New England B.S. Thread

I did griptape on my sliders but I did it before putting the sliders on the truck and I put it on the bottom...

 

Prefect link in the signature for this story...

 

Wasn't my smartest move.

 

Hah, niiiiice.

I’m just going to wrap the whole thing, not just do the top.

PS what J bars do you use for the kayaks? I just put the roof rack on, putting on bars soon. I want to get collapsing ones so they can fold down when not in use, but I use them 2-3 times a week in the summers, so might get rigid ones.

Any recommendations for roofing a kayak, too?

 

I'm interested in where you get the grip tape and how it holds up

 

So far Magic Geanie’s shop, and it’s held up better than you could ever imagine

(I haven’t gotten it or done it yet)

They make 1-2” strips x 30 ft lengths or similar. I’m just going to wrap it around the outer bar. I figure the bottom and/or outside will get mangled but wrapping will probably hold up better than just a single strip. I think.

 

Any skate shop should have it

 

Lowes and Home Depot sells something like that for steps, should be similar?

 

Yeah I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what I have in my Amazon cart. Or at least that’s what it’s marketed for.

I’ve also been referred hockey grip tape. I’ll get to it soon. First, this weekend I need to replace 90% of the fluids in the truck and the brakes - and I’m getting a bumper welded up, so there’s some higher priority shenanigans going on. I’ll probably do it before I hit up Jason for woolwax in about a month.

Oh. Balls. That’s only less than a month between now and then. I gotta giddy the F up and get this crap done :|

 

So the J bars came with the used kayaks, I think they are these. They are actually meant for oval bars but I bolted a piece to 1/4" aluminum to the bottom and I used these drop in studs and nuts to attach them to the 8020. With this system you don't have to fiddle around trying to line the nut up with the bolt and the hardware stays with the racks.

As for getting them up there its kind of a PITA but I'm in my 20's so getting them up there isn't too big of an issue. No trick to it just lift it up over your head and toss it on.

I am looking to design and build a better way because in order to open my tent I need to take them off.

I can grab some pictures if you need some better clarification.

 

Yeah, my stuff has not held up well to Vermont winters, if I did this without a sandblaster it would be a year long effort. I'm considering even sending it all out to be blasted rather than do it myself even though I have the gear.

On the sliders, that's a little bit of dirt on top, but mostly rust with a few small patches of paint still hanging on. I painted them with an epoxy primer and Monster Liner originally, not sure if I would ever use either on armor again. Same for the skids underneath, but no pictures of them. The bumper is powder coated. I need to get this all down to bare metal for painting.

 

Nice.

Nah no more pictures needed, all makes sense. I am also looking at trying to find a cleaner way to do load and unload. If I think of anything, other than those stupid ones that like slide off the top, I’ll let you know.

We’ll see what I ultimately do. I am THINKING I might end up with a trailer for daily use. Low load, and then just hook it up easy in the driveway. Back it in, unhook, all done. Roof rack would be for longer trips.

I might be the only one in the history of ever where a trailer makes life easier

 

I hated grip tape on my sliders. It always catches your pants when exiting and heaven forbid your wearing shorts.

 

In NH for a wedding, starting off with a spicy 23 yr old!

 

I don't have the bumper but that all does look pretty toasty.

 

I do have some grip tape intended for steps. Got it for free that I intended to use but wrapping them would seem more durable

 

I'm on the way home now. Did a post flight inspection after the crater runs and found one bent cam tab, but alignment feels great and I'll get to it when I get home.

I've had a ssssllllooooow steering fluid leak for a long time, never could spot where, too slow. Didn't feel like fuckinwit a dye test.

That leak is def faster now but not like mega alarming. Boots are wet after several check/wipe at fuel stops etc. Res was visibly low from HOT MIN so I hit a shop and picked up a bottle to keep in the truck on the way home. Just gonna bite the bullet and get new pump, lines, rack and just get it all done. I'm not mad about the cost, I think it's a bargain - the OG steering system is tired and it needs to go rest its bones somewhere. I will have a go at a rebuild on the old part and keep it around just in case. I also don't want to chase high mileage parts that are coming close to the mean end of the bathtub curve.

I'm considering a new alt, and having my factory core sent to a local alt shop to see if they can do something nice for me.

 

I had my bumper powder coated when I was down in NY. I moved up here in 2017, so a while back, but it's rusting all over again. My sliders also need some sand blast Jesus.

I learned the hard way on my 4Runner. I ripped my leg open a few times then decided to tear it off.

 

You guys talking about grip on sliders and how they need to be redone...
They make grip additive for paints and epoxies or there's diy... Handful of sand added to the paint. Brush it on the top then paint them. Grippy on top, color matched and the sides won't wreck your legs. I'm planning this for when I do mine in the next few weeks.

 

Anyone do the sim-racing thing? Job gave me a nice bonus for the quarter since we closed a bunch of jobs and I've been trying to think what I want to do with it, might spring for a fanatec wheel or something else nice