It has been a while since I updated my build thread. Things have been a little slow since Bruce came home from hospital. Weekends, mornings and afternoons and sadly nights and early early morning have been busy looking after him. Worth it though as he is awesome
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
Ok, back on topic.
I finished the roof rack and set up the roof lights and UHF ariel were I wanted it
Roof Lights
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img39/5499/imgp3297.jpg)
Ariel
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img833/3634/imgp3306w.jpg)
I had the Spot lights, roof lights, uhf and reverse camera hooked up by an auto electrician. Bought some Custom Rocker switches too and wanted them positioned in a place that was easy to get too and showed them off. After a bit of investigation I made up a switch plate under the ash tray. Also incorporates the cable for the iPhone/iPod and the UHF mic. Mild steel sheet and vinyl from Clark Rubber.
Switches
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img854/7508/imgp3296.jpg)
Reverse camera screen
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img152/5792/imgp3307.jpg)
All the lights on
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img705/1988/photoqvfg.jpg)
Next step was to get prepared for 2 ½ weeks on Fraser. This involved sorting the dual battery, power to the tray, led lights in the canopy and a place to mount the fridge slide.
I couldn’t figure out the dual battery tray from TJM (bloody instructions made no sense to me
![Embarrassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
) so Dad helped me sort that and install the Projecta Isolator. The battery I got on special from Autobarn. Have read mixed reports on the brand but has been good thus far.
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img812/2376/imgp3302.jpg)
Power to the tray is in the form of a regular 12v socket and a merit plug. Have the Waeco set up to the merit plug.
Led lights are awesome, massive amount of light out of these.
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img515/8049/ledvf.jpg)
Just needed something cheap and nasty to mount the fridge slide too as I left it quite late to do anything better. Also realised that as cool as it looks the Canopy is far from practical
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
. The only way to fit the fridge in is to have it right up in the back corner so I effectively loose half the tray. So it’s a temporary measure at the moment and will need a total redesign before the cape trip in 2013 so didn’t want to put together a flashy draw system that would likely have to change.
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img210/4167/imgp3305e.jpg)
Fraser, as always was awesome!! First trip in the camper trailer, Bruce’s first camping trip and the first decent break away we have had in a loooooong time. Cant wait to get back there again but not sure on when that is going to be possible. Need to save all my leave for the Cape trip in September.
Western Side
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img824/3659/imgp3023n.jpg)
Me and my boys, Jake and Bruce
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img839/1692/imgp3150q.jpg)
After getting back from Fraser I spent 3 hours under the car with the hose. We went up the beach again a fortnight later just for the day and brought back half of double island point in the chassis rails
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
!! This prompted me to book her in for some rust proofing. Decided on the chemical rather then the electric purely as its what I had on the old Hilux that saw a lot of beach time and was rust free after 15 years of faithful service. We always give the rig a good wash on our return from the beach but surface rust was popping up pretty bloody quickly. It also looks great having nothing but
black under the rig.
They did an awesome job of cleaning the engine bay!!
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img341/256/imgp3303q.jpg)
Ok, now for a few cosmetic changes. I wanted to make the car a little more me, and a little less standard. Check out the results
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
Before
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img820/1500/imgp2926v.jpg)
After
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img22/5977/imgp3299s.jpg)
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img716/2494/imgp3300x.jpg)
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img267/2183/imgp3301t.jpg)
A mate gave me a hand to trim the
nudge bar which was promptly sent to the powder coaters. I then took to the bumper with a grinder. Scary but liberating!
How much was removed
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img521/3389/cut2e.jpg)
One side done
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img40/3875/cut3c.jpg)
Final result
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img836/1706/imgp3298q.jpg)
But what about the washer bottle I hear you ask
![Geek :geek:](./images/smilies/icon_e_geek.gif)
Well I am glad you did. This was more a proof of concept idea. Just wanted to see if it would work. It does
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
So will need to tidy it up in the future.
PVC Pipe and a garden hose
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img528/4937/washer1v.jpg)
Positioned behind the lower part of the bumper
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img842/8824/washer2e.jpg)
Hose in
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img141/1705/washer3.jpg)
Route to filler
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img641/6025/washer4.jpg)
Filler
![Click to view larger picture](http://imageshack.us/a/img211/2185/washer5.jpg)
Am super happy with the results of Rig Jnr’s nip and tuck. Could not wipe the smile of my face all day.
That’s it for the moment but have some further plans in the not too distant future. Have some bash plates from Prestige Offroad on the garage, just waiting on the mounts. And now the missus is back at work I might just celebrate by sorting out the ReKon Suspension from Monster Rides.
More to come soon (hopefully)…