Run to the Hills! - Jason's Completely Stalled Colorado GTFO Build

About 30.5" center to center.

It's not a super critical measurement though. Just make sure the shock bodies don't hit the ubolt plates or anything when you flex it.

 

Thanks, Brett. Very much appreciated!

 

Not much changed since yesterday, but I got the last couple areas welded up on the frame box plates and got everything cleaned up.

For now, I’m leaving the ends of the frame open. Once I have the upper shock mount crossmember welded in, along with the other two crossmembers, I’ll pull the bumper and weld in some plates to close it out. Right now the bumper is in the way, and since it’s the only thing locating the two frame rails, it has to stay put.

Anyway, the plan is to start the shock relocation tonight!







ETA: I wish I would have taken a picture of the pile of grinder dust that I swept up. It was pretty damn impressive!

 

While I’m working on the shock relocation, I wanted to keep thinking about whether or not to raise the fuel tank. I know @cynicalrider is planning on doing it to his rig, and it seems like @Reh5108 and @Squeaky Penguin see some value in it as well.

For the majority of what I do with my truck, I’m inclined to say it’s not worth the added effort, especially given all the other stuff that has to be done to get the truck back on its feet. But at the same time, this is a good opportunity to do it and be done with it.

So what do you guys think? Has anyone actually done it yet? Thanks in advance for any input.

 

I don't see the need personally. I mean do you really find yourself in super rocky specialty trails a lot? Or drifting more towards some trails and mostly dirt roads/exploring?

 

Not really that much, Monte. Definitely more exploring, but I’d love to try more difficult stuff once in awhile.

I’m always honest about wanting this truck to be (somewhat) overbuilt, but that’s a fine line, and people will disagree about what that even means. In this case, because the more extreme stuff is fewer and far between, I’m leaning toward not doing it and hoping my LROR skid is good enough at the stock height.

 

you have the advantage of larger tires too. Which most the people you listed are running a smaller tire. So that should help too.

Nothing wrong with overbuilt and you having a BL might make it an easy task....but could be a lot of work too.

 

It’s all tore apart, why not at this point

 

I wish I had when I had things apart. Your skid plate will likely protect it from being damaged if you do decide to run more difficult trails. It's just a point to be hung up on. Whether that is a big deal or not is up to you.

 

Thanks for the feedback, Ryan.

I’m still thinking about it and how I’d go about doing it, but we’ll see.

 

FWIW You have seen the shit I hit in the off-road parks, and I’ve made it this long with a stick skid, even if it did dent up. And like I’ve always said, the skid/gas tank protects your drive shaft a lot. Considering it’s the thing that gets you home, it’s a nice thing to have protected.

Unless you are in this shit more often than not I’d consider it, but otherwise it’s not worth it




Another good thing to look at is how many scratches does your current skid have? If not many, I’d say don’t worry too much.

 

Stop making sense, Marty. There’s no place for that in this thread

Great points, Mike, and thanks for chiming in. The skid does have a few gouges, but no big dents really.

I don’t have to make the call right now, so I’m gonna keep thinking it over.

 

Did a parts inventory and then started mocking up the upper shock mount crossmember and stuff. I think this is a pretty good starting point for cycling the suspension.

I gotta admit, seeing the shocks in there finally, even if they’re just temporarily hanging from the mounts was pretty fucking cool

 

Nice I like those tube mount plates

 

Thanks! I drew those up and @TMFF cut them out for me on his water jet.

 

He really is a good person to know... and be on his good side

The cross bars he made for his GX to hold the RTT turned out freakin awesome

 

It's not MY waterjet but.....

That tube 0.188 wall! fucking overkill to the max!

I stuffed some tires for fun with the fork lift yesterday.

 

Semantics....

 

I was just about to say the same thing about that wall!