LC/LR4Life
Adventurer
Hey guys, I figured I'd post this here since I quit my local Land Cruiser club and can more relate with this crowd.
Phase 1:
My modifications have begun, slowly. I am beginning on the electronics package. Right now I have put in a new K40 Antenna with a top load transmission, large oversized magnet mount base with a medium tension spring.
In the works will be a custom housing to put my Cobra CB into, along with room for a future addition - an Icom HAM radio. Of course, the HAM will come after getting my license to operate, which I hear is much easier these days since morse code is no longer required for basic operation.
I ordered up probably one of the last Lowrance/Eagle DGPS Beacon receivers in the united states. Since WAAS came out, the DGPS stuff has all but disappeared. I like DGPS because it will help correct GPS positioning even in inclement weather. In bad weather, GPS often gets erratic, because the signals have to travel through the atmosphere (clouds, rain etc as well). A DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) signal helps to correct this. Now you can see the advantage of having this sort of set up.
I installed my Lowrance Global Map 100 GPS receiver on a LEI accessories RAM mount in the front left section of my windshield. This makes it easy to see and input coordinates when needed.
The Beacon Receiver uses a special whip antenna, which I have also added a spring to. I have two antennas which I ordered, both made by Shakespeare.
You can use either of these antennas for this DGPS Beacon Receiver:
Shakespeare 173-C which is used for both Loran-C, and DGPS (4').
Shakespeare Galaxy 5224 DGPS whip (4').
Like I said, I bought one of each of these. Both work very well.
I was going to mount the beacon receiver on the ARB bumper when I got to that point, however that might be a little while. So... I decided to fabricate a custom mount.
Here is my install-
First, made a custom bracket which bolted up to the body of the Cruiser just under the hood and in front of the radiator. One bolt was existing as a mount of some sort, and the other was for one of the two horns the 100 has. A bracket was fabricated. I twisted and shaped a piece of steel strap to bring about the angles I wanted and needed to fit through the plastic grill on the front of the Cruiser.
Once bent, cut, drilled etc, I primered and painted it black. Then I mounted it directly to the Cruiser via the two bolts just spoken of. Once in place, I mounted the beacon receiver to the bracket with two large hose clamps. I had already fabricated a holder to put the beacon receiver into out of PVC pipe, and wrapped it all good in electrical tape. Once mounted with the hose clamps, I covered those with more black electrical tape.
I zip tied the cable to the bracket, and then proceded to route the data line for the beacon. I zip tied it across the inside of the grill in about 4 places, then ran along the inner fender wall on the driver side. I then punctured a very small hole into the rubber boot which a large wiring harness was feeding through the firewall into the cab. I fed what I needed inside under the cluster guages, and neatly zip tied up the rest inside the engine bay off to the drivers side. I then added some silicon to the area where I fed the cable through the boot, even though it was a very tight fit.
Inside I had already tapped into the +12V from the AHC fuse point on my drivers side fuse block, and ran my negative to a convenient point on the body in the drivers side foot box. Now, I took the wiring apart to my GPS, added a toggle switch to toggle the Beacon on and off separate of the GPS itself, and soldered up my DGPS signal wires. My GPS is a Lowrance unit, and the DGPS is an Eagle unit, so they are totally compatable (Lowrance makes Eagle). After I got all the soldering done, heat shrinked the connections etc, I tucked it all up nice and neat with more zip ties, and turned on the Cruiser. GPS powered up, light working..... Toggle DGPS Beacon and read a 30dB gain from my antenna. DGPS is working- took a couple minutes to get a DGPS Aquired screen since the nearest transmitter in Aransas Pass, Tx and it's a cold start.
After picking up my tools, soldering station etc, I head down to the local truck stop and pick up a small spring mount to attach to the Beacon, and then attach the antenna to give it even more flexibility. The Beacon bracket I designed flexes and moves a bit to allow it to take up the jolts and off road movement of the Cruiser. Here's a few pictures:
My cruiser with DGPS Beacon Receiver on front with the DGPS whip/spring installed. You can also see my K40 CB antenna on the rear of the roof...
Here's a shot from the back....
The 5" magnet mount.... this is a BIG, BAD magnet... it NEVER moves!
Another picture of the magnet mount with my hand there to see size comparison...
Lowrance Global Map 100 GPS (Off)....
Position Aquired (GPS)...
I flip the DGPS Beacon Receiver switch...
DGPS Acquired....
Corrections screen/DGPS status, Signal strength etc....
Location of mount.....
Phase 1 complete.
Phase 2 will be:
ARB air lockers and 4.88 gearsets front and rear with solid pinion spacers.
Phase 3:
Old Man Emu lift with OME shocks - possibly FOX or OME with the remote reservoir. I am also looking at a new Rancho system on the market.
New heavy duty Upper control arms from JT
Slee IFS Diff Drop kit
35" mud tires (If I cannot find good ones for my 18's, I'll switch to 16" wheels). In the meanwhile, waiting on these mods to fit 35s, I might get 33s to hold me over.
Phase 4:
ARB front bumper (winch ready)
Slee Rock Rails
ARB rear bumper with swing away tire carrier and swing away jerry can carrier.
Slee underbelly protection
Phase 5:
ARB Fridge/Freezer
Safari Snorkel with pre-cleaner
Inti Roof Rack - Complete. I had to do this mod earlier due to restrictions on availability of this rack. See page 5 of the build.
Phase 6:
Dual Optima battery set up with electronic monitor
Winch with synthetic line
Long range fuel cell (from South Africa).
