AZTrooper's Mod Thread

[AZTrooper]

Ok... so I decided I need a mod thread too!!!! I've done several things to try and get this beast where I want it to be. After our last run on Smiley Rock Trail, there have been a few things that I felt were necessary for function on the trail. Here are some pictures that I have so far of the most recent things I've done.

This is sort of a profile of what it looks like right now. I just took these pics a few minutes ago.
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_0776.jpg

This is my new CB antenae.
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_0781.jpg

This would be my new MagnaFlow muffler. Not too loud, not too quiet. I've never noticed such a power increase until I put this on.
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_0780.jpg

This isn't a mod, but it's a pic of the scratch that I put in the tranny pan from Smiley Rock Trail. (it's been hammered back out)
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_0779.jpg

My new Cobra WXSTII that I installed last weekend. I've picked up a trucker about 4 miles east of town, on his way east.
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_0773.jpg

This shot gives you a better view of how I cut my bumper to give me about 3 inches more without compromising any bumper scrapes.(not that I really care)
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_0771.jpg

I'm trying to get a hold of a guy here in northern AZ somewhere to get a custom built roof rack. So far I haven't heard back from him. He's selling these really nice steel racks on ebay for $250.
I'm also waiting for Scott to get a hold of me so I can buy his under-the-hood mounted air compressor.

What do you guys think?

[DBS311]

Do you know if you can still get the ARB racks for the Trooper?

[bigreen505]

I was told the ARB racks are very expensive, heavy and hard to get. A hannibal rack is only a little more and weighs a lot less.

[DBS311]

A Hannibal rack would be great but I have never seen one on a Trooper. Anyone got pics or a link to the Hannibal setup?

[DBS311]

This is all I could find from the Hannibal USA website.

http://www.hannibalusa.com/Catalog/
Bottom left pic is the price list for what's available.

[AZTrooper]

So the guy who's going to build my roof rack lives right here in Flagstaff and so there won't be any need for shipping. Let me know if anyone is interested in a custom made roof rack and I will refer you to him. Or you can check out his website @ www.blackoutaz.com. His name is Tim and he's been VERY helpful and easy to get a hold of so far.

[DBS311]

AZTrooper, I checked out your builder's site and it looks pretty cool. Tell us how you are planning your roof rack build. Foldable sides for roof tent, fuel can storage up front, etc., etc. I'm curious to know how custom you are going. Can't wait to see the finished product, especially mounted up on the Trooper.

[bigreen505]

How much does it weigh?

[AZTrooper]

DBS311- The exact demensions of the rack are going to be 70"L x 40"W x 5" tall. As of now, I'm not completely sure what all I might be utilizing the rack for. I know I want to mount some lights on th front of the rack, maybe a few in the back, and one or two on the sides. I want to buy a high-low jack and mount it up there too. Since I bought this new cb, I plan on mounting the antennae up there as well. If I wanted, he would weld a spare tire mount on the rack, but personally I don't like the look of having a huge spare tire up there. The rack comes without any paint, so I'll probably buy some sort of black primer spray can to paint it.


Bigreen505- The rack will weigh approx 60-70lbs and can hold up to 5 times it's own weight. I'm having him weld on custom feet with bolt holes in it so I can mount it easily to the roof.The total for the rack id going to be $440. Yeah it's a little pricey, but these racks are built solid. It'll be worth the money to me!!!

[AZTrooper]

So just today I removed my sway bars completely. I took it for a spin to see what difference it would make without them. I noticed that it's a little "mooshier" when going over bumps and shaking the steering wheel back and forth. But I didn't noticed too much excess body roll. I actually really like how well it feels when going over bumps. I think I'll just leave them off for good.:safari-rig:

[bigreen505]

Cool, any reason for not going wider than 40"? Seems a bit narrow.

[AZTrooper]

Cool, any reason for not going wider than 40"? Seems a bit narrow.

Yeah... the way I want to mount it by using the feet he's going to weld on for me, I need the measurement at the outside of the feet to be no wider than 40" or else I will run into my rain gutters. I'm going to bolt it directly into the roof. Also, I just don't want the rack to be as wide as the roof like most other people do it. I want it to be functional, yet asthetically pleasing.

[bigreen505]

Interesting thoughts. Did you consider consider a full-length rain channel like what the Yakima racks use, and then through-bolt into the factory holes? That way it is bolted on, like you are doing, but spreading the load over a significantly larger area.

[AZTrooper]

I did think about that, but I wasn't sure if my trooper came with those factory rain gutter holes. I haven't pulled up the rain gutter to see if I have them. For some reason I was under the impression that my trooper didn't come with factory holes. I'll have to look, cuz if it does then I'll have to re-measure and have my guy build the rack a little different. He hasn't started it yet, so I should still have time to change demensions.

