Offroad-Adventure-Travel.com Suburban Build

[Scott Brady]

No, the lights are cool. I just find that the ones on the racks get broken, require too much wiring work and just generally don't work very well (glare).

Everyone needs their "thing", you know... I have a white truck "thing" (more like a sickness actually) and a ExOfficio "thing", and a 255/85 "thing". Well, you get the point

 

[Grim Reaper]

From Experience with big vehicles, I would add a bar from the rear hoop over the rear wheel to the hoop at the tail light.

I had a vertical upright in about the same location on a K5 trying to protect the taillight. It ended up being an anchor because of the swing on the tail. If you slide off into a V rut or get hung you have no choice but to turn the front away from the bank. That makes the rear puch harder into it. Make it easier to slide off anything in that spot.

Vary clean looking exo cage. They did really nice work.

 

[Red Zebra]

Love the burb! Gives us some good ideas!

 

[t0mills]

Awesome build! We need pictures of the roof rack and lighting!

PM Sent, so as not to hijack your thread.

-Tim

 

[Colorado Ron]

Welcome to the Forum! Youll love it here. Ill make sure to post up as soon as it gets back from the powder coater.

 

[Carlyle]

Awesome build Ron and I would enjoy coming up to Denver to see your burb some time. That rear bumper has given me some ideas for my Ford.

 

[Colorado Ron]

Why dont you come to the meet and greet! Ill have it with me there:
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11478

 

[Willman]

Wow.......Ron......This rig is sweet!!!


:roost:

 

[pete.wilson]

Ron,

Have you had any issues with the IFS?

Will you be doing some pics on the roof rack lighting? or at least how you routed the wiring for all those lights.

Sure is a great looking suburban. The black kinda looks sinister!

Pete Wilson

 

[Colorado Ron]

OKOK! I know its been a while since Ive updated! Sorry, but between the build and Expedition trips, there really hasnt been much time to do writeups. Sorry.

Todays update is the roof rack. Full writeup and details can be found on my site as always:Here!

Started with 1 inch tube and built the frame. We used the same for cross frames on the floor.

Expanded metal was used on the floor, except for 6inches on each end.

The light mounts were mounted 5 on the front, one on each side and 3 across the back. The front ones were mounted lower to give a cleaner look:

I also had the hilift mount custom built to accomodate a 60 inch hi-lift.

The rack is mounted with four mounting points directly to exo-cage. Heres a "fast foward" pick of rack being used, lights mounted, in Mexico!

 

[kcowyo]

I like the graphics on the hood. Paint or decals?

 

[Colorado Ron]

Its a decal I had made up at the local graphics shop.

 

[Colorado Ron]

Cummins Swap

Finally got the cummins swap underway. We are doing a HP Dana60 at the same time. So the IFS was ripped out and leaf sprung for the 60.

Heres a pic of the Cummins on the truck straight from wrecking yard:

Heres the 6 Speed tranny we are using, rebuilt and ready to go:

And heres the IFS after the plasma torch got to it!

Heres how it looks as of today:

Still got a ways to go. Sheesh! More to come.

 

[Czechsix]

You're gonna have lots of fun with that!

12V, right? Not 24, I'm hoping....

 

[Colorado Ron]

Yea, sorry about not having put more info. Yes it is a 12 valve Cummins from a 97 Dodge. The 6 speed is a 2001 model. Lots of fun to come!lol