Stumptaco Expedition Vehicle Build-Up

[StumpXJ]

sliders

Got a chance to use the bender last night and bend up some tubing for my sliders. I took a couple hours today and got everything cut, notched and welded up. Just have to get the legs finished, everything tacked to the truck, then tack up my side/quarter panel protectors. They are also in the picture. Obviously they will not be as tall as they currecntly are, just wanted to leave some extra material so I could position it how I wanted. Stay tuned, I will get them finished up soon.

I cant believe how much money people pay for these things, they are dead easy to make. Just need a little time, little elbow grease, little knowledge and a few tools. (ok, that sounds like a lot when I write it out, but they are pretty easy to do....)

~James

 

[p1michaud]

Sliders

Got a chance to use the bender last night and bend up some tubing for my sliders.

Will you be welding them or bolting them to your frame? My vote is for bolting them for reasons discussed here.

You can see some pictures here of the sliders I made that bolt on.

Cheers :beer:,
P

 

[DaveInDenver]

I cant believe how much money people pay for these things, they are dead easy to make. Just need a little time, little elbow grease, little knowledge and a few tools. (ok, that sounds like a lot when I write it out, but they are pretty easy to do....)

Yeah, probably easy to do if you have a shop with a welder, tubing bender, chop saw, steel and a work table. No biggie, eh?

 

[StumpXJ]

Yeah, probably easy to do if you have a shop with a welder, tubing bender, chop saw, steel and a work table. No biggie, eh?

Exactly!

The only thing on that list that I have is a welder and steel. Over here in Germany anyway. Just have to get creative.

~James

PS, they will be welded on.

 

[DaveInDenver]

The only thing on that list that I have is a welder and steel.

How are you doing the bends? They look nice.

A welder is something I've wanted for gotta be 10 years now. Just no budget or place to put it. I have a garage finally, but it's serviced by a single 15A circuit (our house was built in 1920 and the detached garage was wired for a light sometime in the 1940s, just been too swamped doing stuff on the house to worry about the outbuild) and as it is I have to turn the lights off when I run the compressor! Some day, some day...

 

[StumpXJ]

I just go to the local Auto shop. They have a cheapo style bender that is supposed to be used for schedule 40 pipe, but the tubing I have is 1 5/8" diameter so it fits perfect in the 1 1/4" schedule 40 die. (Didnt really plan this, I just got lucky) Its a hand pump deal, but it works flawlessly. Just have to have some patience with it. It doesnt kink or dent the steel at all, I was pleasantly suprised at the results.

I have a little $300 wire welder that works on a 110 outlet. I have used it to build everything on my truck. It works great, again, just have to go a little slow with it. I use a side grinder with $2 cutoff wheels, and borrowed a friends 70 dollar notcher. If I were doing this for a living, I would certainly have to do some upgrading on tools, but for what I have done so far, its completely doable.

Atleast you have a compressor! I had to leave mine in the states as it was too heavy/big to ship over...lol. I searched for over a year before I found the bender, but now its a peice of cake. They charge me 2 bucks an hour to use it...lol. I think we are the only ones who use it, as we have to dig it out of the corner everytime we need it.

I know how you feel, dont worry!

~James

 

[StumpXJ]

Santa

Well, I havent finished the sliders yet, but Santa did come by and drop this off.

Sweet! Wife says just 8 more days till I can put it on....

~James

 

[Overland Hadley]

Nice!

That is a great box to get.

 

[StumpXJ]

Well, I finally got a chance today to get a little work done. I got the snorkel mounted, and it was a pain in the a** to do it in the snow... My truck wont fit in the garage anymore I was determined to get it mounted today though

I also got a scan guage from Santa, so I had to make a new dash housing for it and my switches. I will get the housing mounted back on the dash tommorow, ran out of daylight today.

Oh yeah, its freekin cold here!

My new dash housing, made out of 1/4" delrin plate I had laying around. Used my little manual Milling maching to make it nice and neat.

My old dash housing, just for the switches. The new one should fit/look a little better. I took my time with the new one.

Still havent finished my sliders... We are having a wrench-a-thon with a couple guys at my house in a little over a wek, so they will probably get finished then.

~James

 

[Overland Hadley]

Looks good.

Any worries about the snorkel filling with snow? When we get a big storm here snow gets into everything. It is something I just thought of.

 

[StumpXJ]

Not sure honestly... I hope not. I could turn the hat around if I need to, its just a matter of losening the hose clamp. It wont fill with snow/rain if its just sitting there due to the way its constructed, but if im driving in a snow storm, it might get a little in it. As long as it doesnt pack up in the opening and clog it, I think it would be fine.

~James

 

[StumpXJ]

Also forgot to mention, I finally saved up a few bucks and got some real lights. I ordered 4 Hella 4000's, and also 4 HID conversion kits for them. I got the HID conversion kits in the other day, but the lights have not come yet. It will be nice to replace the Ebay el-cheapos on the roof rack with some real lights. I will eventually put two more HID converted 4000's on the front bumper also, just have to pace myself so as to not cause wallet shrinkage

I would have loved to have used Light Force 240's for all 6 lights, but I just could not justify the cost of those puppies. They are nice lights, but dang... they are proud of them! I think with the HID converted 4000's, I should be set for a while.

~James

 

[StumpXJ]

Had a chance this morning to get the new housing mounted on the dash and everything wired. The scan guage is awesome thus far, took a short cruise around the block just to see it work, and I cant wait to start dialing it in...

Im pretty happy with the way it turned out!

Old Dash Housing:

New Dash Housing:

I almost forgot... got these with a couple items my wife got me. These are the 8psi boost version, the throttle response from these stickers is phenominal!

~James

 

[p1michaud]

Snow snorkel.

Well, I finally got a chance today to get a little work done. I got the snorkel mounted, and it was a pain in the a** to do it in the snow... My truck wont fit in the garage anymore I was determined to get it mounted today though ...


My new dash housing, made out of 1/4" delrin plate I had laying around. Used my little manual Milling maching to make it nice and neat.

Wow you rig is really coming together! I really like your dash housing for the switches very well though out!

Cheers,
P

 

[p1michaud]

Snow snorkel

Not sure honestly... I hope not. I could turn the hat around if I need to, its just a matter of losening the hose clamp. It wont fill with snow/rain if its just sitting there due to the way its constructed, but if im driving in a snow storm, it might get a little in it. As long as it doesnt pack up in the opening and clog it, I think it would be fine.

~James

The snow has been flying here in Canada for a few months (two real good storms as well) with no issues of snow getting into the snorkel so far.