Finally Getting Around To It Build

Makes sense. I'll look more into skids when t comes time for me to purchase some. Have to get this muffler I ordered installed first.

 

Had a blast yesterday! Went up to Richland Rd, Grandfather Mtn, and Linville Gorge! My buddy brought his GoPro and got some great pics!

Richland Rd
























The damage!

Boot cover came loose, just have to slide it back on


Hit the gas tank skid plate


Need to clean this thing up




Grandfather Mountain!


Lineville falls and Gorge

 

You were back near my house. Live about 15-20 min from Richlands man

 

Nice man! I love that area up there! Well, west NC in general!

 

North Carolina is a great state. Very glad my parents chose it to settle down. I live about 2 hours northwest of that area.

 

Yeah I agree with you! I have family that lives in Raleigh and always love going up there.

 

I have family in the Charlotte and Winston-Salem area. But most live in the town I live in or just outside of it. The best states are the ones with all seasons.

 

Agreed!

 

I just wish there were more off-road places in my area. We've only got one and don't know if at technically legal.

 

There aren't any legal places around me... found out the hard way when I had my old Jeep

 

The place me and my buds go to there's a few trails that have been blocked, but we found one without any signs posted and it wasn't blocked. We're using that as an excuse if we ever get questioned. Wish there was more that we were sure is legal.

 

What brand rack is that on your topper? Is it "nomadic"? Seems to be the same as mine, and I couldn't find much information on it. Considering taking them off in the future for a yakima rack unless the nomadic ones are holding up well.

 

The crossbars are nomadic and they came with the camper shell when I bought it. The roof basket is made by Rola. I got the extension when I bought it.

 

Thanks man!

 

Yeah, same. You're the only other person I've seen with it and their website doesn't have any information for those bars. Weird.

 

Yeah, I'm not really sure.

 

Ahhhh, it's nice to have AC again! Decided to dig into my AC problem this week. Found an old bottle of freon I had laying around and see if it was just low. Hooked it up and ran AC on max a a few mins and noticed nothing. Turned the truck off and heard a hissing sound coming around the front of the truck. The condenser was hissing! Ordered a new one off of Rock Auto and got it half the price of one in an auto parts store! It got here quick! Made sure all the pressure was bled off before tearing into because of laws and such. The leak was so bad that it let all the pressure out. Started changing it and saw that it didn't even have any brackets holding onto the truck. It was only connected by the lines! Changed it out and dropped it off to get the AC recharged. All good to go!

Old vs new. Notice the old one didn't have any brackets!


All installed and actually secure!

 

Finally got a Jerry can to put on the back. Also, had to order a whole new Jerry can holder to get a new strap to hold it in place. Went to put the strap on, and it wouldn't close with the original breather screw that came with the Jerry can. So, I went to the hardware store and just got a matching screw that was shorter. Fit perfectly. Put a new lock on it and good to go!

The original screw that was too tall to fit with the strap



Slapped a shorter screw and washer, no issues.


Everything together


Good to go!

 

Trucks going to be parked for a little while for maintenance. Yesterday, I was driving into work and a guy from work was behind me and said that my rear end looked like it was doglegged a little bit. I already figured this since I know the fame is tweeted just a hair but didn't think it was that noticeable. So when I got home I flipped around one of my axle relocation brackets to see if that would fix it. It only made it worse. Decided to put it back how I had it. Put everything back together and the side that I was messing with, is straight and now and the other side is pulled back a little. Went to test drive it and my steering wheel is off center too! I think it has to do with when they previously aligned my truck they based it off the rear wheels, which they assumed to be straight and was not, so now the wheel centering is off. I think i'm just going to have to play with the rear end until I get it center on both sides and then take it in for a new alignment. When messing with the axle, i'll probably throw in the add a leaf iv'e had sitting in my room for the past month or so. ON ANOTHER NOTE. I'm going to be changing the oil, front and rear diffs, transmission, and transfer case fluids whenever the new fluid gets here in the mail. I decided to go with 75w90 Red line fluid. Heard good things about it and i'll give it a try. Took the front skids off today to prepare for when I have to do it. The truck will be sitting until I can get time to change the fluids and get the axle to line up straight.

 

Started looking underneath the truck to locate all the fill and drain holes for when I change all the fluids out. Found that the top of my transmission was leaking. The mating surface of the shift lever to the top of the transmission had a slow seep that looks like it had been leaking a while. Went into the truck, disassembled the center console, and took a closer look of where exactly it was leaking. There was some fluid around one of the breathers and around the base of the shift lever. Took off the shift lever and you could tell it was definitely leaking, even one of the screws holding it on had fluid on the threads. Went to the store and bought some RTV/gasket maker. Came back, cleaned everything up and put on the RTV. Hopefully it stops the leak. While I have the center console removed I decided to order new cup holder tabs since mine were toast. Anyways here's some pics, didn't really get any pics of how and where it was leaking though.

Completely dissassembled.


Cleaned everything up.


New RTV applied and shift lever attached.


Put back together until I get new tabs for the cup holders.


New tabs ordered, old ones are toast.