M116A2 that can grill a cow... Build !!

[dirtweazle]

No problems to speak of. One bad weld on tongue leg but it held for the trip. We moved once during our 7 day trip. It was HOT!!! upper 80s at 7000 ft. no wind and lots of hungry skeeders. Heat made me lazy and i never added on the annex nor pulled out the awning.


Front gun safe, refer for food and organizing structure inside are next on agenda. Possible be swapping out the grill for a Rectec wood pellet grill. Have one and these things and they are magic. Save some rear weight too. Probably a small gas grill and the small Rectec. Linear actuators for the grill slide out and raise the tent are also ideas teasing me.

 

[highwest]

Really cool build.

 

[dirtweazle]

Now have shore power. Dual outlet for fridge and batt charger. Will also have fridge connected to batteries. ARB 50 qt is on order. Eeeeeeee!!!
Charger and accessories are Noco Genius 5.

 

[dirtweazle]

Just finished up on the ARB fridge install with pullout drawer. Wiring for both shore power and battery all switched and fuse blocked.

 

[dirtweazle]

Also completed the water tank monitor. SCAD TM1 tank monitor. Ended up needing to spend the money on this because there is no real way of seeing the water tank visually.

 

[ricoisme26]

very nice build!

 

[chris the ogre]

Wow. Great work! really cool

 

[Roam.Wild]

What a great build! What I aspire to do next!

 

[dirtweazle]

Got the gun locker done tonight!!! Woo hoo!! This equates to 100% done!!! (We give 110% right?)
Framed out the locker in 5/8 box. Sized the supports so there is no real way to pull a firearm out if accessed from side or back. Front locks like a security gate with a full length SS bar lock. This is not intended for long term storage but more of keeping the honest folk out while getting groceries or a bite to eat. Sides and back are 3/8 finished plywood. Stained and 3 coats of polly. Did this so interior cab area looked nice. Inside locker area is marine carpeted. Few blemishes but its ok. USE TWO PEOPLE when laying this carpet down on a 3M 90 glued wood. Soo much easier. Use a scrape or a flatbar to rub the carpet on and roll it on as you go. Sweet LED 12v Neon weatherproof light for inside the vault area. Kolpin Rhino grip XL for the gun rack sliding on 24" of 80/20 rails so totally adjustable. Have a 4th set and it just might fit.

 

[dirtweazle]

Working into that 110% effort range, I needed to make connecting the solar panels a little easier when under a canopy. Parts of the day one side I'm capable of getting light but later I need to swap to the other side. Having a central lead reduced the amount i could extend within feet of the optimal sun location. Some buss bars and quick disconnects later worked perfectly. Wired the central location to the buss and extended the quick disconnects to the 4 corners. All with 10g wiring.

 

[ChamYota]

fantastic build mate. How much money you reckon you got in the build?

 

[dirtweazle]

fantastic build mate. How much money you reckon you got in the build?

I started keeping track of time and money spent, monies gained by selling tires, axle, and other stuff pertaining to the trailer but that fell off half way through. Im guessing under $5k total, fridge, tent, bbq (used), tires and rims (used) etc.

There are a few things you can get by getting second hand but some stuff just get new. Once you find the thing you want search, search, search the web for the best price or sales. Tent was $300 less than normal retail + free shipping, ARB fridge was $80 less than the normal price everyone has it for and free shipping. BBQ was used ($130) but mostly in good condition. A day of refresh and new knobs.. Similar units go for over $1500. All the sheet metal was water damaged (had that white oxide swirled on it) almost half off retail. My metal shop has a scrap area and i go there first (half off usually). It does pay off.

 

[billiebob]

Trip to Sequoias.

I'm thinking air bags for the Toyota.

 

[dirtweazle]

I'm thinking air bags for the Toyota.

I am near done gathering all the parts for a Bilstein 2.5" lift. ARB springs 2885 front and 2863 rear. Got heavier springs for rear for the towing and packing. Total Chaos arms up front. Just need to rebuild the spare knuckles with lower balljoints and hubs. Toy parts can be a little pricy.
IF you want lift ditch the airbags. Killer setup go with Bilstein 6112 up front and Dobinson IMS in rear. Those are 2.5 bodies and not as pricy as the king, fox coilovers.

 

[RedRaider1]

Nice build! How do you like that water tank monitor, does it work well? I need to come up with something for my build, never know how much water I have left as is currently.