Trail Mechanic I
- 13,638
- First Name
- Dimitri
- Last Name
- Raptis
- Member #
-
22608
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- 4
Went for a trip to the East of Saudi Arabia.
Attachments
Last edited:
What Did You Do With Your Rig Today?
- Thread starter iamout
- Start date
Advocate I
Finally mounted the CVT RTT. Took a bit of figuring. It is a little over twice the weight of my tepui ayer so not able to just muscle it up. I don't have a garage, carport, or even a handy tree so had to get inventive.
Influencer I
- 3,012
- First Name
- Marc
- Last Name
- Bouchard
- Member #
-
29282
- Service Branch
- Retired Fire/EMS
I built a lift system a year ago so I can just lift off the tent. It is a must have. I was working on backup lights last night but you can see the lift system in the foreground. oh that is also what we did last night.
Traveler III
This very small upgrade has been in progress for months.
I put in an Auxbeam in May of '23, but never had a good way to mount it. I wanted it secure to my built right dash mount, and I needed to be able to reach it. About 3 months ago the idea of 3d printing it hit me. Well I didn't have a 3d printer and I know very little about 3d modeling but I know drafting so how hard could it be?
I found a few models for a backing plate for the 8 gang auxbeam and I found some models for the ram mount ball mounts. I was able to marry the 2 in the modeling software and come up with a 3d model of a backing plate for the 8-gang auxbeam with a ram mount ball on the back. Step 1 done. Step 2 was to get it printed. I didn't have a 3d printer but between my birthday and some sales I decided to get one for myself. After a week of familiarization with the printer, I finally felt comfortable printing my mount. And here it is!! It's printed in PLA which I'm worried the heat here in Texas will cause to warp a little bit. If I does I'll print it again in something like ABS or another higher heat plastic. But for now, I have my Auxbeam switches mounted on my Built Right dash panel right where I want them.
I put in an Auxbeam in May of '23, but never had a good way to mount it. I wanted it secure to my built right dash mount, and I needed to be able to reach it. About 3 months ago the idea of 3d printing it hit me. Well I didn't have a 3d printer and I know very little about 3d modeling but I know drafting so how hard could it be?
I found a few models for a backing plate for the 8 gang auxbeam and I found some models for the ram mount ball mounts. I was able to marry the 2 in the modeling software and come up with a 3d model of a backing plate for the 8-gang auxbeam with a ram mount ball on the back. Step 1 done. Step 2 was to get it printed. I didn't have a 3d printer but between my birthday and some sales I decided to get one for myself. After a week of familiarization with the printer, I finally felt comfortable printing my mount. And here it is!! It's printed in PLA which I'm worried the heat here in Texas will cause to warp a little bit. If I does I'll print it again in something like ABS or another higher heat plastic. But for now, I have my Auxbeam switches mounted on my Built Right dash panel right where I want them.
Attachments
Advocate I
I like that setup. What are those brackets holding the 4x4? This would allow me to setup on the lawn with some flatter ground.
Contributor II
Went up to a long dormant volcano which is at the end of the Lost Canyon trail in Colorado, beautiful cool day and a great spot for a sack lunch.
My runner is the silver one at the end of all the Jeeps.
My runner is the silver one at the end of all the Jeeps.
Trail Mechanic I
- 13,638
- First Name
- Dimitri
- Last Name
- Raptis
- Member #
-
22608
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- 4
Bought a new rig for Europe. A clean Cayenne v8. Swapping now the gear from the old one. After Brexit and strict regulations, I could not use my old one in Europe.
Attachments
Member III
Inventor I
- 3,886
- First Name
- Dave
- Last Name
- Zimmer
- Member #
-
30139
- Service Branch
- USN (ret)
Had a tire go down after a deep water hole so fired up the air compressor. Never lets me down.
