Casper's Broken Down old Grumpy Assed Build

Tim, just because I got the standard rear don't think it doesn't also give you plenty of added clearance. Just the fact you loose the OEM trailer hitch adds alot. I found the bracing to be very heavy duty and the bumper itself to be very beefy.

with factory bumper and hitch



with just the SOS rear bumper



I can't remember if yo have the short bed as I do but moving the tire out of my bed really helped alot. You could also get the single swingout and have a drop down table added to it. I am just trying to think ahead a little with what you stated your goals are. James and I opted for the dual swingouts as we wanted to be able to open everything with the trailers attached

 

You been around Pisgah forest south west of Ashville? I'm wondering if its worth the trip.

 

Get the swingouts mounted up yet? I'm eager to see how the new setup works!

 

I have never been on any trails there but the forest is beautiful. You need to visit a small town named Brevard and go down into old town it’s lujw Mayberry

 

Oh yeah, there’s pics of the camper hooked up as well.

 

Nice!!

 

My grandad was buried in Mt.Airy. we passed floyds barber shop on the way to the cemetary. It's a whole different world out that way. People actually stopped for the funeral procession, got out of their cars and saluted. Around Richmond all you get is horns honking and one finger waves if you hold up traffic for a funeral.

 

I have since removed the hub adapters and tundra wheels and put the stock ones back on. I just didn’t trust the adapters. When I grow some balls I will just go see if a 31x10.5 tire will clear. They did with adapters but the adapters also spaced the wheels out about 2”. I’m going to try and save up for the Timbren suspension and eventually switch over that way

 

How's the new job treating you, so far?

 

So far so good, thanks, how about yours?

 

Same. So far, so good. I'm learning rocket motor testing which is new to me. I've always done warhead testing. There are similarities and differences. I'll be travelling to support warhead testing, as well. Right now it's a week per month but may end up being 2-3 weeks per month once another program gets up and running. I've always liked travelling for work, but I've never travelled that much so we'll see how it goes.

 

I've traveled a few times for work and it was so fun, since it was only for a week or two at a time. Best trip was two weeks in Key West. Holy shit that was nice.

 

Nice. I spent a week south of San Francisco on time for training and took the train into San Fran to explore. That was pretty cool. Otherwise my travels were much less scenic. Went to Pueblo, CO a few times, and Montana once. Montana was beautiful country, but we went at the wrong time of year. The warmest day was the day that we shot the test, and the high was around 32F.

 

I was stationed at Ft Carson for 2 years I’ve been to Pueblo quite a bit. That Army was good for traveling

 

Subd

 

Welcome, not much been happening in here lately.

 

GRILLIN SOME PODS:

I found a good deal on TW for a pair of @CaliRaisedLed spot pods a little while ago brand new still in the boxes so I snagged them. I wanted one to mount on the swingout in the rear to replace an Amazon light. I know it makes no difference but I like to keep the lights prety much the same. So I mounted the one on thee rear.



I like @CaliRaisedLed lights they have much better light output than the cheap Amazon lights, the finish is durable, I have never had one fog, and they are priced reasonably compared to others. For something I only use occasionally I couldn't ask for any better product.
So now I have a left over pod "What to do?" I contacted @CaliRaisedLed and ordered a single pod and a wiring harness. Then I ordered a CH4x4 push switch for the interior.
I had wanted to place some lights to fill the small void in front of the truck left from the ditch lights and to simply boost forward lighting. Sometimes during deer season I have to get the truck up in on the mountain and not just the 4 wlr so extra lighting really helps. When I had my Dodge I felt like I was flying blind sometimes lighting was so poor. I'm not into this IG crap or trying to look like any kinda overlander thing I just wanted some more light and, well, it's just fun dicking with the truck. I didn't want any big light bar or anything hanging around where it could be snagged by branches or anything. Hell I would hide the ditch lights if I could figure out how to do it.


I marked the bumper with tape where I wanted the lights mounted in the grill so I could locate mounting locations for the brackets



I fabbed up 2 brackets out of aluminum angle and mounted them to the cross brace behind the lower grill


I cut the grill out with a hacksaw blade and a cut off wheel and located the lights



I mounted the relay to the relay bracket I made with the others, ran the harness to the front and the interior, installed the CH4x4 switch, hooked up the lights and tested them.






I had to do quite a bit more trimming to fit the grill as I wanted but a little at a time I got what I desired




So now there are @CaliRaisedLed ppods in the grill, amber pods for fogs, side projecting ditch lights, and a single in the rear to go along with the flush mounted lights in the bumper

 

Damn you would think you're building an off road truck for camping.....

Looking good BTW!

 

Or at least helping to illuminate the mall parking lot.

 

Lol not quite it’s more or less just a hobby. It’s not built like the others around here and I have no need for all that. But thanks