[bigreen505]

Pretty sure they all do. Three sets per side under the trim. If you look at the Hannibal and Safety Devices Rover racks, they have a running the full length of the rain gutter to distribute the load rather than point loading the rain gutter. I was thinking that using a Yakima or Thule track for the Trooper, but then through-bolting the rack, you get the simplicity of bolting it on, with the best available load distribution. Not sure how much it really matters.

[AZTrooper]

Yeah, I was thinking about just buying the Thule or Yakima rails and screwing those on and then buying their expensive feet and bars and then attach a rack to those. But I'll spend a lot less money by having this rack custom built and then bolting it through the roof. The good thing about it is, I can utilize the part of the bolt that will be on the inside of the roof for mounting something else down the road.

[AZTrooper]

Ok, so here's the latest!!!! i just installed my Superwinch hubs I bought today. I think they look awesome!!!! I hope it's not just in my mind, but I really do think I gained a little "get up and go." I have a steep hill that I have to go up to get to my house and usually I have to give it a bit of gas. But when I came up the hill after the installation, I noticed a significant decrease in the amount of pedal necessary to get up the hill. The thing that sucks though is, I didn't receive all 12 of the taperd bolts that hold the outter hub housing on. I only have two bolts in each. I don't know where the rest are. I have to go back to the shop that I bought them from and see if they have the rest of them laying around and also ask if they will reimburse me for the bolts I'l have to get overnighted from Superwinch. There's no way I'm going out on the trail with only two of those tapered bolts in each outter housing. Any ideas as where to find some without having to go through Superwinch? I'll post up a few pics of the new hubs tomorrow after I take a couple pictures.

[NewFoundFreedom]

Try a company called Fastenal. They might have some. You could take one of yours there an have them match it. They pride themselfs on having all the nuts and bolts any one could ever need. If they dont have it I think you will have to go Super Winch...

[AZTrooper]

Thanks for the reply man. I just called Superwinch directly and they told me I had to buy them from a distributor because they don't sell direct. I ended up buying them from Summit Racing. Now they are all in.

Also, I put on my newly fabbed skid plate. I'll take some pictures tomorrow and post them up.

[AZTrooper]

Ok, here's some pictures of my new skid plate. My friend Doug did most of the work since we used his shop to build it. It's made from 5/16" steel. I think it looks pretty good for amature fabbing!!

Here's a profile of the skid plate. I placed it here so I don't crunch my tranny pan again.
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_1003.jpg

This is a picture of the front of the plate. We tried to get it to fit as best as we could on that front cross-member.
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_1002.jpg

This is the rear of the plate. Notice the hole in it so that the tranny pan drain plug can be accessed.
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_1001.jpg

Here's a picture of the whole plate.
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_1000.jpg

What do you guys think?!?!? I can't wait to put some scratches on it!!!

[ZooJunkie]

Do you ship? :)

[Incusus]

wow... thats awesome! Once I'm in the market, I wonder if your friend would make another set??

[AZTrooper]

Well to answer both of your questions, my buddy has his shop at his house. It usually helps to have the vehicle present for measuring and stuff. So unfortunately, unless you can be in Flagstaff, AZ for a few days, it may be kinda hard. He is, however, very interested in starting to make custom plates if people want them.

[Incusus]

Well to answer both of your questions, my buddy has his shop at his house. It usually helps to have the vehicle present for measuring and stuff. So unfortunately, unless you can be in Flagstaff, AZ for a few days, it may be kinda hard. He is, however, very interested in starting to make custom plates if people want them.


"Honey... I need to make a road trip to Arizona..."

[AZTrooper]

Ok, so my buddy Doug that helped me fabricate my plate, said that he'd be happy to build you guys some plates if you have schematics that he can build off of. Although, as I stated before, if you can get to AZ, he could make sure that it all fits well. Let me know. I'd be happy to put you in contact with him.

[DBS311]

It ain't pretty, but as long as it's functional, that is all that matters.:victory:

[AZTrooper]

Lemme know- I'll be happy to put you guys in contact with him.

[ZooJunkie]

Thanks but he's in AZ! A wee bit far for me. :(

[AZTrooper]

So I just got my permanent mount cb antenna yesterday. The guy that did the install said that he has sold Wilson before and he likes the one I got better. It's the same antenna they install ona ll the law enforcement vehicles here in town. I love it!!! Here's some pictures I just took a few minutes ago.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_1124.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_1125.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_1126.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/AZTrooper/IMG_1127.jpg