Desertjunkie760's 2011 Not So Basic but Never a Bad Bitch Build Thread

So most recent parts update, picked up a set of used Dakars from a local guy who had them on Craigslist. I will need to get a set of bushings for instal but they seem to have low mileage.

Also picked up a set of Timbren bump stops used of a different party.

knocking parts out little by little. Looking for an All Pro flip kit, extended brake lines, and 12" Kings for the BAMF relocation setup. Should ably remove the overload spring since I don't have a rear bumper or any other weight over the axle on a daily basis.

 

Did some maintenance today while on the lift. Happy with the production level but didn't get to flush the power steering.

Got the oil changed, tires rotated, UCA zerks greased, front/rear diff oil, and transfer case oil all changed out. Still planning on doing the tranny flush and power steering before Overland Expo. Apparently our trucks are not your typical tranny flush so I held off on that today. The oil alone is $10/qt and it takes 10.5 qts.

 

After working on the truck, I ran over to a friend to work on some other projects we have been putting off. Once again made some good progress but didn't quite get to the shocks I need to rebuild.

Always good times though.

 

It's been a little while since a lot of activity in here. Last couple of weeks have been crazy busy.

Got to go to Flagstaff for the Overland Expo! Had a great time and hit Sedona on the way back! Had a few speed bumps on the way out due to the lack of preparation the days before.

I had plans to grab a pair of bed bars before we left, but plans failed and we were short on time. Huge thanks to @itaro to reach out to us with his Relentless bed bars set last minute. He even traveled a distance to meet us on our way out to Flagstaff. Huge life saver for sure! (It worked out for him as well, I did pay for them)



I picked up a Technitop from a family member who has had it sitting but never mounted it. It needs some TLC from sitting but it works great! Problem was that there was no mounting solution on the tent when I picked it up.




Spent 4 hours in a Home Depot parking lot making a mounting solution with what we had. My drill died after the first side was mounted, and I lost my charging cord in the midst of packing, but it was enough for us to complete to trip.

(she was not happy with me over the situation and was very hungry.)


We purchased two aluminum "C" shaped crossbar for the supporting bracket and bout 4 "u bolts" to secure the crossbars to the bed bars. Its a little backward from what I would prefer, yet the security is there because you have to open the tent to remove the "u bolts," thus creating a pretty secure mounting solution.





I then drilled through the crossbars and into the bottom of the tent in 4 different locations. I wanted to avoid drilling a bunch of holes into the tent itself as much as possible. This solution allowed me to only drill 4 holes into the thinest portions of the tent instead of two per "u bolt" at much thicker parts.

 

The Home Depot stop put us behind schedule, so we hit Denny's and drove through the night. (took shifts of course and slept while the other drove.) Arrived in Flagstaff around 6:30AM Friday morning.

We camped just outside of the "on site camping." We had a pass for the on site, but I didn't leave San Diego and drive to Flagstaff just to camp in an apartment complex. Place was packed! I did barrow a drill from a fellow camper and finished our tent installation once we arrived. We couldn't open the tent with only half of the install done due to balancing issues.





I used a rock that was already laying there to level the truck off. It worked great and was minimal effort!

 

Broken Arrow Trail, Sedona. On the way back from Overland Expo. (Pic Dump!)


















Anyone see it???

 

Well, hit some trails today and made it 7/8's of the way through before running into any issues. Ended the day with a bent bed side, FUBARed rear bumper, highly likely that I blew the rear differential, and a few beers. Pics to come soon.

Question is now weather to go with 4:56s or 4:88s if the diff is actually gone (highly probable) and I have to start replacing parts? Remember, I have 275s now and was going to jump to a 33". Probably not going to 35" for some time.

@Speed Freek @Pirhett @goblue82 @Socalduckslayer @eccracer104

 

3.73 is stock, 4.10 would be the most similar to stock with 33" tires, 4.56 is the most similar to stock with 35" tires, 4.88 is over geared for 35".

I'd go 4.56 if you plan on 35" tires at any point. At least that's what I'll do if/when I'm on 35" tires.
If your truck was more a trail rig than a DD 4.88 would be cool because you can crawl slower, feels like there's more torque, and only down side is the lack of top end at high speed.

Sorry to hear about your truck getting all messed up
On the plus side, Pelfrey high clearance rear bumper

 

I keep hearing different thought processes and I'm kind of with you. I still need/want the drivability but I don't need to haul ass on the freeway either. The truck wasn't intended to be a daily in the first place, just happened that way. I feel that 4:88s would be cool when I get to 35"s, even for on road use, but it would be WAY overkill for 33"s.

 

Thanks man. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. I was just playing around and nobody got hurt. Just my pride. Truck did alright the rest of the trail though. I hit a pretty technical line early on and had to get a little tug from @YumaTRD due to open differentials but almost made it!

Yeah no kidding; Tyler, what do you have in stock in the HC rears!?! @Pelfreybilt

(oh and my sliders were tested today with success! Love them!)

 

4:fitty sex. 100 percent. If you listen to the others: GAY. ha

 

Also if you go 4.88 you're silly if you're not 37's

 

Spoken from the master himself...

 

Loving them so far!

Driver's side. I'm having issues getting my Airdrop to work with my phone but here is what I have so far.

 

Oh shit! Thats not good, but yeah 4.56 with 35s.

It depends on what broke and if the housing got damaged, usually they dont so it should be gears and setup kits, etc..

 

Thanks! Sounds like 4:56s it is. Tore the rear differential apart today and found the problem. I'm still trying to put together what the cause was. I'm thinking it was due to the amount of stress I put the axle in on my approach and attempt exit.


Is tearing the spider gears apart a normal thing or is something wrong here? Ring and pinion look good and so do the splines. Differential housing has some scuff marks but I don't see an issue with a good cleaning.

 

It's a jigsaw puzzle. Put it together and weld the diff. We will test it at the trail again this weekend

 

Spider gears are the weak link (smaller gears=weaker) so essentially yes they are in some sorts a fuse as they have more play than the ring and pinion do so they are much more susceptible to shock loading.
Go with an ARB and never worry again. For even more insurance use 140w gear oil as well.

 

Haha, you left out 50% extra tire wear and all U-turns become donuts!!

 

If the ring and pinion gears are without damage, and I wanted to throw an ARB in the current setup, would it be a simple swap or would I still have to get the gears measured? I'm trying to keep cost to a minimum but a locker would be so nice. If I keep 3:73s but throw an ARB in, I will still be much better off than I am now without having to re gear the front.