"Continental Dividish" Expedition Build

[Blue Phoenix]

Precisely Scott. I do alot of very slow going trails here in Crawlorado (if I may) and in Utah. So the build has both expedition and crawling in mind. I am looking to build a good overall ute, not a master of both worlds. I know thats contradictory.

 

[Pskhaat]

Do you have dual batteries? If not, one thing I've thought about trying is OEM relocating the primary starting battery to the starboard side, then installing an FJ80 cooling fan.

 

[Blue Phoenix]

Definitely going with a dual battery setup as I will be far from anyone much of the time. Going with the National Luna Setup from Equipt.

 

[Hltoppr]

IIRC, Photoman on 'mud was the only person who was having overheating issues, but his rig is 8000+lbs. and supercharged. Is the hood scoop a perfect solution to a problem that doesn't exist? Are you having overheating issues?

-H-

 

[Blue Phoenix]

No issues as of yet, but I am paranoid person. Although I have had no issues yet, I have noticed while wheeling in Moab the amount of heat coming out of the engine bay. No more than a normal vehicle IMO, but in my mind any extra cooling can do no harm.

 

[Blue Phoenix]

PS- Hltoppr, I envy you guys for the work you do. Amazing stuff. Really. I can only hope that this excursion will lead to many more like it and a lifetime of Independent Travel abroad.

 

[flyingwil]

Flyingwil....That ARB roof rack is awesome. I am assuming you are one of the only ones selling it as I have had a prblem even sourcing the regular except from their website. That is awesome!
When I have some time today I am going to research that more, although I am sure it is overbuilt like much of ARB equipment.

No, we're not the only one that sells them, any ARB dealer should be able to get them for you. In reference to Scott's post about a rack that allows the tent to open over the hood, there is nothing that stops you from mounting the rack with the flat side forward.

 

[Pskhaat]

...noticed while wheeling in Moab the amount of heat coming out of the engine bay...any extra cooling can do no harm.

Just a few thoughts here, please take as you see fit:

Though I agree with your comments that extra cooling doing no harm, but I believe there are several threads about on the net where attempts at improving airflow through such mods actually increased temperatures as disrupt the flow around the engine and down the firewall as intended. The only reason I bring this up is that I found it very interesting that there was that level of cooling engineering going on and messing with the proper dynamics thereof caused the opposite to occur.

Being in CO either in the plains or mountains I can't imagine needing the extra cooling, plus with natural aspiration the reduced oxygen doesn't allow for all that great a burn anyway. I drove my 80 for many years living in CO.

In AZ/NV/TX/CA/NM heat is a real concern, but many have opted for additional pusher (OEMJDM) fans to assist, or have installed under-hood blowers. I have driven thousands of Moab miles and many years in AZ with only an additional pusher fan and have had no problems.

Enough of that, I do indeed like that ARB rack Wil has, especially mounting it backwards! Again I have no roof room left

 

[Blue Phoenix]

You are probably right and part of me knows this could very well turn out to be one of those "did I do that?" moments. I have also read up on the JDM auxiliary fans and from what I remember, it was a drop in application. I must concede that is the most reasonable solution.

 

[Blue Phoenix]

Aside from equipment, I am hard pressed to find areas in every place but Colorado that are unique and off the beaten path. I digress...I am unable to come up with ideas on my own. I know all of the cool spots in Moab andmuch of the more "popular" areas, but I amlooking to stay off the beaten path for much of the time, especially pavement.
There is a wealth of information here on this forum that I would love to tap into...Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Blue Phoenix]

Map

I am a firm believer in "letting the trip take you" rather than bogging myself down with details of exact routes and points of interest. Here is a google map that I put together. It shows the general areas I plan on going and course I will be taking. Hopefully it will allow you guys to give me some input as to points of interest I have yet to think of or just really cool diversions worth seeing.

Google Map(http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=I-25+S&daddr=I-25+S+to:I-10+W+to:I-17+N+to:UT-12+to:UT-72+to:I-70+E+to:US-40+to:I-215+N+to:I-80+E+to:S+Entrance+Rd%2FJohn+D+Rockefeller+Jr+Rd%2FUS-191%2FUS-287%2FUS-89+to:Glacier+Route+1+Rd%2FGoing+To+the+Sun+Rd+to:Lewis+and+Clark+Trail%2FUS-93+to:3700+N+Rd%2FID-30+to:US-50+to:N+Main+St%2FUT-191+to:CO-160%2FUS-550+to:38.826015,-104.831543&geocode=FZLQTwId2AjB-Q%3BFZCp7AEdwkuj-Q%3BFeT86gEdhB9j-Q%3BFYg7FwIdENFX-Q%3BFcqtPwIdvipa-Q%3BFTZqTgId3jpc-Q%3BFSSvUgId_qNt-Q%3BFTICZQId0Dtp-Q%3BFbi6bAIdgBdW-Q%3BFUzxeQId_qB7-Q%3BFZoEpQIdrKto-Q%3BFW_d5wIdy-Y3-Q%3BFQjosgIdeCE2-Q%3BFdIBiQIdUNIv-Q%3BFeyZVAIdlGtS-Q%3BFQbTTAIdGDp4-Q%3BFXb_NwIdBDmS-Q%3B&hl=en&mra=mi&mrcr=11&mrsp=17&sz=6&via=5,6,7,12,14&sll=38.719805,-106.259766&sspn=8.055006,19.775391&ie=UTF8&ll=40.946714,-109.995117&spn=31.109844,112.5&t=p&z=4)

 

[lostworldexpedition]

I read about you being stop lossed, sorry to hear that...Thanks for hangin' in there.

I am a firm believer in "letting the trip take you" rather than bogging myself down with details of exact routes and points of interest.

I agree with that quote... I believe in thorough planning, yet the willingness to be flexible is important in order to have a better experience.

As far as racks go... Inti's are pretty much my favorite; however, I spoke to Alvaro at Surf'n'Turf last November and he mentioned Inti racks are definitely a no go in the US at the moment. Unless you are lucky enough to find a used one.

I have a South African Front Runner Wind Cheetah, and that thing is awesome. Light, sturdy and very customizable.

With a South African MyWay tent, which is pretty damn cool too.

I got both the racke and RTT from CampingLab.com (my sponsor). Paul at Equipt also has Front Runner racks and accessories available.

You should also consider a BajaRack, I met those guys at SEMA last year and I really liked them and their products.

Good luck.

 

[Blue Phoenix]

I had seen on another post somewhere that he had stopped importing them. Bummer, but I think I am going to stick with the ARB since it is a hybrid of all the things I want.

I know someone on here has to have some places that they have been worth mentioning on here or other recommendations.....

 

[Blue Phoenix]

I just got DeLorme Topo 7.0 and I am now trying to wade my way through it to figure everything out. It seems pretty easy, but some things are still a little grey. I have been trying to locate the footprint of the El Camino Del Diablo trail in Arizona with some difficulty. Which road does this path follow?

 

[Blue Phoenix]

After much thought and deliberation, I keep going back and forth between AT and MT tires. I have read several threads in several forums and am well aware of the pros and cons of each.
I guess I can confess that I am brand loyal to BF Goodrich as I have never been disappointed in their performance and as I understand, many others feel the same way. So my question lies with which BFG tire to go with.
More and more I am leaning away from replacing my AT KO's with the same tire in 315's and moving toward the KM or the KM2. Has anyone had experience with the KM2?
It looks like the KM2 may have better snow/wet traction because of the minor siping. Any thoughts?