Gunshot's Taco Build and Washington Debauchery Log...

The story of why I bought a roof tent:

August 2017, I raced mountain bikes in the Brian Head edition of the Utah Gravity Series. For those of you that don't know, Utah summers in the mountains often times have routine afternoon showers. Apparently, Brian Head regularly gets "more than showers"...

Base camp set up the first day. Nice and dry, a little chilly because of the altitude, all good:



Go two practice laps of the course in. Never ridden here before, so I was just starting to learn where the big rocks were, never mind the fast lines. The skies got dark around 1030, and POURED for the next 4 hours. As I'm sitting in my ground tent, water soaking through the footprint and the floor, I was miserable. Meanwhile, the suburban that was parked next to me had THE BIGGEST roof tent I'd ever seen. No idea what brand it was, but it was huge. Family of 5 and the damn golden retriever up there playing Uno and laughing, while I sat there in the damp like a peasant. for a long while, I wasn't sold on the concept of RTTs. That changed about 20 minutes into "Read a book, and soak"

Post rain cheesin' 30 mins to race start:



That was the wettest, muddiest, scary as all hell ride I've probably ever ridden. But damn it was fun. I finished 4th in my cat too, so there's that! As soon as I got home, the research began. 2 weeks later, the treehouse build got started!

C4 rack installed:


Tepui Ayer picked up from REI and installed in my friend's driveway at 1130 the night before departure.



Return to Brian Head trip to ride the bike park again. Went much better this time. This pic also commemorates the first time I discovered I left my wallet in the tent Literally the first night I spent in it. I have since learned an adage from a wise man that said "If you don't wear pants into the tent, you can't forget your wallet!"


So funny story about this spot. I found it in a pinch, and it was a cul de sac at the end of this really steep windy road where they are getting ready to build a development. Super quiet, and didn't see anyone all night. So I'm up in the tent racked out, and at around 2am, this car comes up the drive, headlights beaming into my window. They stop right next to my truck, stare at my tent for a minute, then leave. About 30 mins later, a different truck comes up the drive, headlights again blaring in the window, stops, stares at my truck, then leaves. Couldn't figure out what was going on, until the next morning at breakfast, I was telling a guy what happened, he laughed and said "you were camped at the local make out spot."

 

subd

 

I remember INTENTIONALLY parking by you because you had such a rad Tacoma and we just had to be next to each other. The license plate was the cherry on top for sure!

Glad you became such a rad friend! Cant wait for more adventures in the future!

 

Decided to go play in the dirt with @eltacoutah on Saturday. Ran out to the Elberta Slant tunnel and then attempted to get back to the Eagle Mountain area via Homansville (UTV 1) just east of Eureka. Got about 1/4 of the way down and ran into a posted no trespassing sign. After some bushwacking through TIGHT sage and juniper groves, we decided to turn back the way we came.

 

need some updates and fridge placement

 

I know, right? But with being in WA for Thanksgiving week, and a few busy weeks at work, there hasn't been much to report. Your fridge purrs like a kitten hooked to shore power BTW, and I have the rivnuts I need to pick up from Grainger down the street. Trying to decide what to do about 12v power is my main holdback. Not sure if I want to go with the ARB outlet, or run some bigger cable and run one of those blue sea deckplate power panels. Plus it's cold, and my bitch ass doesn't wanna freeze while doing all this. Gonna have to borrow my buddies heated garage.

What did you do on the great white?

Mod list to install:
Redline hood struts
Fridge wiring (method TBD)
rivnuts and slide
40" BD S8 light bar on order, need new fairing
RCI Front Skid to paint and bolt up
12v water pump kit from @ProForce


Mods on the future list:
1. LSK or Dirt King LCAs and cam bolts (siezed cam bolts currently)
2. Lengthen fuse panel lead wire from 12v+ clamp (very tight with 31 battery)
3. Make a shunt hose for my air compressor setup so I can have a QD socket next to the winch, no opening of the hood required.
4. New windshield after Tuk trip in July, already have a few good starbursts from gravel
5. Buy a house mod?

 

Great White needs a bunch of things redone. But basically, I have a 100w Renogy solar panel on the Prinsu, going to a factory (dead now, and want to replace with this deep cycle battery). I also wired

BUNKER INDUST 3 Gang Rocker Switch Panel Digital Voltmeter 12V Cigarette Socket 3.1A Dual USB Power Charger Adapter Flush Mount Waterproof for Car Marine Boat RV Truck Vehicles Blue LED Light

this prewired switch panel to the battery with a blue sea fuse panel on the underside of the battery box. Plugged the 12v from the fridge, to the panel.

What I need to do, is shorten the 9+ feet of solar panel wire going to the battery, replace the battery, install the bed slide, and order another fridge. Its winter and cold here too, so very low motivation.

Also I am getting a new frame. Toyota dealership wants me to go back to stock suspension, and take off all the skids/bumpers/bed rack/tent in the next 4-6 weeks. That is my main focus for the winter. Ughh, no heated shop here. Not even a garage. Im just hoping I can get things done with no rain and temps above 30.

