SeekingZero - Adventure Build

You all are insatiable! Here's a teaser...

 

Alright, I know I said soon, and then I take a month to actually sit down and put this all in the thread...my bad.

Here's the list of things I wanted to get either mounted, or fully installed and working before my last trip:

• Power to the bed
• ARB Dual Compressor
• CO2 Tank
• Fire Extinguisher
• Shovel
• Awning
• Waterport
• Inverter
• SwitchPros
• Gas can
• Tailgate Seal

Let's just say I needed a lot more time than I had...so I sorted by important/urgent. Power to the bed was first so that I could mount the fridge on the slide and have it powered. I ran power from my circuit breaker under the hood, through the cab, and up the bed sidewall with 4ga wire and a quick disconnect. This feeds a blue sea fuse box for the back.







Next, I already had

$29 ESI Super Cap Seal 20 FT (1 1/2" Width x 1/2" Height x 20' Length) EPDM Rubber for Caps 200 lbs or less

Extruded Solutions Super Cap seal installed with the modifications to the shell so that the bed rails were watertight. I finished up the bed with the tailgate seal kit. This does make the tailgate very hard to close now, but I'd rather have a dry bed and a tight tailgate, then have my trail room wet!





I then took out the passenger seat, mounted the inverter, and ran power to it with 8ga wire. The goal is to eventually have outlets in the cab that are switched and not under the seats and an outlet in the bed.



While I was at it and since I had these lying around from a while ago, I took out the cup holders and replaced the rubber cushions. I should have done this a long time ago!





The waterport would be one of the last things I would mount, but I knew I wanted to make it black so that there would be a possibility of semi warm showering powered by the sun. I painted it with the home depot version of plasti-dip rubberized coating.



In between coats, I got started mounting the SwitchPros 8100. I chose this switch unit due to the first gen's lack of room to add switches on the dash or relays under the hood. Turns out the first gen already has threaded holes on the firewall that are almost perfectly spaced to use, so I drilled one quick hole in the mounting plate and it bolted right up. I fuse tapped the fuel injector location for power with ignition. Either I did it wrong or the fuel injectors are drawing power when the truck is off. Either way, I need to figure that out, but I'll get to it later. Finally, I ran all the switch wires to a terminal block to easy add and swap switched accessories.







Since I got a CO2 tank on CL for $75 at the same time the ARB group buy went off and I picked up a dual compressor, I wasn't to worried about having the compressor functional for the trip, but I did want to have it mounted up. I wanted it in the cab and relatively accessible, which on the first gen is a bit of a problem. But, I did find a place it would fit and came up with a unique mounting solution.

I was able to stuff it into the passenger rear cubby (the larger one with the tire hanger tool), removed the tool, and used 1/2" nylon spacers to space it off of the floor and level. I still have to wire it in and plumb the air hoses and quick disconnected, but that will be for a later day. I tried to get a picture of the spacers mounted but forgot that they are under the green tape. You get the idea...





With that done, I just had to finish loading everything in the truck and mount everything on the rack. I am still waiting on my PrinSu Cabrac and Toprac, but since they didn't arrive in time, I put my current set up to good use. First, I mounted the CO2 holder from Wheeler's to hold the tank secure. A point to note, to use the CO2, you have to stand the tank up. But it survived the trip without moving, and I was still able to fill all for tires in a matter of a few minutes after standing up the tank.





Then I mounted the gas can behind it and the waterport along side my mountain bike track with ratchet straps and still had enough room for a ActionPacker and the quickfists to hold the shovel on the hilift. Finished this up the evening before we were to leave. Last minute for sure!




Tested everything out the next day, rotated my tires, picked up my friend from the airport, and off we went!

 

I'll be stealing your compressor mounting for sure. Hope it works out that way haha.

Looks good, you'll love the Prinsu. Love the look of mine, waiting for the GB so I can snag the toprac

 

Really nice build. Question, which C clamps did you get that hold down the camper shell? I'm looking for some but there are various lengths and stuff. Thanks.

 

For sure. I'll post up the rest of the install when I get around to it. Other big big plans in store.

I'm not sure which C clamps they are as I got them with the shell. They are normal shell clamps though. You just need ones long enough to go around and under your bed rail.

 

The last addition that I got on the truck was the extremely temporary mounting of the awning on the rear. It was good enough to survive the trip and I was surprised at that! I was not proud of that so once I officially mount it to the PrinSu, I'll get some pictures of it up properly. Here's some 'action' shots from the mountains!

 

Where in the Bay Area are you? I'm in concord. Nice to see another local extended cab Lunar Mist

 

Do you recall the brand of lights and grill that you got? Did you paint after or it came black?

 

Hey Daniel! I live in Newark. You'll have to come out to the meet up whenever @MJonaGS32 gets it set up... *cough, cough*

The driving lights I have in the bumper are PIAA's and that grill was on Amazon, no paint needed.

 

I been watching the meet up thread. I'm going to try and make it out for sure!

I've been want to go black with the grill, but I'm thinking I may just paint my chrome grill to save some $$$.

 

also need to paint my flares black as well. Hate that washed out color

 

I painted my first one, it ended up chipping off and for the price of the one on Amazon, it wasn't worth the effort. Painting the fender flares worked out great with tedious prep-work. Any moderate off-roading is going to scratch and possibly chip that paint though...ask me how I know.

 

Sooooo, Ive got some questions:

1. Why the hell havent i seen your build before? Badass!
2. Where did you get the mounting plate for the bluesea fuse box?
3. What breaker is paired with the Blue Sea?
4. Why the Dual ARB in that tiny little space? Dont you want it more in the open and allow it it to breather more? Especially with the 100% duty cycle? About to pick one up also!!! Stoked!

But thats all the questions i have for now lol.