Stumptaco Expedition Vehicle Build-Up
- Thread starter StumpXJ
- Start date
Overland Hadley
on a journey
I saw on other threads that you were looking at RTT's.
Wanted to give you a link to MyWay Tents.
There is a very short ExPo thread about them Here.
Hope that helps in you search.
Wanted to give you a link to MyWay Tents.
There is a very short ExPo thread about them Here.
Hope that helps in you search.
StumpXJ
SE Expedition Society
Nathanael, Thanks for the info, I am reading as much as I can about all of the brands/Varieties of tents. At this point, I am leaning towards a Autohome large overlander, or the medium overzone. I hope to know more once the company actually emails me back. I found out that I am only about 7 hours away from their factory, and want to drive down to pick it up (just needed an excuse for a tirp). I am just not sure if they will allow this, nor do I have a clue about their pricing. Its no where listed on the site that I can find, so I sent a request for a catalog.
The RTT, new rack, and getting evrything set-up will be my new big proect for this year. I have a plan, just got to get the wheels in motion. I would love to have it finished before our expedition to Morocco in Oct.
Again, thanks for the info, I enjoyed the reading, but the US dollar to the pound is killer, and I dont think I can justify the cost. The Euro is bad enough, but the pound is crazy.
~James
The RTT, new rack, and getting evrything set-up will be my new big proect for this year. I have a plan, just got to get the wheels in motion. I would love to have it finished before our expedition to Morocco in Oct.
Again, thanks for the info, I enjoyed the reading, but the US dollar to the pound is killer, and I dont think I can justify the cost. The Euro is bad enough, but the pound is crazy.
~James
StumpXJ
SE Expedition Society
Few new goodies.
Got a few new goodies in the mail today. I will install them tommorow (Tuesday) and will have the "after" pics tommorow afternoon.
Got this after tracing down an exhaust leak to 3 cracks in my stock manifold. Apparently this is a common problem with the 2.7 liter stock manifold, as my research has shown. The LC Engineering header seemed to be the best option/reputation available, and the customer service was great! Good looking product, should be easy enough to install, once I get past the 10 year old rust and corrosion on the stock bolts. I got a new stud kit while I was at it. I am not expecting to get any performance out of it, but if it does, it would be all too welcome. I just want to get rid of the annoying ex. leak!
I ordered these Hella 550's to replace my current cheap-o ebay lights on the rear of my roof rack. I figure these would do a good job of lighting up the rear of my vehicle when in reverse, as well as a good utility light for camping if needed. The lights I have on there now have a more or less pencil type beam, which does nothing for what I need. Of course, I wont be using most of the hardware that came with it, because I already have existing wiring/switch/relay's/etc., but they will be good to throw in the tool box as spares.
I also order the 700FF's (with the HID converions) for the front of my bumper, but they havent showed up yet.
Thursday is my day that I will finally get around to installing my sliders, as well as my frame reinforcements from Demello. We are going wheeling this weekend, so I have to get this stuff on ASAP. More on that later.
Thanks, James
Got a few new goodies in the mail today. I will install them tommorow (Tuesday) and will have the "after" pics tommorow afternoon.
Got this after tracing down an exhaust leak to 3 cracks in my stock manifold. Apparently this is a common problem with the 2.7 liter stock manifold, as my research has shown. The LC Engineering header seemed to be the best option/reputation available, and the customer service was great! Good looking product, should be easy enough to install, once I get past the 10 year old rust and corrosion on the stock bolts. I got a new stud kit while I was at it. I am not expecting to get any performance out of it, but if it does, it would be all too welcome. I just want to get rid of the annoying ex. leak!
I ordered these Hella 550's to replace my current cheap-o ebay lights on the rear of my roof rack. I figure these would do a good job of lighting up the rear of my vehicle when in reverse, as well as a good utility light for camping if needed. The lights I have on there now have a more or less pencil type beam, which does nothing for what I need. Of course, I wont be using most of the hardware that came with it, because I already have existing wiring/switch/relay's/etc., but they will be good to throw in the tool box as spares.
I also order the 700FF's (with the HID converions) for the front of my bumper, but they havent showed up yet.
Thursday is my day that I will finally get around to installing my sliders, as well as my frame reinforcements from Demello. We are going wheeling this weekend, so I have to get this stuff on ASAP. More on that later.
Thanks, James
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Overland Hadley
on a journey
stumptaco said:
If you visit the factory, maybe you could post up some pics. (not sure if they would allow you to take pictures)
StumpXJ
SE Expedition Society
If they will allow me to pick it up, I will definitely bring the camera. I agree, it would be very cool to see. I still havent heard back from them, I do have a business contact who lives in Italy (he's Italian), so I may have to get him to give them a call. As a business owner who has an online presence, nothing irritates me more than a company who doesnt respond to emails!!! 
