LongMontEro

[radchad074]

I live in Longmont Colorado and I just picked up a 04 Gen 3 from LUSO, it is so cool and I absolutely love it. I am planning on doing an Offroad / light overland style build so it can get us into the mountains and the desert where we can be semi-self-sustainable! We love mountain biking and backcountry skiing, spend all winter trekking to snowy trailheads and spring/summer/fall hitting mountain bike trails and going back into the mountains.

A couple questions as I start to plan some stuff.

(1) What are folks doing for hauling mountain bikes?
---- any good examples? Share you photos?
(2) Rooftop storage options?
---- Ski/boards and gear

I attached a couple photos of the rig so far.

I drove it around for a week stock an then jumped right in.

Mods so far::::
Wheels and tires
----- fifteen52 wheels (5)
----- Falken Wildpeak 285/70/17s
----- removed stock spare and mounted the 33
----- Trimmed stock bumper and inside fenders.
----- removed the stock running boards

 

[plh]

Filling the wheel wells!

No advise for a bike carrier. DIY w/ 8020 for a roof rack perhaps.

 

[radchad074]

Filling the wheel wells!

No advise for a bike carrier. DIY w/ 8020 for a roof rack perhaps.

Yea, 32.8 tires. I do have a lift coming in the mail which is next on the list of installs.

Thanks for the roof rack suggestion, will take a look.

CT

 

[plh]

Yea, 32.8 tires. I do have a lift coming in the mail which is next on the list of installs.

Thanks for the roof rack suggestion, will take a look.

CT

Had 285/75R16 on my '05 for several years. Big tires, I don't think I would repeat if I got another Gen 3. Would max out at 265/75R17 and no lift on the next one.

 

[radchad074]

Had 285/75R16 on my '05 for several years. Big tires, I don't think I would repeat if I got another Gen 3. Would max out at 265/75R17 and no lift on the next one.

Cool, thanks for the input - Why would you not run the bigger tires?

 

[plh]

Cool, thanks for the input - Why would you not run the bigger tires?

I found that 285s rubbed a bit even with OME lift springs. Never had that issue when I ran 265/75R17 stock springs.

 

[alanymarce]

(2) Rooftop storage options?
---- Ski/boards and gear

We had a roofrack built to fit the mounting points for the existing rails.

 

[radchad074]

I found that 285s rubbed a bit even with OME lift springs. Never had that issue when I ran 265/75R17 stock springs.

Ok, I will keep an eye on that and see, I still have the stock springs and will hang onto them...

 

[radchad074]

We had a roofrack built to fit the mounting points for the existing rails. View attachment 754613View attachment 754614

WOW, that is really nice... I love it. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Inyo_man]

Congrats on the rig!

You may want to think about ditching the factory rack rails on the Montero if you plan on driving off highway with the rig.
The factory rails do not inspire confidence in my opinion.
I removed them from our Gen. 3 years ago, and installed some Rhino Rack rails.

Gen. III roof rails/rack

After over ten years of abuse the factory roof rails on the Gen.III Montero started to show signs of failure. The rails between the roof mounting points were loose. After some research, I decided on a system from Rhino-Rack. The Montero specific system includes new tracks that mount into the...

expeditionportal.com

Cheers

 

[radchad074]

Congrats on the rig!

You may want to think about ditching the factory rack rails on the Montero if you plan on driving off highway with the rig.
The factory rails do not inspire confidence in my opinion.
I removed them from our Gen. 3 years ago, and installed some Rhino Rack rails.

Gen. III roof rails/rack

After over ten years of abuse the factory roof rails on the Gen.III Montero started to show signs of failure. The rails between the roof mounting points were loose. After some research, I decided on a system from Rhino-Rack. The Montero specific system includes new tracks that mount into the...

expeditionportal.com

Cheers

great idea, I was curious what folks did with the oem rail. thanks for the link… will take a look

 

[plh]

You may want to think about ditching the factory rack rails on the Montero if you plan on driving off highway with the rig.
The factory rails do not inspire confidence in my opinion.

When new the factory rails were rated at 210 lbs IIRC (stated in the owners manual) . I'm sure they degrade with time like everything in a 18 year old vehicle.

 

[radchad074]

got a nice little delivery from LUSO yesterday, excited to get this stuff bolted up!
- skids
- Lovell Springs
- Koni Shocks
- Rubber bits

Was planning on doing the install but might have a friends shop do it instead.

 

[radchad074]

Unboxed the front skid from LUSO / Boos Bash Plates, looks pretty good. WIll unbox the oil pan and tranny skids tomorrow. Lift goes on this week and will probably wait till that is done to install the armor.

 

[radchad074]

Mounted up the skid this am and went for a quick mountain bike ride, looks right at home next to those rock!