. The winch controller doesn't fit on top of the winch; in the center, or mounted off to the side. So I need to find a place to remote mount it, because I don't want to cut up my grille.







As you can see, there's no room on top of the winch, below the grille. There's barely enough room for the free spool lever on the winch. After looking at these pictures, it even looks like the lever is pushing up on the grille quite a bit... I'll have to look into that tomorrow.






I'm thinking I can mount the controller right under the headlight, behind that angled bumper tube. After looking at it, there seems to be enough room for cable routing, and there are plenty of existing fasteners to tie into. I just need to make up some kind of bracket to interface with those fasteners and the mounting locations on the controller. Shouldn't be too hard. I'm gonna go to my friend's place on Thursday to take a shot at it since he has sheet metal tools that I don't have.



The truck is starting to look more complete, though... It's nice to have that gaping hole in bumper be filled up with a winch. Even if it doesn't have a line on it





I need to hustle on some stuff before heading out for a wheeling trip at the end of the month...

Oh... and I think I've found wheels for the truck... I just need to shuffle some things around to pay for them

 

So I tried to clock the gear box side of the winch so it wouldn't push up on my grille... unfortunately it interferes with the core support...



Also... my winch has some 420 manufacturing stamp on it

 

I would want the winch control as easy to reach as possibly in case something happens and the truck rolls/moves unexpectedly you can GTFO ASAP and not get pulled with the truck with your arm wrapped up in the bumper/grille.

 

Yeah I agree. Either location for the free spool level is kinda shit and the place I'm planning to put the controller box is actually going to be easier to access than if it were on top of the winch. I'll hopefully have that sorted on Saturday.

 

Well I got the winch all figured out. I went to a friend's place today and we brainstormed some ideas for mounting the winch controller. We ended up deciding to mount it above the winch, and in front of the grille. It's not ideal... but mounting it in the factory location is ideal but obviously that didn't work...





It ended up pretty good for a first shot and a couple hours of work. Ideally it would be a bit more level but whatever, it works great for now.





Unfortunately when we first tested it, the winch solenoid would click, and nothing would happen. The truck wouldn't even start... Turned out my gross af battery terminals weren't helping, and due to the design of the negative terminal, the clamp wasn't getting full contact with the winch cable attached. So, I cleaned everything up and changed around the negative terminal so that it would work correctly.





And now it works perfectly.

With the line added so I don't look like a tool anymore lol...

 

Just got back from a trip out around the Ouray area. I met up with some guys from the E30 forum r3vlimited for some wheeling and camping. I have way too many pictures to sort through over the next few evenings...

DSC00114 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr​

 

Alright... I hope you're ready for an obscene amount of pictures...

08/29/2018-09/02/2018 -- Ouray R3V Trip

The first day I drove from Denver to Grand Junction to meetup with my friend Will who was coming out from Washington on his trip to school in Wisconsin. I went to Moab with him last year when he has a Samurai. Now he has a Toyota Pickup that's super rad. We camped in Junction for the first night and then headed to Telluride the next morning.

From Telluride we took Imogene pass in order to get to Ouray. We met up with another friend, Mike, at Amphitheater campground for the second night. From Ouray we headed up Engineer Pass. When doing the full Engineer Pass trail, versus the Alpine Loop section of it, it's definitely ideal to start in Ouray and end in Lake City. The part out of Ouray is much slower and much more technical, and more fun haha. Heading down Engineer Pass, into Lake City, is much faster and a nice break from the wheeling earlier on the trail. After grabbing some beers and food in Lake City, we sought out a campground only to find the perfect spot about 20 miles north of Lake City. We set up there for the next couple nights.

For the last trail day, we decided to do the proper Alpine Loop because it seems like a sin to not do it when in the area. So, we started out on Cinnamon Pass and ended up completing the same section of Engineer Pass we did the day before. We chose the perfect time to do this trip. It was obvious that the Labor Day holiday crowd was starting to funnel in right as we were funneling out.

I was kind of sad we didn't get to do Black Bear but I guess I have reason to go back...

Anyways... enjoy the pics:

DSC00026 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

First campsite at Saddlehorn Campground outside of Grand Junction.



DSC00046 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

Airing down for Imogene Pass.



DSC00047 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00048 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00078 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00080 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

Views and stuff from the way up Imogene.



DSC00089 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00094 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00109 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00114 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

From the top of Imogene Pass.



DSC00122 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00142 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

Some stuff from the way back down Imogene.



DSC00153 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00156 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

From the trip down Imogene Pass into Ouray.



DSC00160 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

Amphitheater campground in Ouray.



DSC00176 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

My astro wasn't quite as good as Will's...



DSC00193 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00202 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00234 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00242 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00254 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00269 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00276 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00304 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00308 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00329 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

From Engineer Pass out of Ouray into Lake City.



DSC00344 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

Grabbed some beers and food in Lake City.



DSC00349 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

Found a rad campsite a bit north of Lake City.



DSC00384 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00394 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00414 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00422 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00425 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00433 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

From the summit of Cinnamon Pass. We ended up doing the entire Alpine Loop.



DSC00453 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00456 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

Stopped by a waterfall we passed by the day before.



DSC00460 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

More beer in Lake City...



DSC00465 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00474 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

On the trip home I had to stop by this super cool trail that leads to this lake about 10 miles south of Gunnison.



DSC00478 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00479 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

Final beers of the trip at Eddyline Brewery in Buena Vista.​

 

My 18 year old ARB compressor also blew a seal during the trip. It's sad since my Dad bought it when we lived in Australia... but it was pretty slow. I'll probably try to fix it and keep it for sentimental value.



But, in the meantime, I picked up a VIAIR 450P compressor. It's wayyy faster than the old ARB. I want to do on board air but I wasn't exactly sure how I wanted to do it. So I got this portable one for now.

 

Quick photo dump of the camping/wheeling trip I took with some other TW guys

Good times camping and out on the trails.


DSC00481 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00492 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00498 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00502 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00527 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00532 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00535 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00538 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00539 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00545 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00555 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00559 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00567 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00572 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00580 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00582 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00585 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00588 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr


DSC00595 by Phillip Keefe, on Flickr

 

Ooooo. Precisely what I've been looking for... Is there any chance you could get a front hub to fender measurement for me?

Backstory - Our trucks are set up very similarly in the front. Same bumper, skids, winch, sliders. My 881's aren't up to holding the weight anymore, and I'm trying to decide what I want to do. Also, nice build, subscribed.