geekhouse23's "LIFE'S WAITING TO BEGIN" Overland & Home build and all the Adventures in between!

Thanks!

Steelies have been ordered!! Next up will be 285 Duratracs

 

Worked on a few things this past weekend in anticipation for the Badlands trip this coming weekend:

Airdog sent me a few spacers for the superbumps that I installed in the rear:



Without dropping the LCA, I couldn't install them in the front due to clearance issues with the allen key to tighten them back up. I don't foresee any issue with the front as I still have the sway bar installed which will limit the flex in the front. I did remove it and tried it out for a few days and with the exception of the increased body roll, I didn't notice much change. Reinstalled it on Sunday.

Next, I picked up a small shovel and mounted it on my Benson X inspired (copied) tool mounts. Looks and fits great

I also picked up a 5 gallon spare gas can at a local swap meet. Good to have just in case and it was only $5!!

Lastly, I relocated my spare to the bed in fear I hit a rock and get a flat on the spare. The extra D-rings came in handy as I just used two ratchet straps criss-crossed to secure it.

Yesterday I received 3 big boxes from Wheeler's Offroad!!



My steelies came in!! Now I just need some rubber () Can't wait, they look awesome!!

 

Major progress going on! When are you getting new rubber? Are we still going wheeling on the 21st?

 

Thanks Really excited to get those Duratracs ordered, mounted and installed. I want to try before the 4th weekend festivities if possible. I was actually going to text you to see how quickly I could get the tars through CT4x4. Would like to get them installed and mounted possibly the 28th. Am I correct in assuming the price you quoted me includes mounting, balancing, installing, and transferring the TPMS sensors over to the new rims? If so, that is a hell of a price..in a good way lol

And as far as I know, yes? Lol I'm excited and a bit nervous to say the least as it is my first time going. I have found myself making a list of anything and everything I could/would need to bring lol

 

You will be just fine, I promise. What's going on the 4th?

 

I don't think that counts transferring the TPS Sensors. Even I had to pay extra for that. Mostly because they have to brake down your stock tires, to get the sensors out. I will have to confirm that though.



As for wheeling don't even worry man. Your truck is ready, the question is are you?

 

Showing off haha

In all seriousness, the gf's work has a holiday parade that my truck is in and it would be cool to show off haha not as cool as your or Pete's though

Sounds good. Let me know!

I am pumped. It's comforting knowing that I have two seasoned pros with me to help me if/when I need.

What's the plan though? I heard you might not be going in the morning? I thought we could meet up around 7 or 8 and drive down together.

 

Just remember the park opens at 9 local time, and that's an hour ahead of us. I will be at the upper parking lot then, leaving at 6:30 our time from my house. Depending on what way you take you will literally come past my house, so we could all caravan then.

 

I usually am leaving the Hinsdale oasis between 5:30-6 am so I can get there when the park opens. Which would put us my marks house when we leaves. Should make it easy to meet up.

 

Few updates from this weekend

First, rolled 10,000 miles after 2 years of owning her



Next, went wheelin with Peter (LoadedTaco) and Mark (NWiTACO) and had a blast!! Thanks to the both of them for putting up with a n00b such as myself.

No major damage reported, just some midwest pin striping but luckily I was able to buff out 98% of them with the help of a neighbor's borrowed buffer.

A list of very minor damage:

- ball on top of antenna flew off
- again, pin striping thanks to an over-grown trail LOL; buffed right out.
- skid plate and slider paint scraping; already touched up
- a piece of the grip tape located on top of the slider came off; not sure how
- dent in the rear bumper from kick up a big rock; maybe the size of a quarter and underneath the trunk, can't tell unless you're under the truck.



Gave the truck a complete wash and wax and rinsed out the undercarriage.

I can see myself going again without a doubt, just want to get some new tires and front and rear bumpers for a little more of the crazier features

 

I'm glad you had a good time. Unfortunately, the pin stripes are almost impossible to avoid in the Midwest. I'm glad you were able to get most of them out.

 

Thanks for all your patience and taking me on some of the easier trails. I'm sure they were a little boring for you and Mark.

The neighbor I rented the buffer from suggested to wax up the truck REALLY good next time before going and they should be a lot easier to get out. (I have blisters on almost all my fingertips before he came out to assist me.)

Can't wait to check out the video(s) you put together!!

 

Was good wheeling with you! Glad you had fun, and armor up and lets do it again!

 

Built/bought a few goodies for this weekend:

Fishing pole holder



Trasharoo Bag

 

It never ends.....

PARTS!!

 

^ Watch out lights are addicting!

 

Oh really? How would you know? LOL

Next, I wanna replace the OEM fogs for duallys (hopefully without much modding to the bumper). Eventually, roof bar.

 

30" DR CREE LED bar





Blew a 10AMP fuse because I forgot to change it just swapped in a 30AMP. Did not cut up the lower grill yet. Going to test it out tonight to see how much light passes through but will most likely be cutting it out to easily swap Rigid covers. Can't wait until tonight!!

 

Have been gathering some small parts and they still have to be installed:

-Sway bar relocation bracket purchased used from a TW member
-Rigid covers for Avec light bar (amber and black) they work with the light bar!! For this, I have to cut out the lower grill a bit in order to be able to easily swap the covers in and out on the road without having to completely take apart the lower grill to swap them in. Also going to lower the license plate.

Last night I installed the Hypertech Speedo Calibrator..what a pain. It took about 30 minutes to take apart the dash, swap in the calibrator and put everything back together. That was not the hard part at all. The tricky part to figure out was why, after installing the thing, no gauges worked except the gas gauge.

Took the dash apart two more times after that to make sure everything was plugged in correctly and it was so I could not figure out why nothing was working. So I took the truck to my buddies who has those OBDII code scanners, the legit ones, and he could not find anything wrong.

Then it dawned on me, since a single model of the calibrator works with a few different model cars (when you open up the tool on the computer there are Cadillac models to Tundras on there) you probably have to set the calibrator to your model even though I am still running stock tires. I input the data with the stock rugged Fail size in the "old tire" and "new tire" fields, programmed the calibrator and all the gauges worked just fine.

A little frustrating since there are no instructions in the box or online anywhere saying this MUST BE DONE after installation, but I am too excited for 285's to worry about that now.

Stay tuned!

 

I have to hand it to you....You're non-stop with getting things done on your truck. It's looking good!