~James
~James
StumpXJ
SE Expedition Society
Got some work done on the Taco today, first up was the Hella 550 install, pretty straight forward and only took a few minutes as all of the wiring was pretty much already done from the existing lights.
Before:
After:
Got the header on as well. I was EXTREMELY suprised at how easy this was. I only had to cut two of the bolts off with a grinder (at the Cat), but the 4 inch cutoff wheel made short work of them. The header came with new bolts, so no worries there. I replaced all of the studs in the block also, just for piece of mind. Hats off to the LC Engineering guys, their product work superbly. Everything lined up completely perfect, and was a direct replacement.....and.... NO MORE LEAKY EXHAUST :wings: :wings: I forgot just how quiet my truck is supposed to be! The stock header had cracked literally almost in half (atleast 70% of the diameter was cracked) and was in dire need of replacement. Forgot the camera during the install, so the "after pics will have to do. Very straight forward installation.
~James
Before:
After:
Got the header on as well. I was EXTREMELY suprised at how easy this was. I only had to cut two of the bolts off with a grinder (at the Cat), but the 4 inch cutoff wheel made short work of them. The header came with new bolts, so no worries there. I replaced all of the studs in the block also, just for piece of mind. Hats off to the LC Engineering guys, their product work superbly. Everything lined up completely perfect, and was a direct replacement.....and.... NO MORE LEAKY EXHAUST :wings: :wings: I forgot just how quiet my truck is supposed to be! The stock header had cracked literally almost in half (atleast 70% of the diameter was cracked) and was in dire need of replacement. Forgot the camera during the install, so the "after pics will have to do. Very straight forward installation.
~James
StumpXJ
SE Expedition Society
Sliders, and frame reinforcements.
I, with the help of a friend Logan, finally got the sliders and Demello frame reinforcements done. The frame feels way more solid now, and I think it should be good to go for a while. My camera batteries crapped out before I could take any pictures of the frame reinforcements, but if youve seen one set, youve seen em all. (the camera may have been scared of the ugly welds I had on the frame stuff... the welder was acting up. Not pretty, but definately stronger than it was!)
Sliders were pretty straight forward, I opted to weld them on. They are very strong, and should do the job well. I also had hoops made for the side protection, but they turned out to be a little too long because the sliders are more forward than I anticipated. They would have hit the doors had I used them. Just have to add another bend in them, then I can weld them on. Next time I am up by the bender (an hour away), I will do this, but for now its ok.
Next on the list is probably my shower/hot water system. I have had all of the parts for months now, just need to get it all mounted and plumbed. Also still need to install the HID 700FF's on the front bumper, but they are still enroute to me.
The next big upgrade/modification will be the addition of my RTT. I will have to build a new roof rack system. I already have it basically planned out in my head, but I have to get the tent first. I will be going with the Autohome Large Overland, if everything works itself out.
More on that later.
~James
I, with the help of a friend Logan, finally got the sliders and Demello frame reinforcements done. The frame feels way more solid now, and I think it should be good to go for a while. My camera batteries crapped out before I could take any pictures of the frame reinforcements, but if youve seen one set, youve seen em all. (the camera may have been scared of the ugly welds I had on the frame stuff... the welder was acting up. Not pretty, but definately stronger than it was!)
Sliders were pretty straight forward, I opted to weld them on. They are very strong, and should do the job well. I also had hoops made for the side protection, but they turned out to be a little too long because the sliders are more forward than I anticipated. They would have hit the doors had I used them. Just have to add another bend in them, then I can weld them on. Next time I am up by the bender (an hour away), I will do this, but for now its ok.
Next on the list is probably my shower/hot water system. I have had all of the parts for months now, just need to get it all mounted and plumbed. Also still need to install the HID 700FF's on the front bumper, but they are still enroute to me.
The next big upgrade/modification will be the addition of my RTT. I will have to build a new roof rack system. I already have it basically planned out in my head, but I have to get the tent first. I will be going with the Autohome Large Overland, if everything works itself out.
More on that later.
~James
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StumpXJ
SE Expedition Society
Yep, Its already done, just got to install it. You can see the heat exchanger that I made on the picture of my headers. Its the long black tube by the firewall. Got the tank like 8 months ago, and the pump as well. I have all the hose, and fittings (shower head, valves ect.), just got to get off my butt and fab up a craddle for the tank under the truck, and go from there.
Thanks! ~James
Thanks! ~James
02TahoeMD
Explorer
What a great read! I love what you have done with the Taco, your fab skills are impressive indeed. I saw over on the Jeep forum that you are getting rid of this? How sad!
Any chance you could post a closeup photo of the rear quarter panel protection that extends from the bumper? Been thinking of doing something similar with my bumper.....
Any chance you could post a closeup photo of the rear quarter panel protection that extends from the bumper? Been thinking of doing something similar with my bumper.....