Zim
Zim
Off-Road Ranger I
- 2,865
- First Name
- Donald
- Last Name
- Diehl
- Member #
-
0745
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- WRPN 506
Two years ago I had a LRA 25 gallon auxiliary tank installed in my 80. I usually do most of my own work, but at the time I needed it done last month. That, and the fact that a specialty shop would get it right, as in no drips, no runs, no errors. So, I bit the proverbial bullet, and paid 150 an hour shop time to have a pro do it. Fast forward to present. I just spent two mornings chasing down a dead short in the running, tail and trailer light harnesses. Took me a little over 5 hours to find it. When the tank was installed, instead of re routing the trailer harness, the harness just got jammed up between the tank and the bottom of the 80. Once diagnosed it was easy to unplug it, cut it and splice in a new cable, route it properly then reassemble all the panels and rear door sill plate. An $8 fix. I can’t imagine what a shop would charge to chase a dead short down on a modified vehicle.
I put it on Bring-a-Trailer: No Reserve: 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser UZJ100
Enthusiast III
Member III
Was doing a little reorganizing at work and found out we had an extra upright for pallet racking that had just been shoved to the side for years. I needed a rack on my canopy so a little cut here , a little weld there couple of fence boards and $32.25 later I have a little rack . Not the prettiest thing I’ve made but for almost free it will get the job done 
Grover the Roamin Ram
Rank II
Enthusiast III
Not today but within the last 2 weeks.
I wheeled the crap out of it on some very fun trails and also learned that having air assist springs is needed when loaded with the wife, kids, 8 days of camp supplies, bikes, kayaks, I also field tested my upgraded trailer.
I wheeled the crap out of it on some very fun trails and also learned that having air assist springs is needed when loaded with the wife, kids, 8 days of camp supplies, bikes, kayaks, I also field tested my upgraded trailer.
Off-Road Ranger I
- 1,451
- First Name
- Allen
- Last Name
- Murray
- Member #
-
27152
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- WRJY639
Member III
Finally getting around to welding together the bumper on the little ladies gx 
michael the mechanic
Rank I
Contributor II
Provide shade for the bbq, during lunch break.
Attachments
Member III
And done , lot of welding to go from a flat box to a bumper 
Member III
I said "No"
Backstory; Some guy parked on the side of the road in front of our house, walked down the driveway (350') and asked me if I was interested in selling my truck. Was the most random thing.
Backstory; Some guy parked on the side of the road in front of our house, walked down the driveway (350') and asked me if I was interested in selling my truck. Was the most random thing.
AggieOE
Rank IV
Advocate II
I started getting a very noticeable creak from my front end when I'd release a full left turn lock. Hard turn to lock, then relax steering and.. crREaAK. It honestly sounded like a dampener to me but when I went to my local lift shop to investigate, they told me it was all of the tie rods and front end links and most definitely NOT the steering stabilizer since those don't go bad. $65 diagnosis fee. Total repair to be ~$1,800.
Wondering if my lifetime Mopar warranty would cover it, i took it to the Jeep dealer. They said its the stabilizer and definitely NOT the tie rods and links. Also, $250 diagnosis fee. Not covered under warranty so ~$950 to replace the steering stabilizer.
So all in, I had spent $315 in just trying to figure out the creak that I could have swore was the dampener.
With this money invested, what the hell. $140 for a brand new Old Man Emu dampener, 30-min to install in my garage and Bam! No more creak (so far at least).
Lesson learned... (again).... just trust my knowledge and stop asking for other's thoughts. The amount of times I've gone to shops/dealers and argued with them on what the issue is when I turn out to be right is far too often.
Wondering if my lifetime Mopar warranty would cover it, i took it to the Jeep dealer. They said its the stabilizer and definitely NOT the tie rods and links. Also, $250 diagnosis fee. Not covered under warranty so ~$950 to replace the steering stabilizer.
So all in, I had spent $315 in just trying to figure out the creak that I could have swore was the dampener.
With this money invested, what the hell. $140 for a brand new Old Man Emu dampener, 30-min to install in my garage and Bam! No more creak (so far at least).
Lesson learned... (again).... just trust my knowledge and stop asking for other's thoughts. The amount of times I've gone to shops/dealers and argued with them on what the issue is when I turn out to be right is far too often.
