Lowdown on Off-road parks

[Chili]

Nice write up and upgrades. So are you planning on keeping the Jeep? I'm wanting to get my HAM radio license as well and hope to take advantage of repeaters along the loop and other places. I'll have to talk to you about that sometime.

Yeah, I think it's going to be the best option long term, factoring in my plans for a van build and whatnot.

As far as HAM, I'm probably not a very good resource yet, as I have not yet gotten too far into it other than understanding the capabilities and limitations. I just grabbed this radio to be able to monitor for now, since a lot of 4x4 group have moved to that. With the Moab trip coming up I figured it would be good to have if any of the groups we are running with use them. So I have all of the common available to hear instruction, at least: CB, HAM and FRS (and you can hit FMRS frequencies with this radio, though my understanding is that may not be legal due to the 5w power and you need a separate license for FMRS). But yeah man, I am happy to share what little knowledge I have so far.

Looks fricken great, Craig!
My Dad always had a CB in his van's when I was growing up, and the rear bumper mounted "whip" antenna's. I always liked them long ass things, lol. On the car's he had a trunk mounted antenna, magnetic, so it could be moved, or put in the trunk easily.

If I remember correctly, in HS we had CB's, and there was a little light bulb with 2 wires, we wrapped it on the antenna, and when the mic was keyed, it lit up.
CB's were all the rage in the 70's/80's!

Thanks Rob, yours looks much better too! Hope you're doing well!

Craig, looks good! Is it basically a "fuck the rearview mirror" kind of thing, though?

Rob, looks good! I look forward to your long-term opinion on those tires. Did you go with the E-rated?

I know you saw it yesterday and all, but for others interested, it actually doesn't block the rear-view, it sits right above it.

That said, the rear view is mostly useless anyway, do to the 35" spare, rear headrests, and otherwise shitty visibility in the JKU's. And forget it when loaded with camping gear. Front and rear cameras are on the list, and one of the main reasons I upgraded the head-unit recently! Just trying to figure out where I want to mount them so I can decide which style of camera to get. Once I do get the rear camera, I will probably just remove the rear view mirror since the windshield visibility is even so limited.

[yellowstang]

Craig, looks good! Is it basically a "fuck the rearview mirror" kind of thing, though?

Rob, looks good! I look forward to your long-term opinion on those tires. Did you go with the E-rated?

I think they are LT.
I can definitely hear some road hum on the hiways, but not too much.Went in this morning and got some HID lights in the fogs and low beams, huge difference!

Before:
No lights on:
Halogens:


After:

[jluv]

Craig, looks good! Is it basically a "fuck the rearview mirror" kind of thing, though?

Rob, looks good! I look forward to your long-term opinion on those tires. Did you go with the E-rated?

[whitetrash]

A little old but a few pics from northwest back in December

[fordracing19]

Got the truck back, I like it, a lot!!! 2 inch level kit, Toyo Open Country AT II's. Going back tomorrow for a headlight upgrade, these Ford's have shit for lighting!

Thanks for the shop recommendation guys!

Looks like a truck now.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[yellowstang]

Got the truck back, I like it, a lot!!! 2 inch level kit, Toyo Open Country AT II's. Going back tomorrow for a headlight upgrade, these Ford's have shit for lighting!

Thanks for the shop recommendation guys!

[yellowstang]

Looks fricken great, Craig!
My Dad always had a CB in his van's when I was growing up, and the rear bumper mounted "whip" antenna's. I always liked them long ass things, lol. On the car's he had a trunk mounted antenna, magnetic, so it could be moved, or put in the trunk easily.

If I remember correctly, in HS we had CB's, and there was a little light bulb with 2 wires, we wrapped it on the antenna, and when the mic was keyed, it lit up.
CB's were all the rage in the 70's/80's!

[Jose]

Nice write up and upgrades. So are you planning on keeping the Jeep? I'm wanting to get my HAM radio license as well and hope to take advantage of repeaters along the loop and other places. I'll have to talk to you about that sometime.

[Chili]

My dad always put his antennas on hood channel mounts, and since I was a kid I always liked the look.



I put it on a spring for the tight trails. I can also tie it down if needed.



I also built a new platform in the rear. I just wanted something really simple and didn't want actual drawers on slides since the space is already tight, and that costs you so precious inches. I still need to sand and finish, and will also be adding a slide out table just above the boxes, below the platform. It will just be on angle aluminum with felt. Hard to explain but this youtube video is where I got the idea.

Skip to 7:53 for the finished product:



The left box will be for kitchen and food, the thing on the right has all of my recovery gear.



We cook on the tailgate table, so the slide-out table will be perfect for food prep / work space. I already had the led strips in that light both areas well.



The support walls on the sides line up with the factory cargo tie downs so the platform will be very secure. There is still a good amount of room on either side, and the back right (behind the rear passenger side seat) will extend to the side of the Jeep but with a hinge to flip up to access. I think this will work great for camping and Fern and I will get to test it out in Moab next month!

Ignore the carpet, btw, that's just the factory rear mat. This is pretty nice looking read oak, so I will probably do a stain and seal it to bring out the grain.

[Chili]

I guess I'll just post Jeep stuff in here.

Went ahead and installed the CB that's been sitting in my garage for about a year.. I know CB is just about dead but there's still enough use, and hell, the radio was only $30. I have had the antenna for years (since the Suburban) and probably have less the $100 in everything.



Still need to tune the antenna but don't have an SWR meter.



Mounted a remote speaker next to me so I can keep the cb volume low and still listen to the radio.



I can also turn it around if I want to hear it from outside.



Or from the rear.



I did go ahead and buy a cheap handheld HAM radio, though I dont have my license yet. I do think I will eventually but went ahead and got the radio since it's legal to monitor, and to use in emergency situations, so at least I can get that use too. And this thing was really cheap. If / when I get my license I will probably do a vehicle mounted unit too. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LG92WF8...1-9156a1fa947a

[the spindoctor]

Wish I could have gone, looks like you guys had a good time. My truck hasn't seen a dirt road in probably 2 years.

<<< '03 TRD Tacoma 4x4

[lowthreeohz]

Dropping the truck off tomorrow at Mike's for a 2 inch lift on front, and some Toyo AT II's!
Keeping the stock rims, no need to get new ones right now, save some money for other shit. I'll post a pic tomorrow aft I pick it up. Super excited to go to the park in a month or 2!

Leveling kit? You'll love it, doesnt mess w geometry much and takes the forward rake away, my truck with 1.5" spacers is within 1/4" of sitting level now.

[Chili]

It all depends on the offset/backspacing. You don't want your truck to look like a roller skate!

[yellowstang]

Dropping the truck off tomorrow at Mike's for a 2 inch lift on front, and some Toyo AT II's!
Keeping the stock rims, no need to get new ones right now, save some money for other shit. I'll post a pic tomorrow aft I pick it up. Super excited to go to the park in a month or 2!

[yellowstang]

It all depends on the offset/backspacing. You don't want your truck to look like a roller skate!

Same offset as the stock rims. The Nitto's are 285/65, my currents are 275/60, so should be close