ckrockets build thread (daily driver/overlander rig) - Jack's 2010 4X4 DCSB Silver Streak Mica

Nice living in an area when you do that you aren't shining it into people's houses. That sure would freak some people out if it did. Nice set up.

 

The area is developing like crazy, 15 min down the road there are houses everywhere. We are just a little to far out for the retirees for now, eventually they'll fill this area up as well. I've got development encroaching from 2 directions North from TN and South from Asheville, we are still fairly rural in the middle.

 

This is a beast. Great work

 

Excellent build and awesome photos!

Looking forward to future updates

 

Very impressive build subd. If only I had the knowledge you have.

 

Tuesday 6/11/19

***Got these

$9 Prescott Plastics 7/8" Round Black Vinyl End Cap, Flexible Pipe Post Rubber Cover (10)

caps off of Amazon fit snug, easy on and off


***water tank and pump setup staged ready for install, one of the last things to install need to power wash the truck really good first

 

Saturday 6/15/19

Installed power mount and testing the Garmin Inreach Explorer+.


***2 way Satellite texting interface via bluetoothed Samsung Tab4 (#2 reason I bought it)


***full GPS location, routes, and mapping interface via bluetoothed tablet (#3 reason I bough it)


***Satellite SOS button on main device, can also activate SOS via the bluetoothed tablet or smartphone (#1 reason I bought it)


***installed 120V AC (metered 102-105 V) plug and did 400W anytime mod (thanks TW!)


***changed oil (Castrol Magnatech 5w30 Full Synthetic, WIX XP filter

$10 51348XP Xp Spin-On Lube Filter, Pack of 1

51348XP), engine and cabin air filters (EPAuto GP683 & CP374), replaced right exhaust hanger strap (left replaced couple months ago), de-scaled exhaust from the dual exit flowmaster back then painted the last 2' with black bed-liner (temp hold-over til I can have the entire exhaust replaced)

Sunday 6/16/19


***installed large drain grommet in the spare tire bag (favored the front edge versus the middle as the bag drooped under the weight of the trapped water)



***made more storage/protective bags (2 USB fans, DC power box, Camp Chef propane hot water heater, hoses & accessories)

1 weekend left before my trip

 

Tuesday 6/18/19

I want to extend an open invitation for anyone that would like to convoy along with us on any of these planned routes.

This overlanding adventure is going to be a slow paced nothing risky to the rig or our persons type of trip. I have no problems with taking alternate routes, modifying the routes or turning around if the terrain gets to sketchy. I will have a chainsaw and the winch to clear a tree if necessary, any water crossings will be evaluated on a case by case bases. Other than stopping for some relatively quick photo opportunities, stretch your legs/bathroom break, and a moderate lunch stop we will be on the move continuously. We will not be taking stops for hiking, site seeing, etc. away from the rig. Where we make camp in the evenings is totally open (however I do have an tentative idea of where each evening). We are gun people so we will be armed and open carrying at all times , so if you think guns & gun people are icky this isn't the convoy for you . We are not partiers so there won't be any late night drinking going on . We are sociable so there will be a beverage and conversation around the campfire before we get some shuteye.

The first 4 routes are set in stone with the last 2 being more flexible.

There is a chance after the Magruder route we may head to Missoula late afternoon of July 4th and spend July 5th there so my buddy can para-glide, so that would shift the remaining routes by a day.

Send me a message if you're interested.






This will be our 2 day (June 29 & 30) route out there if anyone wants to coordinate.

 

Genius Extraordinaire!

 

4:02pm EST 6/18/19

 

^

 

4:20pm EST 6/18/19

A huge shout out to Matt at Discount Tire for the great deal on this rim/lug nut set (5 - 17x8 0 offset Level 8 mk6 bronze, 30 - Bimecc lugs) and allowing me to put them on layaway back in Feb of this year. Above and beyond customer service many many thanks! New tires as well (Faulken Wildpeak A/T3W 115T 265/70/17).

Matt, I had them jack the front up and check clearance at full lock out/full droop over an inch of clearance between the tire and control arm to spare. You saved my trip for real my friend.





Home 1 hr later




***didn't even have to mod my rear camera mount, a freebie

 

Thanks for the shout out and man, the wheels look fantastic!

I'm so glad to hear everything cleared as you and I thought they would

 

Last weekend before my trip!

Saturday 6/22/19

***Needed to wash the truck before I installed the last 2 items (water tank setup and the rack storage platform). First handwash the truck has had in 2 years, first time ALL the add-ons have been hand washed. Foam cannon setup I've had for a while bought it to detail my 2015 STI (sold last summer). I wash in 3 stages 1) pre-wash pressure rinse (knock off the heavy layer of dirt), 2) pre-handwash foam soak then pressure rinse, 3) hand wash then pressure rinse in approximately 16 sections .


***4 hours later just as I'm finishing the last wheel no big deal I don't consider this a detail as much a bath of a filthy beast, the road grim from my 60 mile daily commute was so thick you couldn't touch or lean against the truck without getting dirty.


***while it rained I worked on a final storage bag, sits on top of aux battery, will only be storing soft goods in this one


***I'm using MTM storage crates to hold non-refrigerated food, paper plates & cups, plastic utensils, salt & pepper/spices, paper towels, etc. added some retention straps to lash them to my suit case.


***maximized usage of that space I'd say

 

Skipped this post ahead to #225

Thanks for the like @silasvirus82 !

 

So the GPS unit is bluetoothed the tablet and you can use it for mapping?

 

Yes, using the Earthmate app.

You can follow pre-built routes (KML files built on Google My Maps) with live location, send/receive txt messages via satellite, and send an SOS via satellite all through the app or directly on the device.

Also there is an special link my wife can watch online that shows my exact location updated every 5 minutes.

 

Very interesting are there as many maps out there as like Gaia?

 

It's a Garmin product so whatever is usually available for Garmin devices. This is my first dedicated GPS device. I've always just used Google Maps/My Maps with stored offline maps on my tablet for motorcycle trips using a preloaded route.
That was good enough for asphalt motorcycle trips as I was never more than a few hours between cell towers. This trip I'll he days between cellular data so Google Maps/My Maps won't be reliable enough.

 

Yeah Gaia works like that where you have to download the files/trips before the trip to run the map but then as long as your tablet has GPS it works off sattelites well from what I've read. I use the Magellan offroad dedicated GPS it works pretty well but I am always looking for other options to add to what I want for some of the treks I would like to do. Redundancy is never a bad thing. Well plus I like having a compass and old school topo maps.