Well its been a while since i've really done anything with respect to updating my build thread...
first of all, i'd like to begin the story back at Easter where i trialed a product called autoskin. Its a roll on paint protection that costs about $30 for 1L. With half a litre (half the recommended amount) i did the sides of my triton and headed to coffs for the long weekend. Coffs being notoriously bad for lantana, figured it would be a lot easier to 'peal' away the mess and scratches then polish for hours.
The idea of the product is, lay down a wax - reason being it makes it easier to peal off later, using a foam roller apply an even coat, and let it dry clear. The coat does need to be thick enough you can't see paint below, if its to thin its a bitch to remove without the aid of a pressure wash
I applied it everywhere, rubber and panel.
goes on white
dries clear
to look at you would think its just a terrible paint job cause its comes up like a matt finish
and when the fun has ended, just peal away
Next was a provent catch can. Not having a blank and already rolling up 50,000km figured better late then never to some form of carbon build up preventative, although already to late.
so i purchased some basic supplies from bunnings to fit. i was in a rush so nothing fancy and like everything figured i'd revisit it and do it properly one day....
yea right.
used the these little bracket things and the cable ties were for the bash plates
I had a heap of little nuts and bolts at home.
so putting it all together, its ended up like this...
I had some garden irrigation crap in the garage so used that to plumb the drain till i sorted something better out... so far its done ok so in no rush to replace it
after a 300km run i thought for $hits and giggles i'd check and surprised to find moisture in the tube. had collected about 20ml of water, and still to this day am collecting moisture and the slightest taint of oil.
Ohh and of course the cable ties to hold on the bash plates. Since this was taken, i now have both sides held up in all their glory by cable ties
The plates were made by my father - love a freebie - out of 4mm mild steel using buzzy's design.. and they have taken a beating since fitting
Next after cogging round for so long un harmed, seem's the above discussions about what i should invest in next jinxed me. a few weekends ago while playing in sugarloaf drowned the poor girl twice and dented her curvacious arse.
she only had to last the weekend and she was getting a nice new rear bar at bylong... Think the misses felt bad too after denying me the bar so so long, she just looked at it and said 'lets discuss this rear bar'... WIN!
seems the best thing i could have done was try and dry it asap... when i finally got out of the mud and water, straight away ripped up the carpet and had towels in there to draw out the moisture. then that night alternated towels through, trying it by the camp fire and shoving it back under the underlay. Once home just left the carpet up for a week to breath, but by the Sunday arvo it all felt pretty dry, so after a week was pleased with the result and had the carpet all back down in place.
Fitting the rear bar was simple enough, thanks to Brendan, Ken, Ben and Dougy for the help. and later Garth for re wiring the trailer plug and fraz the lights
No photos of the install taking place, but a few shots i took recently
My thoughts... seems like a good bar - only time will tell. I like the added protection of the higher side bar, and it covers my dent nicely
It maintains much the same height and angles as an arb or tjm bar, but with less of a 'grader blade'. I don't think the lower edge of the tub will drag to much, unless on an awkward angle cause you can see its in line with the spare and chassis mounting.
I have noticed that I can't fit my old factory hitch into the receiver because it is mms to small. luckily the supplied hitch is perfect... till i want larger tyres
And the 2 recovery points on the back don't take the 4.7T shackle
not to worry though, just have to use 2 smaller ones, and share the load if needed.
After fitting and having a play around bylong, had to return home to take the mrs's to a horse comp. thought this was a perfect op to show how well the ultimate suspension was taking the load
admittedly, he float we were using on the day, is about 500-700kg short of the one in the first pic below that we usually use...
it can be seen its a bit weight down in the rear with 2.5T hanging off it with the standard VR suspension
leaves are upset
different (500kg lighter) trailer empty
ultimate suspension unloaded
ultimate suspension with float (light 850kg)
FYI the float in the top pic weights in at 1300kg empty...
ultimate suspension with 1 horse (light little thing ~400kg)
fatty going in ~580kg
float + 2 horses about ~1700kg
so with the other float + a second normal sized horse that second stage would be loaded.
the fatty did perform on the day luckily...
and she thinks more of these little fatties will get to go places in a few years
more to come, but that's enough for now... apart from some more glory shots... i have to do something to fill in the day at these horse comps
like many, my nudge bar doesn't look so straight these days