Brian894x4
Explorer
Thanks all for the kind words and info. I pick it up tomorrow and sometime thereafter I'll start up a new build up thread.
Here's my plan. Subject to change of course. Let me know what you all think.
1) Of course, remove running boards. (sliders eventually, but that will be down on the list). Likely remove fender flares and either patch holes or put on something thinner variations that I've seen on other rigs. Any suggestions?
2) Stock suspension hieght, however springs changed as needed to compensate for weight. I have no intention to lift this rig at all. 33" will the be largest tire I plan to run and they apparently will fit without lift, so that's what I'm going to do.
3) 33" Goodyear MTRs. If I can fit my truck's brand new 15x8 wheels with 33x12.5-15 MTRs through wheel spacers or grinding, I'll try that. Otherwise, they'll go up for sale and I'll be up a set of 16" steelies and brand new 33" MTRs to fit 'em.
4) ARB winch bullbar. (If anyone knows a good deal on a new or used one, please let me know). Of course front and rear off road lights.
5) Warn 9000-9500lb winch. I know some suggest going larger, but I don't plan to winch often and I want to keep weight as reasonable as possible.
6) dd a dual battery system like my truck has, although simplier for reliability.
7) Rear bumper stock for now, with plans to add something custom later for rear protection. I don't intend to have a spare tire carrier I don't think.
8) I guess there's a mod to tuck up the spare tire. Does anyone know if a 33" spare will fit under an LC like it does under my pick-up?
9)Sliders. Possibly homemade custom to keep cost down.
10) Roofrack. Haven't decided how to pursue this. I already have a roofrack on the truck and I will likely inititally transfer this over, but I like the full size low profile type racks and I may eventually go with one of those. I've also considered that I want to keep the rig low profile, so I might forgo the roofrack.
11) Rooftop tent. I REALLY l like these from what I've seen, although I've never used one. This "may" be a future option, although I don't really want to add the weight and the profile. I also might see how viable it is to sleep inside the cab. We'll see.
12) No snorkle. I don't do serious watercrossings, they're spendy and again, I want to keep the rig semi-low profile. However, I will add diff breathers just to be safe.
13) Rear ARB locker. This rig doesn't have the factory lockers, which is a bummer, but something I can definately live with considering everything else about it. Eventually the rear will be fitted with at least an ARB. I may possibly go all out and fit the front and rear with ARBs and upgrade the gears. That's gonna be a spendy, spendy proposition, but if I'm going to going up one diff anyway......we'll see.
14) I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the interior. Of course, Ham radios, laptop mount and GPS all have to be mounted inside somehow. Extra gauges will likely be kept to a minimum with one showing the aux. battery voltage.
15) One idea I had was to remove one of the split rear seats, since I don't really anticipate carrying more than 2 other people and in that spot, mount my cooler and if there's room a storage box and some other stuff, which would leave a lot of room in the back to carry other gear.
16) I don't really want to do a drawer system, because I'd like to keep the rig versital if I have to move or transport large items. I'll probably just carry most of my gear in removable boxes. But I'm sure this will evolve over time, since I can never keep my hands of building something, which means...I'll probably under up with drawers.
17) I've got a complicated water system in the pick-up, but I'll likely just go back to water containers for simplicity.
18) The theme of this build up is going to be simplicity for reliability and durability and keeping weight down. And also fairly low profile since it will be parked alot out in the woods while I hike down trails and explore on foot. I know with 33s and an ARB bumper, that sort of defeats that purpose, but the less it sticks out the better.
Any other suggestions or thoughts are more than welcome.
Here's my plan. Subject to change of course. Let me know what you all think.
1) Of course, remove running boards. (sliders eventually, but that will be down on the list). Likely remove fender flares and either patch holes or put on something thinner variations that I've seen on other rigs. Any suggestions?
2) Stock suspension hieght, however springs changed as needed to compensate for weight. I have no intention to lift this rig at all. 33" will the be largest tire I plan to run and they apparently will fit without lift, so that's what I'm going to do.
3) 33" Goodyear MTRs. If I can fit my truck's brand new 15x8 wheels with 33x12.5-15 MTRs through wheel spacers or grinding, I'll try that. Otherwise, they'll go up for sale and I'll be up a set of 16" steelies and brand new 33" MTRs to fit 'em.
4) ARB winch bullbar. (If anyone knows a good deal on a new or used one, please let me know). Of course front and rear off road lights.
5) Warn 9000-9500lb winch. I know some suggest going larger, but I don't plan to winch often and I want to keep weight as reasonable as possible.
6) dd a dual battery system like my truck has, although simplier for reliability.
7) Rear bumper stock for now, with plans to add something custom later for rear protection. I don't intend to have a spare tire carrier I don't think.
8) I guess there's a mod to tuck up the spare tire. Does anyone know if a 33" spare will fit under an LC like it does under my pick-up?
9)Sliders. Possibly homemade custom to keep cost down.
10) Roofrack. Haven't decided how to pursue this. I already have a roofrack on the truck and I will likely inititally transfer this over, but I like the full size low profile type racks and I may eventually go with one of those. I've also considered that I want to keep the rig low profile, so I might forgo the roofrack.
11) Rooftop tent. I REALLY l like these from what I've seen, although I've never used one. This "may" be a future option, although I don't really want to add the weight and the profile. I also might see how viable it is to sleep inside the cab. We'll see.
12) No snorkle. I don't do serious watercrossings, they're spendy and again, I want to keep the rig semi-low profile. However, I will add diff breathers just to be safe.
13) Rear ARB locker. This rig doesn't have the factory lockers, which is a bummer, but something I can definately live with considering everything else about it. Eventually the rear will be fitted with at least an ARB. I may possibly go all out and fit the front and rear with ARBs and upgrade the gears. That's gonna be a spendy, spendy proposition, but if I'm going to going up one diff anyway......we'll see.
14) I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the interior. Of course, Ham radios, laptop mount and GPS all have to be mounted inside somehow. Extra gauges will likely be kept to a minimum with one showing the aux. battery voltage.
15) One idea I had was to remove one of the split rear seats, since I don't really anticipate carrying more than 2 other people and in that spot, mount my cooler and if there's room a storage box and some other stuff, which would leave a lot of room in the back to carry other gear.
16) I don't really want to do a drawer system, because I'd like to keep the rig versital if I have to move or transport large items. I'll probably just carry most of my gear in removable boxes. But I'm sure this will evolve over time, since I can never keep my hands of building something, which means...I'll probably under up with drawers.
17) I've got a complicated water system in the pick-up, but I'll likely just go back to water containers for simplicity.
18) The theme of this build up is going to be simplicity for reliability and durability and keeping weight down. And also fairly low profile since it will be parked alot out in the woods while I hike down trails and explore on foot. I know with 33s and an ARB bumper, that sort of defeats that purpose, but the less it sticks out the better.
Any other suggestions or thoughts are more than welcome.
