Tex's 200 Series
- Thread starter Tex68w
- Start date
richmondbob
Adventurer
At the ranch for the holidays. Got some great gifts, others got covid, what a $hit show.
Bought my nicely built '97 80-series from a Texas forum member ... maybe I'll be buying my 200 from one there, too (*cough* *cough* *hint* ?)
Tex68w
Beach Bum
Hah, doubtful, especially if the misses has a say in the matter. Dealer offering $20K more than I paid for it new 1.5 years ago still wasn't enough to make us consider letting it go so I doubt it goes anywhere anytime soon. It's always been our plan to keep this one around for 10-15 years and possibly even longer as the second home/vacation vehicle.
Todd n Natalie
OverCamper
What?? I figured it would be up for sale after a year or so.
Tex68w
Beach Bum
What?? I figured it would be up for sale after a year or so.
Nah, these are worth keeping.
I couldn't handle the phone being in the charging tray any longer and on longer trips I need it visible for NAV/GPS. I went back to the tried and true Ram ball and phone cradle off of the grab handle.
Can you share more information about this setup?
Tex68w
Beach Bum
Yes, but it’ll be next week before I’m back home to get that for you.
Tex68w
Beach Bum
Seven hours later and it's finally done! I'd be ok if I never did another one of these ever again lol. The cutting is quite tedious in a few spots making sure not to cut too deep on the bracing so that you don't cut into the actual tailgate. I am not a fan of how the corners curl up, I've noticed this on most every single one I've seen pics of. Maybe the center bolts at the frame and hinge junction should be loosened a touch to keep it from warping? Has anyone come up with a solution for this?
I used the entire oil mat folded in half and I simply cut it where the close assist actuators wiring attaches in order to fit it around the wiring. I appreciate the suggestions on the mat and padding underneath, that combined should keep things quiet on even the roughest of roads. I added some edge trim to the dust flap because without it the edge of the flap would catch on the tailgate latches as you closed the tailgate. I am tossing around an idea for a material on top of the door but I'll have to see if it's feasible first. All in all I am happy to have it installed and now the extra space, no more air hoses and tools stuffed under the jump seats lol.
I used the entire oil mat folded in half and I simply cut it where the close assist actuators wiring attaches in order to fit it around the wiring. I appreciate the suggestions on the mat and padding underneath, that combined should keep things quiet on even the roughest of roads. I added some edge trim to the dust flap because without it the edge of the flap would catch on the tailgate latches as you closed the tailgate. I am tossing around an idea for a material on top of the door but I'll have to see if it's feasible first. All in all I am happy to have it installed and now the extra space, no more air hoses and tools stuffed under the jump seats lol.
Tex68w
Beach Bum
The third row jump seats have finally been removed. I used the Aussie made Specialist 3D Products third row seat delete panels with tie-down rings to cover the exposed holes in the fenders, this is a nice bit of kit. The original hardware removed from the seat mounts went back into their respective holes. The tie-down rings have a 1000lb WLL but I doubt they ever come close to seeing that kind of stress for what I'd use them for.
I grabbed some 1" open cell foam I had lying around from one of my many Pelican cases and got to work cutting out pieces I had stenciled from the voids left over from the feet on the jump seats in the cargo floor. The Heritage Edition rubber cargo mat I ordered should be here in the next few days to finish it out and cover the entire cargo floor.
All things considered, I am pretty happy with how it turned out. Now I just need to decide which drawer system will eventually fill the void, but until then I look forward to the added cargo space and reduced payload.
I grabbed some 1" open cell foam I had lying around from one of my many Pelican cases and got to work cutting out pieces I had stenciled from the voids left over from the feet on the jump seats in the cargo floor. The Heritage Edition rubber cargo mat I ordered should be here in the next few days to finish it out and cover the entire cargo floor.
All things considered, I am pretty happy with how it turned out. Now I just need to decide which drawer system will eventually fill the void, but until then I look forward to the added cargo space and reduced payload.