 

Yeah, I knew about the frame woes from your un-build. Sounds like my mental plan is basically the same as yours.

I like that switch panel's price you linked at $50 less than the bluesea option, but I don't need switches, just a 12v outlet and maybe a pair of USBs.

I'd look at the X2power batteries from batteriesplus as well. I have the group 31, but the group 27 looked really good as well. Much pricier, but the warranty was great, and the X Overland dudes used them for a while, so you know they've been tried and tested.

 

Im sure you can get those 2 things that you need. I eventually want to have some bed lights, and I dont want to run the wires to my sPod in the front.

I was interested in a used Optima Blue top, but it was too far away. Then I looked at the new prices, and thought there should be a knock off version or a cheaper version for cheaper. Its not like I am using it for my main battery.

 

Didn't realized you had a dual setup. That's why I went with the 31 size, cuz I'm running a single.

I suppose I could use one of those switches to run the 12v water pump, I don't need or really want bed lights, but if I had the switches already, maybe... I'm sure I could find a 3rd #EAF thing to wire up as well.

 

Currently its not functional. And the 2nd battery is not connected to the main battery. So is it really a dual? The solar panel is the means of charging the 2nd battery. It does not serve any other function.

So as of right now, its function is to look pretty on my roof In the spring, after this frame debacle, Ill get back to redo-ing things. Want to have a fully functioning truck, when I drive out to Oregon/west coast around July

 

LOL, yeah, kinda struggling on the dual. I'm thinking about solar as well, but I'd have to lose the spot where I keep my traction boards on the prinsu, and where I mount my ski rack in the winter. Kinda digging the idea of a remote solar panel or blanket.

In other news, I just ordered a Blue Sea breakered 12v socket/2xUSB. If I got the one without the volt meter it was $36 instead of $75, and I forgot I had $25 in Amazon credit from work. Not bad for $14 after tax. Will fit perfectly in that notch over the pax side storage cubby and outlet.. May have the fridge G2G by this weekend! Now I don't have to mess with more switches either.

 

You coming over via the northern route I-90 or by I-70 through the flyovers, CO, and up through Utah and Idaho?

I did the I-90 route from Manassas to Seattle after I graduated, and that was a not so scenic drive until after Rapid City, SD. Whatever you do, avoid cutting the corner through Wyoming on rt 212 and stopping for gas at Lame Deer, MT. I've seen less feral dogs and felt less "spidey sense-y" in several 3rd world countries. The road itself was pretty gorgeous, but the gas stop ruined that road for me. Granted I was pulling a trailer, and at 9mpg in a 1st gen, I didn't have the range to go an inch further. Maybe mix it up, and take -90 out and -70 back?

 

I havent thought that far ahead yet. I was just going to take some time off work, throw some stuff in my truck, and get on the road. I think I obviously need to do some more research.

 

Really only 2 main thoroughfares to get to OR from VA, so that narrows your choices. I-70 puts you in range of the alpine loop around Ouray, and takes you just north of Moab if you were feeling spicy. Plus depending on timing vs my Tuk trip, you could crash on my couch in SLC if you needed to.

Edit: or be a dunce like me and forget about I-80, which is the fastest and shortest route, and also probably the best overall option.

 

Well, despite 4 inches of fresh pow this weekend in the SLC valley:

fridge wiring and blue sea panel is installed. @fatfurious2 I tested it, and your old fridge purrs like a kitten off 12v truck power.

Proforce's water pump kit is installed.

Skid was painted, but not bolted up, will do that Wednesday.

Fridge slide holes and bolts need to be drilled. Will also do that Wednesday.

Pics to follow when I get all the snow out of my bed.

 

So as always, I have impeccable timing with my choice of activities...like finally installing a fridge the week after it dumps 6 inches of snow, and the temps have been in the 20s.

Thanks to my friend having a heated garage big enough to fully fit my truck into, I installed an RCI front skid, ran the wiring for a 12v water pump and a 12v Blue Sea deck plate, and installed a fridge slide and ARB 50 liter fridge bought from @fatfurious2. Nothing like hooking your fridge up to serve as a beer cooler while you do you other mod installs!

12v water pump kit courtesy of @ProForce. Great kit with great instructions! I went off script a little to keep everything contained in the cubby, but his overall customer service from order to install was amazing!



Blue Sea 12v deck plate. Love the fact that it is switched so I can disable the panel to avoid any parasitic draw. Offers a 12v socket and 2 USB plug in points.



the above deck plate is what I use to power the fridge strapped to a DFG Offroad slide/mount:

 

Looking good!

 

My coworkers noticed the minute I pulled into work this am. Hop out of my truck, and I hear "what did you do now? What's that?"

Thankfully I was parked on the street, because I opened the fridge to show them around it and I still had 6 Modelos in there from the night before. Company policy says no alcohol on company property, no exceptions. #oops Not that they would have cared. Bunch of ragged machinists probably had a little kicker in their coffee anyways.

 

Looking good!

Question, where did you get that grab handle thats on the fridge slide?