Stu’s UTE

Yeah, I’m just giving you a hard time. Try these, I used them after doing the same thing. Thin and flexible so they don’t rip off or get in the way of the tires.

$34 PLASTICOLOR 000543R01 Black Off Road Scene Easy Fit Mud Guard 11" - Set of 2

https://www.amazon.com/Plasticolor-...HAMWSFSDGQR&psc=1&refRID=KKMATERHGHAMWSFSDGQR

 

Haha, actually those are the ones I took off. I’ll have to try them again now I’ve cut some metal and plastic out.

 

WARNING- DON’T DO THIS

Stuck my solar panel to some polycarbonate greenhouse panel using heavy duty double sided tape. Hopefully allowing some cooling through airflow under the panel.



Also some zip ties cause....



Then used heavy duty Velcro to attach it to the roof. My thought is it’s a good place to store the panel and get a charge. If need be I hope it’ll come off and can be placed on a longer cord in a sunny spot.



Yup! Don’t do this. It blew off on I5 somewhere

 

Fabricated some aluminum brackets for the ditch lights.

 

Very nice build! Have essentially the same build. We thought long and hard about using a UTE vs a Norweld. I found the Dobinson rear springs (L59 - 176R) bent completely flat with the camper on. Are yours doing better? We are having Mule put on a custom set from Deavers. Are you planning on an extensive tour?

 

@tacoma16 has some filler neck experience ...

 

Mule used Dobinson L59-112R and we haven’t seen any problems yet. I do use the airbags too when loaded, so maybe they help. The rig has done great on the trail so far. But has developed a clunking up front on bumps. Mule checked everything, but it still clunks. I suspect the sway bar.

Plans to retire in the next couple of years, throw the bikes or snowboards on the back and explore the world in ever expanding circles. In the nearer future we are thinking about a southwest tour in February March.

I haven’t got real comfortable with storage. None of the spaces seem user friendly or well thought out!

Things still to do- bumper, winch, lights, a rack for chainsaw, extra water, fuel. Bike rack and jack.

 

We used Mule for our build. I commend you for your skills. Joe built us a nice rotopax rack between the rear window and the headache rack which holds 8 gallons if you are looking for a place to store water/fuel.

With the dobinson's, our camper bottomed out on moderate bumps on our underbed boxes quite easily so had to upgrade springs.

Yeah, we're still trying to figure out how to store stuff, especially under the campers dinette seats. You did a great job in the access cab area. Behind the driver I'm going to put our water filtration system and some kind of storage compartment.

We're retiring in April and heading out on an extensive trip as well.

We went with a complete front bumper replacement because of experience in ripping the plastic bumper off driving over brush with a rental Hilux.

Have you weighed yours? Ours with a full tank is 6,950 lbs.

 

She weighed in at 6660lbs before the air system, storage boxes and lights. Then of coarse there is still the SSO bumper and winch, and bikes! I could still flatten those springs yet.

 

Sorry Stu, just remembered we chatted earlier this year; must getting old. Our truck is back at Mule getting quite a few fixes...

 

Yeah I'm thinking it's going to weigh another 600 lbs at peak fuel, water, food.

Very impressed with your wrapping the cabinets, we didn't like the gray color of the silver spur option either

 

Not sure of your personal interests, but the King of the Hammers is Jan 31-Feb 9 in Johnson Valley, CA. Its a massive event at the OHV rec area with thousands (not joking) of trucks/buggies/UTV's/bikes.

 

yup, alot of people have chimed in the Flatbuild thread (including Stu I believe) . I have mine very similar to how his looks, except I just extended mine recently so it doesn't sit so far back between the cab and bed.

 

Been jonesin to get back to the wiring project this week but house projects are getting in the way.



I did get to sit down with the cat and some help from @Kens04Taco to sketch out wiring for the ditch lights, hood scoop, bumper, under hood and rock lights.



This is how the panel stands right now. It’s getting cramped and I still what to squeeze one more relay in and a bus-bar.



The Cali Raised loom turned out to be too short for the 13 foot run to my ditch light, so I may butcher it for the KC bumper lights or something. Still waiting on the SSO bumper anyway.

 

Your QA sup seems very...thorough

 

Turns out the wires I ran from my ditch lights were a foot short. 15 feet wasn’t enough. When I did finally open the hood to find out, I also found rat piss and shit all over electrical panel! /s

 

Yikes! We've had rats/squirrels at work reek havoc on Toyota wiring. Heard that the wire insulation is made out of soybeans

 

Pulled the whole panel out and scrubbed with bleach. Piss was soaked under the blue sea and one of the relays.


Did a fairly shoddy job of drilling some holes on the pillar drill. Hard with all the stuff on the panel. The black wires now come off the fuses on the left, down under the panel and up to the relays through the three holes on the right.




Still a light odor of urine, and peppermint!

On a brighter note I opened a box from Amazon.



This just makes the 15 year old inside of me very happy.

 

It's a pretty common material. Not just toyota by a long shot. If you ever go to a trailhead in CO and see chicken wire all around peoples cars, there's your proof. That and the salt accumulation.