Phase 1:
My modifications have begun, slowly. I am beginning on the electronics package. Right now I have put in a new K40 Antenna with a top load transmission, large oversized magnet mount base with a medium tension spring.
In the works will be a custom housing to put my Cobra CB into, along with room for a future addition - an Icom HAM radio. Of course, the HAM will come after getting my license to operate, which I hear is much easier these days since morse code is no longer required for basic operation.
I ordered up probably one of the last Lowrance/Eagle DGPS Beacon receivers in the united states. Since WAAS came out, the DGPS stuff has all but disappeared. I like DGPS because it will help correct GPS positioning even in inclement weather. In bad weather, GPS often gets erratic, because the signals have to travel through the atmosphere (clouds, rain etc as well). A DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) signal helps to correct this. Now you can see the advantage of having this sort of set up.
I installed my Lowrance Global Map 100 GPS receiver on a LEI accessories RAM mount in the front left section of my windshield. This makes it easy to see and input coordinates when needed.
The Beacon Receiver uses a special whip antenna, which I have also added a spring to. I have two antennas which I ordered, both made by Shakespeare.
You can use either of these antennas for this DGPS Beacon Receiver:
Shakespeare 173-C which is used for both Loran-C, and DGPS (4').
Shakespeare Galaxy 5224 DGPS whip (4').
Like I said, I bought one of each of these. Both work very well.
I was going to mount the beacon receiver on the ARB bumper when I got to that point, however that might be a little while. So... I decided to fabricate a custom mount.
Here is my install-
First, made a custom bracket which bolted up to the body of the Cruiser just under the hood and in front of the radiator. One bolt was existing as a mount of some sort, and the other was for one of the two horns the 100 has. A bracket was fabricated. I twisted and shaped a piece of steel strap to bring about the angles I wanted and needed to fit through the plastic grill on the front of the Cruiser.
Once bent, cut, drilled etc, I primered and painted it black. Then I mounted it directly to the Cruiser via the two bolts just spoken of. Once in place, I mounted the beacon receiver to the bracket with two large hose clamps. I had already fabricated a holder to put the beacon receiver into out of PVC pipe, and wrapped it all good in electrical tape. Once mounted with the hose clamps, I covered those with more black electrical tape.
I zip tied the cable to the bracket, and then proceded to route the data line for the beacon. I zip tied it across the inside of the grill in about 4 places, then ran along the inner fender wall on the driver side. I then punctured a very small hole into the rubber boot which a large wiring harness was feeding through the firewall into the cab. I fed what I needed inside under the cluster guages, and neatly zip tied up the rest inside the engine bay off to the drivers side. I then added some silicon to the area where I fed the cable through the boot, even though it was a very tight fit.
Inside I had already tapped into the +12V from the AHC fuse point on my drivers side fuse block, and ran my negative to a convenient point on the body in the drivers side foot box. Now, I took the wiring apart to my GPS, added a toggle switch to toggle the Beacon on and off separate of the GPS itself, and soldered up my DGPS signal wires. My GPS is a Lowrance unit, and the DGPS is an Eagle unit, so they are totally compatable (Lowrance makes Eagle). After I got all the soldering done, heat shrinked the connections etc, I tucked it all up nice and neat with more zip ties, and turned on the Cruiser. GPS powered up, light working..... Toggle DGPS Beacon and read a 30dB gain from my antenna. DGPS is working- took a couple minutes to get a DGPS Aquired screen since the nearest transmitter in Aransas Pass, Tx and it's a cold start.
After picking up my tools, soldering station etc, I head down to the local truck stop and pick up a small spring mount to attach to the Beacon, and then attach the antenna to give it even more flexibility. The Beacon bracket I designed flexes and moves a bit to allow it to take up the jolts and off road movement of the Cruiser. Here's a few pictures:
My cruiser with DGPS Beacon Receiver on front with the DGPS whip/spring installed. You can also see my K40 CB antenna on the rear of the roof...
Here's a shot from the back....
The 5" magnet mount.... this is a BIG, BAD magnet... it NEVER moves!
Another picture of the magnet mount with my hand there to see size comparison...
Lowrance Global Map 100 GPS (Off)....
Position Aquired (GPS)...
I flip the DGPS Beacon Receiver switch...
DGPS Acquired....
Corrections screen/DGPS status, Signal strength etc....
Location of mount.....
Phase 1 complete.
Phase 2 will be:
ARB air lockers and 4.88 gearsets front and rear with solid pinion spacers.
Phase 3:
Old Man Emu lift with OME shocks - possibly FOX or OME with the remote reservoir. I am also looking at a new Rancho system on the market.
New heavy duty Upper control arms from JT
Slee IFS Diff Drop kit
35" mud tires (If I cannot find good ones for my 18's, I'll switch to 16" wheels). In the meanwhile, waiting on these mods to fit 35s, I might get 33s to hold me over.
Phase 4:
ARB front bumper (winch ready)
Slee Rock Rails
ARB rear bumper with swing away tire carrier and swing away jerry can carrier.
Slee underbelly protection
Phase 5:
ARB Fridge/Freezer
Safari Snorkel with pre-cleaner
Inti Roof Rack - Complete. I had to do this mod earlier due to restrictions on availability of this rack. See page 5 of the build.
Phase 6:
Dual Optima battery set up with electronic monitor
Winch with synthetic line
Long range fuel cell (from South Africa).
Last edited:
