O'erlanderwagen build

[otiswesty]

Yes, the chrome on the grilles are just chrome cigarette paper. I peeled mine off with a heat gun and used Goo Gone as well, a 15 min job.
The 2005 and 2006 G55 had a complete silver grille that was painted, with body color surround. This would need over painting if you wanted it gone.

The rub rail insert is only for the deluxe 463, the base model G320/350 cdi does not have this. The difference is notable after sitting in the hot sun where the bare version is very soft and compressible and the deluxe version firmer due to the insert. The nicest rub rail molding is probably that used on the 460/461 without putting screws through. The TLC G55 with the aluminum milled rails is a silly damage multiplier, although it does look cool.

While the 2003 rub rail insert is a bit of 80's look styling, the vintage look of the Gwagen itself is the same. Exposed hinges, flat windshield, 7" headlights, and on and on.
There are other insert stickers with different styles, but the prices are unreasonable from the dealer. A 3/4 inch wide, carbon look, sold by the roll was discussed on the Benzworld G class forum a while ago and is inexpensive and quite nice looking.

Eric

 

[ADK_XJ]

My god...excuse me while I mop up the drool from my keyboard for a moment. Someday I hope to have the time and resources you've put into this build, because it is truly bad ***. I'm a big fan of the "looks like stock" modding approach you've followed for all of your aftermarket parts, which is definitely not easy but in the end when people stop and stare you know you nailed it.

Awesome work, my friend, can't wait to see more photos and trips posted up!

 

[mk216v]

My god...excuse me while I mop up the drool from my keyboard for a moment. Someday I hope to have the time and resources you've put into this build, because it is truly bad ***. I'm a big fan of the "looks like stock" modding approach you've followed for all of your aftermarket parts, which is definitely not easy but in the end when people stop and stare you know you nailed it.

Awesome work, my friend, can't wait to see more photos and trips posted up!

Wow, thanks very much! It's just been a lot of dreaming, note taking, more dreaming, then some action taking. Still a lot more modding to come.
I'm glad you appreciate the more subtle modding approach. Simple is more.

I've been on some weekend adventures with the rig but nothing post worthy yet. Soon I hope.

 

[AMSarge]

It was nice meeting you up in Hood River a few weeks ago. I was there for a bike race and saw your rig parked. Forgot to say hi on here sooner. Truck looks great!

If you find yourself in Bend and see this thing driving around say hi!

 

[ddnuts]

Very nice build and final outcome.

 

[03bart]

Looks great! Any pics of the Fiamma mounted up?

I'm trying to decide on a rack for mounting my Fiamma (currently just mounted to Thule load bars) and I really like the front runner (except for the cost premium over the baja rack).

Are you using a factory bracket or fabbing something up?

Thx
B

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

Love these trucks...and this color/option combo is looking stellar. Nice work.

 

[mk216v]

It was nice meeting you up in Hood River a few weeks ago. I was there for a bike race and saw your rig parked. Forgot to say hi on here sooner. Truck looks great!

If you find yourself in Bend and see this thing driving around say hi!

It was great running into you as well. I hope your ride went well. What a lovely day it was in HR.

Your '80 looks awesome. I will definitely be on the lookout for you the next time I'm there visiting friends(what a **************' city Bend is).

 

[mk216v]

Very nice build and final outcome.

Thank you. It's not final yet though. :chef:

 

[mk216v]

Looks great! Any pics of the Fiamma mounted up?

I'm trying to decide on a rack for mounting my Fiamma (currently just mounted to Thule load bars) and I really like the front runner (except for the cost premium over the baja rack).

Are you using a factory bracket or fabbing something up?

Thx
B

Actually I was just about to post new pics of the Fiamma deployed, hot off the press. The FrontRunner rack price premium is so worth it IMHO. They've really done their homework with how it's engineered. With the Baja I think it'd be much more difficult to build custom brackets to hold ANYTHING. On the F.R. rack, it's super easy to build a bracket for whatever you need with the track on the bottom(and top too) of the rack. For these 4 custom Fiamma brackets, we fabbed up 1/8" thick L brackets out of mild first, but they weren't sturdy enough for my tastes, even when gusseted in the corners(and I don't want to mount them also to the side of the rack), so we then made 4 out of 1/4" thick mild. Super burly, just like the legs for the F.R. The brackets are at the powdercoater's now so I'll take some pics of them when they return.

For now;


What part of my crew is doing on a hot summer day when they're done with their work for the time being...and I'm out trying to rustle up new business (the wheel is holding branches they found somewhere, and they even went so far as to hook up our smoke tester machine to the bottom of the wheel so that the fire was smoking...genius! :coffeedrink: );


How I have the cargo section setup for now. Recovery gear, factory bottle jack--as while it's usually in a cubby under the "40" seat, the fridge is above that now, safety equip, etc is in the red tote. Grey box furthest back on pass side is the Nat'l Luna PowerPack, ARB compressor rear-most, and in between is a clear tote for the time being which can hold soft kitchen goods, etc. Notice that the red tote is the same height as the rear "60" seat folded down in case I need to sleep back there. The clear tote and ARB are there to provide a flat surface back there for the dogs to lay, vs a small hole. I will eventually be going with a completely custom rear cargo area with storage underneath a ~12.5" high sleeping platform. The two F.R. water jerries are just for when I'm traveling, not daily use.


My Ram-mount order just arrived for the laptop navigation. I'll need to customize the mounting plate for under passenger front seat.

More to come...


Thanks Greg.

 

[Jamin_GX]

Looking good!

And looking forward to seeing this --> "My Ram-mount order just arrived for the laptop navigation. I'll need to customize the mounting plate for under passenger front seat."

 

[mk216v]

Looking good!

And looking forward to seeing this --> "My Ram-mount order just arrived for the laptop navigation. I'll need to customize the mounting plate for under passenger front seat."

Thanks. Coming soon, need to spend some time with it. Got my custom awning brackets back from powdercoat, pics early next week.

 

[mk216v]

Ok, thanks for your patience. Busy week last week.

Awning is up and it's rock solid so far! Pics here. Satin black powdercoat matches very well with everything else;






This placement allows me to still reach up between rack and awning to tuck in the sides of the RTT. And of course the awning is high enough to allow the bottle opener to still function correctly.


I'm glad I disassembled the awning in order to have it all powdercoated satin black so that it remains a bit stealthy;

 

[ADK_XJ]

View attachment 112481

This placement allows me to still reach up between rack and awning to tuck in the sides of the RTT. And of course the awning is high enough to allow the bottle opener to still function correctly.

Haha, agreed! That alone may have me eventually buying the Front Runner setup...

Everything looks great, love your crew's mock fire ring and, again, the "factory mod" look of every addition really works in my opinion. Makes me want one of these SO bad, but gotta finish my Jeep XJ build first!

 

[mk216v]

Haha, agreed! That alone may have me eventually buying the Front Runner setup...

Everything looks great, love your crew's mock fire ring and, again, the "factory mod" look of every addition really works in my opinion. Makes me want one of these SO bad, but gotta finish my Jeep XJ build first!

You can't go wrong with FR gear. It costs more, but that's because it's "more better." ;-)

Thanks again! I like to keep it OEM+ looking.
Link to your XJ build?